Disclaimer: This is MY, Tausha Wierlo’s version of our relationship. I’m sure Chad would tell a much less dramatic tale – but hey, the Notebook isn’t a tear jerker because Noah wrote it – Nope. Well, I guess he did. But you know what I mean. Oh, and there are seriously THOUSANDS of pictures, I’ve just included a couple 🙂
ENJOY
It all started in August of 2004 when I was still in High School in Angels Camp, and just after Chad moved to the Stockton area after spending some time in Southern California after serving his mission for the LDS church.
A couple weeks later a number came up on my phone that I didn’t recognize and I answered – IT WAS CHAD!! I was at Cosmetology school so I snuck off to the corner and Chad invited me on a 10 day cruise to mexico with him.
Wait?! WHAT?
Yep, and this was me, at 17, “Uhm, ya – like, I’ll have to ask my parents….”
Year Two |
At this point in time, things were pretty exclusive between Chad and I, so I decided it would be best if I stayed in California – so I moved in with my grandparents in San Jose. I was still 2 hours from Chad, but close enough to continue our weekend visits. We took turns on the weekends and spent time in both Stockton and San Jose. Things were fine and dandy, but really weren’t going places. I was having fun in San Jose, and I heard that Chad was starting to see other people. SO, I decided that I would move to Nebraska to spend some time with my family – and see if there was a life, “After Chad.”
Now let me say – deciding to leave California was one of the hardest decisions that I have ever made. I KNEW that by leaving, I was letting our relationship end. I knew that I was in for a rough road, but after much prayer and contemplation – I knew that it was the right thing for me to do. I feel I need to mention this, because a lot of time I blame for Chad for what happened when I moved, but it wasn’t his fault. It was mine.
We decided we would continue to talk, and I didn’t date anyone else for the first month or so I was in Nebraska. Chad flew me out to visit him, and it was affirmation that our relationship could make it through anything. The time apart actually did us good, I was geting into shape, eating healthy, going to church, being productive, taking College classes, etc.
THEN, I got the phone call –
*queue sad music*
Then, Chad called. Things didn’t work out, and he realized what a crazy person he was by breaking things off. with me.
*HAPPY DANCE! – I KNEW IT!*
We started talking again, and I felt overwhelmed as I talked with Chad, but continued my relationship with my current boyfriend. Chad said that he really wanted to get serious again, and suggested that I move back to California. Over the next few weeks, I calloed things off with current boyfriend, and made plans to move back to California. At this point, I didn’t know how serious we were going to be, but Chad suggested that we find a place and live together. He flew to Omaha, rented a U-Haul and drove me back to live in Lodi in our very own little apartment. This is where the actual love story begins.
I’m back!!! |
I felt complete happiness. We were exclusive. A part of me missed my ‘single’ life in Nebraska, my family, my job, my friends. But I was with Chad – nothing else really mattered.
We lived in Lodi for a year, Chad decided he wanted to go back to school and started taking classes at a Community College – it took me awhile to find work – and Chad supported me every step of the way. We had so much fun ‘playing house’ – in our own place, living together as a couple. We paid bills, worked, went to school – all those adult things. After our lease was up we moved into a rental home, and lived wtth a married couple Zach and Steph. It was great, I loved the extra space – and that we were still living together and our relationship progressing. At this point in time, Chad was starting to decide his career path and still taking classes at the community college. I finally became a California resident and was able to take classes, and I juggled 2 jobs to help pay bills, my car payment, etc.
THEN. We decided that things were getting serious, and decided that we should continue dating, but that we needed to live seperately – so that when we were ready we would be able to get married in the temple. I moved in with a friend Megan, and Chad moved into a Bachelor Pad with some Singles Ward friends. We lived this way for about a year, and continued being exclusive. I coudln’t have been happier, we spent almost every waking minute together, visited both of our families, spent a week in Oregon with Chads family, and we hiked Half Dome….I couldn’t be better.
Well, I had been making it known.
Since like year 2.
THEN.
We figured out that we had planned our wedding for the week before Chads finals, instead of his Spring Break like we thought. So we threw in the towel – and decided to leave the next month to go on a cruise.
Yep.
We got married in Cabo.