The story of Eric and I

I'm not sure how many people know the story of how Eric and I got together. I'm not sure how many of you care or if anyone reads this but I thought it might be fun to tell. It might be long so I apologize. I'll try and condense as much as I can without leaving anything important out.

When I was 19 I decided to move to Provo, UT because it was time to be out on my own and Utah is cheap.  I moved into the Riviera Apartments and I was so excited to be on my own and not have to worry about my Mom and Dad wondering what I was doing and where I was. I am not gonna lie, back then I was a HUGE flirt. Don't judge. It was so fun, which made living on my own that much better. HAHA. I went to church with my roommates that first Sunday and I don't remember seeing Eric at all. I think I was overwhelmed with the experience and I was trying to take it all in.

So the first time I can remember Eric was at ward prayer during that first fall semester. Someone was announcing that something was going on in their apartment ( I think) and then I remember Eric saying something to the extent of "you can only come over if you're hot." After he said that I totally thought he was arrogant and superficial which are like my biggest pet peeves in guys. Of course he was joking but at the time I didn't know him well enough to know he was.

A couple of months passed and I didn't see much of Eric and I didn't think much of his comment. I had found out a girl I knew from back home had decided to move to Utah and needed a roommate. She had bought a contract at the Riv in the same ward in an apartment that was 2 stories above mine. We moved in together and a couple of weeks after (I think) one of Eric's roommates (those details are a little foggy) asked us to watch Pride and Prejudice with him and Eric. I was a little hesitant on going but went anyway. We went over and watched the movie on their love sack. During the movie we were talking and laughing and the first thing I thought was hey.. this Eric kid is really funny and he has a really funny distinct laugh. The movie ended and I decided to get up and as I did I rolled off the love sack and kneed Eric right in the balls. It wasn't just a brush it was, I hit him so dead on he couldn't talk for a while. Talk about awkward.

After that night (I think) my roommate and I went over and watched movies with Eric on the love sack for like 2 weeks straight. I am not gonna lie, I get bored easily and after doing that every night I was like okay well that was fun but I'm over it. I think Eric caught on to that and one night he texted me and asked me if I wanted to go to the library with him. He had to do something really fast for school and said it would take like 15min or so. I went and we ended up being there for like 2 hours and we were in the basement of the library which meant no cell service. (Little did I know, he totally did that on purpose. He said he wanted me all to himself because he said I was always on my phone, not true!) He felt really bad so he took me to Leatherby's to get ice cream as an apology. Eric says that was our first date but I don't think so. Then a week (I think) later he asked me out on what I consider to be our first date. He took me to a BYU concert and during the concert he leaned over and said to me "at some point throughout this date I'm going to put my arm around you" TALK ABOUT MAKING A GIRL NERVOUS!! So I was sitting there anxiously waiting for him to do it not knowing when he would and it felt like forever but he finally did. At that moment I realized how much I loved how blunt he was. I hated the dating games and never was good at it so he was really refreshing.
 

This next part is confusing. After that date I knew I liked Eric and he obviously liked me but I kind of freaked out and didn't want to date him exclusively because that's what I thought he wanted (which wasn't) and I still wanted the freedom to flirt. I know I'm a terrible person. So Eric and I decided to have a mini dtr and after that talk we didn't talk for a couple of days because I told him I didn't want to date him, meaning exclusively (yes I should have clarified). In that time I realized that Eric was so different than anyone I had ever dated and I really liked him so why not take a chance. Not knowing he wanted to date me and other people I go over and tell him I would like to date him. He then thought I meant exclusive which is not what I meant. Could we say miss-communications! After he told me he didn't want to date me (because now he was thinking I meant exclusive) we didn't talk. So I started to kind of date someone else and Eric did the same thing. Neither relationships were exclusive just a fun fling. After about three weeks the fling I had ended and on the day I was having issues Eric texted me randomly asking if I was doing okay. I texted him back saying I had been better and he then asked if he could come over and talk to me about it. I said sure and we talked for 2 hours. It was so nice having Eric back in my life.

The next couple of months Eric would come over and talk to me about his girl drama. I would give him my advice and then we would talk for hours about anything and everything. He became my best friend and I always looked forward to talking to him. Winter semester ended and I moved back home to get ready to be an EFY counselor. The day before I was suppose to leave Eric's sister got married. He had invited me to go to the reception with him and I of course said yes. I was suuupppperr nervous to meet his family especially since we weren't even dating. We get there and his mom and I started talking. I asked her where she was from and she said Oregon. I then proceeded to ask her where in Oregon and she said Forrest Grove. I thought hmm weird that's where my mom is from. I told her that and then she asked me who my mom was and it ended up that my mom and his mom totally grew up together. My Grandma had been Eric's moms seminary teacher and our mother's had been in the same piano class together. The craziest thing is that I later found out that in one of my mom's scrapbooks there was a picture of his mom and my mom together at one of their piano recitals. Talk about small world.

A couple of weeks later while I was at EFY I freaked out. I called Eric up and told him I didn't want to talk to him or see him when I got back. I know I know what a jerk Chelsea. I was just not ready to get married and at that point I could see myself marrying him. I did love him and I think that's what freaked me out the most. I obviously handled it the wrong way and completely ruined our relationship. Or so I thought.

 I don't remember how but after that we started talking again. I don't know how he did but he forgave me and we started to rebuild what I had crushed. We talked the remainder of my time at EFY and things returned to the way they were before I was crazy. I then returned home and was so excited to see him but couldn't because he had gone home to California for a couple of weeks. After 3 long weeks we finally were able to see each other. It was the best day and kiss of my life. That day we decided to become boyfriend and girlfriend and I couldn't have been happier. We dated for 7 months before he proposed. Then on August 9, 2008 we were married in the San Diego temple. He is my match in every way. He is my everything and I couldn't imagine my forever without him. I love every minute I am with him and am so thankful for the wonderful man his is. I am so lucky.

I apologize if this is blunt and to the point but If I gave you guys the real version with drama and everything involved, this would have to be in like 3 posts! Hope you guys enjoyed our story!