Unexpected Twists- They Happen- Embrace Them

It's the first at bat in a ball game.  0-0 count, you know the pitcher throws a

fastball, curve and a slider. You expect there to be a challenging fastball and for the pitcher to prove his dominance. But this at bat went quite differently. I was at the plate and this pitcher decided to throw me a knuckle ball. Something that I have never seen before or knew how to comprehend or what to do with. But I embraced it and tried my hardest to put the bat on the ball and it is a struggle and today I still struggle to comprehend and read the spin on that oh so tricky knuckle ball.

Now this story isn't about my life as a hitter or anything

like that buts its to tell you a little story about the best knuckle ball I was ever thrown and it began about a month and a half ago.

It was an average day, not much had gone on. I had worked at both my jobs and got caught up on homework and worked out and was feeling good. I went to hang out with one of my best friends and he suggested we go get frozen yogurt. I said "sure why not, seems like a good idea and I am in the mood for some of that." So we left and we got there and I see one of the girls that I had texted earlier that day and asked for her stats. I said a little bit to her, exchanged greetings and we both went on living the lives we were meant to live...at least we thought we would.

The next morning comes around. It's a beautiful Friday morning. She texts me about mid-day and we actually end up talking. I usually never text those who need to text me their stats back. But I did this time because she initiated the conversation. Then it flowed, like we had know each other for awhile. To this point we had known each other for a few months, seen each other at meetings and exchanged awkward greetings in the halls. But, we started talking more and ended up on a date the night she texted me.

However, here is the kicker. I was just about 2 months removed from my previous engagement and her she was just about a month removed from hers. Yeah, a little crazy right? Trust me it gets better. Keep reading.

At this point we ended up on the first date. I wasn't

thinking too much and was thinking this be a good way to get back out there and start over again and see what dating was like again. We went bowling, to a basketball game I was coaching, then to ice cream, then we went back and watched Fuller House at my place.(Great show, if you haven't already binged watched it. Go do it.) Anyway, after this date I ended up taking her home and texting a little bit and then the next day came around and we hung out again. By this point we had held hands and talked about how we wanted a relationship that moved slow and pretty much everything else under the sun that probably shouldn't come out on the first couple dates.

Next kicker, I have never been very emotionally available. It's one of my biggest weaknesses. Ask anyone who knows me. But with this girl, I was so comfortable telling her everything about me and letting her see my true colors. As I do this, most girls especially the cute ones like her flee. She didn't and that's when I knew she was special. After two days, 48 hours, I knew I wanted to be with this girl and I wanted to be with her for a long time.

Let's fast-forward a few days. We are sitting on the couch in my apartment and talking and then she says in all matters of joking "marry me?" I without hesitation said "yes." Why I did this? Who knows? But we instantly felt something go off inside of us. A burning in the bosom and her and I both being of the same faith and beliefs, we decided to take it to our higher power for an answer. We got on our knees together and prayed. We felt a confirmation come from that conversation. Then we decided to take it to the Temple together and then once again we felt confirmation that we should and supposed to be married. So, we went and bought rings. We decided from that day forward, we were going to be a very direct and open couple. We knew when things needed to be done, especially on the Lord's timing.

Later, she proposes to me in the cutest of ways. Yes, very unorthodox of the Woman proposing to the Man. But it happened and I said "yes". Of course I did! I had known this girl for less than a week and we were engaged to be married. Now this was a whirlwind and a knuckle-ball that was thrown our way. But we have gotten through the struggles and hardships because there have been many. We have gone through family struggles, sickness, arguments, anger, happiness, joy, hurt each-others feelings. But at the end of the day we know how much we love the other and how this relationship is a blessing for both of us. We have decided to be married this May, Just two short months after we have started dating.

Now, you may have some questions like "why get married

so soon?" "Aren't you too young to be married?" "Why not wait?" "How did you know to get married to this person?" " Are you sure this is what you should be doing?" There are probably more that I didn't mention here. But if you would like to know more please just comment a question and I would love to answer it. But let me answer these first.

Why so soon? This seems to be the biggest question from

everyone.  We feel we need to get married for reasons that I can't post on here. But we feel like we need to be married sooner because we are both ready to start this journey of life together. We know each other well enough to be married to one another. We love each other greatly and we have felt a distinct plan and prompting from our Father in Heaven to do this and make this step.

Aren't you too young to be married? Don't get me wrong 21 years old for myself and 18 for my beautiful bride to be. But however in our culture or being Mormon, we find it appropriate to marry young once you find the right person and are ready to do so. We are encouraged by our leaders to not put off and to embrace it and to go for it when the opportunity arises. We are encouraged to follow the spirit in these decisions.

We have done our very best to do this. We have spent

countless time on our knees, reading the scriptures, counseling with religious leader and countless hours in the temple making sure this is correct. In the end, we know this what we need to do and we know the other person is the person we are supposed to be with. We have felt the spirit overcome us during several of our prayers and confirm the truth of our choices to us.

Why not wait? This question is most commonly followed by

either "You have the rest of your lives" or "You have the rest of eternity together.." Again this is one of those that we have received sacred feelings about that we have chosen not to discuss with our closet of family and friends.  But we often oppose the question right back "Why wait?" Yes, we  have a wedding to plan and its so much fun and stress. We have things to plan for school and other things. But what it really boils down to is our sacred feelings. But also, just the love and feelings we have had.

We struggled and are still battling different dates because

of family. But we originally decided April 9th. Eh, didn't feel good about it. Then we thought why not July after our semester is over? Eh, didn't feel good about that. Then we prayed, and we felt suddenly good about May 14th and then we checked with family and things. Eh, couldn't work out. But now we are between two days and those are May 6th and 7th. (If you are reading this and weren't aware, I am sorry. You will be informed shortly of exact details.)  But in the end, we are doing this on the Lords time and not ours. We are following our plan that he has for us and we wouldn't want it any other way.

The last two I will end with "How do you know you're supposed to marry this person?" and "Are you sure this is what you're supposed to be doing?"  I know this is the person I am supposed to be marrying because she makes me want to be a better man. She pushes me to greatness. She is the woman of my dreams. She is the woman the Lord has told me I will be with. There isn't one thing I don't love about her. Perfections, imperfections, weakness and strengths. I love them all. I love and care about her unconditionally. She makes me feel a way no other woman has ever. I know for a fact that she would say these same things about me. But that'ts why I get my own blog so I can brag about her.

To answer the second question. I would say HECK YES! I have no doubt. My faith and her faith are in our Savior and our God. We know this is what they want and we are going for it. It's funny because the saying is true, " you know when you know." You really don't know until you have the one. You really don't know that you have hit a home run until you've done it. Because if not, you may just be settling for a base hit.

Thanks for reading our story. Please further questions reach out to us. Talk to us. Comment, share and spread our story. There is more to it, but we want to get this out there for all to read and all to see. To help clear confusion, hurt feelings and others anxiety as well as ours.

Love, peace and hair grease!