girl meets boy - a love story

I worked as a 411 operator when I was 18.
"This is Bree, what city?"
I got to give people telephone numbers
to anywhere in the whole country.
It was......boring as I'll get out.
I left that job after 8 months.
I remained in contact with a friend
I made at that job -
Horrace, who eventually also left
and went to work for another company.

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A couple years later, I was sitting in church. My friend, Ana, was leaving for a year and a half to serve a mission for our church. There was a special program for her on this particular Sunday. 3 gentleman got up to sing a beautiful song. The guy in the middle was a total looker and had a super awesome voice. But, I thought, I'll never see him again, what's the use? Besides, I was thinking about going on a mission myself.

However.....

....that night, we had a farewell gathering for Ana at my grandparent's house and in walked the 3 singing guys! I quickly introduced myself to the Looker. "Hi, I'm Brianne." His name was Brian. After hearing my name, he says, "Do you know Horrace?" I tell him I DO know Horrace (I mean, how many people know a "Horrace?")! Brian then tells me that he works with Horrace and that Horrace has been trying to get him to call this Mormon girl named Brianne, with long curly hair, who would be perfect for him!

Well, my WORD! Destiny, I do believe!

Brian said, "Brian & Brianne....it'll never work." But oh, he wanted me so bad! Well, once Horrace found out that we'd met, he made sure to get us hooked up again. He arranged for the 3 of us to meet at In N Out Burger. Oh, that Horrace, he was just so proud to see the two of us together. So he took off after dinner. But Brian & I, we hung out the rest of the night. We were smitten. And lo, after 5 months together, he went on his mission to the Philippines for TWO YEARS! 18 of those months, I spent serving a mission in Berlin Germany.

Amazing, amazing experiences. Truly.

One of our very last hugs before he became a missionary. Oh, the bitter-sweetness of it. Saying good-bye for two years was very painful. I remember driving away from his house with my family in the car bawling with me. But the fun & joy we shared through letters, tapes & pictures on our missions was incredible & unique & priceless & awesome!

And 3 weeks after he got home.........

WE WERE ENGAGED!

August 2nd, 2002 we were sealed for TIME and ALL ETERNITY in the beautiful Oakland California Temple. Is that such an incredible love story? One that will never end. It is true. There really is such a thing as happily ever forever after!

This kicks off LOVE week.
It's going to be good.