10 Years

Today is a pretty awesome day. 

January 13th, 2015.

It was 10 years ago today (January 13th, 2005) that I confessed-to my best friend in all the world-just how much I liked him. Boy, was I a nervous wreck telling him!...but it was the best decision I've ever made. 

I posted this on FB this morning and my sister said she wanted the more detailed version. I thought about posting it on the original post but....decided if someone wants to read it they can come see it here instead. :)

The more detailed version for your reading pleasure:

Bryce and I started talking on the phone every day in Nov of 2004 (my senior year, his first year of college before leaving on a mission). 

PS- we had met in Seminary when we both lived in St Louis, MO, 4 years prior, when I was 14. But we had been in different grades and just never got to know each other super well. Then got back in touch through a mutual friend.

Those first two months we just became amazing friends and turned to each other for and about everything. He was getting ready to go on a mission in June and I was three states away anyway. As a matter of fact, around Christmas time he told me about how a girl in his singles ward was trying to get his attention. I told him point blank that he shouldn't be dating and should focus on going on a mission..... I was being totally honest but he'll tell you I was saving him for myself.

Well fast forward two weeks later, (January 13th, 2005) I was beside myself. I was completely totally in love with this boy. He would jokingly call me babe because he knew I hated but....but actually loved it. And would tell me how we were gonna get hitched and have a farm with chickens. He liked to ruffle my feathers.

I remember driving to Jen's house and telling her how agonizing it all was. :) And she helped me figure out how to tell him that I liked him but maintain our friendship if he wasn't interested in me the same way.

That evening Bryce and I talked but I was seriously so terrified....He was my best friend and I didn't want things to be weird. We hung up without me saying anything and I kicked myself into gear and called him back. I would have to pull out an old journal to see exactly what I said but it was something to the effect of "Hey, I just had to tell you something and I don't want you to be weirded out and it's like, SO not a big deal. (can you say 'big fat liar'?) But I really like you....a lot. And you SO do not have to say anything back.....except...... you should...."  He told me to calm down and that he liked me too.  So for the next hour, we reveled in our 'liking'.  Bahaha!

So we became official and soon after he drove to Arizona- to my world- to take me to my Senior Prom. While he was there we went hiking, to the lake, playing with friends and adventuring. We kissed and he gave me a poem he had written for me (don't tell him I told!) and maybe kissed some more... 

Then I visited him as well-to see his world- we went shooting and 4-wheeling, jumped into the pool fully clothed, went flying and climbed on the barn roof to watch the sunset. I visited in June again to be there for his farewell talk. 

From there I think most people know our story-- he went to Madagascar for two years to serve the Lord. I wrote him a letter every single week, went to college and dated while he was gone (per our agreement). Trust me, he'll tell you differently to have some sympathy but we had agreed! ;)

He got home and since I had a scholarship at USU, he worked for 5 months and then packed up and moved to Utah to be near me. We dated and reveled in living in the same town (3 years after starting to date!!). Four months later he proposed (I already had my dress picked out), two months later, on June 13th, 2008 (yes, the 13th was on purpose), we got married in the Bountiful, Utah Temple from Time and Eternity.

So that's the story! I'm still pretty proud that I started it all, P.S. ;)