We're getting married! 06/06/2022 #ReceptionSept_17_22

We met each other after we both transferred to Bridgewater College. Nathan had transferred in his associate degree credits from Blue Ridge Community College, and Jessie transferred her freshmen credits from Concord University. Since we were both transfer students, we were forced to take an introduction into college course for transfer students, and this is where it happened. We locked eyes from the moment that Nathan walked into the classroom and sat in the seat behind Jessie. Jessie spun around to say hi to her new friend and Nathan did the same cheerfully. He introduced himself with a smile and waited expectantly for Jessie's response, when the unexpected happened. She smiled happily and told Nathan her name as well and then said, "We've already met before." Nathan looked at her with shock in his eye. Jessie laughed it off and recalled, "Don't you remember on the first day of orientation? I was talking to someone else and then you turned around to talk to us? We were talking for a good 5 minutes or so." Nathan replied, "I'm sorry, I don't remember you." Jessie brushed it off, and said "Well, you'll remember me now, and that's what matters." Nathan never forgot Jessie again, and Jessie still remembers both of their initial meetings! :)

By the time Spring Semester of 2015 rolled around, we were starting to spend more time together. We were going on walks around Bridgewater College. Going to convocations together. Studying together. Just driving around our area and talking together. But nothing in the dating realm was happening. One day while studying in the commons area of Nathan's dorm, Nathan suggests that we should see a movie together. Jessie agreed happily. "Sure, what movie?" Nathan suggests, "American Sniper," since that was the big movie that was out at that time. So, we went. The movie was good. The food was good. And the conversations back were great. Both of us were feeling a deeper connection growing. Nathan drove us back to Bridgewater. Just as we were approaching campus, Jessie sighs and says, "This was a nice date." Jessie's heart stopped realizing what she had said. We weren't dating. We were friends. Friends going out to the movies. Nothing more and nothing less. There was a slight silence in the car that didn't last longer than 2 seconds, but to Jessie it seemed to last a lifetime. Panicking now, Jessie tries to regain composure and trying not to freak Nathan out by being too forward says, "This was a nice date "thing". A fun "thing" that we did together." Realizing that what she said sounded worse, Jessie began panicking again. But Nathan just smiled, seeming not to notice Jessie's flustered reaction, as he continued driving and said, "Yeah, this was a fun night," he said completely composed, "We should do it again sometime."

Nathan and Jessie have been dating for about 4 months now, since they officially started dating on March 20th. It was July 4, 2015 and Jessie and her family were doing fireworks and a bonfire at her house. Jessie invited Nathan to come over to see if he wanted to spend time with her for the holiday. Nathan said that he unfortunately couldn't make the bonfire, but that he could make it to the fireworks being lit closer to dark. Of course being the fourth, Jessie had been drinking one of her favorite drinks (a Screwdriver). She was feeling good. It was a good time with family. Nathan was going to come over. And there was a giant bonfire that was going to be lit soon. It was a good day. As Jessie and her family went over to start the bonfire, they realized that the wood was too damp from the rain the night before. There was no way that these huge branches were going to light on their own. So they decided to put gasoline on the wood. This would surely do it. Once the gasoline was on, the fire was sure to happen and the bonfire could go as planned. However, when the spark was lit, nothing happened. It seemed that the wood really did not want to burn. So more gasoline was added. Still nothing. Then a bit more was added. Finally the bonfire started, but something else happened too. The gasoline had it's own vapors, which were able to travel a good 15 feet away from the wooden pyre. This is where Jessie was standing. When the flame finally ignited, those vapors too caught fire and then dissipated. The fire had reached Jessie and burned her legs. Of coarse she tried to get away from the flames, but all she felt was heat and a slight pain. No one realized the severity of what happened, since Jessie wasn't feeling any pain, perhaps from the Screwdrivers she drank before. But once she was inside the house and sat down, everyone could see the second degree burn and blisters forming mainly on Jessie's left leg. The pain was excruciating and unfortunately there was no medicine strong enough or fast acting enough for this type of pain, so Jessie drank more Screwdrivers. Jessie chugged her drink and then another until there was no pain. She was put to bed in the hopes that she would feel better. "What a night this has been?" Jessie thought to herself. "This was supposed to be a great day with family, a bonfire, and fireworks, and now it's ruined." Then she realized. Nathan was supposed to be coming over. It was getting dark and Nathan was supposed to be arriving any minute. There was no ability to let him know what happened. Nathan pulled up the long driveway, half expecting to see Jessie greet him at the door, but instead it was Jessie's mother. Nathan looked at her confused and a bit distraught, since this was definitely unusual. Jessie's Mom said in a cracking voice, "Hey Nathan, Jessie's in her room, she's been burned, but...", she wanted to tell him that Jessie was fine and bit drunk, but she wasn't even able to get those words out before Nathan barreled himself in the house, up the stairs, and ran into Jessie's room to check on her, nearly running over Jessie's Mom in the process. Jessie was told Nathan's reaction later on by her Mom. That was the moment that she realized how much Nathan cared about her and what she meant to him. A person's love is always measured in what they do, not what they say. It's unfortunate that Jessie got burned, but it took an unfortunate event to show both Jessie and Nathan what they meant to each other that fateful July 4th. Our love truly has only grown fonder and stronger with time. We dated for 6 years and 10 months, we will have been engaged for 5 months, and with God's blessing will have a bright future as a married couple. Thank you for reading our story and we look forward to celebrating our marriage with you on September 17, 2022.