So I guess I'll start with a little background on me! When I was 18, my family had just returned home to Kentucky, from a three month work trip in Roatan, Honduras. My Dad has a business on the island, and thought it would be nice to go over as a family, so he could work, we could experience the culture, and all be together. During those three months I met someone who became very influential in my desire to work towards a music career. It had been something I'd always dreamed of, and now with enough validation, I was ready to take the plunge, and go for it! I had been playing with the idea of moving to Nashville, Tennessee,to be in an environment more suited for success, but was still working out some details, when I had the overwhelming feeling that I needed to just get in my car and drive to Nashville. I told my parents, who were very supportive, and headed out. I was so excited, I just knew that someone was there, waiting for me, and that my dreams were about to unfold right before my eyes. As I got closer and closer to Nashville the anticipation grew, and as soon as I passed that city line, I got a huge pit in my stomach. Something did not feel right about being there, I was so confused. Since I had already made the drive, I decided to walk around music row and enjoy some of the sights, but I couldn't shake this bad feeling. I got back in my car and parked in an empty parking lot. I felt so discouraged. The last thing I anticipated out of this trip was to feel so horrible about my plans and dreams.
I drove home in silence, trying to sort through my feelings, but came up short, I had no answers. I scheduled a meeting with a Church leader who encouraged me to continue my education, and as much as I didn't like the advice, it felt right. With little time left before the semester started, I bought my ticket, packed my things, and signed up for classes (potato farming and bowling...told you there was little time before school started).
While making my way from Kentucky to Idaho, it seemed like EVERTHING that could go wrong, went wrong! lost bags, getting on the wrong bus, you name it! One of those mishaps, happened to be how I met Drew. My ride from my shuttle to my apartment fell through, and there was no way my whopping 90 lb body was going to cary 5 bags and a guitar 5 miles. I called my Dad to let him know the problem, and he was on it! He got in contact with an old friend who had a grandson at BYU-Idaho and planned for him to meet me at the bus stop with a car.
I didn't know who Drew was, how old he was, or what he looked like, but when I got off the bus, I noticed a very handsome guy, and decided to go say hi...you'll never guess who that guy was. Yep, DREW! As he helped me get all my stuff to my apartment, all I could think about, was how can I find a way to spend more time with this guy? Apparently he had the same idea, because he asked me out to lunch. Needless to say, I was pretty excited, and accepted his invitation. We got in the car, and I kid you not, Drew wouldn't stop staring at me. Like seriously, he backed out into a car in the apartment parking lot because he was staring on me. After that mishap we finally made it to lunch, and shifted our foods around on our plate, too intrigued by our conversations to even focus on food, not to mention, neither of us were even hungry, we were just using food as an excuse to hang out. During our conversation we touched on the topic of music. I told Drew a little about my dream for a music career, and he countered by telling me that he was a DJ at Z103-Idahos #1 Hit Music Channel, and that he and his cousin had all the equipment to help me record a song, and that they could do it that night! I was super excited, and now we had a few more hours to burn before we could go record, darn ;). We decided to go on a walk, and Drew took me to a park, with a little thatched hut that we sat inside to keep warm (January in Idaho) and you guys, he kissed my cheek! I've known him for what, 2 hours TOPS and I wasn't even mad. We got back in the car to head to his cousins to record (we also ran out of gas and got pushed to a gas station by some high school soccer players, it was an odd night), and then it was time for me to be dropped off. On the way home Drew said, "I don't normally so this on a first date, but will you be my girlfriend?" and I said yes (insert big eyed, awkward grin emoji) . When we got to my doorstep...you know whats coming, we kissed goodnight, and I was feeling pretty overwhelmed, like what just happened?? I went to my room to get ready for bed, only to realize, I have no bedding, no school supplies, or anything else that I was suppose to go to the store to get that day for school. Before I had time to figure out what I was going to do, there was a knock at the door. It was Drew, with a sopping bag full of school supplies for me to use the next day.
I couln't get over how thoughtful he was, which is why telling him I actually couldn't be his girlfriend was really tough. But I was really determined to focus on school, and I hardly knew him. Turns out he was pretty determined to focus on me, and after texting all day he stopped by the next night to see me. Our conversations came so naturally and I couldn't help but find more things to admire about him. The day after that, same thing. Great conversation. We felt like we had known each other forever, and thats why he asked me to marry him...that day...after knowing each other for 72 hours. It just made sense, so I said yes, even though the day before I told him I wouldn't be his girlfriend haha. We made it "ring official" the next month, he proposed in the thatched hut we went to the first day, and got married 2 months after that, and I wouldn't change a thing.
After being together for 5 years, and learning more and more about him, I love him even more and am amazed in the ways that we compliment each other as husband and wife, and now parents. I'm sure we seem crazy to anyone reading this, and we kind of are, but it worked for us, and we couldn't be happier! Because of Drew I've grown and stretched myself in so many ways I never imagined possible, and I will always be grateful to him for that. Since that third day, I've been filled with excitement for what our future holds, and the adventure is just beginning to unravel.
