The Story of Us (Part 3)

               

(At my brothers wedding the summer before 10th grade)

                        At the end of my 10th grade year  I decided I really wanted to move on from high school. After much talking, prayer, and thinking my parents agreed to allow me to graduate at the end of my 11th grade year. We came up with a plan, I would take my 11th grade classes in school and homeschool myself for my 12th grade classes on the side. So essentially, I did my 11th and 12th grade year at the same time. My parents talked to the principle and some of the other staff and they agreed it was ok for me to do that. My English/history teacher gave my mom books and tests and work books for me to work out of.
                    Summer went by and soon enough it was September 2012. School started and life was crazy. I was officially a senior, I got senior privileges and everything. Ty and I still led worship together, played soccer, and signed up for drama class. It was a great beginning to the school year. Ty was planning to go to Kenya, Africa in November with the team from our church. Before he left we decided to go on a date. So, he picked me up and we went to Saratoga Battle Field. We walked four miles...and of course I wore heels. Yes, thats right...heels. I always say..I'd rather my shoes be cute then comfy!

                 While we were walking Ty said he had been thinking and praying and wanted to talk to me. He said "We should get married." I kind of laughed and said I know, we are going to someday. He said "No, how about when we graduate?" We were planning to go away to Colorado for school and thought it would be a good idea to be married. We love each other and we knew we were going to get married someday so why not now?

(School year  2012-2013)

                  We went to school that week and he talked to my mom about some of his thoughts. My mom was our study hall teacher, we got to spend a lot of time with her. It was always so much fun when she was there.  Then, he left for Kenya. That was so hard to have him gone, especially right after we had been planning and talking about getting married. He was gone for over two weeks. He called me at school one day. I got called out of class to talk to him, I don't think I stopped smiling that day.

(Thanksgiving when he came home from Kenya)

                 He came home from Kenya right in time for Thanksgiving. I was so happy to have him home. We had still been talking about getting married and we decided we were sure. We knew that was the direction God was pointing us. We knew then we were not called to walk the normal path everyone else walked. After mid-terms Ty decided to homeschool the rest of the year. That way he could work during the day and do school at night. He could save money for Colorado by doing that. During that time we also met with his and my parents to talk and pray about our future. Those nights were so good to have, to talk everything out was seriously a blessing.

(At his parents for a night of prayer with our parents) 

                 In December Ty went out to dinner with my dad to ask for permission to marry me. I had no idea they were going out to dinner. Ty explained to my dad all of our prayers, hopes, plans, and dreams. My dad could tell Ty would take care of me and he knew we were meant to be together. So, my dad told Tyler yes!
             
                                                          (Keep a look out for Part 3)

The Story of Us (Part Two)

                         So, there we are at the Sports banquet after he asked me out. We were all excited and it made for some great pictures! He got me a beautiful bouquet with the colors of my dress. He wrote on the little note "I love you,Ty" I still have the note and rose from that day in my treasure box, I have everything in that box. It  started out as just a little Tupperware container and now it's a full moving tote. It's full of pictures, notes, gifts, and journals. I strongly encourage you all to keep a treasure box! It's so fun!

(The Flowers)

                        Anyways,  ever since Ty and I had been thinking about dating we knew we had our parents praying with and for us. I know my parents saw something in Ty, he was so mature for his age. We really wanted to use that time in our lives to bring glory to God and to point attention to Him through our relationship. We were in a band together at the time called Renovate. It was the two of us and then three of our other friends. We were a worship band, we played at churches and youth conferences.  Renovate was a really great experience for us as a couple, we had a few songs we led together, it was so great to be able to lead together.

(Our first show with Renovate!)

                       After we started dating we did almost everything together.  We always had such a fun time when we were with each other. To this day he is still my best friend. I know, I know, it's cliche...it's true though! When we played soccer we even had the same number jersey #2 represent!

                       In August we were able to go to Colorado. We stayed with my brother Andy and his wife Heather. That was such a fun trip! It was my first time traveling without my parents and it was definitely a learning experience, especially the traveling part. It was another chance for us to grow and learn together.
                        On my 15th birthday he came over to celebrate my birthday with me and my family. We were sitting on the couch and he said he had my present. He pulled out a bag and a card. I read the card first of course. The card was the sweetest card I've ever received. My mom and I cried! Then I opened my present. Unwrapped the tissue..and inside was a little box...inside the box..was a ring! I looked at him still teary from the card, he said "It's a promise ring!".  .... I know..SO SWEET!! I was so excited! He then explained how he had asked my parents permission to get me one and they said yes. It was silver and it had 11 little diamonds in it. That was the greatest birthday present I've ever been given.

(My Promise ring!! ..and a rainbow. I like rainbows!) 

                   Looking back, I'm extra thankful Ty and I were able to spend so much time together while we were dating. It was always weird if we didn't see each other for more than two days. Having the opportunity to do so many things together was really great. We really learned how to work together. Especially since a lot of the things we did together, lead worship, work, and sports, helped us get used to making decisions together and really helped us learn how to communicate well.

                                                              Keep and eye out for Part 3!
                     

The Story of Us (Part One)

                           

                                                     

                Ty and I celebrated our 1 year anniversary last month, it was great! We had such a fun weekend, we bought kayaks and went kayaking, went to dinner, watched our wedding video, and spent lots of time looking back at the past year. I went back to read my previous blogs and realized I never told the story of how we met! So for you who have been wondering, here it is! 

                        (Ty and I at a friends birthday party. Before we started dating.)

                      It's been four years since Ty and I met. We had an interesting beginning. Our friends were convinced we would get married, they decided that before we had met might I add.  I guess they were right though!  I went to a public school kindergarten- 8th grade. At the end of eighth grade I had a long conversation with a dear friend of mine (yes, Jackie, that's you!)  and she was telling me about the Christian private school her and most of our friends attended. I really wanted to go there. I knew I would be able to grow in the areas of my life that really mattered to me with help from friends and teachers there. I could play music and grow in my relationship with Christ while being encouraged by others around me. I want to make it clear that the public school I went to is an amazing school. I really loved it there and the students and staff will always have a special place in my heart. Anyways, After I had this conversation with my friend I went home and asked my parents to pray about it (more like begged). They did and a few days later my dad woke me up and said they had a meeting with the principle to see if I could attend. My mom picked me up from school later that day and had my new school shirt and told me I had been accepted. It was such an exciting day!
                               A few weeks later I got a message from a friend of mine who I have know for a very long time. He also attended the school I was going to attend the upcoming September. He said something along the lines of  " I have a friend  you need to date" To most people this might seem like a bold statement but, from this friend it wasn't that weird. He continued to tell me how he made a bet with Ty's sister that by December we would like each other. Ty's sister said no way. She owes my friend $5.

                                          (When I was a cheerleader. Just talking with my best friend)

                        Thanks to Facebook, I was able to look up Ty and see what he looked like. You might say creepy..i say using my resources. There was no denying he was pretty cute but, I had never met him! We had a lot of mutual friends because he went to my new school too. Everyone thought we would be so cute together. I think we kind of decided we didn't want to take interest in each other because everyone was pushing so hard.
                        Pretty soon the first day of school came around. I was really nervous. It was my first day of high school at a new school and, oh yea, there was a cute guy there who everyone told me I needed to date. No pressure, right? I walked into school and went to my locker to put my books away. All of a sudden my friends came rushing down the hallway (the only hallway the school has) and grabbed me. They dragged my to Tyler's locker and said "here you go!" Can you say AWKWARD!? Ty just laughed at me and said hi. I walked away looking as red as could be..so embarrassed!

                                      ( The first time we ever played a song just the two of us)


                                  After a few weeks of friends trying to get us to talk..or Ty to sit with us at lunch things finally calmed down.  We started to talk here and there on Facebook about the worship team (which we were both on) and music and such. We could talk without pressures from others, it was nice. Music is something we both love and have a passion for. We eventually started talking at school. We really enjoyed being together. Then we became really good friends.  Soon enough we realized we both liked each other but, we decided to keep it "hush hush". We still wanted to be able to see how things would go without comments from the peanut gallery.
                                                         

                                           ( Our first dance ever)

                              We didn't want to date right away since neither of us believe in dating without the intention of getting married. So, we decided to stay friends for a bit. We continued to pray about it and get to know each other. After a few months we decided we were ready to date. So, Ty asked my dad for permission to ask me out, my dad said yes! So, on May 20, 2011 at the school sports banquet Ty pulled me aside and said "So, do you want to be my girlfriend.. like..for real?" .....I know!! SO CUTE right?!? I said yes, of course.  That was such an exciting day. He was my first (and last) boyfriend and, I'll never forget that day.

                                           ( The day he asked me out. I love this picture!)

                             Our story is kind of long (it's been four years after all). So, I'm going to split the rest of it up through out the next few blogs. I really would love to be able to go into some detail and share how God has worked in our lives and through out our relationship. So stay tuned!