This Is The One Where I Start From The Very Beginning.

So one time I worked in the Admissions dept. of SVU with my best friend. And one time we were sitting in our office with one of our coworkers and I was asked, "So, Laura, who are you going to date this year?" It was a joke...kind of. Our coworker jumped in and said, "I know who you should date! I'm his Admissions Counselor! He plays football and his name is Bubba!"
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"Hahahaha! Oh right! Okay!" I actually cried from laughing so hard. Some Southern hick named Bubba is coming to SVU to play football. That was literally what was going through my head. And then I saw his football profile. Dang boy. DANG.

And then I saw him in real life. DAAAAANG. Seriously? He said hi to me and I could NOT respond. And I couldn't say anything for months. Which was okay because he had a pretty serious girlfriend back home. So I went about my semester, singing in our A Cappella group and going on lots of first dates.

This Bubba guy was always really friendly even though we never said more than "hey," and "how's it goin?" Basically it was one of those wow-he's-really-cute-and-now-engaged-so-I-literally-have-no-shot kind of things. And that was okay.

And then he heard me sing. He came to our fall semester concert and according to him and his buddies, when I started singing Bubba said, "I think I'm in love...I'm gonna marry her." Joking, obviously.

A little after that night we got to sing The National Anthem at an NBA game. Wizards v. Spurs. That experience led me to have a more than 3 word conversation with Bubba...via our mutual friends Rex, and Michael (Thanks guys, I owe you that one). Added him on Facebook. And the first thing I see is a status. He called off his engagement. And about 75 girls from SVU had liked it. Classy...So I messaged him. On Facebook. Classy some more.

I made a point to not say anything that was an eager invitation. Because even though my heart was pounding, all I wanted to give was my sympathy. I walked from class to the cafe right after I sent it and there he was eating! Panicked. But I sat by him and he told me he had just read my message. And he thanked me. And then I went back to my dorm where I saw a response.

What a compliment from someone I didn't even know. I couldn't believe that someone who I was convinced was the nicest stranger in the world had noticed me. I got back to him later that night to which he replied again, asking for my number.

My heart pounded as I rushed to type. I gave him my number and ran in circles around my dorm.

I couldn't handle what was happening. But I couldn't stop looking at my phone. He texted me shortly thereafter and we texted back and forth. At the end of our conversation, he asked me out.

His thought process: Wow, I have spent this whole semester playing football, going to school, and not meeting new people. Laura is a well known person on campus and she could introduce me to even more awesome people (his words).

Translation: Laura=the gateway date...

My thought process: Wow, I can't believe I have a date with him. Please let me be not too weird.

Translation: Laura=a nervous and excited and somewhat hopeful wreck

The date went down in early December. And it was so weirdly natural. We had no awkwardness and it felt like we'd known each other for forever. We talked and found out more about each other as we made baked s'mores that we then dropped off at various doors. Secret Santa for the win. He had work at the library so we called it an early night which I think we were both disappointed about. He dropped me off and gave me a quick hug goodnight.

I knew I liked him. A lot. And it scared me. I was shaking. I didn't want to fall for this guy too fast. I started crying because I was so nervous that I was getting in too deep too soon. I dropped to my knees and prayed harder than I ever have. Ever. I asked God (I actually kinda demanded...) to tell me if this guy was worth it. And I immediately felt peace. Just so warm and I knew this was gonna be good.

Which also scared me.

I texted Bubba and thanked him for the date and told him how excited I was to marry him.

JUST KIDDING. I'm not that crazy.

I did thank him for the wonderful date and mentioned my interest in spending more time with him. 

And he reciprocated. I later learned that his buddies were at the library waiting for him to tell all. His words: we had a good time. She's actually a lot cooler than I thought. 

I'm going to insert that what he obviously meant is that he was already aware of my coolness and was just even more astounded when he was with me one on one. Obviously...

His buddies asked him if he'd texted me. They then began to debate whether he should text me or wait for me to text him. It was during this debate that I did in fact, text him. And there was much rejoicing throughout the land. Our second date was the next day. Our third was later that evening. And we just never stopped dating.

So that's how this all started. And it just keeps getting better and better! To read about our wedding day click here!