Hope in Others

Since forever I have always had a hard time trusting others. I don't think I have ever stood alone in this feeling. Everyone has gone through a trial in their lives that has brought them to having less hope or trust in others. But every once in awhile someone comes into your life and brings that sign of hope and trust back. Mine came into my life in the 9th grade.

Although I lost all of our pictures of us together in High School,the day of this picture changed my life forever. I had just moved home. To be honest, I didn't want to be there. My life, to some extent, was broken. I felt empty and I knew that I had to get out of the terrible funk I was in. I wanted to fish and I knew my friend James had just gotten home from his mission. We dated a little bit every year since Junior High. Cliche, I know, but I love the past we have spent together. From the phone calls that his family would listen in on because he didn't have a cell phone, to his pink polo he wore on our first date- I love every part of it.

When he came to the door to pick me up.. My first thought was "dang!" Haha!  He was so cute in his tight wranglers and more than anything, he glowed. He was so happy and it was from the light of Christ. That night was perfect. We were in the canyon and just talked and laughed and it was so romantic! Looking back I am surprised it actually was romantic because we suck at being romantic! Like bad. I knew that day that he was going to be in my life.

I was a mess though. I didn't want to let anyone into my life that couldn't handle it, so of coarse I was nervous. Heck, I just wanted a friend and the fact that we fished was a bonus!  But Heavenly Father had other plans. 

Things progressed quickly and I remember multiple nights where I knew he was the one. One was when I sat him down and told him why I was home.  I told him that I understand if he wanted to run... But he didn't. 

I had accepted a job in Utah before James and I started getting serious.  I figured that this would be a 'make it or break it" in our relationship.  And with my luck, I didn't think he would stay around. We had 3 weeks before I left, so we did everything fun we could think of including spontaneous cliff jumping with jeans on where he accidentally jumped on me!

 

And even though it hurt real bad. I loved every second we spent together and I was not looking forward to leaving at all.  The plan was to work till the end of the summer, which was 3 months and see where we were at by the end of that. 

I won't lie. It was hard. When I didn't cry at night on the phone, he did.  It was bad. I came home as much as possible. It got to the point where we knew we were going to get married. And then he asked me!

 

He welded that sign:) and re-enacted our first date. It was beyond perfect. It was even harder to go back to Utah.  Soo... I lasted one month:)

I moved back home and have never looked back. I never thought I would marry the guy that threw paper airplanes at me in English class. And I honestly didn't ever think I could be in love with someone so much, either. 

I want everyone reading this to smile.  Smile because there are others around you that love you.  Believe that our Heavenly Father has a plan for you.  He lets things fail so others will succeed. If I found hope in someone anyone can.