Thursday, March 3, 2011

Who would've thought?

A few minutes after we got engaged.

A year and a half ago, I was at Sunday dinner with my parents and we got talking about dating. One thing led to another and I ended up laying in my mom's lap crying (yes, at 26 sometimes a good cry in your mom's lap is the only thing that will make you feel better). I just didn't get it. How did people fall in love and get married? It all just seemed so far off for me. Little did I know, the boy I would end up loving was already very much a part of my life, the time just had to be right.

I was busy looking for the guy I thought I wanted. I thought I'd marry some guy who was studying business or dentistry (maybe because that's 95% of the guys at BYU?) or maybe some guy who loved sports and dressed in business casual and had all of the same interests as me. I knew lots of those guys and they were all great, but I often found myself being self-conscious and trying to force something that wasn't there. It just wasn't working.

So imagine my surprise when I found myself falling for Gard (who was not what I was looking for, but way better for me in so many ways). We'd been friends with for a couple of years and in that time I'd become so comfortable not only around him, but more comfortable around me- more comfortable in my own skin. I was able to be myself with him. One of the first times that Gard and I went to lunch together (a year and a half or so before we started dating), I picked apart my entire sandwich and did a bunch of things I'd never do in front of a date and remarked, "It's a good thing you're not trying to date me." And that was the trick- he wasn't trying to date me, we were just becoming friends and that made all the difference.

It didn't matter that he adored all things outdoors and I'd only spent a lifetime total of 4 nights in a tent. I didn't get hung up on the fact that while I occasionally enjoyed sporting events, he was unfamiliar with the term "first down". Whether or not Gard liked The Dixie Chicks (he doesn't), I still liked them and whether or not I loved to ski, Gard still loved it and still loved me. I quit looking for all of those things I thought I wanted and found all of the things I needed (and didn't even realize it!) in Gard. I quit looking for the guy in a suit who had all the same interests and was able to look at Gard in his skinny jeans and t-shirts and fall in love with his kindness and sense of humor and intelligence (and adorable nerdiness!- the cool kind, not the weird kind) and testimony, etc etc etc. And miracle of all miracles, he fell in love with me!

It's not like Gard was looking for me either. I'm sure he thought he'd end up with a girl who loved to rock climb and ski black diamonds and who maybe knew a thing or two about science. But that wasn't me and ultimately he didn't care. Even though I still pick apart my food and have only skied 3 times in my entire life and get overly excited about stupid things and talk way too fast for any one's good, he likes me. Somehow with all of our differences, we understand each other and make one another happy. So a few weeks ago when we were baking in our pajamas and I turned around to find him on one knee in the kitchen, it was a resounding, "YES!" (well, after I said, "Really?! Wait, you're supposed to tell me nice things."). Who would've thought?

Calling Chickee to share the good news.

26 comments:

Unknown said...

Congrats! I'm so excited for you. Between you and me (and the others who read your comments) I felt a little jipped (spelling?) when Steve proposed. All he said was will you marry me. Come on, I was waiting for the chick flick speech about how wonderful I was. I think I went home and Laurel did it for me. =)
P.S. I want to see a picture of the ring and you have to keep us updated about all the wedding plans!

Busy Burtons said...

aw man i miss you!!! Congrats girl! cant wait to hear all the details of the wedding planning. ya know... if you need a good secretary to keep things all organized, you know who to call right? ;) jk jk. im SOOO excited for you!! serioulsy, CONGRATS!

MONster said...

this post just made my eyes well up.

danielle said...

congratulations!! he sounds perfect :)

Shannon Elizabeth said...

i love lard.

Anonymous said...

congratulations! i am so happy for you...falling in love with your best friend, without even realizing it, is my personal favorite :) best wishes!

Karen Mortensen said...

I am so happy for you. You are one awesome woman. This reminds me of something I saw in a fortune cookie once. It was something like what you are looking for is right in front of you. Can't wait to meet my new "nephew" I don't know if you know this or not, but I do consider you girls as my nieces. Hope that is okay.(after all, my brother is your uncle)

Nate and Julie said...

Congrats! You guys are cute together. Can't wait to meet him!

Rachel DeFreese said...

I am so happy for you, Linds! It's crazy how it just happens. Can't wait to hear the wedding details!

Richard said...

We're with Shannon Elizabeth, we love Lard too.

Anonymous said...

this is super exciting news. i like you both! and marriage is so great, i hear!

Emily Blais said...

Dearest Lindsay, I can't begin to tell you how happy I am for you. You deserve nothing short of the very best in this life, and I am so glad that Gard is it. I am sure he is every bit as wonderful as you are. You would not settle for anything less than that. He is one lucky dude! I love you dearly, and miss you even more. Congratulations to you two from the Blais crew. Hey... that rhymed. That means I need so stop blabbing on. I love you, and congrats again! Start posting more, I want the play-by-play!

xoxo
E

Unknown said...

Glad I'm everyone's favorite kind of fat!

(but mostly that I'm your favorite)

kat said...

congrats again! it was so good to talk to you the other day. You guys are a great looking couple.:) He sounds a lot like Mark. I can't wait to hang out with you in the midwest!

Glo said...

I love this post so much! LOVE IT! Congrats again!! I am so excited to do your flowers!

Becca said...

i love this! i'm so happy for you guys.

Grandma Honey said...

I read this days ago and I am so happy for you both. But I keep thinking about you picking that sandwich apart. That's a sign of a great relationship. Seriously.

I don't know who I am more excited about meeting...Gard or his mother!

Brett and Sydnie said...

Congrats Lindsay! That's so exciting!

Brady and Lauren said...

This is my favorite post you have ever written! I'm so happy for you and this totally made me tear up. You guys are an awesome couple and I'm so excited for the wedding.

Annelise said...

a great story, with a wonderful happily ever after :) CONGRATS!!

kimi + joe said...

Such exciting news, Lindsay and Gard. I just realized Gard was roommates with my friend Dainan at BYU. Small world. Anyway, congrats again!

vanessa said...

this made me tear up a little. well done guys.

Bags said...

Best. News. Ever! Congrats my dear friend. :)

Carrie Woolley said...

Lindsay Rozier! This is Carrie Woolley- I just found your blog and was so happy to see your good news. Congratulations! Russ and I are both so excited for you. Sounds like you found a great guy!

breena rae said...

Hooray for proposing in jammies! It's true love for sure.
Oh, I'm so happy that I got to read the whole story in a nut shell. I can't wait to meet him because he must be an incredible guy to get to be marrying you, the incredible woman! Love you Lindsay and we're so happy for you!

M and M said...

This was a great post, I am so happy for. Hope we all get to hang out together sometime, I'll go skiing with Gard.