To begin with a little background…I grew up in SW MI, and right after graduating HS, I had my mind set up to move out west to the hot weather and sunshine all year round. Always knowing that I wanted to be a nurse, I focused my pre-reqs on that and after a couple of years began applying to different nursing programs. I had never even heard of Valparaiso University before – and it was only an hour away from my house in MI if that tells you anything – lol. My sister, Corlista, had just completed the accelerated program there and absolutely hated it. Still being in AZ, my first choice was at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, who had an excellent program, but a long waiting list. Valpo was appealing because you finish in 15 months and there’s no wait – Good deal! (except for the tuition of course) – but anyway - I had it set in my mind that I wouldn’t go back to the Midwest although I did love to visit; I just very much dislike the cold as many of you know. But as fate would have it, I got accepted right away, took a couple more classes that I needed, then packed up my car, and came back. There were several obstacles that stood in my way – but I couldn’t let anything stop me when I had made it that far. I first lived in Chicago for few months of the program (which I love by-the-way - intense but just my style), then moved into the Salisbury’s (my adopted parents), to my dad’s, and finally, after having commuted an hour each week since May…decided to move into an apartment on campus in January.
Now the exciting part begins ;)
January 11, 2009 is when I first set my eyes on who would become (much faster than ever expected) my husband! I had come late to church that Sunday – but only because the street sign wasn’t marked and I didn’t know where I was going. I was sitting in the lounge area, when Jennifer Jolley (now Caggiano) sat next to me and introduced herself. She was trying to name some people she would introduce me to once the meeting was over – and she was like “I think there’s a guy named…Brody or something...yeah, he comes to institute but I don’t know much about him.” Not even kidding…the first time I even just heard his named my heart just skipped a beat! He walked out wearing square rimmed glasses completing his "handsome AND smart" look …and I just had to
smile. Then, standing next to him was his friend, Trey, who quickly invited me to dinner with a bunch of people at his place, but told Brody to get my number so that if I needed directions I could call him. I didn’t think anything of it, but apparently this was Trey’s effort to ‘hook us up.’ The following Sunday I had gone home (as I did many times after that as well to do laundry and such), but came back that Monday and went sledding with the young single adults (YSA)…in which it was made apparently obvious to some of our friends that Brody was interested in this ‘new girl’ that they had never met. Well, they didn’t get a chance to meet that ‘new girl’ until the end of March because of my frequent trips back to MI and spring break when I went to AZ. However, one Sunday before my disappearance, I had brought my friend Mike to church with me because I wanted to show him what it was all about. And yes I say friend because we have been close friends since the 4th grade. We had recently tried dating again after it had ended our senior year, but I couldn’t get it past me that it was anything more than friends. After I had introduced them, I thought to myself, “why did I just do that? I kind of have a crush on this guy.” Whoops! Lol. During the class that Brody teaches, I couldn’t help but smile (and it was definitely at him – but he just liked that I looked so happy…and Brody will admit (at least to me anyway) that he knew then that he wanted to marry me right then *Jan 25th to put this into perspective) – after facebook stalking me (gotta love fb!), he saw that I hadn’t changed my relationship status yet from ‘in a relationship’ lol, and thought he had no hope. After that Sunday, the Britt disappearance occurs. Once the end of March came around, I told myself that I needed to get more involved here (Valpo) and not go home on weekends as much. **Best decision of my life! I started going to Institute and hanging out more with the YSA – so much fun! To sum this up because it’s getting lengthy for most people although I could go on and on – I’ll spare you most of the juicy details. Brody’s b-day was on April 9th…in which I had invited him previously to come over and watch a movie w/ my roommates and I – not realizing it was his 25th birthday! So that day, I quickly called everyone and made a surprise out of it in which I made a quick brownie/cake and hung up balloons while Tiare and Cyd drove him around blind-folded trying to waste time. I still wasn’t quite sure how I felt about him at this point, because we really hadn’t talked much, but I knew something was there. That weekend we all went to Potato Creek and had the most amazing weekend just playing volleyball/ultimate Frisbee/and games at night. This is when
I really started to realize just how much I was falling for this guy. We had a couple of chances to talk and get to know each other a little more, although we were with the group for the majority of the time. That Sunday was Easter – and I hadn’t planned on going home, but after checking the planner, I knew I wouldn’t have any other time to visit with Lisa before she left to go back to Idaho. Because Brody had invited Rachel and I to have dinner at his place that night (even though he didn’t have any food – lol) and I decided last minute to go to MI, I thought “hey! I should invite Brody to come to my dad’s with me!” Well, I called him up thinking he probably wouldn’t want to, and was pleasantly surprised that he said “sure!” So Brody met my dad before we had even gone on a date we went to Warren Dunes that night w/ Lisa and took a bunch of fun pics, then headed back to IN. That Monday we did not see each other, Tuesday he asks me out on our first date to Chili’s – had to cut it short to make it to institute because it was at his house, we sat a little extra close that night…and um…..when everybody FINALLY left after 1-ish…we talked a bit – and had our first kiss – yep first date! Well,
life has been in the clouds since then, we haven’t spent more than 24hrs away from each other (VT is going to be killer), and after exactly one month of our first date, we had a ring picked out! Graduation was that weekend, so we decided we would tell the parents while they were here that we were going to be getting married. Quite surprisingly, we didn’t get the shock factor we were expecting. Instead, most of what we got was…yeah, we knew it was coming. But! The good thing was that they were all nothing but supportive Well, the actually ‘asking’ hadn’t occurred yet – so I couldn’t really spread the news – and it was so hard not to just shout it out! That Monday we helped a friend move who lives north of Chicago and we had planned to stop in downtown to eat at Giordano’s on the way back. So we eat dinner and then take a walk to Navy Pier. Me “knowing” that the ring was getting sized, was “sure” that it definitely wasn’t going to happen that night, but was highly anticipating when it would. For some reason, Brody asked me a couple of times if I wanted the jacket he had been holding for me because it was a little chilly. Usually I would say yes to anything that keeps me a little warmer, but the wind felt good. So finally he was like, “well, I’m going to put mine on.” So we walked to the very end of the pier, and there were a couple of people around, but it was still very quiet and you can’t beat the view of the city lights at night and Lake Michigan. We were taking pictures of ourselves (nothing new lol)…but Brody was like...”hmmm…they’re just not turning out” so he asks a random stranger to take a picture of us…and me being completely unaware about what was going on…
he looked me in the eyes and told me how much he loved me, got down on one knee and asked me to marry him! OMG! YES!! I had no idea, and I had a late reaction to the crying – but yes I did cry – and we got some applause in the background…and a comment that I have the most romantic fiancé ever! I would definitely agree! WOW! And yes, many of you may be astonished by how fast everything has gone and know that it’s very unlike either of us to be like this – but as the saying goes…”when you know, you know,” and we know! What a wonderful blessing it has been to have him come into my life –
he is everything I have ever wanted and so much more. I am incredibly grateful for every moment I have to spend with him, and I cannot wait to see what life has in store for us. I love him with all of my heart and Sept. 3rd just seems so far away – the day when I get to be married to him for time and all eternity in Nauvoo. Thank you to everyone who have supported us and shared in our joy. We hope to see you at either one of our receptions to celebrate the beginning of our new life together!!
