My Best Friend

Sometimes it is hard to know when exactly our love story began. As you already know there was quite the process on Dan's end for the two years previous to this... But regardless of when it "officially" began, there are definitely monumental moments that are worth celebrating. Today is one of those moments. 

On August 20, 2016 this message arrived in Dan's Facebook inbox: 

Hello. Its me. 

I was going through a bunch of mission stuff today and came across that application I sent you.... Hilarious. You have a gift. 

Butttttttt that's not why I am writing you. I came across that email you sent me forever ago. I had printed it out and it was mixed in with a bunch of old mission letters in my mission chest. I don't know if you even remember sending it but I figured I would send you a quick thank you! You talked about Münster being hard and falling apart and such and, at the time, I didn't really see it.  In my head Münster was perfect. I loved that branch with my whole heart and my little golden flame was burning bright. So I appreciated it but not really as much as I should have. Until now...

I have been having those stinky-get-out-of-my-head-satan type of feelings lately like all my missionary labors were in vain. Like everything is falling apart and the people that joined the church didnt stick. Like I could have done more. Questioning if I really did allllll that Heavenly Father wanted me to. Etc. The list goes on and on. When I read your experience about your father's blessing and Münster being in the lord's hands, I got chills. Seriously. That was exactly what I needed to hear. I know how amazing this work is and sometimes it breaks my heart when the  people I love the most forget that. But just to know that this is all part of his plan is so comforting!! It was just the reminder I needed to kick Satan in the behind and remember where those thoughts are coming from. 

I just wanted to take a quick second to thank you for acting on that prompting and sending me a 2 in the morning email. I appreciate it more than you know!!

I hope everything is going we'll for you and say hi to all of the missionary peeps for me down there in Utah! 

Mikayla 

Little did I know the freak out that would follow.. 

But he calmly and oh so smoothly sent this in return: 

Hey you. 

If you always start your Facebook messages by quoting Adele songs, I don't recommend "I Set Fire to the Rain" and "Never Mind, I'll Find Someone Like You" as your next best intros. 

Oh that application. I'm sure if I read it today I would probably face-palm, but as I am the biggest goober in the world, somethings can't be changed.

Thank you for taking the time to message me. You could of just read that e-mail, enjoyed the warm fuzzies and kept it to yourself, but it seems that you're a person of gratitude, and it uplifted me. So thank you. We need more people in this world like you. 

This is the crazy part:

I was going through my e-mail two days ago looking up things that had Münster in their body or subject so I could organize them. I've been thinking about my mission a lot lately and it's something I felt I should do. I came across that e-mail and read it a couple of times. It was a good reminder for me too when those nasty-awful-untrue-straight-from-the-devil thoughts come into your head. Your message was a confirmation that Heavenly Father is aware of me and my personal thoughts and feelings. Thank you Mikayla. 

You should of seen my face when I read your message. I went from "Mikayla Heywood?" To "what e-mail?" To "OH THAT E-MAIL. Oh my gosh. Thanks Heavenly Father."

I just want you to know that when I went back to Münster and Düsseldorf (JAE's from Duisburg) last summer, you're all anyone could talk about. You really left an impact there, and from what I have heard, everywhere else you went. Nobody can say anything negative about Sister Heywood, because you were  a light, and served everyone around you as the Savior did while you were there.  That's what I was told.

Thank you for choosing to be a missionary, and one of the greats as well. Thank you!!

I would genuinely love to hear about your mission sometime. Maybe sometime in the next two weeks? What days work best for you? I could use a mission-discussion-skype-sesh. 

I will tell all the mission peeps hi, hope your summer is going well as well.  

Dan

The next day was our very first Skype date. August 21st, 2016. Exactly one year from today. We have spent over 180 hours via video calling. And it just so happens that today also marks exactly 4 months of marriage. (Profis over here) As I get all reflect-y today, I think about all that we learned over that skpye time- Breakup stories, philosophies on life, testimony strengthening moments, favorite books, memories, loads of laughter, and dans oh so famous I-want-to -date-your-soul conversation. And yet it was the tiniest amount of knowledge in comparison to the growth we have experienced in the last four months of marriage. I have never been so full of gratitude for such an understanding, patient, strong, loving, considerate, best friend. And that is truly who he is.

My best friend.