Our Love Story

This blogpost is sponsored by Tinder. 

Okay, I'm kidding. I'm not sponsored by Tinder. Though I should be with how much I talk about finding the love of my life on the extremely controversial and strange dating app! One of my favorite things in the world is when people ask "How did you meet?" and I get to blurt out "TINDER!" and watch their face as they process our strange meeting. The gasps and responses of "NO WAY!" are so entertaining. 

So there is the beginning of our story, we found each other on Tinder and luckily we both swiped right! It was December 2016 at one of the strangest and best points in my life. I was at a point where everything was changing. I was really embracing who I was and what I wanted to become. For the first time really in my entire life I loved who I was at that moment. I had worked hard on myself and felt happier than I ever had before. I was just about done with my degree, had just been through the LDS temple for the first time, and was thriving in more ways than I can count. 

Dating wasn't even really on my mind. It was a secondary priority to me and I just wanted to have fun. So, I decided to download Tinder again (yes, I had used it before... but that is another story). I had gone on a few dates, made some friends, but wasn't really interested in a relationship. It was a good time and I actually got a lot of free rock climbing out of it (awesome, right?). Then one day I planned a date with a cutie named Hayden. The plan was to get sushi and play games with his roommates and their dates (I think?). However, none of the other guys got dates and I got off work way late. Luckily though, despite me kind of wanting him to cancel- he was persistent and said some people were coming over to watch a movie and he still wanted me to come. He even came to pick me up to take me to his own apartment! Which was great because it was a cold and snowy day and had he asked me to drive over- I probably would have said no (I hate driving in the snow!). I was also not feeling well, and had worked an 11 hour day already. 

I got to his apartment and found myself with 6 other guys and one girl (one of the guys sister!). Awkward right? Then we decided on the movie Interstellar- which if you don't already know, that movie is 3 hours long and we were starting it around 9:30- 10 at night! 

So, lets recap: I had worked for 11 hours,  I was sick, I knew no one there, first date, at a total sausage fest. Super romantic, right? 

Needless to say, it was kind of an off night for the both of us. I thought Hayden was super nice and we had a lot of similar interests but once the night was over, I figured we probably wouldn't see each other again. We were both also going home for Christmas a few days later, so there was no set plan for a second date right away. 

Next thing I knew, I was on a flight home for Christmas vacation. I had work and school off for a few weeks so I had planned a 3 week stay in Arizona and planned on enjoying myself like crazy before coming back to Utah for my last semester of college. I spent a weekend in Vegas with my friends from my old job and then spent the next two weeks partying it up with all my single friends in AZ.

Vegas for the weekend

Midnight bingo 

 super hipster photo shoots 

New Years eve Rager

For real, this was The Cat Lady at her very finest. Living life and not worried about stinky boys! I don't think I even mentioned my date with Hayden to anyone. And besides a few snapchats, Hayden and I didn't actually talk at all. This trip I had even started planning my move back to Arizona after graduation! 

Eventually, I had to get back to Utah so I could get back to work and start back up at school for the last time. I had every intention of just having fun and doing what I wanted (as well as kicking butt in school). But apparently, the Lord had other plans for my life. 

Pretty soon after getting home I went on a date with another guy and actually had a really great time! I had every intention of going out with him again. Hayden had asked me out for the next day so I planned on going out with him, but hadn't heard what the plan was. Saturday afternoon rolled around and I still hadn't heard from him, so I made plans with my brother to go to a UVU basketball game. Finally, I heard from Hayden in the afternoon, and he didn't really have a plan, but still wanted to go out. I told him I had made plans since he hadn't called, but invited him to come with us if he wanted (I feel like such a brat for that). Luckily, he agreed and said he would meet me there. I got to the game early with my brother, his girlfriend, and our mutual (guy) friend. I sat next to our friend and left a seat open on the other side of me for Hayden if he actually showed up. And to my surprise he did! We had a good time, though he probably thought I had invited both him and this other guy friend (which I totally didn't but he is a good friend of mine, so I obviously talked to him a lot!) 

Caveat: Hayden had this mustache the night he showed up to the basketball game... and if you know me, you know how much I love facial hair, but dislike mustaches on their own...

A basketball game also probably wasn't the best venue for a second date, for two reasons: 

1. I LOVE basketball and get super into the games. I also really love UVU so I was very enthusiastic about the game. Maybe even borderline aggressive. Something about basketball games just gets me every time! I get very competitive and vocal. 

2. It was a packed game so the opportunity to talk and get to know each other wasn't really present (so two dates in a row where we couldn't really interact at all). 

The game ended and we all walked out together, but since we came separate from Hayden, his car was parked away from ours. He kind of half- heartedly said he was parked in the other direction and turned to leave (he didn't think the date went well at all). I had had a lot of fun though, and he was easy to hang out with! I walked over and gave him a hug and told him I had fun and would like to see him again if he was interested. Then we parted ways and I figured there was a 50/50 chance that that was the end of things. Again, lucky for me, it wasn't the end! We actually saw each other the very next day. He later admitted that the hug was what made the difference, thank goodness I gave him that hug! 

Eventually he even asked if I liked his mustache, and I answered honestly that I hated it, but that I still wanted to see him either way. The next time I saw him the mustache was gone, and I thought that just maybe this boy was serious about me. 

A reenactment of our first date situation

For the next few weeks we saw each other regularly, then every other day, and then we couldn't seem to spend enough time together. I was still a cheerleading coach at the time so our rendezvous during the week were late and short but we saw each other basically every single day and when we weren't together we kept in constant communication. 

Needless to say, I fell in love hard and fast. He was everything and more and made me feel even more alive than I already had been feeling. His feelings came just as fast, though he was a bit more apprehensive (who can blame him? I am a little wild). April came around and we took the next big step- I met his parents and siblings! We were both nervous for this because we knew we loved each other, but didn't dare say it until we got over this hurdle. I had a long standing rule that if a guys parents didn't like me, I would break off the relationship right then and there. So driving to BYU campus to meet up with his family was a stressful day. Had they hated me, I would have to breakup with the best thing that had ever happened to me. 

To my delight, I walked up and received hugs from his mom and sister and quickly felt like I was a part of the family. 

His family spent the weekend in Provo and we had so much fun getting to know each other! The following week (I think) we finally shared how we really felt and said the big I LOVE YOU! (even though we had already spoken hypothetically about how we were getting married). I then met the rest of his family when we visited Boise (where he is from) for easter.

May came around and he got to meet some of my family at my graduation from UVU. Again, it was a successful meeting and things continued on smoothly. We had already decided we were getting married and Hayden had even already bought my ring, though I didn't expect him to propose for awhile, since he hadn't been able to meet my mom quite yet.

I was wrong

We got engaged on May 11, 2017 and it was the most exciting day ever. 

He truly is the very best thing that ever walked into my life and I am so grateful for all that he is. 

Our summer was tough because I was traveling for work a lot! It was a whirlwind of wedding planning, working and trying to spend any time we had left over together. Then finally the day came. 

 
September 2nd, 2017 was the most magical day. We floated around on cloud nine all day long and haven't come down since.





So there it is, our love story. A funny beginning, a quick storyline, and a very happily ever after.

Thanks for reading!

Love,
Mrs. Freakin' Thieme