Katherine & Kyle’s story

Wedding Date: May 30, 2009

Our unknowing journey first began back in September of 2006.  Fort worth, Texas had been my home for four years as I had just finished my undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Education at Texas Christian University.  Kyle was busy working on building a restaurant in Fort Worth with his father Mark.  Chimy’s Cerveceria, which was incredibly popular establishment in Lubbock had begun four years prior, shortly after 9/11 and after Kyle had graduated from Texas Tech in Lubbock.  Kyle, an avid fly fisherman, reluctant on starting a restaurant, had chosen to move to Wyoming to work in a fly shop, all the whilst his father had been planning huge dreams for his son.

Upon opening his Lubbock store, Kyle always knew that he needed and wanted something more.  Lubbock, not only rained mud, but also was a college hole, one which Kyle wanted desperately to escape, thus the new adventures to Fort Worth.

Coincidentally, TCU and Tech had a preseason game that September.  All of my friends had returned to Fort Worth for the big game.  A girls night out on a Friday night ended up being one of the most precious nights of my life.

There standing by an old juke box, in a small run-down bar would be the man of my dreams.

As I walked past him, his smile caught me off-guard.  Surely, a guy with that beautiful of a smile wasn’t smiling at me!  Sure enough, as I returned from the lady’s room, he proceeded to ask the line, all girls in my situation could only dream of “don’t I know you somewhere, if not in my dreams?”  That sparked the first conversation I had with Kyle Wright.  Our night ended shortly there, without exchanges of last names, phone numbers or even email addresses.  Our lives never crossed paths in the seemingly small big town of Fort Worth.

As we continued our lives both actually seeing people in between, somehow we again bumped into one another.  As cliche as it was, another bar had been in our future.  Shamrock’s Pub, a popular scene was packed that night.  After fighting my way up to get a beer I saw that glimmer of a smile once more, however I would be incredibly surprised that Kyle actually remembered my name!  I heard “Brooke?” As I turned around, there he was, all 6 feet 4 inches (he was hard to miss).  Smiling he sighed a huge relief and said, “I thought for the longest time that you were going to be just this mystery angel, and I would never see you again!  My friends think I am so silly, but I prayed and hoped that I would see you again!”
God works in mysterious ways.

After that night, we definitely exchanged numbers and names and a bit more information.  That same weekend we would break the news to others in the relationship and go on our very first date.

January 7th, 2007

I remember going on our first date together, I dressed in a winter white cord skirt with the tallest heels possible.  He showed up his rugged self in these old boots in which to this date I think are hilarious.  He jokingly said, “well your helmet is on the porch, it will be a cold ride on the motorcycle but I’m sure you will be fine with your coat.”  Laughing, he took me out to his truck and took me on the most interesting date of my life.

I was starting my studies to be a Play Therapist, working towards my masters in Counseling at UNT.  His surprise and hesitation caught me off guard, as if I was reading and analyzing him across the table.  Our night proceeded to be wonderful despite the curious wonder, what did he think of me?  Our wine bottle soon became empty and he drove me back to my house where my roommates were anxiously waiting.  After a goodnight kiss. He left, promising to call to let me know he was home safely.

After that, we spent many nights talking on the phone into the wee hours in the night, discussing everything from his parent’s unfortunate divorce to his crazy college adventures to my crazy college adventures and my completely opposite family life. I had never eaten at his establishment so finally, I agreed to meet him there with friends.  Safety in numbers right?

Well, thankfully I took those friends because he never showed up that night.  He had to stay at home to do paperwork, when actually I found out later he wanted scoop from his roommate at work.

We still managed to survive despite the standup, and nights of romantic bliss soon followed.  We spent nights at his house dancing to bluegrass tunes and enjoying nights under the stars grilling.  After introducing our two dogs together, whom quickly became buds, it was evident, we were unlike any relationship either of us had ever known.

Dallas and Wrangler, our two loves of our lives, could never have shown us the unbelievable journey lying ahead, but they knew.  Our two passions had merged, giving both of them a peace within.

We spent from pretty early on, almost every minute we could possibly find together, taking the dogs on long walks, going to the lake, going to the coast to fish (I have been converted) and taking trips to Cabo San Lucas and Wyoming.  My passion for Kyle was not only a love, but a true joy of friendship.  A friend that I could share anything with, no matter the consequences.

As the year quickly unfolded, I knew this would be the man I was going to marry.  Even with six years difference in age, I felt our two old souls had met long ago.  That summer, my family got to spend time with him.  They jokingly told stories of old boyfriends, and the names my good christian family called them.  Kyle never got a nickname, it was always Kyle.  That summer, after keeping my baby brother for a week (he is thirteen), we went back to the lake to meet my parents.  After convincing my brothers to keep mum, Kyle and I slid away for a night with just the dogs.  Nothing ever happened, but the next night my father, holding a screw driver, was pretty upset.  I never get in trouble with my parents.  Slinking away feeling pretty guilty to the dock, I was pretty afraid Kyle would leave.  I laughed and told him “that was the most trouble I have ever been with my father, but…it was definitely worth it.”  I had hooked him.

In the fall of 2007, I took a job as a preschool teacher, falling in love with my two year olds would be easy, but balancing grad school, Kyle, and my new job might be a challenge.  Every time I verbalized quitting school, Kyle never hesitated with saying, “I can’t wait to see you accomplish something you always wanted.  Someday, when we start talking marriage, I want you to be finished with your masters.  I want to support you.”  He was wonderful then and some things just may never change.

That October, Kyle bought his first house in Fort Worth.  A home we would both eventually call home as he said.  We decorated the house for Thanksgiving and had my family and Kyle’s father over for lunch.  It would be the first merging of the families. Holidays together with family had always been of the most importance to both Kyle and I.  Sharing them together has made some of the most beautiful memories.

As our first Christmas soon arrived, Kyle and I had our first tree together.  Picking out the perfect live tree, we decorated the house and prepared for the wonderful day of Christ’s birth.  We both went skiing with my family last Christmas.  Headed up to Crested Butte, one the coldest places I had been since my teaching experience in Norway, we froze together as we would race down the slopes to find the ice bar.  We rang in the new year together after an incredibly romantic candlelit dinner in the precious little town.  Being together with my family was an amazing experience, and one I will cherish forever.

As the New Year came, so did many other events.  The year 2008 held promising hopes and dreams. A love so sincere and honest that even then in the wee moments of the year did we know what the Lord had in store for us.

My dear friend Katie married the man of her dreams, telling me once that “marriage isn’t a fairy tale, it is just hard work for two people to conquer.”  I wouldn’t know how true that statement would ultimately be for events later that year.

Our second annual trip to Cabo came again that May.  I had heard rumors of a possible engagement, I knew Kyle wasn’t quite prepared just yet.  I had not even been ring shopping yet!  Kyle is a man a serious preparation as well as a mysterious creature of being.  Our Cabo trip did end with an engagement…well a faux one at least.  Most girls would probably be furious, as you are lying on the beach and the man of your dreams turns to you and says, “I have one more surprise up my sleeves,” proceeding to go into the most beautiful speech, very well prepared.  At last the laughter began and I knew he was just being the dork he is…it was actually pretty funny.  I knew then that we would soon be there, just in the Lord’s own timing.

That summer had so much in store for us.  That July, our beautiful 1930’s home was completely remodeled.  We had been making it our own, working hard on the weekends gardening and painting.  Kyle then left for a long weekend away with his father.  Fly fishing in Port O’Connor where his boat awaited an adventure of a lifetime.  Kyle was preparing to ask his father to be the best man in our wedding, somethings just never happen however.

That same morning I left the dogs inside, knowing the heat would be a lot for the two loves of our lives.  As I watched Kyle pack his bags for the coast, the dogs seemed different.  I felt sorry for them, as they watched him leave in his truck.  Just before I left for the day, I decided to make the best decision of my life, and left our back bedroom door open for the dogs to lay on the bed, knowing that there would be comfort back in that room.  That would be the last time I ever opened that door, or even walked out of that perfect house.

I came home at 5 that evening to pick my bag and the dogs up from the house, headed for a long weekend at the lake with my family chatting happily to my mother, saying I was about to hit the road.

I pulled down the street of our house, noticing the fire hydrant leaking, a hose attached, and finally as I turned the corner I finally saw the three fire trucks in front of our house.  Our babies inside, I immediately stopped my car, still running, and sprinted barefoot down the long street to our house, finally collapsing in the yard next to ours.  Firefights were on the roof and swarming the house, walking in and out, while the house in front of me suddenly turned into my worst nightmare.  The only thing I could possibly think about was the fact that our precious dogs were inside!  Our neighbor, came up to me tears strolling down her eyes.  At that moment, I knew that we had lost them.  I had to fight so many emotions, and call Kyle.  The first attempt failed, and I left him a message.    I proceeded to try again and this time, he answered.  That would be the worst call of my life, knowing that he was six hours away.  Needing to find out about the dogs, I quickly started asking nearby firefighters where they were.  I finally found someone who answered they are in the backyard.  They had been saved by that little door I had left open earlier that day.  Both dogs had gotten their noses under the bed, one on Kyle’s side, and one on mine.  Dallas and Wrangler were alive, but I desperately needed to see them.  Firefighters had carried both out, which probably wasn’t the easiest of tasks considering Wrangler weighs 95 pounds and Dallas a mere 65.  I shut down every emotion and started with the task of answering questions: what started the fire? was it arson? did we have enemies?  The cause of the fire is still undetermined but God never left our side.  Finally at midnight, Kyle arrived to the devastating scene.  The house was unlivable, but things could be salvaged.  Although we lost so much in the fire, we would never have been able to replace the dogs.  That being said, we are so thankful for what we have, what we don’t have, and what we do not need.  Insurance settlements took awhile, and as selfish as it was I thought “we are never going to get married!”

My father always said, there is never a perfect time to get married, you will always be facing some type of adversity, so never wait to settle.  If you wait, you may always wait.  I guess Kyle listened to my father because on a fishing trip down to port O’Connor, Kyle proposed on a deserted beach.  Our only audience were thousands of white cranes, perfectly awaiting the occasion.  I think of them as our little angels, blessing us on our next journey together.  The fire was hard, emotionally, physically, and psychologically.  I would not be the person I am today without Kyle, the adversity we have been through, nor the Great Lord above.  Funny how fires can work.  They can light the church up beautifully with candles, and they can destroy so much, but the fire within us never went out, in fact, I believe it only made the fire in our hearts glow with a deeper love.

The planning is in progress as we are now only four months away from our wedding.  We had joined First United Methodist Church that April, and chose May 30th for our wedding date.  Our year has been filled with plans to tear down the house, close to the original purchase date, not even a year later, as well as plans to rebuild, the home of our dreams.  I write not to tell you a sad story, but to tell a story of true endurance, hope, and love.

Kyle and I have been so fortunate this year, our friends and family have stood by us, cried with us, and shared in our love, but through it all, love has been our rock, and love helped us see it through.  I would not be in the counseling field if I thought people could not change.  I see change in glimpses, but saw it in our own hearts that hot July night.

We will be married May thirtieth at seven in the evening by candlelight in the First United Methodist Church.  We will have our reception at the Worthington Renaissance hotel, on the outdoor terrace.  300 of our closest friends are invited and we cannot wait to embark on the next chapter as man and wife.  Although we plan for much more adversity to come, with love, God, and hope, we know we can survive.

Our dogs Wrangler and Dallas, could not be part of our ceremony, but we will definitely look forward to celebrating at home with them after the honeymoon.

As for the new house, we hope to have it completed in October.

Kyle nor I could have ever imagined our love story.  My favorite love story is the Notebook, and I watched it every night hoping I could find a love like Allie and Noah’s.  Hidden in the dark bars of Fort Worth, was the man of my dreams.  I had always hoped to meet him in the church, or through friends, but God only knows the plans he has in store for us.  As we look on I can only wait for more tears, joy, and precious moments as we pray for the Lord to continue to show us “mysterious blessings.”  May the Lord grace us like rain, there may be droughts, but at least we know we will survive through it all.

Wedding website: www.brookeandkyleswedding.com