With All of My Heart

Let's flashback to my freshman year of college. 

I was a chipper 18-years-old, fresh out of Eldorado High School and I thought I knew everything there was to know about life. I felt confident about myself, sure about my major and college plan, and more importantly, how my life would turn out. That was before I met Aaron.

Meet my best friend, Aaron Taylor.

He's pretty great. He's tall enough to grab the vegetable oil from the top of the cupboard, he can crack a witty response before you blink an eye, and he's pretty handy with a can opener. But that's not why I love him.

From almost the first day I met him, I had a strong feeling that he was going to be important. I wasn't exactly sure how he would fit into my life but the more I talked to him and learned about who he is, the more I wanted to know about him. In the beginning, it was like most typical crushes: working up the courage to talk to him after band, running home and telling my roommates each time we talked, and lots of joking about our eventual marriage. (We were college freshmen, what can you expect?)

Then a crazy thing happened. In November of 2011, I made the Pep Band for the BYU Men's Basketball team! So did Aaron. I never even thought I'd have a chance at making it so I was blown away at the results! There was only two possible reasons for this miraculous event: fate or pure luck. I prefer to think that it was fate.

It was a magical season watching Jimmer Fredette light up the basketball court and sitting next to Aaron all season long. Those games were the highlight of my week and we got to travel around with the team during conference season! It was simply a dream come true!

Towards the end of the school year, I was walking by the Wilkinson Center ticket counter and without even knowing it, I found myself buying two tickets to the comedy group on campus, Divine Comedy. Before I had a chance to really think about it, I was asking Aaron to go with me! He took me to dinner before hand and after lots of laughter and a wonderful night, I was already a goner. I had never had so much fun on a date in my entire life! Every other date paled in comparison!

Over the summer I spent in Albuquerque, we talked on the phone once a week for a few weeks and I couldn't wait to go back to Provo! When I returned, after a few wonderful dates, we were, as my dad would call it, "going steady". After 8 months, a few bumps and hitches, and a lot of wonderful memories, I was more in love than I ever thought was possible.

After a year and 8 months of knowing each other, 8 months dating, I can't imagine my life without him by my side. Lucky for me, I don't have to!

Aaron wrote a clever play detailing the different aspects of our relationship and the events that led to this point as we role played our former selves. Ending with what he had already done that day, Aaron knelt down and I began to cry. All of my life, I have been waiting for that moment when I knew without a shadow of a doubt that I knew the person I was going to spend the rest of my life with. Someone to laugh with and who could lift me up when I'm sad. Someone to finish my sentences and someone to inspire me everyday. Someone to love for all eternity. I was looking right at him.

I said yes! My life feels like a fairy tale, not because it's perfect and that it's always easy but because everything is worth it! You know what the best part is? Our story is just beginning.