First's

Sunday January 27th, 2008:

Mike and I met in the same building for church (The Hinckley.) I saw him while I was on my way out the door and got really nervous. I quickly checked my hair, outfit and panicked over whether or not I looked okay. We stood on the steps blocking traffic for a few minutes. I was in such a daze after seeing him. He was all I could think about for the rest of the day. That evening he called me. He asked me out for Wednesday night. This was one of my first dates on a weeknight. I was working 2 jobs and trying to keep my scholarships, so I was really nervous about how that would effect my grades. (OHH Major part of the story is missing... I had a "missionary." He was coming home in 8 months and the relationship with the guy before Mike essentially ended because of the missionary.) Anyways I really liked Mike already so I went on the date wed.

Wednesday Jan 30, 2008: Mike was really cute. He was also a pretty busy guy so he had made crock-pot stir fry (since I love Chinese) earlier that day (I should also note that although the meal was tasty this crock-pot stir fry has become a running joke to us.) He picked me up in a nice suit and lead me to his apartment. He had the table set up nice and served me my food like he was my waiter (towel over the right arm and everything.) He even had a little sparkling grape juice for us to enjoy. After our fantastic meal we went to the Rex to go bowling. Mike had a sack full of "handicaps" for each of our turns. For example "bowl with your eyes closed." It was a lot of fun and the thought he put into the date was sweet. We played another game without the handicaps and I WON!! (NOTE: This has never happened again, so I feel he may have let me win.) He mentioned that his sister-in-law beat his brother on one of their first dates. It was then that I had my first "what if he's the one" moment. We had so much fun just talking that we lost track of time and got kicked out of the Rex and barley made it home before curfew. It was a great date!! I was up late doing homework that night, the fact that he was all I could think about didn't help things either!!

Friday February 1, 2008:

I had been planning on going to a glow stick party with my roomies that night. We went out and bought stuff to make t-shirts and had a lot of fun getting ready together. I had Mike come over to say hello before we left. He was hanging out with his boys that night too (I was happy to see than on a Friday night he had not asked another girl out.)
I went to the dance but the whole time I was there, spending time with Mike was in the back of my mind. I was having a lot of fun with the girls... but really just wanted to go see him. I decided I would take a risk. I left the dance early and called Mike. I told him I was done and if he wanted to hang out I was in. I didn't know if that was being to pushy and wasn't really like me. But I did it, and he said "heck yeah, lets hang." (or something like that.) We went to the guys club house at the Ridge. We played ping-pong, air hockey...
and pool. It was a lot of fun. We had a little more serious conversation though. We talked about his plans for the future: AKA graduate in 2 months and hopefully find a job on the east coast. I still had 3 semesters on campus to get my degree in Early Childhood/ Special Education, but I could do my student teaching anywhere. We didn't talk about marriage at all (don't you worry.) We hadn't even held hands yet. I think we were both just feeling out the situation. Deciding if we could make things work between us if things kept going well... (and they did!)

Saturday Feb 2, 2008: We attended the broadcast of our beloved Prophet President Hinckley's funeral. It was really good to do something on a more spiritual level. We had some great gospel oriented conversations. I could tell he was a really good guy, who loved his Savior very much. That was important to me. He was looking more and more perfect every minute... After the funeral we went to lunch. We talked for a while (but I had to get back to go to work.) This time talking at lunch I got a little nervous for some reason. It didn't flow as well and I was scared I had done something wrong and wouldn't hear from him again... (I don't know why. I've talked to him about it and he has no idea what I was talking about. He thought everything was just fine.)

Sunday Feb 2, 2008: Mike called and asked if I wanted to go feed the ducks. I wasn't sure how I felt about such a thing... I hated to be cold and it was the middle of winter! But I did it anyways. It was a good excuse to spend more time getting to know him. I believe we hung out the rest of the evening!


The next week we were both fairly busy and didn't spend much time together. Well that's not completely true. We hung out in the 3rd floor of the Library. To all of you fellow BYU-I students you know that until a few semesters ago, that was "the place" to flirt and hang out on campus. We followed the trends of the time and did a lot of flirting in the library. He also asked me out on another date but I can't remember what day I think it was Tuesday. He made me another great meal. This time it was lasagna (I think.) Then we went to the movie "Enchanted" with his sister and her date. I wanted him to hold my hand so bad- but I settled with him putting his arm around me (yes the classic movie theater move.) We drove around to see if we could find people who still had Christmas lights on. We had made a bet on it. I said we would find a house with lights on it still and he said we wouldn't. I WON! I still don't think I have received a formal reward for this either.... (a food processor would be nice Mike... Hint/Hint)

Friday Feb 8th 2008: I had scene Mike in the Library that afternoon (before he had to go tutor.) He smelled sooo good! He sat a little closer to me and our hands would brush up against the others. He brought me peanut M&M's (my favorite) and helped me on a little of my homework. He mentioned he may call me later that night and wanted to know if my roommates would want to join him and his roommates. I recruited my roommate Alyssa to come with me (I couldn't go alone. Mike and I still weren't dating or holding hands so... it would be weird if I didn't take a friend. We were going to go see a comedy show, but it was sold out. It was at this moment I was introduced to the work "Frock." I wish I had never heard it. I now use it way more often than I should. I blame his roommies. Since the comedy show fell through we went to Bajio (a cafe rio want to be.) and picked up some dinner. Then we went to... you guessed it the Rex to do some more bowling (It was winter in Rexburg, ID what else is there to to?) While we were bowling I made my hand readily available to hold if the urge hit Mike... Apparently my act of desperation was well received. This was our first hand hold!! Picture beneath is the first time we held hands. Thanks to best friend Bobbers, who saw the moment and wanted to document it for us. So glad he did!! It was also this night that I was introduced to the art of the heat cave. A technique that is still very popular in our home today.

Saturday February 9th, 2008: I worked during the day and I believe I came out to a bouquet of flowers laying on the windshield of my car. I was really touched by this jester and called him immediately to thank him. He was modest about his act of thoughtfulness and told me he wasn't feeling very well. I asked him what he usually did and ate when he was sick. I think he was joking when he said he had people read him Dr. Seuss book's... but I took it seriously. I went out and got him his favorite foods and a Green Eggs and Ham to help him get through what ended up just being a headache. I think he was surprised by my act of kindness. I went to the Rexburg temple cultural performance than evening with my roommates then headed back over to his place to nurse him back to health... and maybe snuggle a little... but no kissing... :)

Sunday February 10, 2010: We went to the same session of the Rexburg temple dedication (so cool by the way.) He was an usher and so he tracked me down. I decided I would invite him over for lunch that afternoon. He had made dinner for me now twice and I, the homemaker, had not done this at all. I made him white bean chili, corn bread and fruit. He loved it. I think I may have won his heart because of this fact. He was especially happy about the corn bread though. We parted ways so that we both could take our Sunday naps. When we woke up-- somehow he convinced me to go fed the ducks again and THEN play in the snow... Obviously I was falling for this guys. It was making me do crazy things. I would NEVER willingly submit myself to the fridge temperatures of the Rexburg out doors!

Tuesday February 12th, 2008: That night the Vienna Boys Choir was preforming on campus. Since I had sung with them before and Mike knew I loved music he asked me to go with him and his roommates (they were going for FA 100.) We had horrible seats in the top row in the back. We spent most of our time passing notes and making jokes. Much to the chagrin of the people around us were there for the world renown singing group. lol. After the concert we drove around a little. This was our first DTR (determine the relationship.) We talked about the more serious issues at hand; my missionary (although Mike was far less concerned about him than I thought he would be... that was a relief), Mike's last serious relationship, the graduation situation and what we were looking for in a future EC (Eternal Companion.) For the FIRST time, we were officially boyfriend and girlfriend. After this conversation I felt like I was floating on air... we floated right on over to Applebee's were we got dinner with a bunch of people. I was all smiles and giggles the rest of the night. I now had the GREATEST boyfriend in the history of boyfriends. :)

Thursday February 14th, 2008: OUR FIRST VALENTINES DAY--

-So it should be written that prior to Mike happening I had been planning a road trip down to Disneyland in Cali. with my roomies. Wed night (we were going to leave Thur) I told my roommates I couldn't go. I had this nagging feeling that I needed to stay. I felt horrible doing it, and they eventually forgave me... but now looking at everything that happened in the place of this trip I can tell it was the Lord moving our relationship in the direction He wanted it to take.

SO since I hadn't planed on being home for most of V-DAY I had to hurry and get on making some of the coolest V-DAY things EVER!! I got a chocolate rose and left it on his car for him to find in the morning. It had a note on it that said "Roses are Red, Violets are blue. This is my first, valentines gift for you." That morning after class I rushed to the craft store and wal-mart to get the things I needed. When I got home I quickly spray painted this box gold and left it out to dry while I went to work (on campus.) Thank goodness it was a slow day because I had time to work on my gift while I was there! After work I rushed back to my place and filled the box with Hersey's Hugs and Kisses. I also put strips of paper with song lyrics that made me think of him inside the box (the chocolate ended up tasting like spray paint!) I put some sparkly red hearts on it and sneakily dropped it off at his door step. Thirty minutes later he was at my doorstep with his own gifts to bestow. He game me a fun balloon, bear, candy, a v-day mug and a card written with conversation hearts. It was so cute. Then he took me to Quiznoes for lunch. It was a lot of fun seeing him in between work and classes. But alas the fun had to end, since we both still had classes to go to. That evening I went to dinner with my roommates at Fongs (the Chinese place in town.) Mike asked if he could meet us there. When he did he realized that my roommates didn't have valentines. So we quickly went to the store and he bought them all sweet valentines day cupcakes and we left them by their beds with a little note. I was so impressed that he thought about them, ANOTHER FEW POINTS for him!

After my roommates got home and we saw their reaction to his gift we went back to his place where I gave him his last gift. It was a bag full of stuff he needed... a compose for when I get lost in his eyes, a whistle to wake me up when I'm dreaming of him, a new thing of tennis balls because he loves the smell of them. I also filled it with his favorite candy and a ton of things I likes/admired about him. He loves all of it!! He couldn't stop saying Thank you for all of the sweet things I'd done for him that day. I knew I had done well!! That night as he walked me home he held me closer to him than he normally did. He gave me my usually set of hugs and goodbyes... BUT after the last hug he lingered then quickly leaned in and kissed me. I think fireworks erupted in the distance and felt his lips on mine for the FIRST time. It was wonderful! The prefect way to end a GREAT valentines day. When I walked inside the door I jumped up and down a zillion times to get all of the giddy energy out of me. I was way to happy. I don't think I feel asleep for hours since all I could do was replay that moment over and over and over again....
One thing I didn't mention about this perfect Valentines night was that he asked me if I wanted to go home with him to Utah that weekend (it was the 3 day Presidents day weekend.).... I was going home to meet his parents in T-minus 3 days!!!!