We met September 11th of 2023 in Operations Management with Brother Chapman at Brigham Young University- Idaho. Operations management was Monday & Wednesday mornings. From the first day, Caleb saw this super cute girl from across the room, and Emily was focused on class.

The next class, Caleb decided that he would go up and talk to this really cute girl. Unbeknownst to him, Emily had decided that dating was not for her that semester, as she was super busy with her classes, an Internship, and her Job, so there was just no time. But since this wasn't common knowledge, He jumped in with both feet, but subtly.

So, I was coming into this semester, ready to get back out there, and wanting to meet new people. Well, I walked in to my first class, and I saw this girl, and I wanted to talk to her, oh man I wanted to talk to her, but we weren't in the same group, so I had to be tactful.

So at the end of the next class we were picking up some paper airplanes, and I saw this as my chance to introduce myself, and it was so clunky, But we kept talking as we were walking to my next class, and Emily had a "meeting" that she needed to go to, and so we stopped our conversation there. And by that time, I now had the biggest crush.

A week later, I got her number, which took a little bit of convincing for some reason, but we got there. Then it was go time, I wanted to take this girl out on a date, really as soon as possible. So I planned a quick date for that Friday, nothing major, just a trip to the soda shop for some drinks. Unfortunately it had to be canceled, for family reasons. I tried so hard, like so hard, to work around it. But alas, the date I planned the day before was canceled.

Monday after class, I tried to reschedule the date for that night...I felt bad, and I wasn't about to let this girl get away quite yet. But Monday was busy, there was

"FHE" and "homework", and it took quite a bit of convincing, like a normal person would not have pushed this hard, but I did. A side note about Emily, she is really bad at texting, which can be detrimental to last minute date planning.

So time was coming down, and there still wasn't a solid confirmation, which was a little worrying to me. But it's all good, "it'll work out." I thought, "I have homework anyway. I guess I'll go to the library!" So I walk over to the library, back to my spot and there, In the corner, working on homework, is Emily. So naturally I walk up to her and work on my homework next to her. She was surprised but not opposed to me sitting next to her, so we worked on homework for a little bit.

Once she finished her readings and was getting up to, leave I sealed the deal and we got a date for that night after FHE. I was so excited, and pretty nervous too because I had developed a pretty big crush and I really didn't want to screw this up. She was so pretty and so fun to talk to (she still is), and I was really falling for her.

Well the date was successful, if you couldn't tell, we got our sodas and talked for almost an hour, just sitting there, the two of us having a really great conversation about anything and everything. I loved it, and decided that I was gonna try and date her, and I am so glad that I did. There is no one besides Emily that I'd rather sit at the counter, drink sodas, and talk about anything and everything with.

The story of how I fell so hard, little by little, for Caleb :)

Going into the fall 2023 semester I decided I wanted to focus on school, my internship and the new job I was starting. I was wanting to work hard this semester on getting good real world experience to add to my resume as well as progressing more toward my graduation that would come in the summer of 2024. All of this meant that I had absolutely no time for dating and that was the lowest item on my priority list.

When the start of the semester rolled around I was very excited to start my busy semester. During the first class of operations management we were divided into teams with a variety of skill sets that we would be working with throughout the semester. After I was placed into a group, our professor ended up moving me from my group that was in the middle of the class to a different one on the far right hand side of the room to even out the females and males more. (Come to find out later, this made Caleb sad because my original group was right next to his :)

During the second day of class I could feel someone looking at me. This made me feel a little funky and I eventually looked over and found the culprit: Caleb. I didn't know his name at this time but I would soon find out. He kept glancing over throughout the class and by the end I knew he was going to come up and talk with me. Once we were let out for the day and one of my group members got up to leave, all I could think was "Jon(one of my group members) you're leaving me to some random guy".

After Jon got up and left, I took a deep breath and waited about 2 seconds and the guy appeared in front of my desk on his way out the door and asked me what my name was. I answered and we continued to carry on a pleasant conversation. After walking together for a a few minutes I decided to tell a little fib and said I had a "meeting" because I had no plan on going on dates this semester and was not going to get attached.

That Friday my friend and I ended up choosing to go to Costa Vida to catch up for lunch. While walking through the line ordering my food I heard my name and looked up and saw Caleb! This made me so happy that he remembered my name! Such a crazy coincidence that he worked at the place that we chose to go to lunch to!

The next class on Monday, Caleb didn't talk to me because I was talking to Jon (but unbeknownst to him, Jon is married and he still could have talked to me :)

We ended up walking together again Wednesday and it shocked me when he asked how my meeting went from last Wednesday! Even though we didn't talk long this day because I had driven to campus this day straight from the hospital(my internship) he still was able to ask for my number and with a little hesitation I gave it to him.

My plan was to tell every guy that asked: that I wasn't dating currently and was unable to give out my number- which had been successful until Caleb decided to pull up. Walking away from that encounter, I thought to myself that I wouldn't slip up again and I wouldn't give anyone else my number and wouldn't go on any dates- because I was extremely busy. I just couldn't tell him no.

He ended up asking me out for that Friday and I ended up taking a while to respond but eventually said yes because it might be a fun way to end the day. I also was working a 12 hour shift on Thursday and another on Friday, along with trying to do my homework and internship items- so I thought I had a pretty good excuse for almost saying no.

But then HE CANCELED :( But this actually didn't devastate me, I ended up being really tired after my shifts and had some homework due that night that I needed to take care of for an online class. I was going to "see" if he ever reached out again but I wasn't attached -yet- so I didn't care if he did or not- it was on him for canceling after all. I had a life that I was living that kept me busy, content and happy so if he chose to reschedule that was on him.

That monday we walked together again. He tried to get me to agree to go out with him that night to make up for it but I had a lot of homework to get done and wanted to go to FHE- because I think that its important to set up routines now that I want to keep for the rest of my life and also didn't want to miss picking apples at the orchards.

While I was studying in the Library, grinding to get some homework done, he showed up. He sat down right near me and studied. I didn't know how he found me but I just knew that I wasn't getting out of the date that evening. And I was also kind of impressed that when he saw me, he wasn't scared to come over and talk with me, or to study next to me. He didn't appear to be intimidated by me.

While we were drinking our sodas we found that we had some similarities and things in common. Our conversation flowed and it wasn't a date that was just drug out. And he didn't seem fazed when I told him that I would him at the soda shop after he asked what I preferred. (Which I LOVED that he asked if I wanted him to pick me up because it showed clear communication and I got to meet him there which would help with giving me an escape if I needed one and he wouldn't know where I lived so I could leave it at just the one date). When I got home from this date I talked with my roommate about it and I concluded that I wouldn't be opposed to going out with him again if he asked- which was HUGE- for me at this time. I was not ready to say whether I liked him or if I would date him but it was a good chill date that I enjoyed so I figured I could find time for just one more... but again I wasn't in any hurry

For the rest of the semester he had the best patience with me as I was working weekend night 12 hour shifts, doing my internship during the week with classes fit in there. He sacrificed to spend time with me and supported me in all of my dreams and ambitions- and he still does.

Throughout the months since this first date I have been shown time and time again what an amazing person Caleb is. How thoughtful, hard working, loving and devoted he truly is. He has carried me to bed when I've fallen asleep on the couch, he has delivered food to me when I forget lunch and he has hugged me after hard days and told me its going to be alright.

Every date and every day I continue to fall more in love with him and who he is. I am grateful that God brought him into my life and all of the pieces aligned for us to be in the same 9:45am operations management class :)