Its That Time of Year...

Historically, the most wonderful time of year that is! Why? Because everything significant in Nate and I's relationship seems to happen near the end of June. It all started 4 long years ago...

4 years ago...

I was a brand-new college freshman beginning my first summer semester at BYU. My first class of college ever was Chemistry 105. The first morning of class I woke up, put on my cutest outfit, walked up to the Benson building from the dorms, and got to class early to get a good seat. And good thing I did! Because moments after picking a seat on the 3rd row, a boy with barely honor-code appropriate long hair and bright blue eyes walked in. I noticed him right away and saw he was walking towards where I was sitting. To my surprise he sat 2 seats away from me! I pretended to scribble something down in my planner because I felt shy, and a few moments later he reached over to introduce himself and said "Hi, I'm Nate". Who would have known I was meeting my future husband at that moment? Even though my Dad told me not too, I guess I can truly say I married the first guy I met at BYU. But not right away! Within 5 minutes of talking he found out I had graduated from high school 2 weeks earlier, and I found out he was a scary returned-missionary. So because Nate didn't want to be creepy and date a brand-new freshman and I didn't want to risk dating someone with marriage on their mind we both put our original romantic interests on the back burner and became great friends that summer. We were study partners and worked together everyday, sometimes with a group of guys, and sometimes by ourselves. But, I TOTALLY had a crush on him the whole time and was frustrated when other guys in our study group would ask me out, but not Nathan Collins. I remember first meeting his little sister Emily (who was in my freshman ward that summer) and her telling me "Are you Erin Whitt, I'm Nathan's little sister, don't tell him I told you, but he thinks you're really pretty." I smiled for the rest of the day after that! Even with that, I still never seriously thought he would ever like me. But he did! During this time he was constantly debating if he should ask me out even though I was so young and even made sure he was in my lab group so we could spend more time together. I'm glad we didn't start dating that summer though! Because I promised my Dad I wouldn't date return missionaries until after I was a freshman.



The year in between...

During Fall and Winter semester Nate and I both dated other people and were still good friends. He said he would strangely get more excited to see me than anyone else and would try and find me when he was visiting his sister down at Helaman Halls. I always had a crush on him as well! When he would come up and talk to me at the Wilk or at the library I would always tell my friends "that's Nathan Collins, he's the cutest boy I know". We even hung out a few times as friends. During Winter semester we were both dating people who weren't right for us and ended up hanging out and venting to each other about everything. If only Taylor Swift's song "You Belong With Me" was out then. Because it would have been applicable. Cheesy? Absolutely. But true? Yes.


3 years ago...

At the beginning of my sophomore summer semester (because I'm insane and went to school year round to finish early) my dear friend Susan and I were living at Liberty Square together. Because of complications where neither of us had cars like we had previously, we were running out of food at our apartment. I think at the time we only had peanut butter and ranch dressing in our fridge. So naturally we decided to go to institute where they serve dinner after the lessons. Pure motives? Susan and I were sitting in class and after a few minutes Nate walked in late and sat on the other side of the room. Once again I tried not to make eye contact because I always felt really excited, but kind of shy when he would show up. The class was passing around a role and Nate had already spotted me and wrote me a little note next to my name on the attendance sheet! After class Susan and I talked to Nate and confessed our motivations for coming to institute. Nate offered to take us to the grocery store and we glady took him up on it. We ended up hanging out with Nate and some of his friends all night. The next few days we hung out more - Susan and I even exploited him for a ride to the Llama festival where Nate and I got in the newspaper because we got asked to lead the llamas around the obstacle course and then pretended like we were the owners. I shamefully even made up a name for the llama I was leading that appeared in the local newspaper along with my quotes the next day. Such quality foundational memories. Later that weekend he asked me if I would like to go on a date with him! We went on many dates that summer and formed some of our greatest memories. The only problem was I was dating several other people at the same time. Nate said he had great suspicions about this because I wasn't always available to hang out. It really started to bother him - so in early August we were watching a meteor shower and he asked if we could date exclusively. And much to both of our surprises I said no! What was I thinking? I agonized about my decision for the next few days and just felt really awful. Strangely Nate still kept asking me to hang out. 3 days after I said no we had gotten lunch together and he dropped me off at my apartment. Susan was home and I started venting/stressing to her again about how I made the wrong choice and how I was scared he wouldn't want to date me anymore! Susan convinced me to call him and ask him to come back right then and there so I could tell him how I felt. What a good friend! I called Nate and asked him to come back. He said he thought I was going to ask him to stop calling me for good and that I didn't want to date anymore. So when he showed up at my apartment he looked really freaked out, which I interpreted as him not wanting to date me anymore! We went for a little walk and I told him I changed my mind and that I did really want to date him! He was so happy which made me happy! It was a great moment!

The year in between...

Was spent falling in love, deciding to get married, and getting engaged! A great year!

2 years ago...

We got married on June 21, 2008. Almost exactly after knowing each other 2 years and dating 1 year. Best day of my life!

I wish I could think of something significant that happened 1 year ago so I could keep the post going. But I think I've already gotten a little carried away with sappiness and reminiscing..I promise I really did spare many details even though that may be hard to believe. We love being married and are excited to celebrate our 2 year anniversary this weekend! Life is the best with Nathan, and words cannot express how much I love that guy.

Happy Anniversary Chinook!