My True Companion





I married my honey on December 18, 2008 in the Salt lake Temple

“I pursued and she withdrew. She pursued and I withdrew. And so they danced.”- Cosmo Kramer, Seinfeld.

 My Joseph. My sweet and stalwart husband. I cannot even express the happiness that this man has brought into my life. If you aren’t too familiar with our background story, I will share just a teeny bit… Well, I’ll try but I tend to be a bit wordy..... as you will see.

*WARNING: So mushy, you might get sick!*

 

*Our Love Story*

             “Joe, my bro” was the silly neighbor up the street. It all started in the summer of 2002. I had just graduated from high school and I was ready to celebrate it with my girlfriends and fun families. We got the group together and drove down to Lake Powell to celebrate our new lease on life. We all knew that we would be going our separate ways, so this vacation was going to be our “last hurrah”, our final time to be with just the girls. As we ran around the sandy beaches, we grabbed the closest guy we could see to snap some quality pictures of us. Joseph was his name and we knew that with his quiet but kind disposition, he wouldn’t oppose to take some pictures of us crazy gal-pals. We then hired him on as our personal photographer and video-tapper and he immediately became our favorite boat buddy.

As our vacation came to a close, and we all went home, Joe and I continued to talk. We became fast friends and developed a comfortable friendship with one another. Conversation flowed from us effortlessly, which was surprising for Joe because he tended to keep to himself. We started spending a lot of time with one another and our phone conversations seemed never-ending. I loved staying up all hours of the night talking to him. We also spent many countless hours walking the streets and side-walks of our neighborhood, chatting our way through the night. 

Our first kiss was amazing..... Myself and some of my Young Women girlfriends had just so happened to dress up one evening to visit our Young Women's leader in our finest modest dresses to finish passing off some Personal Progress goals. Joe just happened to accompany us fine looking ladies over to the house so he was looking rather nice. Being the gentleman that he is, he offered to walk me home. It just so happened to be a beautiful evening for a slow dance under the stars. And why not, we were wearing the proper attire and the driveway makes for a perfect dance floor. To make this experience even more memorable, Joe leaned down and gave me the sweetest and softest kiss. He was so truly respectful and virtuous at that moment. I will never forget that. He then lifted my chin and pointed in the direction of the heavens. As I looked up into the sky, I smiled in amazement as I saw a streak of light sail across the sky. Then another followed, and another. It was a meteor shower. We looked back at each other and a contagious smile crossed Joe’s face. We sat down on our cold cement dance floor and snuggled a little closer to watch the meteors dance across the sky for us.

That summer ended a bit too fast for us. College was fast approaching and Joe was preparing to head back to high school. Things started to become a bit strained between us. Even though we felt so right together, the timing would not fall into place. It was like we were both perfect dance partners for one another, but we couldn’t find the right footing, rhythm, or the right song to match us. So we went our separate ways.

 

Through all of my years, Joe always held a special place in my heart.

 May 31, 2004

                        In talking about Joe…..”I always dream about him. I don’t know if it is him that I am really dreaming about or if it is the thought of having someone like him in my life again. He really was perfect. Yeah, he was a bit goofy, awkward, and nerdy at times, but he brought that out in me and we didn’t care. He was so respectful, sweet, and smart. He even was rewarded a scholarship to UVSC this fall because of his hard work in school. He is so strong in the gospel. He’s someone who would always help me with my testimony and be there for me whenever I needed him. We would have a strong priesthood holder in the family. I know he will be an awesome missionary and make someone very happy someday. I just pray that I can find someone like him someday, I think in a way I will always love that Joe. I just hope that whoever I marry, I can make them feel loved too. I too want to be a strength to them and be an uplifting person and an awesome mother. We’ll see what happens though. What does the future holds in store for me, I ask? I’ll just have to wait and see like a good girl should.”

Literal words from a silly little 19 year old.

I never forgot mine and Joe’s summer experience and as time passed, I thought about him often. He became my “model of a man” for those I dated. I always compared our friendship and relationship to those other men, but none seemed to quite compare to my little summer romance with Joe. They couldn’t light me up or fill that empty part inside of me. I knew I just needed time and more lifely experiences and then I would be blessed with another chance to have love like that again. I was excited for it.

 

Time is a funny thing. It sneaks by us so quickly. But with that fast moving time, experience came. Also with time, it just sneaks up right on ya especially when you aren’t it expecting. I had been going down to UVU since 2002 and I found out that my dear friend, Joe was coming down too. And what would you know; he was in one of my classes. Preparing to be a Future Missionary class. (I may or may not have seen him in that class and went in and sat by him…. Silly me.) I sat down by my good buddy and we chatted. Just like old times, we talked and talked. We started dating again and had some fabulous times. Our more intimate relationship was not as strong, but our friendship felt like it had never left us. We laughed about old times and we were able to share some new times. But once again timing wasn’t right. Joe had a mission to serve. He was called to the Honolulu, Hawaii mission. It was hard to see him go, but in a way it was a perfect opportunity for me to grow as well. I also decided that I would go and serve a mission myself, and it was one of the most cherished and strengthening experiences of my life.

 

 

Elder Joseph Robert Graham served in Honolulu, Hawaii from February 2005- 2007.

Sestra Britney Jill McPherron served in Slovenia from December 2005- July 2007.

BEST TWO YEARS EVER!!

 

 

I had the amazing experience of serving the wonderful people in the beautiful country of Slovenia. It was such an amazing opportunity to write to my dear friend to share with him my many struggles and hardworking experiences in this new strange land. He was able to share with me similar experiences and we were able to keep our friendship strong by encouraging each other in the Lord's work. I loved those times. Both of our missions were so completely different from one another but the love of the gospel and the people we served brought so much growth and strength into our personal lives.

 

Time quickly passed and I was surprised and saddened to see that my time in Slovenia had come to an end. As I returned home, I was surrounded by my loved ones and my friends and they made the transition a bit easier on me. And there was one friend who was there that made me very happy as well, my Joe. Once again we were given the opportunity to strengthen our friendship. And as time quickly passed by, our friendship was able to grow into something deeper. I realized that I truly loved Joe. He was my confidant, friend, and favorite person in the whole-wide world. It seemed at this time, that life was finally going to let us find our rhythm together. We were going to have the opportunity to be with each other again. It took time. It took patience and endurance. But time was the key.

"Never stop striving for the best that is within you. Never stop hoping for all of the righteous desires of your heart, but don't close your eyes and hearts to the simple and elegant beauties of each days ordinary moments that make up a rich, well lived life. The happiest people I know are not those who find their golden ticket; they are those who, while in pursuit of worthy goals, discover and treasure the beauty and sweetness of the everyday moments. They are the ones who, thread by daily thread, weave a tapestry of gratitude and wonder throughout their lives. These are they who are truly happy. " President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

 

 

I know now that this "time" was Heavenly Father's way for Joe and I to build a solid and lasting friendship with one another. He knew the trials and life experiences we were going to have in the future were going to come at us fast and He knew that we needed to be prepared with an everlasting commitment and friendship to get us through. I was diagnosed with ALL 5 months into our new marriage. That is a lot to put onto newlyweds plates. Never did I once have to waiver about Joe's commitment and love for me in those moments though. His loving hands and eyes looked at me every day with such adoration that I never had to question how he felt. Of course there were/are moments that I, in my broken and completely human days, I sob in the mirror, but his love brings me back.

Now Joe and I have been married for almost 5 years. We have faced so much together. I thank my Heavenly Father every single day for this wonderful man who has held my hand every single day and has spent a ridiculous amount of time wiping the tears from my eyes. He is my best friend, wonderful father and truest companion.  His strength to me is so inspirational. Not only is he a great guy, he is a provider for our family. He always goes the extra mile for anyone he serves. He now is not only the best new daddy ever, but also becoming a cook, housekeeper, professional bum wiper, and multi-tasker. That is what gets so hard for me because I know I am not a burden to him, but I sure have put a whole lot more on his plate. I am so grateful that the Lord placed this wonderful man in my life.

 

 This is such a mushy blog and I'm sorry that I gushed all over my hubby like this and everyone is about ready to throw up, but I just pray that everyone please do not take your loved ones for granted. If you are trying to make some decisions that will lead you to a future family or that will somehow make changes to your family's situation, take the time to go prayerfully before the Lord. He will guide you to your answers. He knows you and your circumstances. He knows what is best for you in the long road. And just like the old Garth Brooks song (an oldie but goodie).... "sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers".

Take some time to tell your loved ones how much you care about them. Also, do not just tell them but show them. Serve them!

I love my Joseph with all my heart. I am so grateful that Heavenly Father blessed us with time and our own ability to make important decisions with His help. Though I wish our paths could have lined up a little faster because I am just so impatient, I am eternally grateful that Joe has chosen to spend his life with me. I am one lucky girl!