In March 2020, we were on a school trip in Scotland. We didn't know each other-- when you're homeschooled, you don't always know who your "classmates" are, and in a group of forty, we easily avoided meeting until our third day across the pond. I did see Gunner from afar on the first day when we were still traveling-- we had just landed in London, and I glimpsed him as the group was heading to the gate for our layover. I remember nudging my sister and pointing him out to her and saying, "He looks cute, I'm definitely going to talk to him!" On March 4, we visited a battleground in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. I remember, following the tour, heading back to the bus and as I walked down the aisle to my seat, I made eye contact for the first time. It was so distinct; I felt frozen there, the two of us just hanging in space for a long moment. "That's him, that's the one," God told me, and there was no doubt in my mind. Later that day at the hotel, Gunner and I hung out for the first distinct time, still within the group, but it was our first time having small talk and joking around together, and we clicked instantly. The next day, one of our activities was to see a show, "The Spirit of Scotland." About an hour before the show, I became extremely homesick and had a meltdown, so much that I did not want to attend the show, but I couldn't stay in the hotel without a chaperone, and so I went. I was still trying to pull it together on the bus, and literally crying when Gunner suddenly asked if he could sit next to me. I said yes to be polite, and we sat in silence for a moment before he started talking to me, quietly but with undeniable assertion. After my awkwardness wore off, the conversation flowed freely and felt comfortable, like I had known him all my life. Somehow, the bus driver confused the address for the show with another on the other side of town. After nearly leaving us stranded at a random address, we waited quite some time before we got moving again, and in that time Gunner and I went for a walk with his friend Zach. I don't remember much of what was said on that walk, but I remember feeling safe, and the homesickness melting away. That night was also the first time we texted. The next day, we visited Edinburgh Castle, and everyone split up to go explore on their own rather than a group tour. Gunner and I decided to explore together, and that was the first time we spent just the two of us. I remember being freezing cold and Gunner offering me his jacket, which surprised and delighted me, and I remember the big "Oooooooo" uttered by the others when we regrouped. The next day was what we like to think of as our first date. The activity was exploring downtown Edinburgh and we visited this fun illusion museum. We went in the little shops, I tried butter-beer for the first time, we bought macaroons and he took a picture of me in the middle of the wide cobblestone road. I remember Gunner asking me, "So where do you live?" and I told him "LA," and he winced. He told me he lived in San Jose and I asked, "where is that?" "About six hours north of LA." I was not worried, though, I reasoned that we would just have to figure it out one way or another, but there was no way that the end of the trip was the end of us. Later that day when we returned to the hotel, the group was hanging out, and I offered to go to my room to grab a snack to share. Gunner offered to come with me, and with the literal push the group, off we went. We wound up just talking there for what felt like forever, totally absorbed in one another's presence. We talked our lives, our travels, our dreams, embarrassing moments, anything that came to mind. A chaperone came to do the door to check in, and asked me if Gunner was in my room. I told them yes, he was, but we're just talking. Somehow they trusted us and let us be, and we talked until my sister and the others barged in with her room key, since we hadn't returned in so long.
The next day on the plane, I fell asleep on Gunner's shoulder; I felt so safe and comfortable with him, it just felt natural. He asked me on the flight, "when are we going to see each other again?" and I responded, "I don't know, but we will." I meant it when I said it, but the practicality was not so certain-- six hours away, neither of us driving, and the week after we returned home, lockdown for COVID began. Quarantine, though, turned out to be such a blessing for our relationship. We talked every single day for hours on FaceTime, typically 6-8 hours straight, and we were able to spend so much quality time that could not have been so without that forced time out of normal routine. We were able to bond and learn about each other, share music and watch movies together, and talk about our future together. Sometime during quarantine, a few of the families from the Scotland trip wanted to go to Hawaii together, myself and Gunner included, and so we figured that would be the next time we would see each other, in June. Gunner told me that the next time he saw me, which we presumed to be the Hawaii trip, he would ask me to be his girlfriend, and we would start purposefully dating to decipher our future together, since we both wanted to be married and did not want to continue spending time together if we did not feel God wanted us for one another. In May though, we wound up seeing each other, exactly one month before the Hawaii trip was planned to start. He was going to be with his family in Ventura, only a couple hours from me, celebrating his high school graduation. My sister and I were invited to go celebrate with his family, and thankfully, my dad agreed to take us. On May 18, we saw each other for the first time since Scotland, and we clicked just as we did then, except even more so after two months of calls and talking to each other every day. It was a beautiful day, and even though it wasn't in Hawaii as we thought it would be, Gunner asked me to be his girlfriend, just as he said he would the next time he saw me, and I said yes. After that day, we were back to not knowing when we would see each other again, but we were still hopeful. That summer, my sister and I started flying to San Jose to visit Gunner, and Gunner started flying to LA. We kept that up, with the support of our families, for a year. We had so many wonderful experiences during that time-- beach trips, mall trips, kayaking for Gunner's 18th birthday, camping, our first planned date (Gunner made arrangements for us to get mani-pedis which was just too cute!), and milestones, like getting our driver's licenses and our first jobs. I actually had my interview for my job while I was at Gunner's house, over Zoom. We were attached at the hip; our bond was constantly strengthening, and we were always celebrating and supporting each other. He saw straight through me and heard and understood me the way I always prayed to be heard and understood. We talked every single day, and we still have not gone a day without talking since we met.
In April, 2021, Gunner left for wind turbine technician school, driving from San Jose all the way to Washington state and moving in with three classmate roommates. Because he had a limited number of allotted absences, we figured we would not see each other until he graduated in September. Before he left, he told me, "I'll come back for you, you have my word," and as difficult as it was to be apart for so long, we made it through. Thankfully, we were able to see each other twice in July, early in the month for my 18th birthday, which was just wonderful, and at the end of the month for Gunner's family reunion, which was our first road trip. He picked me up from the airport in Portland, Oregon, and we headed back to his school in Washington for his first interview as a wind turbine technician before heading to the reunion on the Washington coast. By the time he came home a few months later, in September, he had graduated from the school and had accepted a position with a company. I could not have been more proud of him; I am still so incredibly proud of him.
The day we got engaged is one of the happiest days of my life. We went to Disneyland, and we were so giddy to finally be together again! We rode a few rides and eventually made our way to the castle, where Gunner took some photos of me before leading me to Snow White's Wishing Well. I had never seen it before and was absolutely in love. He left me there to admire it and was gone for a short time before he returned. I barely noticed the cast member he had brought with him to film, I was entirely engrossed as he said a few lovely words to me and dropped to one knee and asked me to marry him. The ring is absolutely stunning, and as a generous gift from Gunner's grandmother, it is even more special. Later we got the bride and groom Mickey and Minnie ear headbands, and I was so thrilled; I remember seeing couples with them and always hoping I would have a special someone to wear them with one day. We were all smiles and bliss for the whole trip, and my cheeks hadn't ever hurt from smiling as much as they did that day. My mom even got us adorable matching fiancé shirts!
I never would have guessed that I would be planning my own wedding before ever having attended one! But sure enough, within a few short months, my mom and I had found and booked the venue and vendors, with no experience planning a wedding. We attended a bridal show, conveniently hosted at our venue, and found several of our vendors from that show. I am so thankful that God sent us to our vendors so seamlessly, it truly made our experience a breeze! I am also very grateful that my parents have been so supportive as to contribute their time and resources to make my dream wedding come true. Gunner and I know our relationship has been a whirlwind for everyone involved, and I know my parents couldn't have planned for me to get married at 18, but to have their trust and support has been invaluable in mine and Gunner's relationship. From the flights back and forth to moving him in, we truly could not be here without them. We also are so thankful for Gunner's family for their lenience as well, and for my future mother-in-law, who has created so many lovely memories for us (including our honeymoon!). Our siblings have also showered us in their love and support, which we appreciate immensely. We have been so blessed, and we cannot wait to celebrate in May!