Now, after attempting to do this to make better and more lasting friendships, the spring semester of 2012 ended and I was back in Albuquerque for the summer. The first thing I did was make sure I would be going to church activities. I knew I wanted to spend even more time at church and with people that would share the values I have. What do you know that the first week I show up in church, there are so many nice people! I got introduced to such kindness and was right away wrapped up in all the potential people. To put it simply, I was my normal happy excited and bubbly self. I first met Spencer when his girlfriend at the time introduced me to him my first Sunday back. Sounds a little scandalous to say it like that, but I didn't even realize she and him were going out and they ended soon after. I'm rather oblivious to obvious things apparently. ^_^
How could you not fall in love with that smile?
The next day after I met him was Family Home Evening (FHE), an activity for young adults that is held at our church. We immediately started chatting it up and were having such easy and casual conversation! This continued to the next time I saw him at the summer beginning pool party bash at Bishop Brown's house. I think I played so much in the pool with him and few others and ended up staying late at the party to talk to him forEVER. It was so nice, and Spencer always tells me one of the first things he fell in love with about me was that we could talk about anything to each other. He impressed me with his easy laughter and simple ease for caring for others as well as his politeness of opening doors.
We kept seeing each other a bit, but I never knew that he would be the one for me yet! I, in fact, ended up going on one-on-one dates with a few other boys before I tracked him into a date (at least it was to me) disguised under a CPR teaching class, which he taught. Immediately after the class, we got to talking about how his business was going. I distinctly don't remember why, but I did ask him if I could help him out with paperwork. I was instantly hired! His very first secretary. Boy was I enamored. I instantly made it my goal to be where he was as much as possible. The thing that truly impressed me and made me take notice of Spencer was that he stepped out of his comfort zone and showed up at swing dancing the next Tuesday. I hadn't even asked him to come! I had just mentioned in passing that I danced there. I pretty much fell in love right there. I was very girly and cute, or so Amanda would definitely say.
Right after painting my house
I couldn't ever hide my enjoyment of dating Spencer. After about another week of dates (one of which was dancing under the stars), I asked him to go steady with me. I beat him to the punch, but hey! I knew I wanted to date him exclusively, and why would I waste a minute of time with someone I was already falling in love with. Our summer continued with fantastically fun dates. We went to the aquarium, had a picnic in the park, went to the theaters and saw "Brave," went on walks all the time, explored Santa Fe, played board games, painted my house, went hiking, and even wrote a story and made it into a photo story to share! By the time July was ending, I had not a doubt in my mind. I knew that he was the one for me. And he knew it too.
From our photo story
Being the very cheesy and romantic and geeky girl I am, I should probably leave out some of the melting that occurred. Like the blushing and the giggling and the absolutely heart stopping.... HUGS, I said hugs! Where are all of your terrible minds?! :) I left for school nervous and already missing someone I had become such good friends with. I knew that I would work my butt off to make sure Spencer knew I loved him every day that I was gone. I wrote a letter a day and sent them weekly, I Skyped with him once or twice a week, and I did my best to text him when I thought of him (which was often). He was even the one who got to baptize me into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints after all of the waiting I had completed to finally get that point. By the time Thanksgiving rolled around we had already known for a long time that we were definitely getting married.
From the day I got baptized
What is the next step after that? Well, getting engaged of course! Spencer and I went looking at rings before Thanksgiving without really planning to do it the first time. We just were walking by a store and ended up in there looking at engagement rings. I picked a few I liked the style of and left the rest to Spencer. He asked my father on Thanksgiving Day for my hand in marriage, and my father said yes. The next day, he went off to buy the engagement ring with the help of his sister, Rachael. After that, it was a waiting game for me. I didn't know when he would do it! But, he's not very good at keeping secrets and told me we had to go for a "walk" on a day we were both to be quite busy. Of course I knew what it was going to be!
Yes, I am an exciting Skype date!
The engagement was adorable. Utterly romantic and totally sweet. It started by us bundling up for the cold and walking the normal route onto UNM campus. However, just before we reached "the spot," Spencer said he forgot something and we had to go back. By this time, I was already antsy and excited! We got back to the house and Spencer thought it might be too cold to go back out. So, he sat me back on the couch and covered my head with a blanket so I couldn't see. Some time later, he told me, "Laura, you're going to hate me." Immediately I responded, "Why?" He said, "Because I don't want to do it here." So he put everything away, we got bundled back up and headed out into the cold. We got to the park bench where we shared our first kiss and he sat me down and told me to cover my eyes while he set everything up. When I opened my eyes, there were six luminarias in a circle around me with Spencer in the middle. He asked me for a dance and of course I said yes. We danced and he complimented me the whole time. I don't think I stopped blushing or smiling for a second. At the end of the song, he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him.
I said yes.
I'm so in love <3
As such, our love continues to blossom as we plan to be married. We'll be getting married in December right before Christmas. Planning for a wedding is hard, but we've already got a place we're going to hold the reception, the flowers we're going to have, the wedding party, the engagement photos done, what the party favors are, and even have the dress I want to wear picked out! But there's so much more! We've still got to get a DJ, a reception photographer, a photobooth (maybe), invitations, a gift registry, and so much more! I have been told I am not allowed to stress out at all, so I will be working hard to stay focused and calm. But, I know I have a wonderful support by my side that I love very much. And his name is Spencer. <3
