Praxton and Julia

Happy 1st anniversary, Praxton and Julia!  

You can read their amazing love story here:  (Don't feel pressured because it is long, but it is hilarious! 

Our Story

Praxton: The first time I heard about Julia was from her brother Ben who is the assistant coach on my football team.  He was telling me about his family and all he said about Julia was, "She is a cheerleader for the team and has straight blonde hair."  All I was thinking was, "Oh, ok, nice to know."  Only a few weeks later, Raymond and I (Raymond is my room-mate and the QB on my team) were walking in the sky-walk to our dorm coming back from the cafeteria.  I don't even know why I went with him because he was getting a large Mountain Dew.  (I grew up drinking water, orange juice, and occasionally apple juice.)  There is  slight ridge when you come out of the cafeteria onto the sky-walk, and unfortunately Ray had filled his cup to the brim and hadn't asked for a lid.  We were just coming towards the sky-walk while a girl was coming from the other direction into cafeteria.  She was in sweats, texting on an iPhone that didn't have a cover, and apparently listening to something with an earbud in her ear.  She didn't see us until it happened.  I really don't know how it happened except that Ray tripped on the ridge and almost fell, and all of the Mountain Dew went from in his cup to all over him, Julia, and myself.  Of course it was Julia.  Ray apologized, and I was right after him.  He had the advantage however because he ran back to the bathroom while Julia and me were still trying to figure out what had happened!  I apologized again, and she said that it was okay.  Then she ran back to the bathroom, and there I was with my friend's spilled Mountain Dew all over everything.  Ray came back and started moping things up, and it was my turn to run to the restroom.  I came back, and Julia came out.  We both apologized again, and then she practically ran back across the sky-walk to her dorm.  We got everything wiped up, and then we went back to our dorm.  

 Julia:  I didn't know what to think at that first meeting.  I was probably thinking that I never wanted to run into that guy again as long as I lived.  But I did of course. :)

Praxton: The next meeting was probably the worst meeting ever.  It was about seven hours before game time, and I was headed to where they get you padded up.  The door that leads into the room is a swing door so it can go in and out.  I came up and pushed it.  It didn't budge.  I was thinking, "This is crazy.  This door doesn't have a lock!"  

I decided that I'd have to gather all my strength and give a mighty PUSH.  "One, two, THREE!"  

I pushed with all my might!   That was a big mistake.  The door gave way as if the something on the other side had given up and stopped pushing.  I went flying across the room, and before I hit the lockers on the other side, I turned my head to see what was on the other side of the door.  It was Julia.  I probably wasn't more humiliated in my life.  There was a horrible moment of silence while I tried to figure out if I was still alive ,  Julia tried to figure out what happened, and spectators tried to contain they're cackle spasms.  I was the first to get up and I limped walked over to help Julia up.  By then, we both were laughing and tried to look as if nothing major had happened.  

She said that she was okay, and I opened the door for her.  Before I picked up my pads, I gave that door a long scowl.  I picked up my pads and looked up only to see Ray almost rolling on the floor with laughter and Coach Knolls was chuckling.  I was mad by then so I said, "Well come on!  Break it up!  Let's get moving!"  

 Julia: I can say with Praxton, "That was probably the worst meeting ever!" 

I had gone in there because our cheerleader clothes are stored in the lockers there so when they get washed, they don't need to deliver them to individual rooms.  While I was walking back to my room I was still trying to think why I had run into that guy again.  I had heard about him from Ben, and he said that he was a Christian homeschooled guy and that he liked him.  I just started praying that I wouldn't meet him in such odd situations if I had to meet him at all.  

Praxton: The game was great!  There were 3 minutes left in the 4th quarter, and we were behind by five.  Only a touchdown could save us.  There were 2 1/2 minutes left on the clock as we started playing after our last timeout.  We were at the 45 yard line.  I ran down to the end-zone and got open.  Ray saw me and threw.  I caught a 135 ft. pass.  The guy that was supposed to be guarding me got mad and pushed me hard.  I went hurtling into camera men, cheerleaders, and people in general.  I slid sideways and was headed straight for the knees of Julia (which is illegal in football). I apologized and helped her up and made sure she was okay, and then went to celebrate with everybody.  

 Julia: I kind of guessed that that meeting would happen.  All I saw was that some guy made the winning touchdown, and we started cheering.  Then, out of nowhere, someone came sliding my direction.  I didn't know what it was.  It was like I was on my feet, and then I was flat on the ground.  He helped me up, and I thanked him.  Ben told me afterwards that he was having cackle spasms on the sidelines.  Jere said that he would give Praxton a long lecture on doing something illegal in football, especially to a girl.  

Praxton: The next time I came into contact with her was on campus.  The corners are sharp on campus, and I was on a bike.  Julia was coming from one way, and I was coming from the other.  We both didn't see each other.  She came around the corner and screeched.  I swerved my bike and ran into a light post.  I said sorry, and she said sorry. Then she ducked into the store on the corner, and I went on with my bike ride.  

 Julia: I was singing "It's Shoutin' Time in Heaven" when T came around the corner, and there was a red bike right there!  I jumped back, and the person on the bike swerved and hit a light post and then hit the wall of the corner shop.  I said sorry and then ran into the corner store. I just wanted to get out of that situation so I took the closest option         

  possible.  I found myself in a manicure place, and as soon as I knew he was gone, I resumed my walk and my song.  I think it was in my dorm that night when I realized that it was Praxton Wilder that was on the bike!  

Praxton: By this time I was praying that God would make it clear why he was getting me into these situations.  A few weeks later,  I went to Red Mango. (The best frozen yogurt place on earth.)  I parked my bike and saw a car out of the corner of my eye.  It wasn't parked terribly bad, but it was a little bad.   I measured with my arm, and I could tell that the car was crooked.  It was  also parked a little ways up on the curb. I made a mental note that, if I saw that person get into his car, I would nudge him and point it out.  I didn't know I did it that noticeably, but Julia says I did because she could see it from inside the shop. 

 Julia: I work at Red Mango Saturdays and Sunday afternoons.  I saw Praxton doing that through the window, and I got scared and thought,"He's going to take down the license plate number, and then find the person that owns that car!" 

So I went into the back and told the guy that worked with me: " You need to serve that guy."  

I must have said it a little pitifully because he was like,"What's wrong?" 

I said, "He thinks I did a bad park job, and I think he's going to take down the license plate number!"  

So that guy went out thinking: big, scraggly, and fierce looking.  When he got out there, he saw his favorite football player standing there!  

Praxton: Julia doesn't like the last part of the story so I'll tell it.  I went in there, got my stuff, and was checking out when I asked that guy if he knew whose car was parked in front.  He said, "Ummmmm.....".  

He checked me out and then went into the back room.  He came out with Julia, red faced and looking really embarrassed.  The guy left (some friend) and went into the back room leaving Julia standing in front of me like a "culprit before the judge," as I like to express it.  She meekly told me it was her car, and she would try to do a better parking job in the future.  Now it was my turn to look red faced and embarrassed.  I apologized and said I was just figuring how I would park it.  I asked her more about herself and her family.  She asked about mine, and I told her.  She said that she was at a big homeschool conference that my mom and dad both spoke at and that she read our family's blog and that she friended us on Facebook.  I started going to Red Mango every Saturday afternoon and visiting with her. 

 A few months later I asked her if she wanted to come to China with us for a mission trip, and she said yes!  The team consisted of Paul, Livi, Prici, Pres, Prue, Julia, and myself.  We had a great time!  I had asked permission from Julia's parents if I could start a courtship relationship with her before we went to China, and I got an "okay" from them and from my parents.  So I asked her in China if I could court her.  Of course, she said yes.  

 Julia: We were late to our meeting in northern China. Praxton and I  had gone back to our hotel to get water bottles.  We took a wrong turn when we came to the barber shop on the corner of the Main Street.  We didn't know where we were.  We were lost, and I was scared.  All of a sudden, Praxton turns to me and says, "Julia, can I court you?"   

I was shocked.   

Praxton: She said yes, of course, and then we just walked back to the hotel, even though we were supposed to go to the meeting.  Paul gave me a talking to later about how I can't be late to a meeting when I'm a lead role in a skit and expected (even though I started a courtship with the love of my life.)  We courted for about two and a half years, and during that time my family bought a lot of tickets to NYC!  It was February 22, and I was a senior on my spring break.  Final exams were less than three months away.  My sister Prici texted me and said, "How about you take your spring break and the weeks you get off of school to go to India with us."  

I was shocked.  Rarely Prici comes up with these kinds of things.  Usually it's Paul or Pres that comes up with the crazy ideas.  What I didn't know is that they had it all arranged.  Prici and I would fly in to the Twin Cities in Minnesota and meet Paul, Livi, Pres, and Prue at Paul and Livi's house, and then we would pack there and then take the flight to India.  Prici asked me to ask Julia if she wanted to come with us, and, all of a sudden, I had it all planed out.  I would have a coffee with Mr. Wilson and get the thumbs up to ask "The Question",  I would face time my dad and get his approval, then, I would go engagement ring shopping before I asked Julia if she would go with us to India.  She was okay with going and in about 24 hours we headed to the Twin Cities.  

 Julia:  When Praxton asked me if I wanted to go with them to India, I was surprised that they wanted to go on another mission trip!  I said yes, of course, and we left the next night. (That's how Wilder boys are.  It's now or never.)  We were on the flight to India 76 hours later.  When we landed in India, we headed to our hotel, and as we were unloading, I saw a box in the outer pocket of a backpack, Praxton's backpack.  It looked like a ring box.  I had my suspicions but I kept them to myself.  

Praxton:  I can't believe Julia saw the ring box!  I did my best to hide it among all the backpacks and suitcases, and I thought I could grab the backpack before she noticed.  I should have put it in my pocket.  We spent three weeks serving in an orphanage and having Bible study's with some of the people there, Christian and non Christian.  Some people loved it, and some people got really upset.  It was all fun though.  The day we were supposed to head home to the U.S., the crew (Paul, Livi, Prici, Pres, Prue, Julia and myself) decided to get tea and coffee at Starbucks before going to the airport.  We got our drinks and headed to the airport.  Prici, Livi, and Prue wanted to look in the gift shop to bring home souvenirs for the family.  Pres and Paul went to make sure the luggage was all ready to board the plane.  I knew this was my chance.  Julia and I talked a little bit and strode over to the big window to watch the planes come in.  I could feel the corners of the ring box in the right pocket of my jeans.  "Stop shilly-shallying Praxton!!!"  I told myself.  I looked around and saw Prici nodding and mouthing, "Go ahead!"  Livi was keeping an eye on me and Prue was giggling because I was nervous.  Paul and Pres were no where in sight, but I could feel their eyes looking straight at the back of my head.  I hadn't planned what I was going to say, only that I wanted to get the point across that I wanted to marry her, so I just launched in.     

 Julia:  Praxton got down on one knee and said: "Julia Mae Wilson, will you marry me?"  He opened the ring box, the same one I saw in  his backpack, and slipped a ring on my finger.  

Praxton:  There's not that much to tell after that.  Livi, Prue, and Prici payed for what they picked out and joined Paul and Pres and started walking to the plane.  Julia and I followed but at a distance.  I think Livi and Pric had their camera's and took some pictures.  I didn't care.  We sat in the plane together the whole way to the Twin Cities.  We picked up the car and drove home to Paul and Olivia's.  They have a Toyota Sequoia car and it seats eight.  Paul and Olivia were in the front, Pricilla, Prue, and Preston in the middle, and Julia and I were in the back.  They wanted to hear all about it and all the details:  if I cried afterwards and if people stared or spoke to us.  We got to Paul and Olivia's house; the whole family was there to welcome us.  All the girls wanted to see the ring and everyone, especially the little ones, wanted to know what happened.  We sang a couple songs and then hit the sack.  

The next morning Julia and I had to catch the flight NYC.  I went to my dorm to get ready to start back to school, and Julia went home.  Final exams came, and we both got an A+.  Julia and I started wedding planning, and here is the result.  

                       Thank you for coming to celebrate with us!  

               

                                         ~Praxton + Julia 

-Posted by Prue