What's easy won't last. What lasts won't come easy

10 days people! 10 days and I will be reunited with my long lost boyfriend. 

Our story is not very common. Although there are a lot of girls who waited, our story is a bit in a fast forward version. Nonetheless, it has been worth it.

I know a lot of people doubted me because of what happened to my past relationship, and there's exactly a reason why that sentence deserves to be in the past tense. I have learned and grown from it. I am grateful for every heartbreak I had experienced because without it I would not have stumbled across the best man in the world. Andrew has been worth every tear, every letter sent, and every day spent apart.

    1 year and 2 months worth of letters

I have been one of those skeptical people who never believed a Long Distance Relationship could work- until it happened to me. 

Realistically, Andrew and I have been apart for a year. 8 months of those our only communication was through a paper and a pen. No phone calls, skypes, FaceTimes, and text messages. We were only able to email once a week and wrote handwritten letters once a week. That was it. When he was sick I had to go 7 days of sleepless nights anticipating to know if he is well. Most of you know he came home early and was medically released for good. He was very sick. Throughout his mission he has had doctor's appointments. I could not count how many. His doctor's appointments didn't stop when he came home. They found out a few weeks after being home that he needed surgery. 

                before surgery

                after surgery

Two days after his surgery I woke up to a text from him. He had already booked his flight to come see me. I was half asleep reading it but I literally jumped out of my bed. BEST GOOD MORNING TEXT OF MY LIFE!

Even if it was the whole two years, there would have been no difference at all. I would have been still here like I am now.

I am so proud of the work he has done and the person he is today. He was, is, and always will be the best missionary I will ever know. If there was one person whose life he touched and converted as a missionary, she would have to be me. 

Guys, I am in love with a man who loves the Lord more than anything. His faith, not knowing what life has in store for him but trusting the Lord with it, was what made him 100 x more attractive. His testimony strengthened mine. Even knowing his situation and how hard it was, he went out there because it was the right thing. I will never get tired of saying this over and over again. What a trooper! I could not be more proud of all that he has accomplished. And because he loved the Lord first, he learned how to love me better. 

HE. IS. PERFECT.

Distance is a mess- but a mess I am glad I made.

Distance taught me how to love harder than any other couple should. It taught me how to love myself and how to be independent and be my own person. To do the things I enjoy and to love things that are important to me. It taught me how to be patient. It taught me how to grow up. It taught me to go out, live my life, enjoy it, and make the most of it. It taught me how to be happy for what I have while working for what I want. It taught me that even when I have met so many amazing people along the way, it was only him who I wanted to be with ultimately. It taught me that love really does travel the distance. That not all Long Distance Relationships fail. That sometimes it works, too. 

There is no way I would have made it without Andrew. He wanted this as bad as I wanted it.

Yes, I am the girl who waited. 

I waited, but never wasted my life sitting around "just waiting" until he came home to me. I went out to dances, went to school, went to speed dating, got a job, magnified callings, went to the temple, participated in The Footprints of Africa Foundation, worked with the missionaries, finished reading the BOM, went to the beach and lived the mermaid life, watched all the movies out in the theater, surprised roommates on their birthdays, moved to Arizona, and wrote friends on a mission. I lived. I grew as a person without him by my side and I was okay. I was never afraid to be alone. I was happy building my future trusting that one day he will be a part of it. 

Now that he is home, not even a single regret. We grew in the gospel together- not a part. AND THAT HAS BEEN THE BEST PART.

Truly, "when couples love God first, they love each other better."

I am grateful to have the fullness of the gospel, to know it, and to live it. 

I cannot wait for what the Lord has in store for us.

Andrew,

I cannot wait to kiss the crap outta you in 10 days!

I guess I'll see you then.