Bradley started "liking" my various statuses on Facebook (I don't remember who added who, but he probably added me), so I checked out his page and figured he was pretty cute so I should like some of his stuff too. This went on for awhile and I even sent him a message in October 2009 inviting him to come to Sunday School. In December 2009, he sent me a private message asking me for my number, saying he promised he wouldn't "blow up" my phone. We would chat here and there, discussing our interests and realized we had a lot in common, including loving the game of tennis. He asked me if I would go play tennis with him one day, so we decided on a date and place: January 2, 2010 at 1:00 at O'Dell Weeks.
I worked that morning at USC Aiken's Wellness Center and was so nervous I was almost sick. I got off at 11 and went home to get ready. I couldn't eat lunch. I sat on my parent's bed telling them how nervous I was. This was not like me at all. I had been on several first dates by this point and I had never been nervous like that. I always just had the outlook of "if you like me, you like me, if you don't, you don't and I'll get over it". I couldn't figure out why it was so different with Brad. Turns out, he was just as nervous. He was having lunch with his mom at Pat's sub shop and he could barely eat. He told me later on he was nervously gnawing on the insides of his cheeks (they were hurting a few days later). He even sent me a text saying that it was really cold outside and asking me if I wanted to reschedule....I never got that text. If I had, I was so nervous that I certainly would've said "sure!" and then probably never rescheduled. We like to think that God just snatched it up before it got to my phone, since we were meant to be together and all.
I was talking to myself in the car the whole way to the park, telling myself how much I wanted to go home and I didn't want to do this. When I finally got there, he was already there waiting on me. I took a few deep breaths and got out of my car. He got out of his and I reached into my backseat and said "I have balls!"...tennis balls, that is. Darn those nerves. Luckily he didn't laugh at me. We spent a couple of hours playing then sat on the bench and talked. When we decided we were cold, we walked around the track a couple of times. When we decided we were really cold, we went to Starbucks in Kroger and ordered a couple of hot drinks. We talked for what seemed like ages at that little coffee table. I couldn't stop staring right at him and he couldn't look straight at me. He told me it was because I was so pretty he didn't want to freak me out by staring. :)
Now you're here, and everything's changing, suddenly life means so much...
That was technically our first date because after that, we knew we were meant for each other. We officially went on our first "date" January 17 (this was when he asked me to be his girlfriend). That day I went shopping for a new outfit (any excuse, right ladies? ;)) with my best friend Allison and we went back to my house so I could get ready. I remember specifically telling her that I really thought this could be my last first date. I was right! That night he asked me to be his girlfriend and that was all she wrote.
We spent the next two months together. All I saw was him and all he saw was me. Ask our family, as they have teased us about it relentlessly. He left March 10 to spend 3 months in Cancun, Mexico, with his sister Abby and her husband Jonathan. God worked it out to where I could join them for the month of May, and Brad's parents even came down for a few days. We knew that we would be married but we just didn't know when and Brad didn't really have the money for a nice ring. One night before his parents got there, we were looking at Kay Jewelers online and he was asking me which rings I liked. I showed him the one I wanted. I didn't realize it but he told me later on that his hands were sweating because little to my knowledge, he had already picked out and purchased a ring and the one I showed him was the exact one he bought, except he bought the 1/3 carat and I showed him the 1/4 carat (he gave me an upgrade!!). His mom actually wore the ring through customs so it wouldn't get taken.
We were going to go out to a really nice restaurant to celebrate Abby and Jonathan's anniversary, so we went shopping and Abby and I got new dresses and shoes. It really was their anniversary, but they were just planning the dinner to get us all dressed up so Brad could propose. He asked me if I would go take a walk on the beach with him before dinner and I was very reluctant. It would mess up my hair and I spent a lot of time getting it the way I wanted it to look. Still, he was persistent, and a teeny tiny part of me thought he might propose. I kept going back and forth in my head because I wanted him to propose but I knew he didn't have a ring and I didn't want him to propose without a ring. Then I thought he MIGHT just have a ring, but he didn't have the money for one. But if he did have one, he might propose! But there was no way and I was getting my hopes up for nothing. But it was possible....so when he knocked on my door to come get me, I immediately surveyed the pockets of his shorts in search of a box. He wasn't stupid enough to keep it in the box and I should've known better.
We proceeded to go down on the beach...it was sunset. The most beautiful sunset I've ever seen! The sky was red, orange, and purple. We walked for a minute and he told me how beautiful I was and then he got down on one knee. I really don't remember what all he said because I was in such disbelief that this was actually happening to me. He remembers and I ask him from time to time but to this day I can't remember what he said. I do remember what I said: "Are you.....?" I was going to ask "Are you kidding me?" but when my brain caught up with my mouth I realized I did not want to respond to his marriage proposal that way, so I stopped myself. I, of course, said yes and walked on cloud 9 for the remainder of the evening. His mom took a video of us walking back up to the hotel and I am so mad at myself because I don't look happy at all...I was just in shock. I was happy, obviously, but I had convinced myself that he wasn't going to propose so I was in total denial it was even possible. It was the perfect setup. We went to dinner and celebrated J & A's anniversary and our engagement.
...I can't wait to wake up tomorrow, and find out this promise is true...
The next morning I woke up in our hotel room (Abby, Lollee, and I shared a room) and remembered the events of the night before and still couldn't believe it. I looked at my left hand and sure enough, there was a diamond on my ring finger! We were engaged May 17, 2010, and married on May 7, 2011.
Bradley is truly the man of my dreams. It has been absolutely wonderful finding the love of my life and actually getting to keep him. He has been an incredible husband and now is a great father. He is sweet, loving, and caring, but also knows when to put his foot down and put me in my place (I need that sometimes, I have to admit). He has been my supporter, my partner, my companion, and my best friend. I am so thankful God brought us together. We have to give all the credit to Him. If it weren't for Him, we wouldn't even be here, much less together. I thank Him so much for snatching up that text message and for that cold January day at O'Dell Weeks. I am thankful for my new family and how they have welcomed me with open arms. I cherish them so much. I am thankful for the son he has given me. It is such a fun journey we are on together in this new and exciting world as parents. He is a wonderful father to Jeremiah and I hope J grows up to be like his dad. My life is so different from 3 years ago and I wouldn't change a thing about it.
...I will never have to go back to...
...the day before you
In your eyes I see forever...
...makes me wish that my life never knew...
...the day before you.
I love you darling, and I will forever.
Love,
Hannah Elise
