Our Story

Where does the time go?? A year ago on the 11th my very best friend got home from his mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. WHAAAT?!

On May 29, 2013 Dakota left for his mission to Busan, South Korea. ONE WEEK after High School graduation.

I was devastated to say the least. Excited, yes. But scared out of my mind.

What was going to happen?

Would we work out?

So many questions.

But I had faith and kept going. Or at least tried to. :)

The day Dakota left was one of the worst days of my life. I cried and cried and stayed in my bed all day long.

I just wanted to be with my best friend.

I stared at the countdown on my phone and wished the days would go by faster, but they didn't.

Then I got my first letter from him! I was ecstatic and read it over and over again. :)

Time went on and I got more letters and pictures as well. I LOVED seeing his face. :)

I went off to college for a semester and then....

I decided to go on a mission myself!

I wanted to go to Korea, but instead...

I went to Federal Way, Washington! ;)

It was BEAUTIFUL!! And I met the most amazing people.

I can't even explain what an incredible experience it was. I found out for myself that my Savior lives and loves me. I felt the Spirit lead and guide my companion and I to where we needed to go and who we needed to talk to. I saw the gospel bring hope into the lives of others. To put it simply, the restored gospel of Jesus Christ changes people for the better if they will choose to accept it. 

I also made some friends that I will love my entire life. :) 

So fast forward 18 months of joy, heartache, smiles, and tears...

And I came home! No, Dakota was not at the airport. He had football practice, so we wouldn't be able to see each other until the next day. In my last email home, he told me that he'd come to my house on Tuesday night after he got done with football practice. But I sure as heck wasn't going to wait any longer. So on Tuesday, my dad and I went and got me a cell phone and then I headed down to Pocatello to surprise Dakota. :) I hadn't even talked to him because I wanted it to be a complete surprise! So I stalked him.. with the help of his mom. :) 

I watched the end of his practice from a distance and then walked around trying to find him. I ended up running into one of his friends who also plays football and asked him where Dakota was. He was like, "WOAH! What are you doing here?? Dakota is going to be so surprised!" Haha. He then told me that Dakota was in the locker room trying to shower and change real fast so that he could come and see me! So I went out to the parking lot and ran to his car. By this time my heart felt like it was going to beat right out of my chest. I was SO nervous but couldn't wipe the smile off of my face. It had been a long 2.5 years without my best friend and I was FINALLY going to be able to see him again! 

So I sat in his car for what seemed like an eternity as he showered and changed out of his sweaty football clothes. Then I saw him. I filmed him walking out of the locker room doors and walk towards his car. When he was about 50 feet away he spotted me and started jogging my way. I got out of the car and we both ran towards each other and embraced in a big ol' hug. 

He was shocked and pretty speechless. All he could say was, "What are you doing?!"

Basically, it was the greatest thing ever. 

You could say we were pretty happy to see each other again. ;) 

Fast forward again to October 9th. (10 days after I got home)

We took the razor out to 4th of July Canyon! 

It was so much fun!! And absolutely beautiful. :) 

And then... 

This happened. :D 

Yeah, we get things done. :) Haha. You could say we're crazy.. but I just think we're crazy in love. When you know, you just know. 

Dakota and I were married about a month and a half after I got home, on November 20, 2015. 

I know with all of my heart that the same church that Jesus Christ established is on the earth today, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Because of our membership in this church, Dakota and I were able to be sealed together FOREVER in the Temple of the Lord. It has definitely been the greatest blessing of my life! We're not perfect, but this gospel is. And I'm so glad that I get to have this handsome man by my side for the rest of eternity. We're striving to be the best that we can be by coming unto Christ.

 

I love you Dakota!! Happy 6 months. :)