To Eternity & Beyond

I’ve already told the story a million times: to Brian’s YSA ward, my family, his family, his extended family, and all my coworkers today, and ya know what? 

IT. NEVER. GETS. OLD.

I’m sure to everyone else who’s within earshot is sick of my excited screams but too bad, I won’t apologize for it.

So everyone else that I don’t see on a daily basis wants to know how it happened and I figured this was the best way to share it, so here we have it…

Saturday, July 25, Brian and I went to a Bees game. For all you non-Utahans, the Bees are the minor league team for the Anaheim Angels. And Mike Trout played for the Bees, which makes them significantly cooler. 

Brian was super excited for this game which should have tipped me off that something strange was going on. My soon-to-be husband is all too happy to play sports, but when it comes to watching them he’s less than enthused. He is a great sport (pun intended) when it comes to accompanying me to various sporting events though. 

Brian packed drinks, snacks, and a blanket and we picked up Jimmy John’s (because I was feigning for a Turkey Tom) and we planned a picnic dinner outside the stadium. We were sitting on the southwest side of the stadium when a foul balled flew behind the stadium and landed in front of us. Brian then proceeded to ask me if I had ever caught a foul ball and told me how he never had but wanted one, and maybe we sat in the right spot. I told him “I doubt it, it’s kind of like the saying ‘lightning never strikes the same place twice.’” Little did I know…

The second thing that should have tipped me off: Brian "wasn’t hungry.” This doesn’t happen. There has only been once instance where this statement was accurate and it was for a period of 12 hours when he was upchucking constantly. Secretly I think that’s why he proposed: the sight/sound of vomit doesn’t make me run for the hills.

So after I’ve sufficiently stuffed my face, we go inside to watch some of the game. During our time at the game, Brian was on his phone constantly texting his friend Austin “about Elders Quorum business.” After the 5th inning, we went back outside because Brian’s appetite had suddenly reappeared. We sat down on our blanket where we had left our drinks and Brian opened his sandwich that was completely swarming with ants. Third reason I should have known: he didn’t even seem mad about his lack of dinner, he just started eating a granola bar as though his stomach wasn’t growling like he hadn’t eaten for a year. 

While sitting there talking, all of the sudden another foul ball drops about 15 feet in front of us. Brian jumps up and runs over to pick it up. Our conversation went like this:

Me: "Wow, I guess lightning does strike the same place twice. You got your foul ball.”

B: “Yeah, but I don’t think its for me, it has your name on it.”

<insert my thoughts about how this is something cheesy Brian would normally say when giving me something to convince me to take it from him, even though he secretly wants it>

But then he got close enough that I could see the ball. Apparently my expression was entirely blank as my mind started screaming “OH MY GOSH, IT REALLY DOES HAVE MY NAME ON IT.” He got down on one knee, pulled the ball apart (he had cut it in half, had the Relief Society president from his ward hand stitch my name into the ball, and fashioned it into a ring box), and there was my ring. Then as you can imagine:

Me: “OH MY GOSH OH MY GOSH OH MY GOSH <tears, laughter, more OMG’s>

So he asked me to marry him, and it was sealed with a kiss… or 50.

Afterward, I learned that the texts to Austin had nothing to do with EQ, but read something like, “Make sure the ring is in there tight…. Don’t throw it too hard… Make sure the ball is sealed shut… Dude are you here?… Ok you're in the right spot right??…” Etc. Austin of course had thrown the ball, and luckily, he’s an incredible photographer that captured it all on camera for us.

It’s been two days and it still doesn’t feel like real life. I don’t think I ever imagined to feel the way I do about Brian. From the moment we started talking and dating, I never had a single doubt that he was exactly who he says he is. I’ve never doubted him or questioned my ability to trust him, which I thought would be unheard of. From the day I met him, I’ve always known he cared more about me than himself. Not only because that’s how he is with everyone, but because he’s shown me every single day since that he will always honor me, cherish me, and fight for me. 

I didn’t know that relationships were supposed to be so fun, carefree, and easy. I guess you never realize how good it can be until you’re out of a storm and onto better things. I am so happy to spend eternity with the man of my dreams. I’m blessed to be marrying into the most incredible, loving, and Christ-like family and to have the CUTEST nieces and nephews. I've already been looking at wedding dresses online and planning out the fine details with my soon to be mother-in-law and I'm so excited for this next step of our lives. 

I am so grateful for the Gospel in my life and all the positive changes joining the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has had for me. It has been the greatest choice of my life.