My favorite books are hopeless romantic, full of passion type that leads to lots of tears.
Brent and I have passed through each others lives a few times with out even knowing it. We both grew up in Clinton, Utah, not far from each other. As a young child a mere block. We were in the same ward even, and had participated in some of the same activities. I don't remember him specifically being there though.
My family and I moved across town, still in Clinton, but further away from Brent and out of his ward. Latter as I was a 7th grader at Sunset Jr high, he was an 9th grader at the same school. I had started into band, and he had been been in band since he started jr high. We remember some of the same band concerts, but not each other.
He went to North Ridge, and I went to Clearfield High. (Go Falcons!) We both may have been thinking of our future spouses, but neither one of us is who we thought we were thinking of at the time.
Brent spent his time with a good group of friends. He played the trumpet in band for six years. He went to probably every school dance. He liked having fun on dates. He was a faithful member to the LDS church. He graduated in 2009. Brent started school at Weber state, soon after went on a mission to Sao Paulo, Brazil. He learned how to speak fluent Portuguese. After returning from his mission he started attending the LDS Clinton Young Singles Adult ward. He had goals of becoming an engineer and marrying a girl. He took his goals quit seriously and started dating a lot, with his new gain of confidence.
I, Kerstie spent my time with a few close friends. I didn't go on lots of dates, but had a few serious boyfriends. I realized soon enough how fun high school dances were, wishing I had realized sooner. I enjoyed taking classes in different subjects at school. My senior year I was baptized a member of the LDS church. (At the same point in time Brent was on his mission at the time of my baptism) Soon after I was faced with a hardship. I started to struggle. I was hurting. I graduated in 2011. I worked and played a lot. I started the general math program at Weber State. I started attending the LDS Clinton Young Singles Adult ward.
As I was struggling with my faith, this is where our paths crossed again. Brent had been home from his mission a couple months. It was between February-March of 2012. The singles ward was having a linger longer that Sunday. I had brought a non -member friend of mine to church with me. She was an out going person. We sat at a table across from Brent. I don't remember who else was around us. I don't remember the meal we were eating, my guess is breakfast for some reason. I remember he was wearing his suit. I was wearing a brown dress. I was shy. I didn't say anything to him except hi and when asked, my name is Kerstie. While my friend sat and talked to him. Asking him about Brazil. I couldn't say anything, I was struck with something while I stared at him in awe. He looked so familiar to me. Very familiar. Almost as if I knew him from some where.
Time passed and I had decided to work at Trefoil Ranch. A camp I would be living, and working at for three months the coming summer. It was part of my decision in that I needed to be happier. I needed to heal.
The day before I drove to camp, I finished packing. I stuck everything in my car ready to go. I had been called in the singles ward on the activities committee. That night before I started at Trefoil the singles ward was having an activity. The only reason I made time to go, was because it was part of my calling. I had been asked to bring a salad, my kind sister made it for me while I was busy packing.
The activity was at a park in West Point. They had planned to roast hot dogs and marshmallows. I came alone. A group started a game of softball, and I would have joined in, however this Brent guy started talking to me. The whole night Brent and I sat and talked. We may have laughed at another persons joke, or said hi to a familiar friend, but we were very engaged in each other. I had that same awe, I can't take my eyes off this man, kind of feeling. We talked about everything about each others life's. It felt very natural. I had to inform him that the next morning I would be leaving town for three months. He was disappointed. He wanted to ask me out on a date right then and there.
Trefoil was great to me! I grew as a person tremendously! It was the healing I had been looking for. It was faith building! Going through growth so much, so fast, was hard on me. Yet it was very spiritual. I loved it! This summer Brent had been dating other girls. While I hardly saw a man in one week at an all girls camp. We had put each other in the back of our minds.
Summer came to an end as it always does. I returned home beginning of August. I started attending Weber State full time, ready to take life head on. The week I came home I had two guys who I decided to kind of pursue. I planned a date with one. The same week I went with a friend to a singles ward activity. Brent was there. I was excited, yet very disappointed that he was with other girls. I kept my distance even if the other girls were just his ride.
That Sunday at church, Brent walked right up to me and asked me out on a date! Of course I said yes. Even if I had other dates. Thankfully those didn't turn out the way I planned anyways.
The day of our first date was September 22nd 2012. Two good friends of mine from camp were visiting me. I had been spending the day with them so I couldn't go on a hike that day like Brent had planned. Instead we went on a night hike up water fall canyon. I talked his ears off!! I thought for sure I had made a fool of my self! I didn't really want to go all the way up the trail to the waterfall that night. I didn't trust him enough yet to be miles in the wilderness in the dark. We stuck close around the beginning of the trail head. Finding other trails to explore. That night also happened to be Weber States homecoming game, which meant while we were on the mountain behind the university we were able to have a great view of the fireworks. As we were having a moment from the movies sitting and watching the fire works, Brent asked me if I wanted to kiss. I was taken back, my heart stopped. It was our first date? What was he thinking? Then he handed me a Hershey kiss with a smile on his face. Not sure if he knew the anxiety he has just caused me. He brought me home that night at a decent time.
The next Sunday in church we were of course all the talk at a singles ward. Nothing is a secret. Specially when it comes to dating! He sat next to me the whole time. Made me feel good when he put his arm around me.
We started meeting up at Weber State walking to each others classes together and having endless conversations.
He texted me non stop, using all his prepaid minutes.
I was still a little shy though.
That next weekend was general conference weekend and he had invited me to watch it with him and his family. I worked at Trefoil though that weekend, and came home more sick then I had ever been in a long while. I was throwing up and very faint, when their was a knock on the door. He had brought me a get well car and cookies. Worst of all my sister let him in and down stairs to see my sickly self! I chased him out back upstairs, as I was trying not to collapse.
First of October meant Halloween time! A group of friends from the singles ward went to a haunted house together. I stood my ground as I made the plans and paired us up. I looked to Brent and said I am going to be holding your arm through the whole thing. He didn't complain. I hate haunted houses though. So does he. We had an adventure though it. It was great I loved clinging to him. At the end of the night though as we went in separate cars to go home, I told my friends in the car that I just wasn't feeling it with him. I can't believe I had said that, I think I just wasn't feeling the haunted house!
It didn't stop though, the endless conversations, him walking me to all my classes. We started having lunch together at Weber State between classes. We started packing one for each other. I poured my heart out to him. I told him things I tell my best friend. I started realizing that he was a great friend. We didn't go a day with out seeing each other once.
By the end of October we had made it official. With him expressing his feelings towards me with a song. The Best Thing by Reliant K. The song rung true in every way. I was love struck.
We had gone on a hike with his family. We started making time, excuses, and effort to see each other any minute we could spare! We went to the singles ward Halloween party as a couple dressed as Fred and Wilma Flintstones and won the best couples costume contest!
We were pretty high and happy off of each other. We were up too late talking to each other. One night he had wanted to talk in person, so I drove over to his house. It was too late to go inside so we sat in my freezing car. He handed me a rules list to keep respect between one another and keep our bodies sacred. He was pretty serious about it. I looked to him in high respect for treating me so well. I had never had a guy before in my life treat me the way he did. Little did we know we had killed my car. Poor guy had trouble jump starting my car in the dark and had fried my radio.
A mere month latter by the end of Thanksgiving we started talking marriage. We had spent a day doing baptisms at the LDS Bountiful temple. Its a day we both look back in awe at just how magical it was! Everything was just right! I was very happy! He was making me a better person! Everything felt very natural! It always had with Brent. He took me for a walk to explain his marriage intentions and that he had prayed about it and felt great about it. I too prayed and got an absolute yes about it all! We planned a date with my parents so that Brent could ask my dad. I was terrified for him. I thought he was going to puke! My dad gave us a good talking to. We bought a ring that week!!
Then I waited... and waited... my birthday came and went. We went to temple square lights. We went to very expensive fancy dinner and I was still waiting..
Christmas day came of 2012 and he asked me to spend the evening alone with him. He took me to the park in West Point where our story really had started.
It was freezing and dark. We made a fire that couldn't keep us warm enough. We roasted a hot dogs and marshmallows for our Christmas dinner. He then pulled out a bag of strawberry star burst. I sat roasting one when he asked me to hand him a yellow one. I replied that their wasn't any yellow ones in the bag. It didn't come with that color. He asked me too again, and I thought he was crazy. Little did I know he had put the ring in the bag and had wanted me to find it. He sat by me searching in the bag since I wouldn't do it myself. Soon he stopped and turned to me on his knee asking if I would marry him. Of course I said yes! Then he asked which finger the ring goes on? haha Oh I love that man!
I had always planned on having an out doors wedding so we decided to wait a few months. I needed time to plan a wedding anyways. I think it helped my parents too. We had only spent 3 short months dating before we were engaged. Now we would spend 5 months engaged. It seemed like a long time! We had a lot of fun though!
May 30th 2013 we got married in the LDS Logan Utah Temple! With all the stress of planning a wedding, that day it all didn't matter. It was perfect! My eyes were glued on the man of my dreams! Brent bawled as we sat and waited to be sealed. My checks hurt from smiling in happiness! It truly was the best day of my life!
(and I finally got to french kiss him the minute after the ceremony was over! lol)
It seems like so long ago now that we first met....
And we live Happily Ever After!!
Part 2 the fun Honeymoon story coming soon...
