Meet The Bond Family

Who are the Bonds? But really... I think everyone who is married knows from experience that no matter what, no matter who it is that you are just meeting, you always get the "So how did you two meet?" Question... So I'm putting it in blog-form. Maybe I'll just refer people to my blog from now on.

Turn the clock back to June/July of 2011. Bryce Bond was a young man whose 24-month mission was coming to a close in Porte Alegre North mission in Brazil.
Carlie Stevens was a young woman who was invited by a friend of hers- Steven- to a cabin in Island park, even though she did not know the owners of the cabin. She became really good friends with someone names Brady James, the official owner (or son of the owners) of the cabin. One of Brady's friends was a young lad names Eric Roisum. Along with the group of friends that was there was the one and only Jadie Blatter. Flash forward to July 7th.
Bryce Bond was finally home! So buddies Eric Roisum and company go to his house to greet him.
Flash over to Carlie Stevens. She had been hanging out with friends Brady and Eric, and had invited a friend Jadie Blatter to a dance on a Friday night... Thug Lyfe Part two I believe... Anyways she (I) was throwing it. Jadie then proceeded to ask Carlie to accompany her to one Bryce Bond's mission homecoming (where the person who was serving a two-year mission reports to their church how it went and talks about spiritual stuff... usually). "But I don't even know this kid", thought Carlie. Nevertheless, Carlie knew Eric was going, and caught a ride down to Idaho Falls that Saturday (the day before the talk). While waiting for Jadie to get off work, Carlie stayed at Eric's place. Enter Bryce Bond onto the basement basketball court where Carlie was shooting some hoops. Carlie makes eye contact, sizing the guy up. THIS must be the return missionary. "Are you Eric's friend who just got home?" she asked. "Yep!" He says in return. "Do you feel pretty awkward?" was the first thing that came to Young Carlie's mind. Little did she know this was her future husband and she obviously should have come up with something better than that...
So on they played basketball for awhile, then a little ping pong (obviously others were there), and off Bryce went back to his house to spend time with his family. Off Carlie went to young Jadie's home.
The next day, Carlie and Jadie attended Bryce's homecoming talk. Eric wasn't even there... akward. But I was, which was obviously more important. We were then invited by Bryce to his house for some lunch and fun! (enter first person please)
I encountered there, for the first time, Bryce's family. I wish I could say that they liked me right away, but who was this girl crashing Bryce's homecoming party?! I don't think I talked much to anyone... We went n to watch Avatar, and before I left I gave Bryce my number so I could "set him up with some friends in Rexburg".... and I thought I meant it! Little did I know it was me who he wanted to be set up with! With that, Bryce came up that Tuesday to watch Devotional with me, then that Wednesday I went down to his place to watch a movie... We dated a little bit before I finally left for Kentucky to house sit for my dad. It was then that I realized Bryce wasn't going anywhere. It wasn't just a fling to him. But I had dated return-missionaries before. They ALWAYS eventually decided "I need to date other people just to be sure..." Puh-LEASE, just tell me you're not interested! So I encouraged Bryce to date while I was away from him the next 4 weeks. We spoke every day, texting, skyping, calling. It was then that we first talked about what wanted in a marriage, what our hopes and dreams were, the first time of many that he would comfort me after a huge fight with my family... It was during that time, the 4 or 5 weeks that I was away from him, that I began to fall in love with him.

I returned to Salt Lake and the weekend that I did, Bryce drove down to see me. Or rather, he rode down with his parents. We met up at the mall and I ran and jumped into his arms! I was so excited to see him in person after weeks of just skyping and talking on the phone and texting. He was real! He was here! He was here for ME! That was the day Bryce first met my mom. It was also the first time I had seen my mom in MONTHS So of course I ran and jumped in to her arms... in a much less romantic way, obviously. But they seemed to get along so well. I was so happy! Bryce and I left my mom and walked around the mall where he bought me a pair of buckle jeans. I mean dang this boy was throwing DOWN for me! I had money to spend and he wouldn't let me! He was just the sweetest.  We proceeded to go to Tucanos, again this guy was sparing no expense on me! It was AMAZING. What a wonderful date, definitely my favorite so far. We then walked to the Salt Lake City temple not too far away from where he was staying in a hotel for the night with his family. We walked around the temple, taking pictures, laughing, talking about our hopes and dreams, our plans, where we ended up on the grass near the reflection pond (a pond right in front of the temple). It was then where Bryce told me he was falling in love with me. One minute later he changed his mind and told me that he was IN love with me. Now, I had rushed into relationships before, and I always said I love you right when they did... so instead I said I was definitely falling in love with him, but didn't want to say it too soon. Leave it to me to pick the most romantic time I've ever had someone tell me that they love me- my future husband, I might add- to NOT say it back. I look back now and want to kick myself for ruining the moment with "I'm not there yet" even though I TOTALLY was. I've regretted it ever since!
So now that love was so clearly hanging in the air for both of us, even if I didn't say it back we both knew it, we started to speak of where we wanted "This" to go. He asked me and I told him how happy I was and how I couldn't wait to see where it was going to go. I then asked him where he wanted it to go... The sly dog looked away from me and up at the Salt Lake temple and said... "here". And the rest is history. 7 months later we were married right there, in the Salt Lake City Temple by his Grandfather Jack Bond. Almost 2 years later and I'm as happy as I was if not even happier, than the day that we were married. To me, I am the luckiest girl in the world.