About 12 years ago, I was entering my last year of school at Arizona State University (notice I didn't say my Senior year....that's because it took 5 and a half years to graduate.....long story for another time). I was up early one morning, looking online at the options for my schedule the next semester, trying to figure out how to make the most of my time. I remember deciding to try to take something that would be more fun (I had a heavy class load that semester), when I found a yoga class being offered. Well, of course, I didn't sign up for it right then and there. I went off to work, with every intention of signing up for the class when I got home that evening. 

Fast forward several hours. I log into my student account, click through all the options for finding the Yoga class....but it wasn't there. It had literally disappeared! Instead, and I am not making this up, there was a Country Western Dance class available in the same time slot. I sat back and thought through my options. I needed something that could fit into that specific time slot. I had wanted a class that could be fun and get me moving around after sitting for so many hours. Heck, I even loved country music. The more I thought about it, the more this random dance class was checking all the boxes. However....I was PAINFULLY shy. I'm talking, like, wouldn't even call on the phone to make a reservation at a restaurant. So shy that I wouldn't even tell the waitress that she got my order wrong. So shy that I cried after my first day of work at a new job because I had to be a greeter! Just thinking about taking a class where I had to not only talk to others, but actually interact and dance with them made my stomach turn and my upper lip start to sweat. I also had no dance experience ( I don't really think tiny tutu's ballet class from when I was 5 counts) Well, I did it. I committed, with every intention of withdrawing if I didn't like it. Little did I know, God had a plan the entire time. 
 

Country Western Dance

So, I made it through my first few weeks without withdrawing from the class! AND, I was ACTUALLY having fun! The instructor was an older gentleman, named Larry, with a ton of dance experience, the environment was inviting, and I was getting to learn something new, in a class of about 80 students. No joke. 80 students were in this beginners class. The instructor had several previous students helping out, basically teacher's assistants (TA). One of the TAs was there every class in the first half of the semester. His name was Matt, and the instructor had him demonstrating a lot of the moves and line dances. I used to get to class fairly early, check in, and go stand along the wall of the studio (yes, basically a wall flower), and watch him dance before class started. Well, weeks went by, and we were preparing for midterms. We had a pretty established partner by this time, and we all had to learn several routines to perform for midterms. My partner was super sweet, but just not quite as coordinated with his feet and brain. We were practicing a specific part of a dance called Progressive Two Step, when Matt, the TA, came over to try to help us get the move down. Well, Matt ended up taking me through the move, which totally flustered me. At the time, I had a bad habit of looking down at my feet while dancing. Matt would put his finger to my forehead to make me look up. Talk about embarrassing!
 

Exchanging Numbers

Right before spring break, a group of students got together because we were going to perform a showcase at one of the local retirement communities over the weekend. We met at the activity center, and Matt asked if he could put his keys and wallet in my purse so he wouldn't lose them. Ummmm....Suuuuuurrreeeeeee? Anyways, we had a lot of fun, and danced and talked. 

After we returned from spring break, Matt ended up getting a new job, and was no longer going to be attending class to help. On his last day in class, he handed me his phone and asked for my number, so that he could let me know when a group of kids from class were going to meet to go dancing. I about passed out right there on the spot, I was SO nervous!! My hands were shaking as I entered my name and number into his phone and handed it back to him, a little excited about him asking for my number. 

Well....a week went by, and I didn't get any text from him. I kept thinking, "maybe he changed his mind.". I was working one night, and during my break I decided to check my Facebook page (FB was still really big then and not just for "old people"), when I noticed I had a message. It was Matt! Apparently, I GAVE HIM THE WRONG NUMBER, LOL. He had been texting the number the past week and someone (not me) had been talking to him the whole time, before finally telling him that they weren't the person he was trying to get ahold of originally! When we finally got everything straightened out, and he had, in fact, invited me out to dance with a group of friends, and we realized that my nervous clumsy fingers had hit a 2 instead of a 5 (my hands had been shaking remember??). I felt SO TERRIBLE!!!

.The Rest is History

Well....the rest is pretty much history. Except, after finally getting the correct number and talking, I realized I reeeeealllly like Matt. Buuuuuttttt, I also reeeeeeally didn't want to date anyone at the time (consequences of a previous relationship, of course). He kept asking me to go out, I kept "friend zoning" him, even though I invited him to my family's Easter dinner. I told my ENTIRE family that we were "just friends". Thank God Almighty he was persistent. We started dating after the semester was over (no I wasn't technically dating a legit teacher!!), and I knew he was going to be the man I married, even though I hadn't even told him I loved him yet. In fact, he told me a few months into us getting to know each other that he loved me, and I think I said "Thank you", lol. He also told me,  offhandedly, that he was going to marry me someday. I secretly agreed with him at the time, but held out for several more weeks to admit my true feelings. We were engaged less then a year after dating, and got married less than a year after that! I'll add a few pictures from those early days.

We are celebrating our 10 year anniversary in February, and I couldn't be happier. Matt is the love of my life, my best friend, my teammate, and my forever dance partner. Every time we dance, I fall a deeper in love with him, and I feel so much joy in my soul to have him in my life.

"For I have found the one whom my soul loves." ~Song of Solomon 3:4