journey

she: 16.  he: 17.

April 2005

My friend, Kayla, moved to Australia during Jr. High.  For my 16th birthday, my mom took me to Australia to visit her.  Kayla was in Phil's ward.  We'd chatted on the phone a few times before when I'd been talking to Kayla and also chatted on MSN messenger. 

(apparently he had a mega crush on me)

 "He's just some kid that talked a lot and had an accent and lisp that was hard to understand."  

He and another girl hung out with me for a bit because it was Aussie school holidays and Kayla was still in school (american school).  It was fun but that was it.  I wasn't interested with a steady boyfriend back home and he was just getting to know his new American girlfriend (not me).

I came back home.  We'd email or MSN chat sometimes. (looking back, we told each other everything)  He came to Utah in 2008 to visit his girlfriend.  Kayla went up to see him in Bountiful and took me along.  We saw Phil for a total of 5 minutes before he disappeared to go hang out with his girl.  Oh well, we had fun with the other kids.

I sent my boyfriend off on a mission in 2007 and Phil left on his mission shortly after.  Phil wrote me a letter toward the beginning of his mission to tell me that he was serving with someone from American Fork.  I, in my little 18yr old mind, didn't write back because this would be just unloyal to my missionary.  

"Oh boy." 

My boyfriend broke up with me while on his mish and Phil broke up with his lady as well.  

"Fate" 

Phil comes home from the mish in December 2008.  

I randomly decide to email him in January 2009.

"It's cool to have an Aussie friend so I'll keep in contact."  

We chat a bit and then a few weeks later he tells me he's coming to Utah in July to visit some companions and to holiday. Phil tells me we should go to the Jon Schmidt concert together. 

"Fun, a good night out with a friend."

she: 20. he: 21

July 2009

Remember that we'd never hung out one on one before? Ha-but we both still considered each other good friends...good ole email and MSN messenger! Well the night comes and goes.  He stays at my parents that night so he wouldn't have to go back to Bountiful (pre-arranged).  Next day-he spends the whole day with me and my family. 

 "Uh oh.  I can't fall for an Aussie!  I can't fall for PHIL!"

August 2009

The next 17 days are history.  Yes-only 17 days.  Then he had to go home.  In those 17 days we had our ups and downs (mostly me trying to figure all this out.  It was all happening SO fast!)  Phil was patient and let me just figure myself and feelings out.

158 hours in 17 days.  Blimey!

"I have to see him."

After all the ins and outs of the 17 'magical' days, when Phil left, he took a chunk of my heart too.  I don't know- I guess 'love was in the air'.  There was no question about it.  I had to see him again, and soon.  November?  

"Perfect."

November 2009

A whole bunch of constant phone calls and skyping later...(love skype)

I'm in Sydney Australia.  With Phil.  We know we're going to get married.  Ha-the engagement party was already planned to be during my visit.  I meet his family.  First night I'm there, he proposes.  

"We're getting married."

December 2009

Phil comes back to America with me.  I finish the semester.  We plan our wedding.  

February 2010

We get married.  Finally.  

Five years friends

...17 days 'real' dating

...3 months long distance

...2.5 months engagement

...married forever.

Not sure how this Aussie bloke did it, but he stole my heart.

"I love you Phil."