chapter one.

i've been meaning to write this post for a while, 

but needless to say, my life has been particularly busy as of late.

The best thing ever ever ever is happening in my life-

I’m in love! I’m in love! And I don’t care who knows it!

And better yet?

I'M GETTING MARRIED!

i'll tell the proposal story first.

on May 10 i had a wedding reception to go to and Taylor was working till later in the evening like usual. when i got home from the reception, i changed and got a text from him that said, "come outside by the grass by the library." i walked outside down to the sidewalk where i saw him sitting in the grass with a puppy! i love puppies. haha. i got super excited and could hardly focus on anything else. in provo, there is a business that "rents" out puppies by the hour for college students to play with, and i had told Taylor a few times that i wanted to do it. so he was sitting by the sidewalk where our "spot" was. (sidenote: our "spot" is right outside the apartment where i live on this little sidewalk we would walk on. there is a part in the sidewalk where the concrete is all broken up and cracked- one day, we were walking down this sidewalk and he stopped me in this broken up spot and told me that he loved me for the first time. so after that, every time we would walk there- he would tell me he loved me- and thus, it became our spot.) we played with the puppy for a little bit and then my roommate hillary and good friend tessa came down and had my nice camera with them. they said they just wanted to take pictures of us with the puppy. i thought that was kinda weird. she had us walk across the street to "better lighting" and i was getting confused at what was going on. taylor then redirected us back to our spot and left hillary where she was. on the walk back, he was telling me all the things that he loved and appreciated about me. (i wish i could remember everything he said) and then as we got to our spot, he stopped me. he then got down on one knee and pulled out the ring box and said something (probably my name or something, haha. i was clearly not focusing because i was so excited) and then before he could even finish asking me to marry him i blurted out- YES YES! hillary and tess then came over and took pictures as i nearly exploded from happiness. we then returned the puppy and went to In 'N Out to celebrate! best night ever. :)

(pictures are kinda rough cause no one told me to dress cute. but that's okay. memories, right?)

 

ENGAGED!

 now.

 Let’s take a trip down memory lane, shall we?

(this isn't our whole story, but the main points and my favorite parts.)

Flashback to five years ago. 

16 year old Kara met 16 year old Taylor at EFY (a camp for youth ages 14-18 for our church) one summer. i had a cute little crush on this cute little boy, and little did i know- so did he.

we kept in touch over the phone. i still remember my heart skipping a beat whenever i would see his name pop up on my phone.

It still does.

a long time goes by.

i finally move out to Utah for college and our paths cross again. we were great friends. we always had fun and i always felt comfortable with him. the beginning of the following year brought a lot of change. a mission to Japan for him, a cancer mission for me. we didn't correspond while he was gone for his two year mission serving our church. 

2013 rolls around, and i had a feeling that this year was going to be different.

Taylor returned from his mission at the first of January, right around his birthday. we got in contact again over facebook. he got my number again and we started talking more. i saw him once or twice when he was on his way through Provo. on february 2, he invited me to go to Logan- where he was attending school. (two hours away) this was the night that changed our relationship. we got to talking about how we really felt and had felt the entire time we'd known each other. 

my heart was (and still is) bursting at the seams.

we decided to take things slow and really get to know each other- become better friends. if it hadn't had been for the distance, we would have started dating a lot sooner I think. but we took things slower. we did the long distance thing- which was way hard. every saturday was "our day" either i would drive to Logan or he would come to Provo. this little tradition continued every week.

we didn't miss one weekend together. 
these were the funnest times! i got to meet his friends, see where he went to school and lived, meet his family and he got to do the same with me.

we never had a problem with talking about things and communicating. i knew from the very beginning that he was someone i couldn't let go. i did everything i could to make sure that wouldn't happen. i have been so blessed in this relationship. we get along so well and have so much fun together. he is my absolute best friend. He has seen every single weird, crazy, surprising side of me and I love the playful and fun relationship we have. we have tiny disagreements occasionally- but we don't fight. that is something that is so important for me. but what is more important to me is the love that we share. loving Taylor was the easiest thing i've ever done. (and also the scariest!) it's so scary to make yourself vulnerable, but i knew in my heart that it was something that would bless my life.
And it has!

we started talking about the idea of our future together in late march and it just made sense. there was a lot to work out. but after much talking, praying, and serious consideration- we decided it was God’s plan for us. and better yet, we both felt like July was when it needed to happen! we have been so blessed with such supportive and loving parents and families that are excited for this day with us. i cannot wait to be a part of his family and have him become a permanent member of mine.

i love him with my whole entire heart and more.

so here we are-

in 16 days, 0 hours and 18 minutes we will be sealed for time and all eternity in the Draper LDS Temple.

i have thought about this day over and over in my head for the longest time and i know that the real thing will surpass my expectations one hundred fold.

I am overjoyed and overwhelmed by the love I feel and the many great and exciting possibilities for our future.

i have learned to love more than i ever thought possible and i am anxious and excited for the future and to learn how to love and be loved more each day.

our love story is my favorite.

i cannot wait until he is mine forever.

just remember, the best is yet to come.