Okay, I have to brag! I have the greatest fiance. There are a number of reasons why I believe him to be the most wonderful man on the planet (no big deal). The fact is, I'm in love with my best friend. That's really all that it comes down to. We started out as friends and that friendship grew into something immensely more than something strictly platonic. The best part about it is we're still friends! That's what--I believe--makes a great love; a lasting love.
Corey and I met through his sister, Ashley, while I was serving a mission in the northern United States--a far-off land called Idaho (sorry, I wanted to be dramatic). He and I never laid eyes on each other--well, as far as bodies are concerned. We did however lay eyes on each others' personalities for quite some time. Cheesy, I know. I'm just happy to know we didn't use a dating service, although they do work for some people! Ashley gave us each others' emails and we sent messages back and forth every Monday. It had to start with him because I thought it was strange to just email a complete stranger!
Weeks turned to months, and when August rolled around, I had hit my sixth month in the field. I received my first hand-written letter from Corey and that's when I realized that there was more to this stranger than I had thought. We had a real connection--not through pen and paper, but our souls were connected somehow. To give you the honest-to-goodness truth, it started to freak me OUT! My thoughts were merely this:
-I have no clue who this dude is
-I can't be falling for him. We've never met!
-The chances of us meeting and ending up together are slim to none.
-WHY DO I FEEL THIS WAY?!
Because of my irrational fear of love--well, and because I was becoming very distracted by his charm-- I wrote him off--more than once, actually. Poor guy! He still tried to get in touch with me, but I didn't respond, although, something kept nagging me to respond to his messages. I just couldn't bring myself to do it.
Luckily, I was able to refocus myself on what I was in Idaho to do: serve the Lord--and I did...up until I began to have frequent migraines that kept me from getting out to do the work. Upon meeting with my mission president, we had decided it was best for me to go home. I left my mission five months early and it was the hardest thing for me.
Corey found out through his sister that I had been released and he didn't miss a beat to contact me. I gave him my number and we texted back and forth for a few days. Then he asked if he could call me. OH NO. I didn't feel like I was ready to hear his voice. I knew that when I did it would be over for me...because deep down I knew this was it. He was it. There was that irrational fear of love taking its toll over me yet again! So even with my silence, he still called and I just watched my phone light up with a blank look on my face: ladies and gentlemen, that's fear.
He didn't bother calling or texting for at least a week.
I remember the next Sunday I was sitting on my bed when suddenly my phone lit up with his number on the screen. Fear. Again. Surprising? Not really. There went the blank stare for, what I'm sure were the most agonizing sixty seconds on his end.
Finally, he gave up and I didn't blame him at all. I didn't know what I wanted! Okay, really, I did. But I didn't know if my heart was ready. I'm sure everyone has felt at one point or another the fear of being rejected after having been accepted by someone truly wonderful then dumped. Getting back into the realm of roses and late-night dates after heartbreak is scary!
The hurt didn't come all at once. In fact, I wasn't hurt at all at first. I was surprisingly relieved that he'd given up. I didn't have to stress anymore! It was great!
I tried to get back into the swing of things: reconnecting with old friends, going to the movies, blogging, reading. It was all well and good, so I thought, until I realized that something was missing.
Easter Sunday was a day to remember. After general conference had concluded and I had gotten back from my brother's house, I was in my room reflecting on my life--because that's what general conference does to you! I had a very distinct impression to send an instant message to Corey. I apologized for being confusing, and messing with his emotions. I asked if we could be friends. His response hurt me like no other. He had said that he would love to be friends, but just that because he wasn't looking for a relationship. My initial thought was, Oh my gosh. What am I doing? I thought he really liked me. Is it really over before it even began? Corey asked if he could call me the next day, and of course, I said yes. I was all in. I was ready. Acceptance or rejection, whatever my fate, I was ready to face it.
Monday morning, 11AM. My phone rang. I watched it for a couple seconds and I finally brought myself to answer it. I was nervous, but the sound of his voice soothed all my nerves. It felt so natural to talk to him. His voice sounded so familiar. I was in a daze. A thirty minute call turned in to two hours and sooner than you knew it, he and I decided it was time to meet! Corey was sweet enough to buy me a plane ticket to go see him. In an instant, I knew it was right. I knew this was it. I knew my quest for love had been concluded--even though I wasn't even on a quest!
I met him at the airport in Salt Lake City. We were both so nervous, yet so excited. We were ready to turn this budding romance into something for the storybooks. Now we're engaged and ready to start a new chapter no longer titled, "My Life" but, "Our Life."
I always knew Corey was the one for me, but this trip is what solidified my feelings. When I felt his hand brush against mine, his lips touch my forehead, and when I gazed into his hazel eyes, something shot through me that I had never felt before. It was so much more than euphoria. It was love.
I knew I was in love with Corey, not only when I felt sparks, but when I noticed silence wasn't awkward, I could be my absolute self, and we could still talk like we did as friends.
I'm so lucky to have fallen in love with and be engaged to the most wonderful man who has ever walked into my life. I'm happy to know that he will always be by my side for the rest of my life and throughout eternity. August 15th cannot come fast enough! x
Corey and I met through his sister, Ashley, while I was serving a mission in the northern United States--a far-off land called Idaho (sorry, I wanted to be dramatic). He and I never laid eyes on each other--well, as far as bodies are concerned. We did however lay eyes on each others' personalities for quite some time. Cheesy, I know. I'm just happy to know we didn't use a dating service, although they do work for some people! Ashley gave us each others' emails and we sent messages back and forth every Monday. It had to start with him because I thought it was strange to just email a complete stranger!
Weeks turned to months, and when August rolled around, I had hit my sixth month in the field. I received my first hand-written letter from Corey and that's when I realized that there was more to this stranger than I had thought. We had a real connection--not through pen and paper, but our souls were connected somehow. To give you the honest-to-goodness truth, it started to freak me OUT! My thoughts were merely this:
-I have no clue who this dude is
-I can't be falling for him. We've never met!
-The chances of us meeting and ending up together are slim to none.
-WHY DO I FEEL THIS WAY?!
Because of my irrational fear of love--well, and because I was becoming very distracted by his charm-- I wrote him off--more than once, actually. Poor guy! He still tried to get in touch with me, but I didn't respond, although, something kept nagging me to respond to his messages. I just couldn't bring myself to do it.
Luckily, I was able to refocus myself on what I was in Idaho to do: serve the Lord--and I did...up until I began to have frequent migraines that kept me from getting out to do the work. Upon meeting with my mission president, we had decided it was best for me to go home. I left my mission five months early and it was the hardest thing for me.
Corey found out through his sister that I had been released and he didn't miss a beat to contact me. I gave him my number and we texted back and forth for a few days. Then he asked if he could call me. OH NO. I didn't feel like I was ready to hear his voice. I knew that when I did it would be over for me...because deep down I knew this was it. He was it. There was that irrational fear of love taking its toll over me yet again! So even with my silence, he still called and I just watched my phone light up with a blank look on my face: ladies and gentlemen, that's fear.
He didn't bother calling or texting for at least a week.
I remember the next Sunday I was sitting on my bed when suddenly my phone lit up with his number on the screen. Fear. Again. Surprising? Not really. There went the blank stare for, what I'm sure were the most agonizing sixty seconds on his end.
Finally, he gave up and I didn't blame him at all. I didn't know what I wanted! Okay, really, I did. But I didn't know if my heart was ready. I'm sure everyone has felt at one point or another the fear of being rejected after having been accepted by someone truly wonderful then dumped. Getting back into the realm of roses and late-night dates after heartbreak is scary!
The hurt didn't come all at once. In fact, I wasn't hurt at all at first. I was surprisingly relieved that he'd given up. I didn't have to stress anymore! It was great!
I tried to get back into the swing of things: reconnecting with old friends, going to the movies, blogging, reading. It was all well and good, so I thought, until I realized that something was missing.
Easter Sunday was a day to remember. After general conference had concluded and I had gotten back from my brother's house, I was in my room reflecting on my life--because that's what general conference does to you! I had a very distinct impression to send an instant message to Corey. I apologized for being confusing, and messing with his emotions. I asked if we could be friends. His response hurt me like no other. He had said that he would love to be friends, but just that because he wasn't looking for a relationship. My initial thought was, Oh my gosh. What am I doing? I thought he really liked me. Is it really over before it even began? Corey asked if he could call me the next day, and of course, I said yes. I was all in. I was ready. Acceptance or rejection, whatever my fate, I was ready to face it.
Monday morning, 11AM. My phone rang. I watched it for a couple seconds and I finally brought myself to answer it. I was nervous, but the sound of his voice soothed all my nerves. It felt so natural to talk to him. His voice sounded so familiar. I was in a daze. A thirty minute call turned in to two hours and sooner than you knew it, he and I decided it was time to meet! Corey was sweet enough to buy me a plane ticket to go see him. In an instant, I knew it was right. I knew this was it. I knew my quest for love had been concluded--even though I wasn't even on a quest!
I met him at the airport in Salt Lake City. We were both so nervous, yet so excited. We were ready to turn this budding romance into something for the storybooks. Now we're engaged and ready to start a new chapter no longer titled, "My Life" but, "Our Life."
I always knew Corey was the one for me, but this trip is what solidified my feelings. When I felt his hand brush against mine, his lips touch my forehead, and when I gazed into his hazel eyes, something shot through me that I had never felt before. It was so much more than euphoria. It was love.
I knew I was in love with Corey, not only when I felt sparks, but when I noticed silence wasn't awkward, I could be my absolute self, and we could still talk like we did as friends.
I'm so lucky to have fallen in love with and be engaged to the most wonderful man who has ever walked into my life. I'm happy to know that he will always be by my side for the rest of my life and throughout eternity. August 15th cannot come fast enough! x
