How I Met My Husband & How I Know He Was Heaven Sent!

How I met my husband (married August 25, 2001):

I am going to start with the year 2000 to show how I was truly blessed for the decisions I made and how I know that my husband was truly heaven sent! :o):

February 2000 (now I am guessing it was Feb LOL I know it was around this time...I was over 21 years old...girls can go on missions when they are 21.): My friend was preparing to go on a mission for our church & she was having an open house...I went & saw a lot of people I hadn't seen in a long time...they all were like, "When are you going to go on a mission & or get married etc...blah blah blah. I was like I just bought my dream car & I have a 5 year loan to pay it off. They were like, "sell your car..." I was like, "heck no!" I was upset that they would want me get rid of a car that I had dreamed of owning since my parents brought the same kind of vehicle home when I turned 16 (Silver Mitsubishi Galant). No way! I told them also, "If I paid off my car I would go on a mission."

March 2000: I get a phone call from my mother telling me to stay home because I was to receive something in the mail that I needed to sign for. Then she told me that it was money from my grandfather (who had passed away & I didn't know him well...only met him once in my life...he owned a house in San Francisco & an Vineyard in Napa Valley...so he was well off...he was a painter.). My mom told me that it was going to be a lot of money! So as I was waiting at home for this I was thinking...how much could it be?? I imagined maybe $1000 cause my mom told me it would be a lot of money & to me that was a lot of money LOL. The doorbell rings & I answer it & it is the mail man. I accept the letter & sign for it.

I open it up & right in front of my eyes is a check for...$20,000!!! Yeah talk about winning the lottery! I mean that was my yearly salary! My dad tried to pressure all of his 5 kids to put the money in stocks & I didn't feel good about that. I sat on the money for a month trying to contemplate what to do with it. Then there was a lesson at church one Sunday that REALLY spoke to me! Someone had brought up in the lesson about money management & then someone started saying that if it doesn't feel right & if you don't know much about something (like stock..and that was used as an example...no one knew I was going through this mind you...)don't do it. There was my sign...don't do it! Then there was a question in my mind as to if I should pay tithing on this money...tithing is 10% ($2,000). It was a gift right? Then I went to a friends house (and I hadn't been to this friends house in a long time!) Her father was a Bishop & I respected his opinions...so I pulled him aside & I asked him, "Do I pay tithing on a gift or inheritance given to me?" His reply was, "Any increase on your income." And that was it! I paid my tithing. I trusted that it was in my best interest to do so.
After I paid my tithing I got out of debt (my car & a small credit card bill.) I owned everything that I had & it was such a blessing! I was truly at peace! All that (tithing, car, credit card) took $10,000 of my money which left me with $10,000 (enough to go on a mission).
So I prepared to go on a mission...the rest of the summer seemed to go as planned...I was reading my scriptures daily, praying morning & night, attending church regularly, going to church classes (institute), etc. I was living as I should...I even received answers to my prayers almost instantly & even received that intuition when things weren't right...that leads me into the next part of my story...

August 2000 (and events leading up to August :o)): My friend Scott went on a mission in Jan (he had a crush on me forever & I was not attracted to red heads...he knew that. He asked my roommate & I before he went on his mission if someone didn't go on a mission if we would marry them...I replied...Yes I would, but I wouldn't marry you. Yes that sounds like a witchy thing to say, but I just didn't care for him like that. I wanted him to understand that.)  Well he went on his mission & by August he had been out 8 months...(I wrote to him & sent cookies all the time).  On Father's Day 2000 I went to his parents house when he called & he asked me to marry him (he may have been joking??). I said yes! Can you believe that? By writing to him weekly & him going to France (that is another story LOL) I fell in love with him and it no longer mattered his hair color.
August came & I got a phone call from his mother telling me that I could come to the airport cause Scott was coming home early! Guys are to stay on their missions for 2 years. My mind started racing & I thought....WAS IT ME? Oh nooooo! When he got off the plane I went to shake his hand (I didn't know what to do)...Well my birthday came & my friends & I (along with him) went to dinner & had a great time...we were pretty much engaged by then. (I bought the ring...I was a stupid desperate girl wanting to get married right away!  My advice NEVER do that!)  His cousin & I were great friends too. I asked his cousin why he was home from his mission. His cousin was getting annoyed with me asking him every 5 min & so he said to me, "It has to do with his family...and maybe future family." Something like that. I had that going through my mind for a whole day! I worked at Pitney Bowes call center & while I was at work I kept thinking about it...then it hit me! I had the answer to why he was home. (Also I prayed to Heavenly Father to tell me why he was home I had to know!) So I called Scott after I got off work & I told him that I knew why he was home & who it was concerning...Here is what I said,"You got a girl pregnant & (I forget her name now) this is her name...and so yeah." Then he says, "Who told you??" Amazing right? How God told me everything? Scott or anyone else didn't have to tell me a thing other than family. The reason why I knew who the girl was is because he dated her a while back & she was a little hoocy girl. So yes she had a baby & he was waiting for the paternity test to come back to know for sure. :o( I was sad for him. But I told him that I still wanted to marry him. Well while we were dating we got pretty physical (not totally sex, but close)...We went to the Bishop about it & we started the repentance process. It went well...then we slipped up again & went through the process again...and that was the last time...he broke it off with me probably for more than one reason, but yeah. I was broken hearted & hated guys! One of the reasons I believe (he never said) was I kept bad mouthing the girl that had his baby (yes the results came back & she had his baby). I didn't like her...she had 3 children with 3 different dads...I just felt she did that because she wanted to not work again & live off child support. I hated her....I think he didn't want his future wife to hate his daughters mother that much & so he broke it off.

(I was stuck with this wedding ring I bought & I still have it & would like to sell it...) Having kids now I understand his reason! I wouldn't want a step mother to my children (not that they would have one ever!) hate their mother.
then he moved to Alaska in January 2001 & I lost a friend.

May 2001: My friend Matt (not Matt C LOL) was coming home from his mission at the beginning of the month. He was Scott's best friend. So I thought ohhh I might get to see Scott (I still cared for him.) Yeah I saw Scott at the airport...he didn't talk to me or acknowledge me at all...I was hurt BIG TIME! Then the group went back to Matt's house (Scott told him he would see him later & didn't come...again I was hurt). Matt started to tell us about his mission & about the things he brought home. He pulled out this picture of this half naked girl ... then he told us how everyone in Jamaica watches porn (he sounded proud)...how they would walk in the house & the people would have porn on & how they would have to tell them to turn it off etc. I was really disappointed in guys in general that night. I mean I knew Matt could be a perv (I actually liked that before he went on his mission, but it just was different now...I had found my spiritual self...& she didn't like it :os).
A week later I went to a CES Broadcast (something our church has to watch that is educational...) & I was gonna be in this CES Broadcast in the choir. I was in Moscow, ID & so I stayed at my friends house that night in Endicott, WA (1/2 hour away). That night I was in my own room & I started writing this poem...now I can't remember the poem, but I do remember that I wrote that all guys were gay! I was bitter & angry! (oh & I forgot to mention because of the thing with Scott I had to wait until January 2002 to go on a mission now...).

Then I broke down & cried! I cried very hard & so sad! And the thought came to me to pray...(like my back surgery experience which I will also post later....). So I prayed & I told my Father in Heaven that I didn't want to feel that way about guys! I didn't want to feel this pain anymore! I wanted someone to love me & want to be with me ALL the time (Scott would rather play basketball with buddies & take naps then be with me)! I wanted someone who would treat me like a princess....I felt better when I got done praying & I fell asleep with my eyes & pillow wet with tears. I felt that burden of caring for Scott gone. I didn't hate guys really anymore...

A week later I went to Holly's house (a friend at the time) & we were practicing for a play we were in (with some of the other people in the cast). And she shows us all a picture of her brother & says, "My brother is coming home from school this week..." And I said, "Hook a sister up! LOL" Then she said, "Well we are gonna hook him up with Jenny." I was like ok whatever... Didn't think anything of it! Then that same week I get this prompting that I wasn't going to go on a mission. Immediately I thought what? Yes I was back working on going on a mission....so I went right to my room & I knelt down & I prayed & said very directly to Heavenly Father, "If you don't want me to go on a mission you better send me my husband NOW!"

Friday 5-18-01 comes & I was an activity coordinator for the singles ward in my church so I was at the Spokane Falls Community College Game Night that we plan every year. I was bowling with Jenny & having a good time. I had curled my hair in ringlets (it takes me 2 hours, but everyone tells me they love it!)and I felt confident that night in myself. Then this hot guy sits across from me & I loved his smile...he knew Jenny & she introduced us. It was Holly's brother, Chris. We talked like we knew each other forever. Then I invited him to come to the dance after in Rathdrum, ID. I LOVE their dances because they play a lot of hip hop & I like it :o). He said yeah that he would go with me. Then I offered to drive...because I loved to drive. I also gave a ride to some other guys too. My car was full...this guy, Patrick,  that I didn't really like sat in front (and I wanted Chris to). Anyway I told Patrick that Chris was Holly's brother...Patrick dated Holly. Then Patrick starts going on & on about how much he loved Holly etc etc & I could tell that Chris was gagging in the back LOL! So I changed the subject & I could see relief come over him :o). We get to the dance & he asked me to slow dance & so we did. Then I got this strong prompting to ask him to the parade tomorrow...and I told that voice in my head...I am NOT going to THAT parade tomorrow NO WAY! The whole night that prompting was strong & came to me a lot! Then we danced again & I felt that surge to ask him...didn't do it. Then by the end of the dance I felt the prompting so strong that I said to myself...fine I will ask him! I couldn't find him anywhere! I was like where is he??? Nuts! Then he found me & asked me to dance the last half of the last slow song of the night...I was about ready to ask him to go with me to the parade (and I mean I was about to open my mouth) when he says to me, "Do you want to go to the parade with me tomorrow?" I said, "YES!" Right there I knew that God wasn't going to wait for me to ask him LOL! I was old fashioned & I wanted the guy to ask me! I hated always having to ask guys out!

Parade Day 5-19-01: I was anxious & so I went & helped clean the church & then I went to a friends house to play the piano cause I didn't want to have to wait for Chris to call me...I didn't want to sit & wait around for a phone call! When I got home from my friends house I had a message...it was Chris! YAY! I called him back & he told me when he would come pick me up & all. (He later told me that he thought I was ditching him when I wasn't home to answer the call LOL...I guess he didn't date much which REALLY shocked me cause he is HAWT :o)).
He got to my house & I chose to wear a hat that night (another look people told me was hot on me LOL). (He later told me he thought it was hot :o)). We park by my work & we walked downtown by the river walk. We got downtown & it was crazy busy! We walked for what seemed like forever & then we found a spot right in front of a postal box (so we had a back it was nice...) I had this thought to hold his hand, but I didn't know how to go about it. Then I acted cold & he took the blanket he brought & started to wrap it around us & I put my hand close to where I thought he would put his hand when he put it back down...I did it! I held his hand the rest of the night :o). When it was over we walked around looking for a place to eat & no one was open! So we walked back along the river walk & we stopped at a look out at the river & just stood there. Then he leaned in & kissed me (just a peck on the lips & he didn't feel me up like I was used to LOL  yeah I was a bit knotty LOL)! Then I said, "It was about time!" Then I giggled :o) Then we got to the car & decided to get a pizza & snacks & then go back to his parents house to watch a movie (this is the longest date I had ever had :o)). I found out that I was his 1st kiss awwwww! Yeah I wanted to make out with this guy & teach him some things LOL (not like I was an expert, but I had at least kissed 5 guys LOL) His parents were gone for the weekend...:o) The whole time we were watching the movie I thought...when should I jump on him LOL! When the movie was over he kissed me again & yes we made out :o) He pretty much ate my face & I wasn't too into how he kissed, but I liked that he liked me :o). He was a beginner & I was ok with that :o). I kept trying to get him to feel me up & he wouldn't. He told me he wanted to respect me & that it wasn't something he was comfortable with doing. The date was the best date I had ever been on in my life! (sorry if that is TMI LOL)

Sunday 5-20-01: He came to my ward & then came over after church. We hung out & I started to get cramps & I told him my tummy hurt & so he let me lay my head in his lap & he held my stomach & I felt instant relief. I like to call his hands healing hands!

Monday 5-21-01: His birthday...I bought him the new Enya CD (we had so much in common it was amazing!  I LOVE Enya!) and he was surprised that I would buy him a gift. His parents & sister got home from their trip & he told them about me. He had told me that his sister told him that they were gonna hook him up with Jenny & that he turned that down (mainly cause his sister told him to date her) & then she told him that if he didn't like Jenny that she was going to suggest me. LOL I was grateful that I met him before she told him that...he didn't want her advice LOL!

After 2 weeks of him & I being inseparable he asked me to marry him. He took me to the Japanese Gardens in town & asked me there. Of course I said yes! And this time I didn't buy the ring LOL! We were married August 25, 2001 (3 months after meeting LOL!) in the Spokane LDS Temple! Chris respected me & we didn't mess up & we were able to be married in the temple to be sealed for eternity! One thing I remember from the ceremony was hold hands always...Since we have had kids we haven't held hands as much because we have a kid in one arm & a bag or keys in the other. But when we go on dates without the kids we still hold hands & Chris opens the door for me. He always wanted to be with me all the time...he treated me like a princess...and he was truly what I prayed for in a man!  He puts up with me when I am a total brat!

 September 11, 2001: The Twin Towers get hit & the Stock Market crashes & my father loses over $40,000 in stock (I think it was closer to $100,000!) :o( I am grateful that I never put my money in the stock market...I had the bad feeling about it & later my father apologized & said that I was smart to not listen to him. I still had my $10,000 in the bank! I was great at saving :o). Well until I got married :os. But ya know we needed the money to move & live off of for a few months while we didn't have jobs in UT. We have been married 6 years on August 25, 2007 & I am still madly in love with him!  He gets the occasional butt pinch LOL! He puts up with a lot & he is my soul mate no doubt! He is an awesome father & he amazes me so much!

God knew I needed someone to love me! And He guided me right to him & helped me overcome so much that I could be with him for eternity!  I know that by my choices to pay my tithing & by praying & trying to do my best I was truly blessed!  I don't know how else to end this, but by saying that :o)