There are really only a few moments in life that one can look back on and say that it really changed their life. Being baptized, going through the temple, serving a mission. Well, a Monday afternoon in January of the year 2010 was a day that truly changed my life. It was that day when I first laid eyes on my future husband! As I have reflected on the event that as a little girl, you wait for, I realized that it is time to write down my story. If anything, it is written for our posterity.
It was two days before Mary was leaving on her mission to Minnesota. She had asked me a month or so before to get her a bag for her mission. I told her I would look and seemed to have no luck. It was up to her to buy one in the MTC. One Monday afternoon, I was heading to Orem for the monthly Jolley birthday parties. As I was driving I passed a billboard for the Sister Missionary Mall. Very few times in my life have I had an impression like I did at that very moment. Many times in my life I have felt the spirit to be guided to do something but that particular day, it hit me like a lighting bolt. I had this distinct impression that I needed to go there. For about ten minutes I argued with myself telling me all the reasons I did NOT need to go there. I was hungry, I didn't know where it was, how would I get to the Jolley's from there......My mind was made up. I am not going! As I am preparing to get into the correct lane to go to the Jolley's traffic all of a sudden got awful! I could not go anywhere and before I knew it, I missed the exit and the Sister Missionary Mall was my next stop.
I found it quite easily and was on a mission to find a bag. As I walked in, I ventured around for a bit until I found what I needed. Little did I know, a few seconds behind me was Tyler. He walked into the store after me. I found what I needed, chatted with a girl that served in my mission and headed to the counter. As I approached the counter, I saw this guy. This very handsome guy with a wonderful smile (but was probably married). Looked for a ring....not one. But then figured, he would not be interested. As I was checking out Tyler asked me where I was headed on my mission. I told him that I had already done that. That started a small conversation but still had to continue with my purchase. As a gave my phone number (which was-and is still- an Idaho number) Tyler asked what part of Idaho I was from. That one tiny question turned into a twenty minute conversation and eventually him asking for my phone number. I was blown away with how bold he was and was very impressed! I was hoping so badly that he would call but in the back of my head kept thinking he wouldn't.
Sunday night he called. We talked for a few minutes, set up a date and....that was it! Our first date was great. He impressed me immediately with is kindness, respect and sense of fun. After that it is pretty much history. We continued to go on dates with each other and talked on the phone a few times a week. After a few weeks it was talking late into the night with my phone attached to the wall because I ran the battery dead talking. We started to see each other a few times a week and at 3am on Valentines Day, he kissed me for the first time. It was perfect and full of butterflies!
And after that is was history. We have experienced so much together in our over two years of dating and I wouldn't change a thing. I have learned so much about Tyler and every day I fall more and more in love with him as I continue to see the wonderful qualities he has. Every day Tyler makes me want to be a better person and shows incredible faith in me. He still to this day gives me butterflies when I see him and when he kisses me. He is a man of faith, dedication and love and I am truly grateful for that day in January where I really feel the Lord had a hand in our meeting. Call it fate or whatever you want but I know that the Lord had a hand in it! I will forever be grateful for that day where we met and now a little over 2 years later, we are planning the day when we will be sealed in the temple as husband and wife for time and all eternity. I look forward so much to that day where I can finally call him my husband and know that we will be together forever, no matter what!
And that...is my love story! Well, just the start anyway....
