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.