Our story starts just like any relationship does in the year 2021, on a dating app. Say what you want, it works, and I'm so happy about that.

Way back in February we matched and we started talking soon after that. Unfortunately, Hyrum was headed back to Utah, leaving me behind. Hyrum was living in Provo, Utah, going to school at Utah Valley University while I was in Gilbert, Arizona, starting my small floral business. We had two completely separate lives, nothing to connect us to one another, but we just kept talking. We texted for a while, he was very flirtatious and I'm sure I played hard to get. I have little memories of that time (for more than one reason) but I remember getting so excited to see his name pop up on my phone. I loved getting to know Hyrum and I craved his attention daily. He felt so familiar to me, we had similar personalities, laughed at the same things, and he quickly became someone who I could share the heavy, scary things that come with a new relationships. There was just a little bit of distance between us.

Early April, Hyrum was driving to Provo from St. George for a Bachelor Party. We were talking on the phone while he was driving and right as he made it to Provo we found out that his plans for the weekend fell through. I'm not sure who had the bright idea, but soon after Hyrum was headed south for Arizona. That's when we met. I remember seeing Hyrum for the first time, it literally took my breath away. He was someone that I had been consistently talking to for the last month, knew him pretty well, but had never met in person. He was way more handsome than I thought he'd be. We spent almost every waking moment with each other that weekend, getting to know each other, laughing a lot and I knew I needed to see him more.

For the next few months we would go back and forth between Utah and Arizona seeing each other on random weekends. Again, my memory is a little foggy, but I loved every second with Hyrum. And when we weren't together, we were talking constantly. They were really happy months, and I'm grateful for that time that we fell in love.

In May I was in Utah visiting Hyrum, and we drove up to Provo for his friend's weddings. The day was pretty busy, but we took some time and dove up to Tibble Fork. There we talked openly about how we felt about each other, and the future. Hyrum asked me to be his girlfriend and I heard, in a still small voice "If you choose the right, you will marry Hyrum Nelson". I loved that whispering, and I knew it was true. But I also knew that Hyrum wasn't ready for marriage quite yet.

I was right, exactly a month after that beautiful day at Tibble Fork, he broke up with me. I loved Hyrum, a lot. And I knew that the brake-up would be hard, and I didn't want that. I had a busy weekend full of flower orders, so I was convinced that I would distract myself in order to avoid the sadness that would come with losing him.

So that's what I did! I dove into flowers that weekend like I had never done before. I was up late arranging for a weddings and events that I had that weekend. On June 11 I woke up early to drive from Gilbert, to Eager for a wedding, only to turn around, stop in Show Low, and then drive back down to Gilbert to fill another order. I wish I could say that I was feeling no stress, surrounded by beautiful flowers and that everything was great, but that was not the case. I was filled with anxiety about the day, and constantly stressed knowing I had so much to do. I dropped off the wedding florals and was headed back for Show Low. That was the first time that day that I felt any peace (and exhaustion). That's my last concrete memory of the day. At some point, I believe that I fell asleep, going too fast and rolled my car three times end over end. Hours later, I woke up in the hospital so scared. I asked my mom where Hyrum was and if he was okay, and she let me know that we had broken up and he was in Utah. I passed out after that. The only injury that I sustained from the accident was a severe concussion. The following weeks were difficult. I was constantly tired, slept a lot, had a migraine always, struggled with vertigo and had a lot of memory loss. The reason that my car accident is part of our story is because the accident took away a lot of memories of Hyrum. I knew he was someone that I dated, I knew that I loved him, but I didn't remember our time together or why I was in love with him.

So I moved on. I kept healing and dating and arranging flowers. My life before the accident was good, but I was struggling mentally. After the accident, my head was hit hard enough that I no longer struggled with my anxiety and depression, I think the only explanation is that Heavenly Father miraculously healed a lot in me with that one painful event. I still would get the same prompting I had at Tibble Fork, which I would push to the back of my mind, hoping it would somehow work out, but I was happier than I had ever been before, and healthier too. I think the same is the same for Hyrum, he had a happy summer too.

On August 11, Hyrum was involved in an accident himself. He was driving early one morning (very fast) on his motorcycle. He then hit a deer head on. The crash split the deer in half and sent him skidding across the road. Besides some bad road rash, he was okay.

A couple days after that he called me. He let me know that he was in an accident and that he was okay. I then accused him of trying to steal my accident thunder, and he let me know that wasn't the case.

After that phone call we kept talking. I still didn't remember a lot about Hyrum, but I loved that he knew how to make me laugh, and I could feel that he still loved me. Soon enough he was in Arizona to see me, and things fell right back into place. Seeing Hyrum after those months felt really, really good, and I quickly fell back in love with him.

On September 11, Hyrum's family took us paddle boarding on the Salt River. It was a pretty and quiet day. As the sun was setting we had finished our little route and we were pulling our vessels out of the water. I was tired, I was wet and I was ready to eat a lot of dinner, then Hyrum asked me if I wanted to go on a hike, and I can say confidently, I did not want to go on a hike. I said yes anyway. In my wet rubber birkenstocks I followed Hyrum up a steep mountain. At the top he had balloons, candles, flowers and a dinner waiting for me. He dropped down on one knee and asked me to marry him. Little did he know that my dad had told me about the whole thing and I knew it was coming, but I still had a fun night, haha!

It's always been important for me to write down little parts of my life, and I know that I want this story to be recorded. I want to remember how hard it was to date long distance, how painful the accident was, and how sweet and fulfilling it was to finally be back with him. And above all, I want him and every family member, friend and stranger to know how much I love Hyrum. He makes me want to strive to be more like the Savior, kinder to other people and myself. He makes me laugh always, which is something I knew I needed in a partner. He is so supportive of me and the strong person I can be, and he is the best flower helper. He is kind, thoughtful, intentional and loving. And I am so excited to start and end everyday, for the remainder of my days with him. I love you Hyrum. -Z

Registry