The moment you have all been waiting for... but me mostly

So, I want to take a step back and give a brief background of our story before I get to the proposal. It might get a little long so you can skip to the proposal if that's all you want to know :)

Senior year in high school I got the news that I got accepted to BYU in Provo... but for summer.  Sorta bummed, okay so I was pretty upset, I was talking to Shannon Toolson at church one day just kinda telling her how I was feeling and she told me that her thought about all of it is that I am gonna meet my husband that summer, he is going to go on his mission and I will kind of forget about him then he will come back, we will date and eventually fall in love.

I didn't believe her.

Then.

We met that summer. I saw him come into religion and I thought he was so so so cute.  I even got up the courage to try and talk to him one day.  We ran into each other at the WyView creamery where he pointed out we were actually in two classes together, I felt special because he recognized  me and saw me in two of his classes. I am a nerd, I know. haha

I then moved to WyView for fall and winter and that's where he lived.  We would run into each other a few times and he was best friends with a guy in my ward, Alex Teemsma, and I eventually was cochair with Alex for FHE.  He would always tell me that I should get to know his friend Stewart.  I was kinda shy and felt stupid around the guy (Stewart) so I was always kinda timid when it came to him being around.  I soon realized how hilarious he was.  I honestly thought every word out of his mouth was funny.

This is the only picture we were in together Freshman year. :) haha This is actually the picture that came up when we were FB official the first time.. haha He is behind Chris!

He then left on his mission that summer.  I never expected to write him because I honestly didn't know him too well.  The  letter writing started when I was home and helping with the Brian Burnett for Sheriff campaign.  Stewart had liked the page supporting Brian and would always ask how he was doing.  Riss thought of the clever idea of sending Ste a shirt as a joke.  So of course I did.  We wrote throughout his mission.  Nothing serious.. I didn't know what to tell him in the letters.  I am terrible at writing missionaries because I never know what to say.  I would mostly write him to send him pictures... and part of me just wanted him to know I was single. Is that bad? haha But whenever I got one of his letters I would be in the best mood.  They were so random, on the best stationary, but always included something spiritual.  It was awesome to get to know him through his letters.

I never expected anything to happen. Ever. I wanted it to, yes, but I tried to not think about it or talk to anyone about it because I didn't want to look stupid in the end.

Anyway, he came back July of last year and we talked a little over Facebook and texting.  I really wanted to hang out with him but I was way too scared to ask him to do something but then I saw him on campus the first week of school.  Heavenly Father definitely didn't make us wait anymore time to start our relationship.

So I was walking to a class from the library.  A class that I found out the day before the drop deadline that I didn't need, but I am so happy I was in it for that little bit so I could just run into him.  Anyway, I saw him but he was wearing sunglasses and a hat and I hadn't seen him in two years so I wasn't too sure if it was him or if he would recognize me.. Then he smiled. My heart melted and I got all nervous.  But he didn't even say anything and gave me a hug.

We talked for a bit and I asked if he was going to Junior's birthday party that weekend.  He didn't even know about it! So I told him he should go and he said he would check on it.  He texted me a couple days later about it and asked the details and told me he wanted to go but didn't have a ride because his roommate Brock didn't want to go (later found out that Ste actually told Brock that he couldn't go because he wanted to spend time with me. Little sneaky.)  So I offered him a ride. Fell right into his little trap.

We went to the party then I gave Pepe and him a ride home.. Okay, so only Pepe.  Ste saw my basketball in the back seat and said he wanted to go play.  So we drove around trying to find a stupid court.  I was convinced we wouldn't and I couldn't show off how good I was.  But we ended up going to the Provo High basketball courts.  And played for a few hours.  I won the first, of course.  And when he had two point left to win he said that if he made this next shot he was going to kiss me.  Well, I sorta kinda let him go for the lay up with no defense.  What was a supposed to do? Anyway, our first kiss happened on the Provo High outside basketball courts.

We then hung out and saw each other pretty much every day.. He met my dad like two weeks after that, before we were even official.  He is definitely a champ.  We were able to go on a few dates and get to know each other better throughout September.

KC gave us two tickets to General Conference.  Ste served in West Valley for a bit when he was waiting for his visa so we went and ate dinner at the lady's house he lived at after the session.

A few days before GC I had been wanting to tell him that I loved him.  I felt it so strong but really wanted to make sure before I said it out loud to him and I wanted to see what I learned from GC.

Well, on the way home Ste told me that he could see himself forty years from now happily married to me.  Then proceeded to tell me he loved him.  First off, you CANNOT tell a girl you love her for the first time while driving, you may just be putting yourself in danger because she gets all jumbled and happy and so incredibly distracted that she could crash.  Obviously I didn't, but I don't really remember driving home after that... But once he told him he loved me I grabbed his hand and told him I had been wanting to tell him that all weekend.

So a few months went by and our relationship grew.  As most of you know we did break up for a couple weeks.  It was really good for our relationship.  I was able to realize I did really want to be with him.  It gave me time to go home and really think about what I wanted in the man I would end up with and if he matched that.  It was a stressful time but looking back I am grateful for it.  It made me appreciate everything about him so much more.

We got back together the night we got back into Provo. Thank goodness! haha

When I thought about marrying him and asking Heavenly Father if I was really supposed to be with Ste, I always got the same clear answer.  Clearer than I have ever had.  I knew that he would be the man for me that I needed, I just hoped I would be the wife he needed.

So, after Christmas break we went ring shopping.  I knew that it would take few weeks to resize the ring and they said for a few of the designs they may have to actually make the ring because my ring size was so small and that would take 6-8 weeks. Awesome. So I told myself it would probably be until like mid February until we would get engaged.  I didn't read into anything, at least tried not to.  I wanted to be surprised.  I didn't let myself be curious at all, okay, so for the most part. haha

Friday night we were at his apartment and he went outside and saw the cool fog.  We were supposed to be going on a hike the next morning but he mentioned that we should go then.  10:30 pm.  Why not? So we headed up the canyon to Glen park and went up a little trail there.  Half way up I asked him how far we were going. He took that as I wanted to stop so we did haha He brought along a lawn chair for us to sit on. We sat and talked for a bit about the future. I was bawling, happy crying of course,  as you can imagine.  I was too busy wiping the snot and tears off my face I didn't even realize he had slipped to the ground and as now kneeling in front of me.  No, he wasn't on one knee.  He was on both because the lawn chair was even with the ground and he was on a slight hill haha He then looked at me straight in the eyes and started pulling something out of his pocket. He pulled out the ring and asked me to marry him.  I of course said yes.

The proposal was perfect and very personal in every way to the both of us.  I have never been more sure about anything in my life.

The last couple days I have just stared at my ring and thought, "is this really happening?!?" Am I really getting married?!?

Ste definitely makes me happy and I could not see myself being happier with anyone else.  I am truly grateful for having such a great guy in my life.

Happy birthday to my fiance!!! 

22

So far 2013 has been incredible. I was able to come back to Provo a little earlier so that I would be able to spend a little of the break with Ste but also get some of my online Microbiology done.

Sherry was nice enough to come pick us up from the airport even though she was supposed to give the opening prayer. Thanks Sherry for your sacrifice. We got to spend a few hours at her house to relax a bit until people came over for Grandpa's birthday! Sherry's parties are always entertaining but this one was so quiet without all the little kids running around! But it was still great :)

We had talked about going up to the hot springs in Idaho and going  to see the lights at the Zoo but neither of those happened haha We were both just wanting to be lazy and watch football all day.  We did go on a hike at  one point though! So we weren't completely lazy! haha

 We welcomed the new year by watching Les Mis in theaters at midnight.  We didn't know what we wanted to do for New Years because we didn't really want to go to any of the parties here so we thought it would be cool to spend it watching the movie.  I LOVED that movie. And he did too, which I was kinda nervous about.

My birthday was today and it was awesome.  I was able to see Grandpa yesterday morning when I picked up my present my mom had sent there.  THANK YOU! Even though I don't need two ;) Kindle Fire. I LOVE IT.

I got to sleep in this morning.  I usually try to wake up semi early on Sundays because we don't have church until one but I like to read and stuff but this morning I decided it was my birthday. And I was going to sleep until the very last second.  SO nice.  After church I went to Ste's for their traditional Taco Sunday dinner and watched the fireside that was given by Utchdorf.  Afterward Ste brought out jello he had made in a heart shaped pan and inside was a little surprise. Okay, not what some of you may be thinking... It was a wrapped Hershey's kiss with a note he had glued to the bottom.  Clever huh? haha One thing that I love about him is how random he can be and he didn't fail that tonight.  This is after he cut out the kiss...

I was able to end the night skyping with my family.  I miss the little ones at home! It was complete with the boys singing to me and blowing out my candles, Rock singing my name in a rock and roll song, seeing Hudson sit up, Jens standing up, my dad making weird faces at himself, my mom and I planning on what we are gonna do when she comes down, and hearing the loudness that my home is.  I miss it but I am still definitely enjoying my time here too.