July 23

This is the earliest picture that I have of us together

2 years: Salt Lake Bees game

Two years ago today I met my amazing husband for the first time.  I don't think that I ever documented that day, and though I have lost some of the details, in a way it still seems like yesterday.  As with many things in my life, I wish that I had written down more of my feelings, thoughts, and events, but now is as good a time as any so I want to write about what I remember from that first date, July 23, 2009.

We got lucky.  Blind dates aren't typically ideal grounds for finding true love.  Fortunately for us, we had some "enlightened" friends who saw a good thing before it happened.  Back in April 2009,  after an emotional Sunday, a couple in my ward invited me over to dinner, probably feeling pity on me for my near hysteria in sacrament meeting.  None the less, I was grateful.  At dinner they mentioned they had a friend they would like to set me up with when I felt ready.  I told them that anytime was fine and they could give him my number.  Never heard from him.  A few months later, having a bit more confidence and maybe a glimmer of hope, I had the feeling to ask this couple about the "mystery" guy who never called.  They said they had been getting on him to call and they didn't know why he hadn't.  So I asked his name and went home from a bbq that night and sent him a message on facebook.  I like to take credit for making the first attempt at reaching out. However, it was a weak attempt.  Remember I was only starting to get confidence back- a phone call was not an option, but thanks to technology, I could at least type a sentence to send.  It didn't take long to get a reply, and we began texting, emailing, and talking on the phone.  Although I know technology has it's downfalls, it really worked in our favor in helping us get to know each other, each in our comfort zones.

I don't remember exactly how many days went by, but it wasn't long before he had planned a date for us to meet.  I remember waiting for him to pick me up.  I was watching old clogging videos from a blog I had found and laughing.  He showed up just on time and first impression, I bet he thought I was rather odd, as I went off about how funny these videos were.  I think it was to ease my racing heart.  He was wearing a brown shirt, jeans, and these really horrible pointy brown shoes.  We still argue about what I was wearing that day.  We got in his 4-runner and heading to Salt Lake for a Bees game.  I was surprised at the choice of date, but was pleasantly surprised by the creativity and the chance we would have to talk, rather than sit through a movie in silence.  It was only a few minutes we were in the car when I felt almost completely comfortable around him.  But then a few minutes later, I was very uncomfortable again, as the car sickness kicked in.  To make matters worse, traffic was horrible and I was trying to hide it from him.  Didn't work too well.  Luckily we made it without any puking.  I still give him crap about his driving, but really it is mostly my weak nausea gene.

We had great seats at the game and I really enjoyed it.  We ate Mexican food that we bought there, that neither of us really liked, so we got ice cream half way into the game.  I spilled my food on my pants.  Which is ironic because I am usually the one that doesn't spill...  I guess I was trying to make him more comfortable for later ; )  The game was rather quiet as I remember, because we were able to talk the whole time.  I remember how easy it was to talk to him and he probably learned more about me than he ever wanted to know that first night.  He is still so easy to talk to.  I remember at one point he told me he loved the movie Must Love Dogs.  I knew I had seen it but couldn't remember it.  But I did own it. One of the few Dustin left me.  As the game quickly grew to the end, I wasn't wanting the date to end.  So I nonchalantly asked if he wanted to come over and watch Must Love Dogs after the game.  We ended up leaving before the fireworks to get back to my house.

I had a really uncomfortable couch at that time.  But he sat, bolt upright, hands on lap, like a soldier the entire movie.  I can't just sit.  Once I realized he wasn't going to budge, I pulled out a blanket I was working on for my friends baby.  I leaned back here and there, tried to touch him on "accident", but every time my leg barely touched his he would jerk it straight back.  It was not doubt there would be no snuggles for me that night.  And once I got used to the idea, I actually liked it.  Here was a guy who I actually quite liked, that had not tried anything.  Not one little remote touch.  He knew how to respect a girl.  I wasn't used to that.  I had been married 7 years, and when I jumped back into the dating scene, it didn't seem like that kind of respect, or for lack of better word, innocence, existed among guys anymore.  When he left that night, I liked him even more for it.

I knew he was leaving town the next day and was disappointed I didn't have the hope of seeing him.  But we texted a ton that weekend.  When he got back I was only in town a day or two before I had to leave town.  We met for lunch at Mimi's Cafe in Orem.  When I was leaving, he opened the door for me purposely to barricade himself from me.  I had to ask for a hug.  Do I seem really forward?  It really sounds like it looking back... Oh well, whatever I was, it worked.

I told Kristin and Tiffanie about him while we were in Denver that weekend.  I remember starting to feel like he was different as I talked about him, but there was also part of me that thought, it isn't different. It is going to end up like all the rest.  But I held on to the positive thought.

After that things just kept getting better.  We spent every second together that we could and it became more and more evident that I had myself a catch.  We definitely had our ups and downs, but I hate to say that most of that was caused by me.  I wish I would have treated him better all around, but I must have done something right because when he said, "I love you" and I replied with "Thanks", he still came back.  Maybe it was easier to accept because I contacted him first, grabbed his hand first, hugged him first, and even kissed him first.  Still though...

None the less, we made it through those 10 months of dating, 5 months engagement, and 9 months of marriage, to get to today.  And I have to say, I have enjoyed every minute of it.  I am thankful for these last two years and the way my life has been changed by this wonderful, amazing, and perfect man that I get to call my husband.