I met Tyler in December of 2012 at my new job. I was a cashier at the MCX Troop Store here on base in Cherry Point, North Carolina... and he was fresh out of school, getting ready to join MALS - 14. Little did I know he had his eye on me from the moment he first saw me, and little did HE know that my daddy was the Gunny who was checking him into squadron.
At the time I was dating someone else, and though I thought Ty was an amazing guy... I didn't give him another thought, other than that he was a cool friend. He came in every day just to see me. One day, around February or so, I was wearing a ring on my wedding finger to "keep the guys from flirting with me at work". When Ty saw it his face immediately fell and I asked (forgetting momentarily about the ring) what was wrong. He said "You're married!".
Well, that day I let him in on my little secret... I told him that it was just so all the young Marine's wouldn't flirt with me. Actually, my comment was more along the lines of "Ha! No-ones managed to get a ring on that finger yet..." I laughed at the response that followed, not knowing how true it would turn out to be. "Oh really?", he said. "You just wait... I'll get a ring on that pretty little finger."
Another day I asked why he came in so often and he told me it was just to see me. I called him a liar, and he looked at me - again - like I was crazy. He said, "what?! You think I come in here every day and waste money just on my lunch? It's not like I can't eat at the chow hall for free..." I was astonished.
I didn't see him again for almost 2 weeks. I hadn't realized how much I enjoyed seeing him around during the day when he came in to talk with his handsome smile that reaches all the way to his eyes, and his "hello lovely" 's and his "hey gorgeous...". But I did. I missed Tyler. And yes, soon I started counting the days he was a no show. TWO whole weeks... and then he came back. He didn't come in as often, but he made sure I knew he was there for me if I needed him.
A few weeks later I got into a fight with my boyfriend, and as ever, Ty was right there. He stepped up and told me I deserved better, that he wasn't going to allow me to sit and cry and mope around the house. So, he took me out with his friends that night. When he came to get me, he met my family, and our dog - Gracie - didn't even bark. Not ONCE! We went out, had a little dinner and sat out on the hood of the car for a few minutes star-gazing while we waited on the girls to finish getting ready for their night out. It was a genuinely good time and I was happy and laughing, like I never expected to be.
One of our friends needed some orange-juice, and the gas station we stopped at later didn't have any. So, like the sweetheart he is, Ty offered to run over to the Food Lion across the parking lot and grab some. Their jaws dropped, and so did mine, as he tossed me the keys and said to meet him over on the other side of the parking lot when the other girls were done in the bathroom. NO ONE drives his Tiberon, but him.
So we hopped in when they were all done, and I texted him to let him know where we were parked. I hadn't even had time to set the phone down in the cup-holder when all of the sudden, he knocks on the driver-side window. I get out of the car to a beaming face... and a DOZEN roses. I couldn't believe it!
Our second date, in this Podunk little town of ours, was to Walmart... we were playing around and joking. Another great night just goofing off! But as we were joking and spinning around the 8$ ring rack, he sat down on the floor next to me, and told me to pick one that fit. So I did... Not knowing what he had in mind this time either. He smiled at me when I tried putting it back after I found it and said "oh no, no... I'm getting it for you. Don't make me find it again myself..." So I showed him. He slipped it on my hand after paying for it, and looked at me with the most serious face I've ever seen. He told me "This one's a temporary. We're getting married."
He's never asked me, and I've never objected. There just wasn't any point. We knew. I teased him one day that he never actually asked me to Marry him, and he just shrugged and said "I know... and I'm not going to. I'm marrying YOU."
And a month later, on April 12 2013, he did!
I can't imagine a better man to be married to! I've been through my share of hard times, and so has he... even more so... but this is where we're meant to be. He is the love of my life, and I am blessed every day to be his wife.
And though we weren't able to have all of our friends and family here with us on that day, we're so grateful for all the blessings and well wishes we've received. I'm also so glad to be able to have the Internet to share our story with all of you! I can't tell it any better... and especially not in person. I wasn't gifted with the Anderson gene for story-telling (Uncle Fake), but I am grateful to be able to share it the best way I know how.
Tyler truly is the most amazing man, and I can't wait to pass the love and laughter and joy around to everyone the next time we're all together. I hope and pray we all get to see each other and meet again soon!
XO,
Victoria Elyse BREEDLOVE
At the time I was dating someone else, and though I thought Ty was an amazing guy... I didn't give him another thought, other than that he was a cool friend. He came in every day just to see me. One day, around February or so, I was wearing a ring on my wedding finger to "keep the guys from flirting with me at work". When Ty saw it his face immediately fell and I asked (forgetting momentarily about the ring) what was wrong. He said "You're married!".
Well, that day I let him in on my little secret... I told him that it was just so all the young Marine's wouldn't flirt with me. Actually, my comment was more along the lines of "Ha! No-ones managed to get a ring on that finger yet..." I laughed at the response that followed, not knowing how true it would turn out to be. "Oh really?", he said. "You just wait... I'll get a ring on that pretty little finger."
Another day I asked why he came in so often and he told me it was just to see me. I called him a liar, and he looked at me - again - like I was crazy. He said, "what?! You think I come in here every day and waste money just on my lunch? It's not like I can't eat at the chow hall for free..." I was astonished.
I didn't see him again for almost 2 weeks. I hadn't realized how much I enjoyed seeing him around during the day when he came in to talk with his handsome smile that reaches all the way to his eyes, and his "hello lovely" 's and his "hey gorgeous...". But I did. I missed Tyler. And yes, soon I started counting the days he was a no show. TWO whole weeks... and then he came back. He didn't come in as often, but he made sure I knew he was there for me if I needed him.
A few weeks later I got into a fight with my boyfriend, and as ever, Ty was right there. He stepped up and told me I deserved better, that he wasn't going to allow me to sit and cry and mope around the house. So, he took me out with his friends that night. When he came to get me, he met my family, and our dog - Gracie - didn't even bark. Not ONCE! We went out, had a little dinner and sat out on the hood of the car for a few minutes star-gazing while we waited on the girls to finish getting ready for their night out. It was a genuinely good time and I was happy and laughing, like I never expected to be.
One of our friends needed some orange-juice, and the gas station we stopped at later didn't have any. So, like the sweetheart he is, Ty offered to run over to the Food Lion across the parking lot and grab some. Their jaws dropped, and so did mine, as he tossed me the keys and said to meet him over on the other side of the parking lot when the other girls were done in the bathroom. NO ONE drives his Tiberon, but him.
So we hopped in when they were all done, and I texted him to let him know where we were parked. I hadn't even had time to set the phone down in the cup-holder when all of the sudden, he knocks on the driver-side window. I get out of the car to a beaming face... and a DOZEN roses. I couldn't believe it!
Our second date, in this Podunk little town of ours, was to Walmart... we were playing around and joking. Another great night just goofing off! But as we were joking and spinning around the 8$ ring rack, he sat down on the floor next to me, and told me to pick one that fit. So I did... Not knowing what he had in mind this time either. He smiled at me when I tried putting it back after I found it and said "oh no, no... I'm getting it for you. Don't make me find it again myself..." So I showed him. He slipped it on my hand after paying for it, and looked at me with the most serious face I've ever seen. He told me "This one's a temporary. We're getting married."
He's never asked me, and I've never objected. There just wasn't any point. We knew. I teased him one day that he never actually asked me to Marry him, and he just shrugged and said "I know... and I'm not going to. I'm marrying YOU."
And a month later, on April 12 2013, he did!
I can't imagine a better man to be married to! I've been through my share of hard times, and so has he... even more so... but this is where we're meant to be. He is the love of my life, and I am blessed every day to be his wife.
And though we weren't able to have all of our friends and family here with us on that day, we're so grateful for all the blessings and well wishes we've received. I'm also so glad to be able to have the Internet to share our story with all of you! I can't tell it any better... and especially not in person. I wasn't gifted with the Anderson gene for story-telling (Uncle Fake), but I am grateful to be able to share it the best way I know how.
Tyler truly is the most amazing man, and I can't wait to pass the love and laughter and joy around to everyone the next time we're all together. I hope and pray we all get to see each other and meet again soon!
XO,
Victoria Elyse BREEDLOVE
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