Our first** Christmas together!!!

This Christmas has been a super exciting one. We have moved into our new home, and have been working so hard on getting it clean(!!!), organized how we want, and repairing some of the half-somethinged-jobs done around it. So it was super exciting when we got our Christmas tree and decorated it too. It looks beautiful in our front room, and personally I'm fairly reluctant to get rid of it. I have heard that you can plant them again, and I think I want to try and do so in our back yard to forever remember this momentous occasion.

Janet got a "new" job at the beginning of December. Basically it's the same job, only full time, so she has been getting used to the full time hours there. It's pretty taxing because of how much traveling she has to do for it, but she loves it. They were very kind and gave her three days off for Christmas. She ended up taking another day off so that we could go and visit her parents in Raleigh, and my brother Brian and his family in Williamsburg. It was an incredible trip. Janet's parents have a beautiful new home despite the smallness of the yard. It's very open and inviting inside. We had a wonderful time with them as we enjoyed the beautiful December weather and the winter flowers that were blooming everywhere. On Christmas eve we opened one gift each and that was our awesome Christmas PJ's. Then we read Poochy the Christmas Pup... a Bohn family tradition.

On Christmas morning we woke up and opened our presents, then we had french toast (a Bealer family tradition), went to church, and afterwards we had a lunch party with Janet's parents and some of their friends. We had to cut out of that a little early to drive out to Williamsburg to see Brian and Mandy and their kids. It was so much fun playing with their kids!! They are so crazy and so fun! Brock and Hayden say the cutest and craziest things. They all warmed up so quickly to Aunt Janet, and they couldn't leave her alone, which she loved. Hayden kept correcting us when we tried to call her Auntie Janet... "Noo, she's AUNT Janet!". She got together with Milaya and Hali and they attacked me with their make-up.

I'm so pretty!

It was good that Janet and I were there. Brian's back was hurting him pretty bad, and Janet and I were able to help out a bit. We are glad he felt better quickly, and was really only out for a day. It was such a blessing to visit family. I know that we won't always be able to do that, so we want to do it as much as possible before then.



**Last year Janet wasn't home for Christmas so they had a little Christmas after the actual day. That was after the football game that we went to, so I got to spend that "Christmas" with her.

Her Story

Our story is an odd one. Not odd as in uncomfortable or weird, just different from most. We met over Christmas break at some casually planned ward and family activites. Jon had moved out to North Carolina in August to start teaching high school Spanish. He contacted my dad who is the bishop and asked him about the area. This lead to my always generous father offering up our house for Jon to live in until he got settled. This is pretty standard for my parents to do, it seems like there is almost always someone living or staying with them. I knew a little bit about the fact that he was living there but my parents never said much and he only stayed there for about a month. He remained in the ward and remained close with my family. Over Christmas break, I came home for a family get together and for the holidays. When my mom went over to church on Wednesday for her usual mingling, I tagged along. Almost immediately after arriving, I walked in the gym where my mom spotted Jon. She called him over and introduced him as "our son Jon" followed by "he has your couch." I guess she referred to him as their son because he had lived with them and they really liked him/probably wished they could adopt him. I guess the couch she was refferring to is our old loveseat which she had loaned to Jon but ultimately wanted to stay in the family and give it to me eventually. I remember he was wearing a green and purple stripped polo, dark jeans, and blue Sperry loafers. I thought he was cute and nice and it wasn't awkward meeting him. My grandpa also met him and then later that night introduced himself again...he forgets sometimes...Jon ran off to scouts and I ended up rolling a basketball with a cute little boy in the ward and then played basketball with a bunch of the young men in the gymnasium. I had a ton of fun and kind of kept my eye out for Jon, hoping he would walk through again. I think he did walk through once or twice but I didn't think he really noticed me or anything. The next morning I went over to the church with my dad to play basketball with some of the young men. Jon was there too and I was really happy he came but then I felt nervous. We didn't really talk much but it was fun playing with everyone. The next day, New Year's Eve, Jon had been invited to come to the Meinike Bowl Football game with my family. Valerie and I met up with the guys (Jon, Joshua-nephew, Cameron-brother, Dad, and Grandpa) at Subway. She had just gotten in from the airport so I went to pick her and Jessi up with Grandma and Mom. We went to the game and Joshua sat in between Jon and I. We were able to talk some but not a lot. At halftime most everybody went to get drinks or to the bathroom or to visit some friends in the ward who were also there. Jon and I were left alone for a bit and he ended up standing up to "stretch" and then sat down by me. I was happy he sat by me and thought that meant he was at least showing some interest. We talked for a bit before everyone else came back and Joshua said "hey you are in my seat." I think we convinced Joshua to sit inbetween Val and I so that Jon and I could contunue to chat. After the game we all headed back to the house for lasagna and a late Christmas celebration. We also played mom's famous pipe chimes. Jon and I sat by each other most of the time and chatted quite a bit. We also played with the kids a lot and had a lot of fun. He was really comfortable to be around and we seemed to be drawn to each other. I think I felt partially like I had to entertain him because he was my age and single, but I did not feel like anyone was setting us up and I wanted to be near him. He left later that night to go to a YSA New Year's Eve party and I opted to go to the family party at the church. The next day I don't remember too well...he may have come over for dinner and or games that night but maybe not...Anyway, Sunday I saw Jon at church and he taught the YSA Sunday School class. I remember I loved his blue cardigan and I also remember that nobody else really participated much so I tried to add comments but I was also a little shy. After church Jon and I were talking and I realized that would be the last time I would see him as I left the next day and he had to go back to work. I tried to be very casual but said we might play games or have food or something later if he wanted to come over. He said that would be fun but we didn't really make plans. All day I kept wanting to text him or somthing and hoped he would text my parents and ask. Finally I decided to text him from my mom's phone and told him we had food and were going to play games. He said he was with another family but would come over later. He came over and we sat by each other during a family game, "Dirty Joe" and talked a lot. I remember us mostly talking about music. He said he could send me some music so I said I would look him up on facebook or something. We both seemed to be trying to play it cool. When he left I wasn't sure what to do so I just said see ya later and stood in the kitchen with my family until they urged me to go to the door and say goodbye. I went to the door and said goodbye and we agreed to share music. I played it safe and told Jon I would look him up on Facebook.

I sent Jon a Facebook message later that day or the next day before I left. I was scared but I had to say something so I just said it was good to meet him and that I would be excited to get some music suggestions from him. On Monday as I was waiting at the airport during my layover, Jon texted me. I almost fainted. I think I called my sister before I did anything else. I could not believe he was texting me, especially because he never asked for my number. We talked for a few minutes back and forth until he had to go to bed. That was the start of the next few months. We ended up texting, messaging on facebook, or skyping close to everyday for the next few months. It was so exciting to me but also made me super nervous. I was worried because we lived so far away and I didn't know what would happen or even where we stood with each other. We were basically friends but there was something more there. We had skype dates every Sunday after the first few weeks of talking.

A few months later, I was planning a trip to Atlanta for my nephew's baby blessing. I knew Jon was only a few hours from there so a few weeks before the trip I took a gamble and invited him to come. I was worried he would be gone on his school trip to Costa Rica, but I was dying to see him and wanted to know what was going on between us. He acted a bit weird about coming and I kind of gave up on the idea. After General Conference he stated that he was going to come down. (I think those marriage talks scared him a bit). He would get back from Costa Rica a few days before and then come down for the weekend. I was so excited!! Let's just say things went well in Atlanta. We were instantly connected even more than before. As he was leaving, he told me he would like me to go to Denver the next month to meet his family. I was shocked, terrified, and thrilled. I said I would love to and would try to make it out there.

In Denver we had even more time to connect and talk. It was scary meeting his family but they were incredibly nice and I felt very comfortable with them. That is where he told me he loved me and he mentioned a few things about marriage. Almost immediately after I got back we began talking on the phone everyday and he began asking me about rings. After a few weeks of that he quit asking me about rings (because he had found one!) He came out to visit a month after we were in Denver. That was a long month. I missed him so much. I finally decided I would move back when he came out rather than waiting until July. That was the best decision ever, I could have never survived another month of long-distance dating. When he came out we got engaged and a few days later we were driving across the country.

I was so excited and happy but also terrified. We knew each other so well but it still seemed like things moved fast. I couldn't understand what Jon could possibly see in me and was worried he might change his mind (even though he never acted unsure). He had become my very best friend and I knew I had to be with him forever.

His Story

In April 2010 I graduated from college. I had just finished up student teaching in Vegas and had returned home to Colorado to start the search for a job. As I started applying I felt a particular pull towards the South. I wasn't sure what it was, but I had a feeling that the woman I was to marry was out there. It seemed super odd to me because I knew that the church wasn't as strong in that area, and I had never been anywhere close to the South. So I started to apply more to schools and districts in Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. After almost two months of applying to what felt like 20 schools a day, I was finally contacted by two school administrators. One was from a school in CO, and one was from NC. I interviewed with both, and both interviews went well, but I felt a pull towards the school in NC. I don't even remember applying to the school, but when they contacted me, I looked it up, and I felt really good about the school. They offered me a job, and I started getting ready to move across the country. The chief administrator put me in contact with an member who worked in the office at the school. She then told the bishop that I would be moving out, and he immediately offered for me to stay at his home. Honestly I felt a little awkward about that, and I didn't want to do it. We emailed back and forth, and finally I decided to stay there. I remember making the two fourteen-hour day drive out to NC the first Friday and Saturday of August, right after a family reunion. I was greeted at the bishop's house late Saturday night by their house sitter because they were at their own family reunion. I met them a few days after already living in their home. I soon found out what good people they were. They are always willing to give everything to everyone. That's why they didn't think twice about letting me live with them. I felt odd, and slightly uncomfortable at first, but I soon grew to love the bishop (Parry) and his wife Kay. They helped me find an apartment, and I moved out after a month of living with them. While living with them I found out that they had five kids. The youngest was Janet, and she was right about my age. I remember looking at their family pictures on the wall, and Bishop telling me that he would like for me to meet her sometime. I didn't think too much of it. She was pretty, and she must have been nice because she was their daughter, but she lived all the way out in Utah. Besides that I was dating a girl in the ward at that time. That ended up not working out, and it didn't last long. Neither of us felt right about it at all. I wondered if there was something wrong with me since that seemed to happen with every girl I tried to date. I was getting super frustrated.

Then I met Janet.

It was a Wednesday night, and I was at scouts (I'm the 11 year old scout leader). I remember being in the gym and looking out in the lobby and seeing Kay come in with her dad and with Janet. I don't know if they saw me but I ducked back into the gym to play some with the boys. She was even more beautiful than in her pictures. I kept telling myself, "Be cool Jon, Be cool". Finally Kay came by to introduce us. "Janet, this is my son Jon. He has your couch". And her grandpa introduced himself as a fancy flower. It was all a little awkward, but I was so excited to meet her. I made a point of walking around a lot that night so I could see her.

Thursday morning I went back to the church to play basketball and she showed up with her dad Perry. It was a good game, and when we finished we all sat around and rested. Perry invited me to go with them to a football game the next day, and I happily accepted. It was most of Janet's family. Her nephew sat between us for most of the game. When they all got up to go get snacks I scooted closer to Janet so we could finally get to talk a bit. When her nephea came back he forced me to scoot back over because I was in "his spot". Over the next few days I spent a lot of time at Janet's house. It was so nice just talking to her and playing games with the family. I think we got to know each other well during that time. On Sunday night we had to say goodbye because I was going back to work in the morning, and she was flying back to Utah Monday night. It wasn't anything spectacular, but we said goodbye. She stayed on my mind all night Sunday, and all day Monday and I finally decided that I needed to talk to her. I texted her dad asking for her number (which I never do... ever) and then I sent her a text wishing her a safe trip.

Over the next few months we talked a lot through facebook messages and eventually through Skype. Every time I thought of marriage, I thought of her. It just made sense. It scared the crap out of me as well. She invited me to see her in Georgia in April. She was going there for her newest nephew's blessing. I hesitated quite a bit, but I finally decided that I would never know what was going on if I didn't go. It was incredible being with her. After that we skyped a lot more, and messaged a lot more. I invited her out to Colorado for my youngest sister's high school graduation at the end of May, and she came to that. That's where I told her I loved her. After that we started talking about rings and marriage, and soon I was in Utah to propose to her and help her move back to North Carolina.

It was fast, but we knew it was right. We were in love. As hard as it was getting to know each other over such great distances, it was so fantastic. We were able to talk so much, and actually get to know each other well. It worked out perfectly. We were instant best friends. That's exactly what I had been waiting for; my best friend.