How I met my love!

So my sister the other day wrote this amazing blog post about how she met her husband. I guess I think it amazing because well she has such talent for writing, and I learned stuff I hadn't know about their meeting. I look forward to the proposal story she promised. Well I decided to follow in her footsteps and talk about how I met my love.
It started nearly 7 years ago this August! I was in my apartment with my roommates I had just recently met with some guy came in and sat down and told us he was our FHE dad. He introduced himself as Tattoo. I was most excited to meet so many guys who were LDS. So anyway, he left. That was the first time I met Tattoo. The second time I met him was at Institute. He waved to me, and I couldn't remember where I knew him from. He came over to me after words though and was being very nice. I remember he got up and conducted the music and he was very enthusiastic about it, and I thought that was a bit nerdy. lol. The next time was at FHE evening. He seemed really nice but we had a FHE ma and figured they must be dating, so I didn't think much of him. Well my roommates and I went to a munch and mingle and we met again and chatted on the couch for sometime. Well then my roommates went to a dance about a month later, and he was there, and since we were good friends with his apartment it was natural for us to chat. He asked me to dance and I felt so special. While we danced I was so nervous and told him that we should go Latin dancing because my sister had allowed me to go with her to a latin dance the weekend before and it was a blast. He said that he would like that but I thought he is just being nice. Well after that dance he asked my roommate Amanda to dance. I remember he made a joke with her and I thought for sure that he didn't like me. We hung out off and on for the rest of the night.
The next day I was at my sister's apartment and she was like, "Who was that guy following you around last night?" I said who. And then went, "Oh his name is Tattoo. He is just a friend." But secretly inside I was thinking he did hang out with me a lot, but it is too good to be true. Guys don't usually like me like that. Well anyway I went over to his apartment later that same day and while we were chatting he asked me when we were going to go Latin Dancing. I said well I think there is a dance this Friday on Campus. He said great lets go. I was totally shocked he wanted to go and that it wasn't just a line he had said while dancing.
So we went to Friday night live with some roommates and it was so much fun. We went and danced and walked around and did fencing and video games, and watched some dance troops. I felt like I belonged at BYU then. It really was the best night! And I wasn't nervous at all. I was able to be my self, and I was so surprised about that.
A week or so later it was time to ask for Preference. So I decided to ask Justin. I printed on a white t-shirt Justin will you go to Preference with me? and then went and sat in his apartment with my roommates. He was called in by another roommate, and he came out and did a double take and didn't say anything. lol. Finally Chris his brother said, "This is when you smile and say yes." He said yes. We then went to preference and had a great time. I remember one time during the date I was taking my shoes off, and a slow song came on, and I was making my way back to our group when I saw him running towards me, and then he said "I want to dance with you." I remember feeling so special. Later that same night we had a bonfire up in the canyon and we laid down and stared at the stars and talked about Spiritual Things. It was the first time I could be myself that way. It was so nice. He talked about his mom, and we talked about previous relationships. It was the start to something great!
I still didn't know by this point if he really liked me, so after probing his brother I decided to try and show him I liked him. I packed up a back pack with his favorite treats, Root Beer and Butterfingers, and my favorite treat, and prayed that I would find him at his normal studying place that he had mentioned to me once. So I ran up to campus hoping that he would be there. I went down the stairs wanting to surprise him. I came up behind him and put my hands over his eyes, and said, "Guess who?" He smiled so big and turned towards me, and he was so surprised. I asked him if he could take a break and go outside with me. He said sure and packed up his stuff right away. We got outside and we sat on the benches just north of the library. It was dark and there weren't very many people on campus. I opened my back pack and handed him his favorite treats. He was so surprised I remembered. We had an awkward moment when Justin asked me, "Why do you like me?" I wanted him to know but I didn't realize I was being that obvious. lol. I waited for a second and then told him it was because I could be myself around him, and he made me laugh, and he was such a good person. He then said, "I like you too." Boy was I relieved. I then decided to put my hand on my knee trying to prompt him to hold it. He starts laughing, and I was like, "What?" He said, "Nothing." He kept saying it over and over again. So finally I said, "You don't have to tell me but I would really like if you would." I then said, "Can I hold your hand?" He said "Sshhh. I am supposed to ask." He then said, "Oh it is cold out here. Are your hands cold? I said yes (totally lying) and he said I think there is something I can do about that." He then held my hand. We spent the rest of the night holding hands, and he kept saying to me, "I can't believe I am the lucky one that gets to hold your hand." I felt so special. From there on, we had special moments all the time. I just knew there was something different about him. I knew very early on that I really liked him.
Then one night while on a swing we started talking about marriage. This wasn't normal because he was pre mish, but at the same time it felt totally normal. It was weird. It was then that I knew I had met my love! And nearly 7 years later, it was the best decision I have ever made! He is truly my best friend. He makes me laugh, and I am 100% myself with him, good and bad, and he makes me giddy! I am thankful for a loving Father in Heaven who blessed me with Justin from the very beginning! I know now how much Heavenly Father knows me. He sent me this great guy that he knew I would wait for, and truly those 2 years he was on his mission truly was 2 years I was on my own mission of discovering who I am. I am thankful that I had my love every step of the way! I wouldn't have traded those many tears for anything. We grew together when others thought we'd grow apart. That just goes to show that our love is something stronger and lovelier than anything! I love you my sweet Justin! You are the greatest thing!

Oh and Justin's nickname was Tattoo not because he has an Eagle Tattoo on his back like his roommate joey suggested but rather because he was the second Tate in his apartment.