The Hulets: Our Story

In the summer of 2007,

I met James Reed Hulet.

Little did I know he would stay in my life for good.

He was the popular, cute, athletic football player.

I was the focus on school and stay as much in the background as possible new girl.

We were sort of part of a group of mutual friends.

He was 2 grades ahead of me, but my best friends brother was best friends with James, resulting in us being around each other all the time.

Although we were around each other a lot, we never really talked much or were never really friends, until a few months later when I sent him the text.

I had always thought he was dreamy. Sweet. Cute. You name it.

But I also knew he was out of my league.

When we were around each other I would try to avoid him, not wanting to look stupid or embarrass myself.

For christmas 2007, I got my very first cell phone.

I remember texting all my friends and feeling on cloud nine because I got my first cell phone.

It was more than a big deal.

I don't remember exactly where I got his number, but I got it, and texted him... "hey."

...and the rest is history! But really.

I didn't think he would respond, but surely enough he did, and we talked through text all day that day.

At first we were friends. I liked him. I wasn't sure how he felt about me. Until 2 days later

On December 27, 2007 James asked me to be his "girlfriend". ooooooh. and of course I said yes!

We were such babies. I was going to be a freshman, he was a sophomore.

You know, the typical early teenage relationship.

We would just hang out all the time.

When I became age appropriate we started going out on dates, which I guess made it official.

I remember our very first date, we went to chili's and had to be dropped off and picked up by his mom.

Those were the good ole days haha.

We dated all through high school and did everything together.

I was head over heels and I loved him so much.

Young love was rough. It had its ups and downs, smiles and tears.

I would never trade what we had for the world.

I knew, somewhere in my heart, that we were meant to spend forever together.

James left to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on November 28.

I will never forget the time leading up to that day.

There were so many emotions.

I knew I loved him. I knew he loved me.

I wanted nothing more than for our love to last.

Him leaving was one of the hardest thing I have ever had to go through.

Saying goodbye, that last hug, that last night... that is something I will never forget.

James served in the Tacoma Washington mission and loved every second of it.

He loved the place, the members, the investigators, the missionaries, the work, all of it.

We wrote letters once a week, sent pictures, laughed, cried, it truly was a wonderful time in both of our lives. A time for us to grow. For our love to be tested. For our faith in God to be tested.