Some of My Favourite Memories Prior to Marriage

 Good Morning or Good Morning or Good Evening, 

this post should take approximately three minutes to read from start to finish. 

Have you ever thought about when you had your favourite memories with your partner (whether it is your girlfriend/boyfriend, or fiancé/fiancéé, etc)? 

Well I have reflected on my favourite memories that I had with Jacob in the past, and this post focuses to share some favourite memories that I had with Jacob.

Boyfriend and Girlfriend Stage; 

~ Jacob and I both really enjoyed skiing for the first time. I learned so much, I have been forever grateful for Jacob's patience for teaching me how to ski when him and I went skiing together for our first date. 

~ On our sixth date (within forty-eight hours after meeting each other in person); Jacob decided to surprise me very well by taking us to The Roof Restaurant (the restaurant that has a fantastic view of Salt Lake City Utah Temple) after attending a sealing session together at Salt Lake City Latter-Day Saint Temple. 

I enjoyed the surprise, it was a buffet for my twenty-second birthday dinner and dessert. I felt loved, I was happy, and it was very special date. I still remembered sometime after we finished our desserts, Jacob had another surprise for me. He surprised me by giving me roses.

~ Jacob and I always counted the days together to look forward to seeing and reuniting with each other again after being long distance. We both took turns of picking each other up from the airports. (this also applies to fiancé and fiancéé stage).

~ Jacob and I went bowling together, we had so much fun with bowling and we felt so much joy whenever we gotten a STRIKE. ~ I still remembered a wonderful evening when Jacob purposed to me - it happened exactly ten months mark of being boyfriend and girlfriend. 

"A moment lasts for seconds but the memories lasts forever."

Fiancé and Fiancéé Stage;

~ Jacob and I had heaps of fun when we gotten our engagement photos taken - it happened on my twenty-third birthday. ~ Jacob and I went to two theme parks at Gold Coast, Australia together - we went to Wet N Wild and Movie World. We had so much fun. 

~ Jacob and I held a simple engagement party - we have appreciated for those friends and relatives who showed up and joined with us for our engagement party celebrations in Australia and we also have appreciated for those who helped us setting up and made our engagement party cakes for everyone to enjoy. 

Stay Tuned until next time. 

How Did We Gotten Through Our Long Distance Relationship and Engagement?

 Good Morning, or Good Afternoon, or Good Evening, 

this post should take approximately three minutes to read from start to finish. 

First and foremost; today marks three years ago when Jacob and I have started dating as boyfriend and girlfriend. We have been together for three whole years, we have achieved so much over the past three years. Where did three years go? Jacob was twenty-two years old, and I was twenty-one years old at the time.

Have you ever thought about how did Jacob and myself gotten through our long distance relationship? 

Have you ever thought about how did Jacob and myself gotten through our long distance engagement?

Over almost the past two years; I constantly kept reflecting time to time about how Jacob and myself gotten through our long distance relationship and our long distance engagement. Although I know that this post would be very similar to the post that I have shared in June last year. 

“I found that I missed him the more he was absent from my life,
and the more I missed him, the more I loved him.”
 – Donna Lynn Hope.

~ We contacted each other a lot - I really do mean constantly, we always talked to each other every morning when we wake up, and every night before we went to sleep. 

~ We had constant and persistent couple prayers - we were able to take turns, and sometimes we accidentally forget who's turn it was.

~ We had couple scripture study together most times - Jacob always helped me to understand some verses that I did not fully understood prior to our scripture study, and I was truly grateful for Jacob's help because I was able to learn so much. 

~ We constantly kept ourselves busy with our lives such as we were able to spend some time with our immediate relatives, and we were employed and we worked a lot of hours (well, Jacob is still employed). ~ We always have complimented each other which always made us feel loved, and good about ourselves. 

~ We mostly agreed about a lot of things which was always great to be on the same page mostly. ~ We went well of showing each other Christlike attributes to one another such as; we showed patience with each other, we always have shared compassion with one another while we were listening to everything that we both have said, we cared about each other, we supported each other, and so forth. 

~ We really gotten to know each other very good by asking each other and answering a lot of questions by using a book as a guide to help us to know what to ask each other and that book is called "350 Questions LDS Couples Should Ask Before Marriage" - Shannon L. Alder. The book has covers the following topics; - Spiritual - Family 

- Finance - Expectations - Your Relationship - Past History and Trust - Character and Self-Worth - Love, Intimacy, and Communication - Social Media and Technology. 

We would strongly recommend that book for any relationship couples, any engaged couples, and any married couples to make a purchase of that book and start asking each other of the questions from the book. I know 

that it would be very good to get to know their partners. 

~ We did not ever give up on each other - even during difficult times, we constantly done our best to always be there for one another. I know at times, that there has been tough times of not being with each other in person but we always knew that we can always contact each other at anytime whether it was late at night or early in the daytime. 

Stay Tuned until next time.

Our Dating Decision and Our First Date

 Good Morning, or Good Afternoon, or Good Evening, 

this post should take approximately five minutes to read from start to finish.

This post focuses on answering the following two questions; "How did you and Jacob made the decision to date each other?" "What did you do on your first ever date with Jacob in person?" and "Who got to choose the first date?" 

Our Dating Decision;

Sometime before Jacob and I started dating each other; I knew that it would be a great idea for me to fast and pray about whether if I should pursue myself into a relationship with Jacob or not. When I did that, I remembered that I have felt a strong prompting with the answer that I got. I remembered during a skype call, I have asked Jacob if he would fast and pray about whether if he should pursue himself into a relationship with me or not. 

He mentioned that he would do that. While I was waiting for Jacob to receive his answer, I did not tell Jacob about my answer until he gotten his answer. One day; it was a great day, and we both shared with each other of our answers. We both felt confident that we were making the right decision to pursue to date each other. After being friends for eight weeks, we pursued to the next step which was to be in a relationship. 

Although, we thought it would be great idea if we can meet each other while I was in Utah in February 2018, and we should pray about it in person if we should continue pursuing our relationship or not. We knew that IF we did not like each other in person, we would not have continued dating, and we would have moved on with our lives. 

Jacob has booked his flight from Dallas, Texas to Salt Lake City, Utah. I remembered when he told me that he has booked his flights, and we both were so excited. We were counting the days together when we finally get to meet each other in person. We thought it was best to not tell any of our friends and relatives that we were dating each other before we met each other in person. We kept our relationship as a secret between ourselves. 

I remembered that Jacob has shared with me his conversation that he had with his mother sometime prior to flying to Utah. The conversation went something like this; 

Jacob: I am planning to go to Utah. My mother-in-law: What for? Jacob: To meet a girl. 

My mother-in-law: I hope she is worth it. Jacob: That's why I am going there to find out. 

Fast forward to the same evening that Jacob has flew into Utah, we both went to Provo City Temple. We attended a sealing session. Some church members thought that we were a married couple, and they seemed surprised after Jacob or I have mentioned to them that we are boyfriend and girlfriend. We eventually went to the Celestial Room in the Temple. I prayed about if Jacob and I was meant to be for each other. You probably were thinking why would I do that? 

Well I have changed from what I originally going to pray to pray about something else. After I have finished saying my prayers; I have decided to opened the scriptures, and I have opened to a scripture verse that mentioned about "The Holy Spirit of Promise." I felt so happy, I felt joy as well, and I had happy tears. 

It felt like Heavenly Father has approved us for being in a relationship and that Jacob and I are meant to be for each other. We decided from that evening that we should continue our relationship, we announce it on Facebook that we were in a relationship. I remembered that a lot of friends "LIKED," reacted and congratulated us for being in a relationship.

Our First Date (in person)

I remembered when Jacob and I discussed on Skype one day of what we would like to do for our very first date in person. I kept thinking about some ideas. I knew that I did not want to go out to watch one of the latest movies in the cinemas, I also knew that I did not want to go bowling, and I also knew that I did not want to go ice skating. 

A question that came to my mind; "What could possibly be so much fun and memorable first date with Jacob in person?" I knew that I wanted to do something different, and something new to me. I eventually did some research online. I somehow saw skiing as a great idea for a date. I went onto a ski resort website (Snowbird, in Utah). I checked the prices online. 

I was so surprised to see that Snowbird Ski Resort has a special happening; and that was $100 US dollars ($130 Australian dollars ish) per adult. It included the ski rentals, and using the lifts. It did not including lockers hire. I think it was Jacob who booked the passes, I could not remember too much about that part. I knew that we both were very excited and looking forward to our very first date. 

Fast forward to February 9th, 2018 - After Jacob and I have met each other in person at the Salt Lake City Airport in Utah. We were so excited to look forward to our first date. We went to Snowbird Ski Resort. I made sure that I packed some spare clothes in my bag so Jacob and I was able to Provo City Temple after our first date. 

Back to the story of our first date. Jacob gotten a car rental, we felt so much joy at the airport as waiting in line for Jacob to eventually sign the paperwork for the car rental. During our trip from the airport to the Snowbird Ski Resort; we were holding each other's hands, and we felt so happy to be finally being together in person.

We both talked a lot. We eventually arrived at Snowbird Ski Resort. I went to the restroom to get changed into warmer clothes that was appropriate to going skiing. Jacob and I had a quick lunch together. I could not remember too much about what we ate. 

We were both ready for skiing, and we went skiing together, we made a small snowman together, and we had so much fun. Jacob had so much patience with me and teaching me how to ski. 

I did not went skiing before, and it was so cold. I stumbled and I kept falling from skiing for the first hour into skiing. I eventually did very well of skiing. I am definitely looking forward to go skiing again sometime. 

Stay Tuned until next time.

How Did We Meet?

 Good Morning or Good Afternoon or Good Evening, 

this post should take approximately five minutes to read from start to finish.

For the past six months; I have recognized that I seemed to have some friends who has not asked before but started to ask me about what is my story with Jacob. They has asked me some of the following questions;

How did Jacob and I first met? What did we do on our ever first date (or our first full day together)? 

How did we knew that we were both making the right decision to decide to date each other? 

What helped us through our long distance relationship? What has helped us through our long distance engagement? How did we knew that we were both making the right decision to decide to marry each other? 

Well this post focuses on how did Jacob and I meet. You can choose to skip reading the long version of the story and read the short version of the story. Here is the long version of the story. 

On November 19th, 2017; it was a Sunday afternoon when I thought about a great idea, I know that I always wanted to go to Utah one day, and I decided that I wanted to make the trip to Utah in early February the following year. I have started some research to look into flights to fly to Utah, United States from Brisbane, Australia online on multiple websites.

I kept seeing the flights was so expensive, and I thought the airfare flights was going to be way cheaper than what I have seen. I thought maybe I would need to say a prayer. I have said a prayer before I went to sleep overnight and I mentioned about asking Heavenly Father's help with finding cheaper flights when I wake up in the morning. 

On November 20th, 2017; it was a Monday morning and I somehow randomly woken up either about 3am or 4am or sometime that was just earlier time than I normally wake up on Monday mornings. I was feeling so tired but I motivated myself to be awake to search again for flights. I was so grateful that I had Heavenly Father's help. 

I somehow found the cheaper flights than what I have seen on Sunday. I was satisfied with the price so I went ahead to book a flight from Brisbane, Australia to Utah, United States roundtrip for about $900 ish Australian dollars ($600 ish US dollars).  I knew that I felt happiness, I knew that I have made the right decision, and I was feeling very excited. 

Sometime between November 19th, 2017 to November 25th, 2017; I remembered having a active account with Mutual app (dating app) for over a year, I remembered having a active account on LDS Match-Up website for over a year, and I remembered having a active account on LDS Singles website for over a year. I was on Mutual app, LDS Match-Up website, and on LDS Singles because I wanted to meet new guy friends online.

I really wanted to see how things would go from there, whether it would go from strangers to friendships, following by from friendships that turns into relationships, following by from relationship into engagement, and following by from engagement to marriage. I knew that I was ready for having a relationship if things goes well and smoothly although I have tried my best to not have some high hopes, and not to have some high expectations.

On Mutual app; I was constantly on that app everyday. I was able to set my setting that I was looking forward to any matches that I would get that was over 500 miles away from where I lived. I was thinking maybe I would have more chance of getting matches from overseas more than I had less than 300 miles from home. 

On LDS Match-Up website; I was on that website for about four times to five times a week. I remembered that I have made several guy friends which I no longer friends with them. They started to get no interest of talking to me no more. Although I know that I had great opportunities to get to know a lot of guys while being on that website. 

On LDS Singles website; I was active on that website several times a week, and sometimes I would be active on that website once or twice a week. I had my location that I was living in Utah because I was hoping that I would be able to match several guys and I was able hoping to meet several guys during my visit to Utah. 

Overall; it seemed to be making no progress, no friendships that was turned into a relationship, I thought maybe I should give up but when I thought to login onto LDS Singles website, I thought to send a smile/like to a profile. 

I could not believe it that I gotten a smile/like back sometime within the next several days after I have booked my flight to go to Utah. 

Fast forward to November 25th, 2017; I thought to go on Facebook, and I thought to search up the profile of a guy that just smiled/liked back on LDS Singles website. The first profile suggestion came up and it looked like the photos from the website. I was surprised. So I thought to message that guy. His name is Jacob Lindsey. I have sent the very first message on Facebook Messenger. 

Due to time zone differences; I was not expecting that Jacob would ever reply back to my message, and I seemed very grateful that he did replied back to my message. We both continued to message back and forth, we were getting to know the time zone differences. We also messaged each other in between of our work schedules, and so forth. 

We eventually worked out what was the best timing to message each other at the same convenient time enough time for us to be able to chat back and forth sometime in mid December, 2017. It felt so much better because I am sure that neither of us wanted to continue waiting over five hours for one of us to reply to each other's messages. 

I still remembered on Christmas Night when I was staying at my sister Emma's house, I stayed up extremely late. I was messaging back and forth with Jacob. I seemed to be starting to feel really happy. I felt that I really appreciate of the friendship going. Eventually; I remembered feeling so excited to tell Jacob that I was going to Utah sometime in February, 2018. We both discussed that we should make plans to see each other. Jacob would not mind fly out from Dallas to fly to Salt Lake City Utah to meet me in person during my vacation in Utah. 

Fast forward to January 18th, 2018; I thought that maybe I could meet Jacob via Skype. I went ahead and asked Jacob if he would give me some help with my BYU-Idaho Pathways program via skype sometime that day (my daytime, and it would be his evening time). He said "Yes." We both exchanged our Skype names to each other and we started Skyping (video call) to each other. I still remembered towards end of the ever first Skype call that Jacob has requested if we can Skype each other again the next day. I have said "Yes we can."

Fast forward to sometime the following week; Jacob and I have skyped each other everyday (my daytime, his nighttime). He has mentioned to me "I really really really like you a lot." I have mentioned to him that I have felt the same way, "I really really really like you a lot too." We both discussed and agreed that ever since the third skype call that we did, that we have started dating as boyfriend and girlfriend. 

Short Version of the Story; 

Just days prior to November 25th, 2017; Jacob and I have met each other on LDS singles website. Fast forward to November 25th, 2017; I searched up Jacob’s profile on Facebook and the photos has matched his LDS singles website. I have sent him the very first message, and he replied. We kept messaging back and forth ever since then.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mutual App - https://www.mutual.app/

LDS Match-Up Website 

LDS Singles Website - https://www.ldssingles.com/en-us

Stay Tuned until next time.