Our Story: As Told By Emma

We thought it would be interesting to write the story of how we met and started dating....but, from both of our points of view. :) We have a feeling they will sound a little different! But as different as they sound, the one thing that remains the same is the fact that God had his hand in it all and gave us the incredible gift of each other when we were least expecting it! Here is my version:

I still remember the day I first met Trav. I was a SR in high school and I had friends who were beginning their freshman year at CUI. I was up there around move in time and was introduced to Travis and Levi. I remember asking Levi, " Is that Levi as in the jeans, Levi?" ( I know, sometimes I should think before I speak....especially on first introductions!) Well, when I said hi to Trav he did not even look up and mumbled a "hi". I remember thinking, " What in the world is his deal...he barely even said hi!" I didn't see Trav for a little bit after that but in the meantime he had a new girlfriend at school. I attended some of the basketball games that year but not once did he acknowledge me when I would talk to other players afterwards ( 0ne being his friend and the guy I had a "crush" on). I remember a specific game when I was sitting in the bleachers and this tall, skinny, beautiful blonde walked passed me wearing a tank top and it was -30 degress outside! I saw her talking to Trav afterwards and couldn't help but think that he scored a good girl friend. ( Little did I know that was his sister and my soon to be sister-in-law! God has a good sense of humor!) The only time Trav and I talked that year was when I would talk to his friend on the phone and he would get on to say hi. We even spent New Year's Eve together ( but we had different dates) and he STILL did not talk to me.

Pretty soon I graduated and it was time for me to go to college. Looking back on my decision to go to CUI I realize that it was completely God's plan to bring us together. I was struggling in high school with whether I should be a teacher or a nurse. My dad would tell me profusely that I would make an incredible nurse and it just seemed to fit me but of course, I had to figure it out on my own. In a way, I took the easy way with college. Going to CUI was a no brainer for me because all my sisters had gone there and I knew the school inside and out. Deep down I knew that teaching was not for me but I hadn't trusted on God and his plan yet. The best part is, me attending CUI for a year was a major part of God's plan...I just had no clue! Now it was my turn to move into the dorms and I was soon re-introduced to Trav. I saw him around campus a few times during orientation week but that was about it. At this point in time I still had a crush on one of his roommates and one of my roommates had a crush on his other roommate, so I never really saw it coming that Trav and I would be the ones ending up together. This is where it gets good! Trav supposedly had a thing for my friend Jessi. Trav and I were talking somewhat at this point and I used to tell him that I would bring Jessi down to hang out in his dorm. I don't think I ever actually asked her! I found myself showing up down there without her and making up some excuse why she could not come. ( And this didn't just happen once...we are talking multiple times. How many excuses can one come up with for something like that??? I don't know how I did it!) This led to many nights of Trav and I watching tv in his dorm and the beginning of a great friendhip. We often used "our crushes" as an excuse to meet and talk. But whenever we did meet up to talk, it ended up never being about them! I used to plan my eating schedule around when he would be done with class or practice so we would just happen to run into each other in the cafeteria! Of course, that led to me waiting to refill my soda till I saw that he was headed up there...there were days I was parched from waiting so long, but I still waited, just so I could walk past this good looking, tall, blonde basketball player that I figured I had no chance with since he liked my friend!

I still remember the first time he texted me. He was in the drive thru at Jack in the Box and I was so surprised to see TRAV in my inbox! ( I remember the lamest things, I know!) Another surprise was whenTrav went on a bball trip to the lake and he called me from there!! This was about the time I was realizing that I was falling fast for him but I thought he still "liked" Jessi and he still thought I liked his roommate. One night I was really homesick ( Yes, I realize that my home is 20 min from CUI but I was still homesick! ) and I texted Trav telling him about it. He wrote back saying that he used to feel the same way his Freshman year and then asked if when we were both done with homework, if I wanted to take a walk. Of course I did! I responded to the text so fast! I don't even think I actually finished my hw I was so excited! I probably changed my sweats 15 times and waited the apporiate amount of time it should have taken to finish the assignment to text him and tell him I was done! :) That walk was the turning point for us. We ended up walking around campus untill 3am and we talked about everything! We shared our whole lives in those couple of hours. He probably thought I was crazy because as we were walking, I couldn't stop staring at him! He was so dang cute! Eyeing him form across the cafeteria just didn't do justice to the up close and personal view! I still remember the feeling when he walked me back to Rho ( the freshman dorms) and he gave me a hug. Holy Cow I did not want to let go! With him being 6'7 I felt so safe when he hugged me and my heart was flip flopping all over the place. I seriously think he prob felt it since it was pounding like a massive drum! But I still thought he liked Jessi and I didn't have a chance! And he was still thinking that I like his friend. I wasn't going to give up though! I decided to invite him for dinner at my house with my whole family! ( as friends of course). The poor guy did not say a word the whole night! He was such a trooper for coming though...especially since we weren't actually dating. After that It was pretty obvious that we liked each other but we were both to scared to say so.It took Trav's best friend Levi to knock us over the head, sit us down, and get our feelings out in the open. We were in my dorm ( Trav, Levi, my roommate, and I) and I can still picture Levi sitting on the edge of my futon with Trav and I in front of him. He would look at me and go " Emma, you like Trav right?" Awkwardly I said "yes". Then he looked at Trav and said, " Trav, you like Emma right?" Another awkward "yes". "Good, then you should date!". ( haha Thanks Levi! We couldn't have done it without you!) Well, we did start dating that night...after we got written up for dorm hours since Trav and Levi were in our room! He asked me out on the steps of the dorm and made me the happiest girl on campus! We spent a year at CUI together and then we both transfered to different schools as we followed God's calling for our lives. But those memories from our first year dating are some of the greatest! We still go back to Concordia to "our spot" up by the chapel where it overlooks the whole city and all those memories come rushing right back!

And now, even after 3 years my heart still flip flops and pounds like a drum when he hugs me goodbye! In 7 months I get to marry the man of my dreams. The man I prayed for for years. The man who captured my heart and became my best friend. How amazing is that?!?! As Phoebe would say, " He's my lobster!" :-)