Part 2:

So, Brad left EARLY Monday morning to go back to Georgia. I had that day off from work so, we talked when we could and I remember him calling me from his drive home from the airport and we talked for the entire 2 hours. For those who know me, know I hate talking on the phone so, I kinda really liked this guy if I was willing to do that!! :)

By Wednesday we were both missing each other pretty bad. When I woke up Wednesday morning he asked me, "what are the chances of you coming to Georgia this weekend?" I thought um ... not very good! I have a kid to take care of and a job to get covered. But, we looked at flights anyways and for some reason ... without having anything worked out ... I bought plane tickets to go see him in Georgia that weekend. I didn't panic at all. It just felt like it's what I needed to do and that everything would work out. And it did. Within 5 minutes of checking with friends, my son had places to stay for the weekend. And, within 5 minutes of being at work, my shifts were covered. It was a huge blessing to say the least!

So, Friday I left bright and early for Atlanta. I remember hardly sleeping at all the night before because I was excited and nervous! The flight to Atlanta seemed to take forever. It allowed plenty of time for me to get even more nervous about seeing Brad again. What if we didn't like each other anymore!?! But ... as soon as I got off the plane and finally figured out where I was supposed to be going (Atlanta has a HUGE airport!) I found Brad and all those worries went away. It was just really nice to be with him again. I still had some reservations about our relationship but I was hoping to work through them that weekend. 

Friday night we stayed in Atlanta. I was so exhausted I just wanted to go to the hotel and relax. We got some Arby's for dinner and then found a hotel. I remember we were laying on the bed just talking and he said something. I thought I had heard, "I love you."
So ... I said, "wait? what did you just say?" 

Brad asks, "did you think you heard the 'L' word?"

 ... "um, yes I actually did." 

"well ... I do love you Jami"

"I love you back Brad"

(we obviously kissed after that ... at least I hope we did.)

Now ... some of you may be thinking that we are crazy and we moved so fast and how could you really love someone that quick!? Honest answer: I don't know. It just felt right and it was just what I needed and what I needed to do. That is the only answer I can give you. Love is a funny thing. 

Up until this point we had been saying "I really really really like you." But neither of us were willing to say 'love' until we were able to say it face to face. So, we had held off and to be honest, it was nice to be able to finally say it. We said it a lot that weekend. A lot. 

Anyways -- we slept. A lot that night. (I was exhausted) and then we woke up Saturday morning and went and did a session in the Atlanta Georgia Temple. It was awesome. It's a small temple but, absolutely gorgeous. It was so neat being in the temple with Brad. I was expecting to get some huge answer about whether I should marry Brad or not but, the only impression I got was "Just keep going" so, I did just that. 

After the Temple we went a got some really yummy Chinese food and then went downtown. We went to the Atlanta Aquarium which is FANTASTIC. If you ever are in Atlanta ... you most definitely need to go. It was fun to walk around and see all the cool stuff. After the Aquarium we got into a discussion about my fears and doubts and all of that awesomely fun stuff in a relationship. I was scared that I would make the wrong decision. I knew I really cared about him and loved him but, I was very forward with him and told him I was terrified (I have done that a lot since too ... Brad's super patient with me.) We sat and talked in the Olympic Park for probably close to an hour about it and I remember telling him, "Guys like you don't exist. You are too perfect!" I told him I would keep working through this and keep trying to figure out my issues if he would keep being patient with me. See ... I later found out that he knew he was going to marry me (he knew since the first day he met me) so he knew he just needed to be patient with me to get to the same point as him. So, patient he was. 

After we talked we drove down to Ft. Benning, where he was living at the time. At the time, it was pretty surreal to drive onto a military base and realize that Army could be my life if I chose it. If I remember right, that night we went to this really really yummy pizza place there. And then we went shopping at Walmart for some food for the weekend. 

Saturday night he watched a movie and I fell asleep. Sunday morning came and he was checking his email and realized that he would be leaving even early that we expected to go overseas. We both panicked a little because we had talked about marriage and we knew that it was something we were working towards but, we thought we would have a few months in the same country but, come to find out we would only have a few weeks. That sure put things into perspective for us and we realized we needed things to move a lot quicker if this was ever going to work. It lit a fire under him ... and maybe a spark under me. Anyways ... one of my favorite things is going to church with my man. I just love it. So, naturally, I was excited to get to do that with him that day. That Sunday happened to be Fast Sunday so, he got up and bore his testimony and I was very impressed with him and his testimony and his desire to share it. Shortly after him, I bore my testimony and then the meeting ended. I remember a member from the Relief Society Presidency came up and introduced herself and she assumed that we were married. It made me smile. 

We went to Sunday School together and then he went to Priesthood. During Relief Society is where everything changed. I cannot tell you what made it change and I cannot tell you how/why/etc ... all I know is that I walked out of Relief Society that Sunday knowing, without a doubt in my mind, that I wanted to marry Brad and be with him forever. Sure, I was still terrified and had my fears and doubts about how it would all work out. But, I knew it's exactly what I wanted and needed. 

When we got into the car I told him that. And the rest of the way home from church we talked about being married. My spark had turned into a fire. Looking back now, I know that we needed that weekend and I needed that experience or we would not be getting married in a couple weeks. Funny how the timing always works out exactly how we need it. 

When we got home from church we looked at dates and talked wedding and then we realized we needed to call parents. I called my mom first and told her our plans. She was a little surprised but, she had had a feeling it was coming. Then, my dad grilled me with lots of questions about him, ensuring that I was certain as to what I was doing and then he seemed okay with it. Our parents have been so supportive of this from day one, which has made it so nice. 

That night we were in the kitchen cleaning up dinner and had some music playing. Brad grabbed my hand and pulled me in close to him and we danced in the kitchen together. I remember feeling really awkward at the time but, looking back now ... it was pretty romantic and sweet of him. 

Sunday night we hardly slept because I was leaving the next morning and we wanted as much time together as we could get. But, 5am came way too quick and it was time to get me on a bus to the airport. We got everything paid for a booked and got me loaded up. We said our good-byes (or really, "see you laters") and I climbed into the van. I didn't cry until Brad sent me a text that said,

"I am going to marry you!" 

and then all flood gates broke loose. He made me smile so much (well, he still does) and I was having the hardest time with the distance and always having to say bye and not getting enough time with him! But ... because I now knew what the end result was, it was a little easier to head home. I was leaving Georgia knowing that eventually ... I would get to marry that boy. And I couldn't have been happier.