How did you know he was the one?

One of my potential photographers asked me this. And I thought back over our 11 year relationship and it hit me.

My freshman year of college, we had been dating 2 years and I had to miss his family's annual camping vacation to move into my dorm room. Since he was gone I enlisted his best friend (who is one of my best friends, and will coincidentally be our best man) to help me move. When BM (best man) got up to my room on the third floor my boyfriend walked in right behind him with some of my stuff.

He came home early to surprise me and help me move as well. That entire year he drove up to see me every week to take me out on a date. I lived super close to the beach so sometimes he'd pack a picnic and we'd watch the sunset on the beach, or he'd drive another hour to one of our favorite restaurants.

Knowing that he gave up his family vacation at his favorite place to come help me move, and then spent that entire school year making sure we had plenty of time together and that is was special just reinforced in my mind how much he cared.

It's been nearly 12 years now, and we're getting married this summer, and he still surprises me with little things. We are a team, we support each other, surprise each other and most of all love and respect each other. There is no one else I'd rather walk through life beside.

Posting again because he just sent me these even after we decided not to celebrate Valentines Day.

Again, it's the little things he does to show he cares.

I have a tendency to crawl away when I'm in a tough spot or am feeling like crap (hello, depression!). I've always been very independent like that (with just about everything). But he wants to be there for me. He gets really upset when I don't confide in him when I feel like that. It's like he wants to be there with me, giving me the boost to get back to normal. He's not afraid of me when I'm in a slump- not that I'm terrifying! haha! but he refuses to leave me in a bad mood. He usually literally throws me on the couch and tickles me until I'm crying from laughing so hard. Idk if it's the tickling that makes me cry or just my overwhelming happiness that makes me cry. It's crazy Also- I'm a super huge nerd. Like to the max. He and I poke fun at each other for dumb stuff and my nerdyness is usually what he pokes fun at. One day I got really upset because he just kept on with it. I finally just had enough and said something. He got really serious all of a sudden and said "you know the things I poke fun at are the things I love most about you, right??". Right then and there. Boom. Keeper!!!

There was no moment or one thing- but from day one I have known he was the one!

He loves me. He treats me well and puts me first, and doesn't look down on me for the dark spots in my past. He has never done anything even remotely hurtful/abusive to me, and for anyone who has been through that, that is the absolute most precious trait a person could possibly exhibit. He's sweet, loving, caring, intelligent, and stands up for what he believes in. He does the right thing, and having integrity and honor are things that are important to him to live by. He has shown me a whole different side to life, one where I am worth loving, where my thoughts, feelings, and opinions matter, and he works to get my opinion when I hold back, because he wants to know my thoughts even if they differ from his own.

We met the weekend before I left the country to study abroad in Italy for a semester. I had no intention of leaving with a boyfriend, but the minute I met him (at a party) I knew there was something special going on. We talked non stop that entire weekend and up until I left. We agreed to wait till I came home to make things official but that lasted all of two weeks. I knew he was the one right away (I sound insane, I know). It was hard to be sure though, having only spent that one weekend together. So what did I do? I bought him a plane ticket and flew him to Italy. Then I REALLY knew he was the one. That week together in Italy was the best week of my life.

One of our first pictures together, in Verona, Italy.

@Elizabeth, I know exactly what you mean about depression. One thing about depression is that you feel utterly unlovable (or I do, anyway). If FH ever did any small thing while I was in that state that I could blow up into a "he doesn't love me anymore!" that's what would happen. But he never has. He is nothing but kind and supportive and loving at those times. He makes me feel about as loved as it's possible for a depressed person to feel. If someone can love every part of you, even the less than pleasant parts... that's the one.

My dad had a heart attack. I was really torn up.

He surprised me with a stuffed animal and we spend the whole night just talking through the whole thing. He just wanted to cheer me up and support me. Couldn't ask for a better guy.