Long Distance | Skype

To anyone who has ever doubted a long distance relationship: It can be done.

I live in Starkville. Christopher lives in Atlanta. We're getting married in 1 year and 4 months.

However, I'd be lying if I said it wasn't hard sometimes, especially on days like today. Today was a rainy Tuesday that felt like a Monday. I've been battling allergies all week. It wasn't a bad day, just a "blah" day. I can't begin to explain how badly I wanted to just be in the same room as Chris. A Skype date was in order, for sure.

I get the best view :)

To anyone out there who lives close to the love of their life--never take a moment of your time with them for granted. Even if they are getting on your nerves. I'd love for Chris to get on my nerves sometime. :)

We should seriously send a fruit basket or something to the guy who invented Skype.




Love,
The Future Mrs. Mize

The Proposal

On November 26, 2011, Christopher asked my dad if he could marry me. That was a very important day for a number of reasons: Christopher spent Thanksgiving with us; I turned 21; Mississippi State defeated TSUN in the battle for the golden egg. During our morning band rehearsal, Chris and Daddy watched us practice. He asked my dad for my hand in marriage.

My family and Chris did an excellent job of completely throwing me off about when we would get engaged. We both graduate in 2013 (Chris with his master's and me with my bachelor's), so I originally anticipated getting engaged late in the spring semester. I thought I had it figured out.

Shout out to Pam Breedlove here. Not only did she convince me she wouldn't know when Chris asked dad, but she got me to paint my nails pretty before I left to visit him the weekend before Christmas. She didn't know he was proposing at the time--she did it as a precaution. Write this down--nothing gets past Pam Breedlove. Nothing. She rocks.

I left for Atlanta on December 15th. I got there around 6--Chris informed me that he would be in a final until 6:30. I parked my car at his apartment and walked around Atlantic Station, trying to find a Starbucks to go to while I waited for him. Being in typical Mary Chase fashion, I couldn't find it. I wandered around--frustrated at myself, frustrated from traffic, and just wanting to see Christopher. After about 10 minutes, he called me.        

When I answered, he said that he could see me. I assumed he was riding his bike back from the Georgia Tech campus. I looked around trying to find him and told him that I couldn't see him. He told me to meet him "under the arch". [Side story: The first time I drove to his apartment in Atlantic Station, he told me to take a right at the big stone arch. There's a huge stone arch right beside his apartment. Somehow, I missed it the first time.] I knew where that was (now).
          

He hung up on me. I assumed that I was close. When I walked under the arch, I didn't see him at first. I turned the corner and saw him dressed in a tux, down on one knee, and playing the guitar. In the moment, I didn't think he was proposing--I thought he was just being romantic and sweet. I love it when he wears a tux (he's a good looking man, y'all), and I also had no idea the he even had a guitar--much less that he knew how to play it. I watched him play and he started to sing. At first, I thought he was singing "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz. After a few words, I realized the song he was playing.

"Marry Me" by Train. Here are the song lyrics for those of you who aren't familiar:


Forever can never be long enough for me
To feel like I've had long enough with you
Forget the world now we won't let them see
But there's one thing left to do

Now that the weight has lifted
Love has surely shifted my way
Marry me
Today and every day
Marry me
If I ever get the nerve to say "Hello" in this cafe
Say you will

Together can never be close enough for me
Feel like I am close enough to you
You wear white and I'll wear out the words I love you
And you're beautiful
Now that the wait is over
And love and has finally shown her my way
Marry me
Today and every day
Marry me
If I ever get the nerve to say "Hello" in this cafe
Say you will

Promise me
You'll always be
Happy by my side
I promise to
Sing to you
When all the music dies

And marry me
Today and everyday
Marry me
If I ever get the nerve to say "Hello" in this cafe
Say you will
Marry me

Thank you for this memory, Michael Ellis :)

Next, pulled out the most beautiful ring I've ever seen in my life. He asked me to marry him, and without hesitation, I said yes. Then the tears came. His best friend was hiding and taking pictures / videos of the whole thing. I can't think of a time in my life (until now) that I have cried that much from pure joy. I was, and am, so happy. I'm still in awe of God's goodness to me--that He would put someone like Chris in my life, and allow us to fall in love with each other. Christopher Larry Mize is a gift straight from God. A lifetime with him is more than I could have ever wanted in life, and I mean that. In Chris, I have my best friend. I have a man who loves me unconditionally and treats me like a princess. I am blessed beyond my wildest dreams. Christopher, I love you and I thank God for you every single day. I can't wait to be your wife!

My precious future in-laws

newly engaged :)

This ring means so much to me, for so many reasons.

Atlantic Station at night, where Christopher proposed

Life is so good. To God be the glory.

Love,
The Future Mrs. Mize

How We Met

When I was nine years old, I embarked with a other kids from my church (some of whom are now my best friends) to Jefferson City, Tennessee for a church camp called Crosspoint (now CentriKid Camps). When I returned home after a week of incredible memories and tons of fun, I promptly informed by mother that I would be a camp staffer one day.

Well, ten years later, I applied to be a staffer for CentriKid. On March 6, I found out I would be serving as a staffer and actor for CentriKid Team 5. I added 24 strangers on Facebook that night--among those was Christopher Mize.

On May 28, 2010, I packed a carry on and boarded a plane to Nashville. It seems silly to fly to Nashville, but LifeWay Christian Resources provided my travel accommodations. I had a connecting flight in Atlanta--it was the first time I'd ever been. Ironic, isn't it? :)

When I reached the Nashville airport, I was so excited I could barely contain myself. My nervousness/excited jitters combined with a bottle of water on the flight left me in search for a ladies room when I made my way over to the baggage claim. As I searched for a restroom, I saw about ten college students running to embrace each other, laughing, sitting on black trunks covered in stickers, and reuniting with old friends/making new ones. My heart skipped about ten beats--those were CentriKid staffers. I was getting ready to meet people I had "gotten to know" over Facebook for the past two months in person--and spend eleven weeks of my summer with them.

While I was walking and staring at the staffers, my eyes met those of Christopher Mize. I knew it from his facebook picture and video journey we had posted on our team group page. He was wearing a red t-shirt and glasses. His eyes were blue and bright, and he was handsome. Very handsome. I looked away quickly, reminding myself of the purpose of my current excursion. This new jolt of nerves and excitement did nothing for my full bladder.

I changed clothes in the bathroom, fixed my hair and makeup, took a few deep breaths, and headed towards the staffers. I met some of my teammates, including Chris, and started a chapter in my life that I will never, ever forget.

First picture with my future husband!

 After OMC during the 3rd camp cycle.

Everyone in these two pictures is engaged!

Some of the best friends I have.

Thank you, Lord, for CentriKid Camps.

A New Chapter

On May 28, 2010, I made semi-awkward eye contact with a handsome man in the Nashville airport. I didn't know at the time that I had just seen my future husband.

On December 15, 2011, Christopher Mize asked me to be his wife. I said yes.

Christopher and I made this blog to share with you, our friends and family, the happiness that God has graciously blessed us with. With this blog, I plan to attempt to capture every precious memory of our relationship, so that we can look back on it years from now and remember the incredible way that God placed us in each others' lives, and how we fell in love for life.

Love,
The Future Mrs. Mize