Our Love Story

It has been 3 years, as of today, when Paedn and I started dating when he got home off his mission. But, did you know, that is not where the story begins? Let's travel back a few years....I was 15, almost 16, and Paedn was 18 years old.


How We Met: August 2006
We met one Saturday night at a church dance. (Completely cheesy but we love it!)  I was dancing and being silly with my friend Michaun, who I later found out was his sister. He noticed me from across the room and the next time a slow song came on, he walked over and asked me to dance. We talked and laughed and got to know one another throughout the song, as much as one could while trying to talk during a dance! He did some flirting and sang along with the song. The song he sang that night is actually now our song, I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing, by Aerosmith. Then, he did some more flirting and instead of departing after the song ended, we kept dancing through the next slow song. After the slow songs had finished playing, he gave me a hug and we went back to our little groups. Now, because I was friends with his sister, he had an in. He would come over and talk with us throughout the night and then the following nights when we were at the dances.


We kept in touch the following months and would see one another at random church activities. We would always link eyes from across the room and my little heart would flutter. He came to a volleyball scrimmage of mine. The game had already started and I randomly look towards the door and I see this cowboy standing there with his hat on and everything. My heart jumped and I could not help but smile when I realized it was Paedn. He gave me one of his side smiles, took off his hat and went and found a seat on the bleachers. I remember becoming extremely nervous and wanting to impress him. Even while playing, I would glance over at him. I loved that I had someone there to support me besides my famly. (No offense family- I love and appreciate all the support you gave me! It's just different when it is coming from a cute boy!) 


As the months rolled on and there were no longer random activities that would give us a reason to see and talk to one another at, we stopped talking. We definitely would have found excuses to talk to one another and would have gone on dates if only I was 16. For now, I had to be content with the fun memories we had and the butterflies he gave me. Paedn left and served his mission in Eugene, Oregon. During that time we had no communication. (Neither Paedn or I wanted to ask his sister for the other's address to send them letters!) I would hear random updates about him whenever I was around Michaun and other girls would ask about him. It always made my heart skip a beat when I would hear his name, but I would pretend like it was not a big deal.


Dating Years: January 2009-March 2010
Paedn and I dated for a year and a half before becoming engaged. He got home off his mission in January 2009 and not even a week later he found me on trusty-ole Facebook. We talked nonstop. Now, when he got home I was still a senior in high school. I was 18 and he was turning 21 that February. My parents felt like that was too big of an age difference for a high schooler. I was allowed to date him...after I graduated. But, that didn't mean we couldn't talk! We kept talking and getting to know one another better. We started to "officially" date when I graduated. Now, the 1 1/2 years of dating definitely wasn't all smooth sailing, psh but how fun would that be! We think we are a lot stronger married couple today because of all the years of our history. We love looking back and remembering our history together, it makes for a richer story!


The Engagement: March 2010
I had just finished my first day of training at Victoria's Secret and was in a hurry to get home and change to go to volleyball practice. As I was walking out, I grabbed my phone to read the texts I received and then looked up and Paedn was walking towards me. I had to do a double take to make sure it was really him I saw. I was so excited to see him and gave him a big hug. He said he just wanted to come up and surprise me after work even if it was only for a couple minutes. We talked and I kept reading my texts and I had received one from the lady I coached with. She said that practice was cancelled tonight because the gym was no longer available. Hooray! I was so excited to be able to go home and just relax. When we got to my parent's house we sat in the kitchen and talked with my parents about work and the fact that I didn't have to go to volleyball that night. My mom and I decided that we would go shoe shopping instead. I ran upstairs to change and left mom and Paedn talking in the kitchen. When I came back down, mom changed her mind and just said that we could go another night so I could hang out with Paedn. Paedn told me that he had a surprise date planned for me. As I was getting into the car, he took out the bandanna from his pocket and blind folded me. Uhh...ok? I laughed because a few months earlier I did the same thing to him and took him to Glendale Glitters. I just figured this was revenge. We drove around for a while. I tried to keep track of where we were but slowly lost focus because I was getting dizzy! We finally stopped. Paedn came and opened my door and helped me stand up. I wrapped my arm through his and we started walking. I paid close attention to the ground we were walking on. First asphalt, then grass, some dirt, ha I tripped in a pot hole, we walked up a few steps, and finally we were on a wooden floor. He let go of my arm and went and turned on a cd player. When he took off the blind fold we were at Saguaro Ranch Park. He had lead me up to one of the porches and he decorated it in twinkle lights. It was so pretty! He then asked me to dance. My heart was fluttering. As I listened to the songs that were playing I noticed they were all of our favorite songs for one another. The third song that played was our song, I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing, by Aerosmith. We kept dancing and he was singing to me like he had done so many years before. He spun me around and as I came to face him, he was down on one knee holding this beautiful ring. I gasped. He smiled, "Hilary, will you marry me?" I stood there in shock, not even breathing. When I finally managed to say something I looked at him and said, "Seriously?!" (haha! We both laugh about that to this day and he always teases me.) After asking him "seriously" a few more times. I started crying and said "Yes!" He put the ring on my finger and then hugged we and kissed. It was so romantic! 
Come to find out later, he asked my volleyball coach to tell me practice was cancelled so he could propose that night. Sneaky!


My Ring
I don't know how many of you have noticed my engagement ring, but it is not the typical engagement ring. Instead of a diamond, there lies a beautiful white pearl. He did this for two reasons. One- he knew I wanted something different. I never liked having something similar as other people. I like to be my own person. Two- The main reason he chose a pearl instead of just any ole ring- He told me he chose the pearl because of how it is made. It takes time and at the end of it comes this beautiful, perfect, white pearl. He said that no matter what we had gone through or what we are going to go through, there will never be a bad time. We will have difficult times but they will never be bad. All the trials, great and small, are shaping us into better people, into a better couple. If we stay strong and worthy, we will end up like the pearl- beautiful and perfect.






                                                                            and to this day....they live happily ever after.