Thornock Happenings 2016: Our Story

Spencer and I met exactly two years ago. I had just finished high school and was starting BYU summer term, and because Spencer worked the year before his mission, he was just starting, too. We met at convocation of new student orientation and were in the same "Y-group" together. Before convocation started I told myself I was going to be extra outgoing and make some friends right off the bat, so when I found a seat I tried talking to the people next to me. The girl on my right was already talking with the girl on her other side, so I turned to my left and said hi to the kid sitting next to me. I'm not sure if he didn't hear me, or if he chose to ignore me, but he didn't respond at all and I wasn't going to try again. He looked a little strange anyway. So, I turned around. I introduced myself to Spencer and found out we were both from Michigan. We talked a bit about his mission to France and my experiences overseas in Japan. Basically, he's been my first and best friend out here from day one.

For lunch that day we went out on the lawn, split up into our Y-groups. Spencer and I sat next to each other and talked some more, and then the group decided to play some ice-breaker games. After a couple I suggested we play the kumcha game. It's a silly game, but it always ends up being funny. It turns out that Spencer hates games like that and thought I was ridiculous for suggesting it. I found that out later.

The next day (I think) I went to the cannon center for breakfast and spotted Spencer when I was trying to find somewhere to sit, so I asked if I could sit with him. I didn't know very many people yet, so it was nice to recognize someone there. We talked about our Y-group and probably our Y-group leader (that's a whole different story..) and I said something to the effect of "I'm really scared of dating RMs (returned missionaries)." Just as it came out of my mouth I remembered that Spencer was an RM. I remember thinking, "good one, Abbey. Way to go." He had this weird expression on his face like, "oh... okay." I did some fast back-peddling that only made things worse, I'm sure. I was completely embarrassed.

Somehow Dan joined up with us and we became this little trio that always hung out together. I don't even remember meeting Dan, but the three of us became friends really fast. I was falling for Spencer, and I thought maybe he liked me, but I wasn't sure. We had started running in the mornings with a group of people, and the group got smaller and smaller over the first few days. One morning I went outside to run and Spencer was the only other one who showed up. We were both pretty tired still (it was 6 in the morning!) so we ended up just walking and having a nice chat.

One Sunday night, about a week after we had gotten there my roommate was hanging out with some people she knew from Provo, Dan was going to a family something, and Spencer's family was in town for Josh's wedding, so he was going to dinner with them. I didn't have anyone to do anything with. As I was complaining to them that everyone was leaving me Spencer suggested that I could go with him if I wanted to, but it might be a little awkward. I agreed. I met his family and we had a nice, slightly awkward time. That night we came back and since my roommate Sarah and Dan were still gone, we hung out. We decided that we'd be a thing or whatever, and I think we decided that we'd go on a date that Friday. He was so excited to spend time with me that I convinced him to take me to see the new Twilight movie that was coming out.

Josh and Katy's wedding was on Wednesday of that week, I think. Caroline had come into town for it because her family is friends with Katy's family from back in Michigan, and somehow we figured out that she and Spencer were going to the same wedding. I decided to tag along. (I don't usually tag along to family things without knowing the family, so it's weird that I did twice that week.) I went to the wedding reception with Caroline and left with Spencer. It was great. It was probably more awkward seeing the Thornocks that day because on Sunday we were just friends, and then on Wednesday we were a thing or whatever.

Friday was a fun date. The Waltons had given me a gift card for the movie theater, so Spencer brought me to get ice cream and then we went to see the Twilight movie. The movie wasn't that good, but we held hands and I couldn't have been happier.

Anyway, we dated all summer, then off and on for the next 9 months or so. Even when we weren't dating we were still chemistry study buddies and best friends, so we saw each other pretty much every single day. Sometime around Easter I got over a lot of my fear of being in a serious relationship and decided that I wanted to give it a real chance. We officially got back together the night before my 19th birthday and I knew that this would end in marriage or nothing at all. We wouldn't be able to stay friends if we broke up again because neither of us dating anyone else when we broke up before. And that was the entire point of breaking up. A few happy months later we knew this was the real deal and that we were going to get married. It was probably around July or August when we knew, but we didn't tell anyone for a couple more months.

Spencer's the best friend I've ever had, and sometimes it felt like he's the only one I needed. He was endlessly patient with me while we were dating. I think he knew he wanted to marry me for a long time before I was open to the idea at all, but he never said a word because he knew I wasn't ready. He got me through the crazy stress of my first set of midterms and finals (and every set after that), encourages me in my dreams and goals, and makes me smile and laugh every day. His testimony and knowledge of the gospel has amazed me from the week we met, and it still does. I love just being with him and talking to him. We spent hours that first summer in the dorms under our tree just talking. He's the best and I love him so much.