Thursday, September 13, 2012

He is home... and we are hitched!

We are married :) I love my life!
So much has happened in our lives the past few months and there is so little time to explain how truly happy we are! I have become a horrible journal writer since Mark has been home... so this is my new goal to update our blog once a week with photos and stories from our newlywed life. I am so very grateful to be married to such an amazing man. Mark is such a wonderful husband, I love being able to spend time with him. Well here is our story:
I met Mark  the end of my sophomore year of high school. My older brother Jordon played sports against him and I always thought he was so cute. One day I noticed that Jordon had posted about track on Mark's Myspace page... so I decided to add him. We began messaging back and forth and had talked about going on a date or meeting up sometime. It is so funny how when you are that age you can talk about things like that but when they really come true you don't know what to do haha. I remember watching Mark a few weeks later at district track but I didn't dare talk to him. I think we secretly both knew that we wanted to talk but we both never go the courage. Mark shot me a text that night apologizing for not talking to me and told me that if I went the next day he would talk to me. I begged my parents and Jordon to let me miss school and go back to Shelley to talk to him the next day. Again... I never got the courage to talk to him. Jordon was not going to let that fly, so he went over and got him so we could all talk. I remember Mark and Jordon talked... I barley made a peep.
 Over the next couple months we would text on and off until one day he asked if it would be okay if he came to Rexburg to go on a date with me. I said yes, but my stomach was so nervous! I waited with my mom on July 18,2008 in the formal room of our house looking for their car outside the window. Mark called me to get directions and I had never talked to him on the phone so I was so nervous to answer. He had brought his two best friends Nathan Stokes and Nathan Nooner. I had nothing planned for us to do that night so we just went to Monkey Rock with Jordon and his friends. That night Mark and I stayed up talking for hours in my kitchen. Mark still denies this... but when Nooner came downstairs Mark let go of my hand... must have been embarrassed. The next day we went mini golfing and bowling, which was really fun. Mark ended up going home and I was not sure when I would see him again. Luckily I was able to see him the next week... and now we were official :)
(Us in high school)
To make a long story a little bit shorter, Mark and I dated through the rest of my high school years. Just short of 2 years when he left to serve his mission. One thing about Mark that I always admired was that I knew that no matter what he was going to serve a mission. Mark got his call to Chihuahua Mexico on March 11, 2010 and left on his mission June 30,2010. While Mark was one his mission I was blessed with the 
opportunity to play volleyball at Western Wyoming. We honestly lived two separate lives... but at the same time we stayed so connected. Mark never missed a week of writing me while he was serving. We both grew in ways that I never thought possible during our time apart. I was able to experience new things that made me a stronger and better person while he was able to serve the lord with great obedience. There were great times while he was gone and hard times as well. I missed my best friend so much but I knew that he was doing the right thing. Two years actually goes by a lot faster than you think. Mark came home from his mission on July 3,2012. I was able to go to the airport and be with his family to welcome him home. Mark has such a wonderful family and I am so blessed to be a part of his family. We were engaged within a week of him being home... after 4 years of knowing each other. The Saturday after Mark got home he was able to speak at his nephews baptism. 
While I was listening to Mark there was no doubt in my mind that I should marry him. I knew that I needed and wanted that strong spirited man to be my husband and the father of my kids. I was playing volleyball at Utah State and had to be there in a month so it left us with limited dates to get married. We decided July 27, 2012 would be our special day.... yes we know it was fast but we loved it! After a few really solid days of planning (thanks mom!) our wedding was on its way. We shared a beautiful wedding day with gorgeous weather, friends and family. Mark and I moved to Logan the next week into our cute tiny apartment. We love living in Logan and we love being together. I began volleyball practice and liked it but i found that I was not as focused as I wanted to be. Of course not... I had my best friend at home. I realized that my priorities changed... Volleyball was great for me while Mark was gone but now that I have the chance to be with him and to be a wife my priorities are different. I was blessed to get to know some wonderful girls on the Utah State volleyball team. After deciding not to continue with volleyball I have felt the blessings that have come into my life. I am able to attend the temple more regularly and have more time to be a wife and to spend with Mark. I was reading President Thomas S, Monsons talk entitled "The Race of Life." I really love this talk and think that there is so much to take in from it. You should read it: 
I have learned that it is so important to slow down and be thankful for all you have. I am so blessed. I have  wonderful family, friends and husband. I am able to live in a great town, get an education and live in a cute apartment. I know that there is so much to look forward to. Were ready to welcome it with open arms.
Until then, we are the Hobbs and this is our story ♥



♥/ Jocey

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