8 years later...

A little over 8 years ago....

This handsome guy....

asked this GORGEOUS girl (just play along) out on a date.

He'd been gathering his guts to ask her out for several weeks. Little did he know that she had been secretly orchestrating ways to try to see him and get to know him better so he'd be convinced that he needed to ask her out.

When he finally called her one Sunday night towards the end of September he asked her out. He reassured her that he wanted to ask her out before she had gone into elders quorum that day to make an announcement, and the counselor in the bishopric announced to the whole elders quorum during priesthood that she was available, and the guys needed to ask her out. He wanted her to know it was his own plan, not Brother Andreason's.

Little did the sarcastic girl know that when he called back on Tuesday to set the time (and cause he just wanted to talk to her) that she about crushed his heart. He asked, "So do you still want to go out on Saturday night?" To which she responded, "Uh, actually, I don't think so." She thought of course he'd know she was completely kidding because she was ecstatic to be going on a date with him. Couldn't he hear her voice all giddy with excitement when he called? After a few seconds of awkward silence she quickly realized he didn't know how sarcastic she could be and as fast as she could she calmed his heart down by telling him she was TOTALLY kidding, and really wanted to go out with him on Saturday.

On their first date they went to eat at Macaroni Grill and bowling. A simple date, but she was surprised at how comfortable she was with him. On the way out of the bowling alley she started to reach her hand out to hold his hand, but stopped when she remembered this was their first date and she didn't want to seem too forward.



Their schedules were completely opposite, he worked from 4am till noon, studied and napped till 4:30 or 5 then he went to school full time till about 9, and had to go to bed at 10 so he could get at least 5 1/2 hours of sleep. She worked as a school teacher and didn't usually leave the school till 5:00. They dated on the weekends, and talked a couple times during the week throughout October. Before they knew it they had fallen in love and couldn't picture their lives without each other. They got engaged in November, the Sunday night before Thanksgiving, and yes, she should be a total romantic and remember the exact date, but she doesn't.

On January 17, 2003 they were married for time and all eternity in the Las Vegas, Nevada temple. It was a beautiful, sunny day that was shared with so many of their closest friends that had traveled from far and near. It was wonderful!

They honeymooned in San Diego and Hollywood.

So, how is it that 8 years have passed already? In some ways it seems to them that it's only been a blink of an eye, and in other ways it seems like they've been together for so much longer. The last 8 years have been filled with ups and downs of life, but at least they can work with their best friend so those downs of life aren't quite so bad. He still makes her laugh every day and thinks she is amazing, beautiful, talented, hilarious, and did I mention HOT??! And she is even more in love with him than she was 8 years ago, she still laughs with him and thinks he gets more and more handsome each year. She is amazed at what a good father he is, and so thankful for the hard work he puts in to support their family. They are excited for the next 8 years, and 8 more after that, plus 8 more, etc.... Life is good.