The Relationship

I've introduced you to my friendship with Britteny, so now it's time to introduce you to her fiance!

Britteny and Jon have known each other for quite a while. They went to the same Catholic School, one year apart in age, from years K-8. I didn't meet Jon until he joined us at the high school.

Britteny and I were never really friends with him. We knew Jon, but he wasn't in choir with us and he wasn't in any classes with us due to being a year younger.
That all changed when we were in University.

Jon came to the same college that Britteny and I attended. We started spending more time with him and getting to know him during junior year, when he started working at our campus tutoring center with us. (I just realized that I forgot to mention this in my last post. Britteny was a Math Education major in university, and I just liked Math and eventually took it on as a minor. We both started tutoring fellow students our sophomore year. Jon, who was also majoring in Math Education, started working with us a year later.) We all even took a class about tutoring methods together. (Seriously, those were a lot of fun.. I'm linking them.) We got to know Jon a lot better from spending time with him at work.

Alright, I admit, you might find those lame and confusing if you know nothing about math or math related pick-up lines.. But I just had a great time re-watching them!

Towards the end of junior year, Britteny told me that she thought Jon liked her. Not long after, Jon confirmed it to me. That summer, they went on a few dates before confirming the relationship on the 6th of July, 2011.

Britteny and Jon's first photo as a couple at Britteny's 21st birthday party. 2011

Their relationship stayed steady (and sickeningly adorable) for the next two years.

NYC. 2011

I know it's blurry, but I think it's adorable!! 2011

New Year's. 2011/2012

Disney Vacation. 2012

Jon's Undergraduate Graduation. 2013

Summer. 2013

Two year anniversary. 2013

The Engagement

Jon originally wanted to propose on their two year anniversary, however he didn't have the ring back from the jeweler yet. He mentioned that the anniversary present hadn't come in yet and that he would give it to her soon. About two weeks later, Jon brought Britteny out to dinner for, as she was told, her birthday.

After dinner, Jon brought Britteny to a park and gave her the belated anniversary present. Jon had concealed the ring within three boxes. While Britteny worked her way to the center, Jon got down on one knee.

[After answering Jon's question, Britteny immediately texted me and asked to Skype. When we were on, I could see the happy couple together in Jon's car. It was then that I became the Maid of Honor (officially).]

Jon had one last plan for the evening. He brought Britteny to a restaurant where their families were waiting to congratulate them and celebrate.

Engagement. 2013

The Engagement Ring. 2013

The couple has already taken engagement photos, but unfortunately I don't have access to them. When I can, I will definitely post some.

The two plan to be married summer of 2015.

The Friendship

I thought that I would start this off with a look into mine and Britteny's friendship.

Britteny and I have been friends since we were in 7th grade. Though we didn't go to school together, we were both involved with a local theatre group. I didn't even know that we were the same age until we were in 8th grade and we talking about both going to our town's high school the following year.

We didn't really get to know each other until our freshmen year, when we had a lot of classes together. We walked to classes together, we hung out after school together, we did assignments together, and we continued participating in theatre together. (Sorry I don't have any photos from earlier on in our friendship. I didn't make a facebook account until senior year of high school, so I have to rely on photos that people had previously taken and uploaded of us.)

A friend's birthday party, Junior Year. 2007

After a performance of Once Upon a Mattress, Junior Year. 2007

We had classes together throughout all of highschool. We got involved in the same church group in junior year. In junior year we were also both involved with our school's elite chamber choir and we toured to Ireland together (and snuggled together on the plane). 

Chamber Singers Tour to Ireland, Junior Year. 2007

Junior Prom. 2007

Summer before Senior Year. 2007

During senior year of high school, Britteny and I were pretty much inseparable. Our class schedule was exactly the same except for last period (Britteny didn't want to take Physics with me).

Homecoming, Senior Year. 2007

Field Trip, Senior Year. 2007

Camber Singers Tour, Senior Year. 2008

Chamber Singers Tour, Senior Year. 2008

South Central Emmaus, Senior Year. 2008

Chambers Concert, Senior Year. 2008
(Yes, those dresses completely covered our pants.
Our choir director still didn't like them.)

Senior Prom. 2008

High School Graduation. 2008

We went to the same university and made a bunch of mutual friends. We continued participating in theatre together, as well as going to campus events.

Drag Dance, Sophomore Year. 2010

Hanging out in between classes, Junior Year. 2011

Bowling Trip Summer before Senior Year. 2011

Britteny and I always considered each other to be the sisters that we never had. (I'm an only child, and she has two brothers.) During our senior year of university we lived together in an apartment with two other friends, and our living situation really brought out that "sister" relationship. We learned to make up after fights, always tell each other what we were thinking, and to forgive. We support each other no matter what, and our past, both the good times and the bad times, make our friendship as strong as it is today. (Note to self: Reception Toast...)

Now I wish I could include some more recent photos of the two of us from less than two years ago. Maybe a photo of when she asked me to be her Maid of Honor. Unfortunately, I believe that the next photo we take together will be in 2015 (the year of the wedding). Remember that strong friendship I talked about? Yeah well, it's surviving a 9,000 mile separation. I've recently moved to New Zealand, and Britteny and I have been making sure that we stay in contact, thanks to Skype and iMessage. I'm aiming to be home about 6 months before the wedding, and will be extra attentive to every detail since I have a whole lot of distance to make up for.

As a fun little bonus before I wrap this up, here is a video that Britteny and I made together during an excursion to New York City in January of 2011. (Incoming: lots of really nerdy references.)

So that's the friendship! I love this girl so much and I am so happy to be a part of her "happily ever after!"