Our Story

So, here’s how this is going to work. This is Jessica. This is Brady. Enjoy our combined commentary on the following story which is, and is becoming, the intertwining of our lives.

The first memory I have of Brady is when I was 14. Our stake was putting on a production of Beauty and the Beast and we both were participating: me as an extra and him as stage manager. One day, the cast had some down time and so I was chillin with my other junior high friends. All I remember is looking up and seeing Brady on stage and thinking, “Oh. My. Word. He’s the cutest boy I’ve ever seen!” But, then I remembered that he was 19 and I was... Let’s just say he was out of my league.  This was completely true, at the time.  I was so engaged with my job that I didn’t even notice anyone that year.  So when I was told that this was Jessica’s first memory of me, I had no idea she was even in the play.

Fast forward 4 years. My freshman year at college. 4 am. My roommates and I were just pulling an all nighter with Facebook being our refuge for social activity away from our studies. I kid you not! This is the first thing I ever remember Brady saying/typing to me: “You’re usually not up this late...” You could say I was just a little weirded out that he noticed me enough to even know that being awake that early in the morning wasn't my usual routine but still flattered at the same time.

To alleviate some otherwise “creepy” stalker connotations, there are usually three people on at 4 in the morning... and she was never one of them.  I don’t recall actively looking to see if she was online... that is until after that initial conversation where I decided that she was someone that I enjoyed talking to.

Anyways, he thought I was cute and I liked flirting with him... So we kept talking. Then, he popped the question... No, not THEE question. The pre-THEE question. “Will you go on a date with me?” It took me about approximately 4 seconds to evaluation my answer. I was 18... He was 24... That was too big of an age gap for me. I’ve been called many a thing but old has been a common theme throughout our relationship.  Not just by Jessica, but by everyone that I’ve ever met.

Explanation: I had just gone on a date with a guy who was 5 years older than me and he kept talking about how there was such a vast span between our ages that we couldn’t possibly have anything in common. That date gave me a bad taste in my mouth about dating “way” older guys. So, yeah, at the time? Not a fan.

So, that was that. Until the next stake played rolled around one year later. Facebook chat again.

Brady: Hey, I’m in the play.

Me: Hey, I’m doing makeup for the play.

Brady: Maybe we should hang out?

Me: Oh! Yeah... Sure.

I will not lie. I agreed to go on this date under the pretense that you owe everyone at least one date to give them a chance. But, as it got closer, I was afraid to go on this date with him! I remember thinking, “Watch. He’s going to be the one... We’re going to go on this date and it’s just the first step to eternity with him... Oh gosh...”

And then he picked me up and off we were. Oh yeah, guess where he took me? Just go ahead. Guess!

A CAR WASH!!!

Romantic, huh? :) But, surprisingly... It was PERFECT. Turns out, the car wash was home to one of the best burgers I’ve ever eaten. The conversation never stopped and I had such a good time. While I didn’t decide right then and there that eternity was what I wanted, I did decide that a second date would be a good next step.

Well, that was a Friday. Sunday was our first kiss. Standing in the church parking lot. In plain sight. Where everyone could see us. Just doing some smooching. Ironic, yet subtle. I enjoyed it...

And that was the beginning of the 6 weeks that I was home for the summer. We spent the next while completely infatuated with one another but ended with the decision that we would date other people when I went back up to school.  Infatuated was not something I could agree with.  We definitely liked each other but I hated being “tied down.”  I have always been the one to keep my options open... Yes, I know, slightly selfish but I really did think she should date while we were 700 miles apart.  I mean, what if she was supposed to marry someone else and I got in the way of that?

Being in Utah was definitely difficult. We had days where we were the best of friends and then days where we wouldn’t say anything to each other. There were a few visits here and there that rekindled the sparks but nothing that proved to be permanent.

(I believe it’s important to talk of one of these visits.  I had decided to go up to Utah to a BYU game.  I thought long and hard if seeing Jessica was a good idea.  Did I want to install “false hope?”  I finally decided that I really did want to see her... and invited her over for Sunday dinner to meet approximately one half of my extended family then invited her over for a game night at my uncle’s house.  Ok, ok, ok, if things didn’t work out, there was some definite false hope laid out, but I decided that that hope wasn’t false.  I really liked her.  Even kissed her goodbye... with tears running down her cheeks.  I am a cry baby. It’s fine. I’m glad everyone knows it now.)

Not until Christmastime, that is... Brady invited me to spend Christmas Eve with his family. We laughed and sang Christmas songs and ate AMAZING Italian food!!! We exchanged gifts and... Yes... There may or may not have been some more kissing that night...

Right as I was getting ready to leave, something told me, “You should tell him that you love him.” Now, I already knew that I did but I had told myself that I wasn’t going to say it until he was ready. No sooner had that promise been broken then when I heard myself telling him that I loved him! This is definitely a risky moment in a relationship--ESPECIALLY if you’re not sure that they’ll say it back!!!

He paused... Looked at me... And then said it back! #relieved.

First off, Jessica knows I hate “hashtags” so I think that was more for me.  It was JUST for you! Secondly, I had never been in love.  Ever.  Never ever ever!  I was completely surprised that I responded but when the words left my mouth, I knew it was completely true.

Our relationship progressed from there, even though I was back up in Utah. Then, one cold day in January... He sent me a text that said something along the lines of, “we should probably go ring shopping.”

This was inspired by me missing her.  Me.  I don’t miss people.  In fact, I don’t have many emotions to speak of but I had a longing to be with her.  AWWWW! Cute!!! :) It was extremely baffling but I knew that she was the one I NEEDED to marry.

I. Started. To. Cry!!! Right there. (See? Cry baby) In my car. At a stoplight. CRYING!!! I was so happy that he finally felt the same way about me that I did about him! From then on, I knew, even if he hadn’t officially asked... We were going to get married!!!

Now to the part where he actually put a ring on it. You need to know that Brady thought he was being sly. He claims to have told me that he wouldn’t propose until the summer when we would both officially be in the same state again. But, that didn’t mean that I couldn’t get my hopes up when he came to visit during spring break.

Luckily, I didn’t have to wait too long. On a beautiful day in March, we walked around the front of the Salt Lake temple and, right by the reflection pool, he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him!!! Although my reaction in the video may not completely display the excitement that has enveloped my whole being... I am completely and utterly thrilled to be marrying him!

Now that we’ve got all that messy DTR stuff out of the way, we’re focusing on planning the wedding and looking forward to the day when we will finally live in the same state again.

UPDATE:  We live in the same state again. :)