They Way We Wanted To Be

So after I laid down the thrilling idea of Brad & Karen: The Dating Years, I realized that our dating years weren't all that exciting because we lived in pow-dunk Ellensburg and there wasn't a lot going on. Since we weren't into the bar scene, that left out about 92% of the Burg's social possibilities, and neither of us were raised on a farm so out went cow-tipping, but we did have fun ALL THE TIME.

We started dating in early Spring, and we spent a lot of time "hanging out." In June, Brad went back home to Boise and I went back to Seattle, and that summer we each made a trip to the other's hometowns to get the skinny on each other's families. I made the first trip to Boise in July, and we floated the river, hung out with his siblings, ate at Cafe Ole, and had a blast. Later that month, he came to Seattle and we went downtown, met more of my friends and had even more fun. In August, we met in Ellensburg and went to the Gorge to the Sting Concert and afterwards, Brad told me he loved me for the first time. (Aaaahhhhhh...)

It was a magical summer and since we were apart for most of it, we really got to know each other through cards and letters which was THE BEST THING EVER. We didn't have a lot of the awkwardness of dating in real life and we skipped a lot of the garbage that happens when you're trying to impress someone because we had the chance to say what we felt through letters and on the phone and I loved that time of our relationship.

As the summer came to a close, we were both a little anxious because Brad was transferring to WSU that Fall (still trying to hook me with the whole pre-med thing) which meant the next year would be spent apart. But we were used to it so we persevered.

Although I had been to church with Brad a few times in the spring, I was still unsure and I spent much of that summer and fall learning all that I could. I knew the obvious question would be "did you convert for Brad?" and while some may think that, I can honestly say that my decision was about me and making the best life for myself. The things I wanted, a strong marriage, a secure family, a happy life, I had wanted for as long as I could remember and joining the church seemed like a great way to get them. I had never met so many people firmly grounded in the principles of service to others, kindness, charity and love and I wanted that for myself. I know I still could have achieved it in other ways, but this felt "right."

And the perks?

Seriously.

Not feeling well? Someone will bring you dinner.

Need to put your sprinklers in? 12 men with shovels show up.

Want to learn everything from canning and sewing to doing backflips off a diving board and wake boarding?

Done.

I joined the church in late October and we dated throughout the next year earning serious frequent flier miles on the highway between Pullman and Ellensburg. He came home every weekend to see me (can you say whipped?) and in April, on my birthday, he proposed on bended knee in the snow. He had taken me to one of his favorite places up near Cle Elum and we hiked in the snow until we came to a bridge. In the middle of that bridge, saying the most beautiful things I had ever heard, he asked me to be his wife.

We were married in September and spent two glorious weeks (thanks to my parents) in Florida before starting our final year at Central where we both gradutated with BA's in Education.

Yep, you read that right. BA's not MD's.

(Check back tomorrow for Brad & Karen: Marriage & Family AKA When Crazy Showed Up & Stayed Awhile)