No tags yet.
My Happily Ever After
My wedding day will always be one of my favorite days. However, our journey together will always be the true beginning of our forever.
I was at a point in my life where I was just "doing my own thing" and experimenting with life. I graduated from High School and was attending College on an athletic scholarship to play soccer. I stopped attending church and even convinced myself that soccer and my teammates were more important than church and even at some points my own family. When I wasn't on the field I was at work, and when I wasn't at work, I was on the field. Long story short, I just reached a point where all I truly cared about was soccer and staying as far away from church as possible.
Well, one Sunday, I didn't have soccer and I had the day off of work. My mom had been nagging me to come to church at least every now and then and for some reason, I felt a small desire to go that day. So there I was, sitting in sacrament meeting with my parents. Half asleep because well... morning church. It ended up being one of my old friend's farewell talks and a missionaries homecoming talk. After my friend spoke for pretty much the whole meeting, the Bishop introduced the last speaker and then gave him the floor. "Good afternoon ya'll , for those of you who don't know me, my name is Brent Dunville and....." I completely stopped listening after that. Fun fact : I have a VERY soft spot for southern accents and attractive men. I tapped my dad on the shoulder and said that I needed to find me one of those. Of course, after the meeting, I went home and forgot about the kid cause... I mean.. what returned missionary would want to be with me?
THE NEXT DAY, I received a friend request and a message from a Brent Dunville. I thought it was just because we had mutual friends from church and accepted his request. Right after accepting, my phone goes off and I had a message from BRENT. He introduced himself and asked if I knew anything about the Singles ward. I didn't want to lie to the guy so I was pretty blunt with him and said that I haven't been to church in a while and don't really know anything about the single's ward. Thinking I wouldn't hear back from him, he invites me to a church activity. And guess what I said? NO. (you thought i was gonna say yes.. hehe). I had a soccer game. He sent me his number and told me to let him know when I was free. That night, my soccer game ended up being cancelled and I was stuck with nothing to do. My mom and I were catching up (since I was never home) and got to the conversation of that cute elder who spoke in church on Sunday. I mentioned that he gave me his number and wanted to hang out tonight but I said I was busy. Guys, I kid you not, my mom ran straight towards me and tried grabbing my phone to call this boy to come pick me up ASAP and take me out. My mom has never been so persistent with anything as she was trying to get my phone from me in that moment. After several threats from my mom saying she would get his number herself, I told her I would message him. So, I did. He invited me to get breakfast with him the next morning after I had soccer practice.
So there I was, at home getting ready for this breakfast date with Brent. I didn't think or worry too much about it because I knew that the second he would hang out with me he would realize I wasn't the kind of "Mormon girl" he was looking for. I WAS WRONG. After being with this guy for 15 minutes, I was already head over heels crazy for this boy. He was hilarious. As everyone sees the typical returned missionary, you think they would be awkward, shy, or even try to share a spiritual message or two to ya. Well, the first thing Brent asked me was if I knew who James the Mormon was. I'm over here thinking "Great, he is going to share some sort of Mormon Tabernacle music to me" BOY WAS I WRONG. Not only did I have a new crush, but I was now hooked of this "James" kid. (ps: check him out). He had a good taste in music, was hilarious, and somehow always knew what to say to keep a smile on my face. After getting breakfast, Brent asked me if I had ever been to Costa Vida. I never had. He told me that he would pick me up at 7 that night and to be ready for the best food ever. TWO DATES IN ONE DAY.
It was every day after that that we saw each other once, and sometimes even twice a day. We couldn't seem to say goodbye. I even started being interested in church again. No, not to reach Brent's expectations, but because I truly felt the positive spirit Brent had, and I desired to feel that same way. Guess where he got it? From church. So here I was, requesting Sundays off at work, going to church with this attractive, blue eyed guy every Sunday, and finding myself constantly having this boy other than soccer on my mind.
Well, August 1st, we made it official that we were dating. And... August 24th, we were ENGAGED. Yep, you read that right. 24 days. I know.... crazy. I even made fun of people who moved so quickly in relationships like this! So here I was, 19 years old, and engaged to someone I knew for barely even a month. But you know what? When it is right, I promise you, it is right.
As I said before, I was inactive from church and was not able to be married or sealed to my future husband in the Temple. This was heart breaking for me because being sealed to a family has always been a goal of mine and I let myself down by making poor decisions. Well, after many discussions with my family, Brent, and my Bishop, we realized that it is important to me to be sealed in the Temple with Brent. So, after going back to church and going through my own repentance process, a year later we were married and sealed together in the Gilbert, Arizona Temple.
The atonement of Jesus Christ is REAL and it impacts my life every day. Some people think it is just for having your sins forgiven, but it is for so much more than that! Not only was I able to return to church and go through the Temple because of the power of repentance, I was able to be sealed to my husband for eternity. It is because of the Atonement that we can be with our families forever, it is because of the Atonement that we can be comforted, it is because of the Atonement that we can be forgiven, and it is because of the Atonement that we can return to Him again.
I am so thankful for my own little Love Story and for the impact it has on my daily life. I love my husband, and am SO blessed to be where I am today with him.
( Link to our wedding video ----> https://vimeo.com/228162485 )
