The Missionary Training Center. That's where we first met. We were in the same group. There were eight of us in that group, all eager to learn about God's work and Armenia- the place we were going to. We were in the MTC for three months. I sat next to him. His name was Elder Harrison.
{For those who may be wondering, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints are given the opportunity to go serve a mission for either: a year and a half if you're a girl and: two years if you're a boy. We get called to serve in various places all over the world. You don't get to choose where you go, that is a surprise. Most mission areas are filled with 150-200 missionaries. Our mission in the country of Armenia had about 40. A girl is called a "Sister" and a boy is called an "Elder." Elders and Sisters are not allowed to date each other or even think about it or even do anything more than shake hands while we are serving. This is so that we can focus on what we are really there to do. We sacrifice a lot to serve but we are blessed in the end and it is worth it. We are first trained in the above mentioned facility and then we are sent to our assigned places. If we go somewhere foreign or in a place anywhere that requires it, we learn a new language.}
In our case we had to learn Armenian. իդ լոոքս լիք դիս։ Բաք ջանս սիրում եմ քեզ։ We were good friends, but of course nothing more. :) We went to Armenia and we were able to serve in two different areas together during that time. But I can swear on my life that I never would of guessed that this would happen.
Since I was only there for a year and a half I left before him. After wards I wrote him, along with several other missionaries, until he came home. It was fun to get to know him through a letter for six months. After he returned home to North Carolina at the end of January 2009 he called me. We talked. He was awkward. And I was already back in the middle of life, dating boys and going to college in Idaho. But a couple months later I told him that he should come out for the mission reunion at the beginning of April in Utah. And he did.
We ended up spending the weekend together and loving it. But after that we both went to our separate corners of the country. We continued to talk on the phone. He talked of coming out west again for a visit. I started to get excited and wondered if there could ever be anything more between us. But then that summer he stopped calling me. I refused to chase boys so I also stopped calling. I dated someone else that semester. But the whole time he was still in the back of my mind. He was no longer Elder Harrison to me, but he was Buck Harrison. (Yep. Buck.)So when I went on summer break for the month of August I broke up with the other boy wanting some space to figure things out. One night I called Buck. We seamlessly talked and I wanted to see him again to see if there was anything there. He did too. So we both took a HUGE risk and he actually flew out to Idaho and stayed at my house with me for a whole week! It was seriously insane to do that, neither of us knowing if we even liked each other like that. You can guess that the week went well. It was full of summer and drives, and the fair, and swimming, and going to plays and eating ice cream.
After that week we knew that we wanted to try and date, even if it was long distance. So we talked everyday until Thanksgiving, at which point I had a week break from school and I was able to go to North Carolina and meet his family and spend time with him.
Then at New Years he came out west for over two weeks and we spent every second together. After that he said that he was going to move out to Utah. I thought about doing the same.
So then I flew back east again in February and this time I drove back west with him- cross country road trip. It was the most adventurous and fabulous road trip of my life. So much happened and we got even closer.
Back up. A little P.S. here is that we both graduated college in December 2009 so that is why we were both free at that point to go wherever. So somehow we both ended up in Utah. We dated for a few more months, finally in the same state. We had so many adventures and fell in love.
However, I was rather skidish at this point. I was scared about anything to so with marriage so I avoided the topic. Which is why I about had a heart attack when he proposed on April 25, 2010. It took me a good 20 minutes of panicking before I could even answer him and even then all he got from me was "okay" as his answer. I was absolutely shocked and somewhat mortified. Was I really ready for this?
But throughout the engagement things and feelings have fallen into place. And now we are ready to get hitched!
