Wednesday, July 22, 2015

The proposal 💍

Before I get to the details of the actual propose I'm going to give you an idea how everything led up to it...It was the middle of May and Jared was leaving for a weeks hunt in Alaska (bear hunting) so that weekend I went with him down to his parents house to get his gun all ready and to hang out before he left. We had been dating over a year and a half at this point and I was getting frustrated. I loved him so much and when I was with him everything was wonderful and I felt his love for me but anytime we weren't together I would begin to doubt our relationship because Jared had never vocally told me he loved me, I would begin to make up these thoughts that would make me doubt his love. I hated those thoughts but I needed more proof that Jared loved me and wanted to be with me. I was talking to Ellen one day about this and she made a good point. She said, "If you never ask Jared if he loves you then you always wonder and in a way the answer will always be no, but if you ask him you have a chance for the answer to be yes!" I loved that advice. I needed to ask him, or at least see what he's thinking/feeling. So on our way down to Benjamin, before he left for Alaska, I decided it was time for me to ask.  After driving almost halfway I finally worked up the courage to ask how he feels about our relationship. He turns to me and says, "it's good". I responded, "it's good is all you're going to say?" And he kind of laughed and said, "well, what do you think?" So I told him about how I thought it was good when we're together but then when we're not together I'm not sure how to feel because I don't know what he's thinking exactly. Then he apologized and said, "I had no idea you felt that way, the last few months I have thought our relationship is great and everything has been perfect." Then he started to explain how he wanted it to be a big surprise when he proposed but that he wants to marry me!!! I was in shock! I was so ready to hear this but I didn't exactly expect to hear this from Jared so I said, "it worked, I'm surprised!!" Hahaha. We talked a lot more about how each other feel and what each other think and want on the rest of the drive. I was on cloud nine. We agreed to not say anything to his family or to anyone else and that we'd talk about it more when he got back from Alaska.
We made it the rest of the night without telling anyone, I dropped him off at the airport and headed to my parents to stay the night. When it was just me and my mom, I told her everything!!! I wanted to make sure she knew the incredible news but she promised to not tell anyone else.  My mom was so happy for us and of course we began doing some behind the scenes planning.
Jared got home and a few days later we went ring shopping!!! That night Jared "had" to go home for the weekend to get buck. I had a feeling it was because he was going to propose to me on a horse ride  so it was OK he was leaving me again. I was wondering when he was going to talk to my dad and ask for my hand but I was trying really hard to let him do it and not bug him, but the next morning I texted him my dads number and let him know that my dad would be going out of town in a week. He just said "OK". On Monday we did a little more ring shopping and later that night we wrote an email to Cameron asking him for his permission in our marriage. Then we talked about when we thought it would be best for us to get married and even started looking at apartments for the fall.  This was all coming together but Jared hadn't even proposed yet!
On Tuesday, June 3rd Jared texted me while he was at work to see if I wanted to go on a horse ride with him and Britian that evening. I said, "of course" and right away I knew that it was going to be the night Jared was proposing to me!!! I figured if all of a sudden Britian wasn't coming anymore than Britian was just a plan to disguise the whole thing. Well we showed up and Jared told me that it was just going to be us. I knew it! But before we could get the horses all put together we needed to decide on the specific date, time, and temple for our wedding because I had called earlier and it was limited. So I called the Logan temple and confirmed  Saturday, August 9th @ 2:15, (Yes we had the temple booked before we were even officially engaged) then we loaded up the horses, looked for some saddlebags to carry our picnic/dinner (we couldn't find any), and got in the truck to head up Smithfield Canyon for our ride (same canyon we went riding in on our first date). When we got in the truck I looked down at Jared's leg and I noticed a ring looking thing in his right pocket but I tried to pretend I didn't notice. We got up the canyon, unloaded the horses and Jared pulled out the picnic so we could eat it on the tailgate of his truck while we talked before the ride. After we ate we took off on our ride, it was nice and relaxing. We had fun talking and we got to this beautiful part of the canyon where we stopped to "take a break before we turned around". While I had my head turned Jared pulled out the ring and got down on his knee and just proposed away :) I was so excited that I jumped into his arms and hugged him, he put on the ring then we kissed and in all the excitement I dropped the reigns to my horse Lily and she took off down the trail! It was classic. So Jared had to run off after her and we ended up just getting on our horses and riding off back to the truck. The first thing I asked Jared was if he has even talked to my dad yet? And he said, "of course I have, I talked to him on Friday when I headed down to get buck for the weekend." I was so surprised, I had no idea they talked (I guess that was the point). And the first thing he asked me was if I was surprised about him proposing? And I felt bad but I had to say I wasn't because I knew he was going to propose to me on a horse ride, which he claims I couldn't have known because he didn't even know until right before. I guess I'm just more in tune with his subconscious than he is. On our ride back to my apartment we called our parents to tell them the exciting news. Then we told all of our roommates and even announced it to some friends. What a wonderful day June 3rd 2014 was.

Me as happy as can be right after Jared proposed. 

We had to document our happiness.


Us with the best shot of my ring.
(Walmart specialty while we finish the details of the real deal.) 


Our ring pops that clearly signify we're engaged.


Friday, July 17, 2015

Dating Life through pictures..November 2012- June 2014

Dessert at Angie's with friends after the Special Olympics Christmas Program

Snowmobiling up Logan Canyon

One of the many Twizzleberry trips, this time after a date night picture scavenger hunt. 


Me trimming Jared's neckline for the 1st time...I was pretty nervous.

My birthday party Ellen and Jared had for me with great friends!

My birthday dinner at my parents house.  Jared met my grandparents for the first time.

Hiking up in Logan in May

One of many horse rides. I'm on Ginger and Jared is on Buck.

The first year we did Ragnar with Jared's family.

My first time hunting, it was over Labor day weekend.

Jared's first Lewis Halloween Party.  We're Marge and Homer Simpson.

Our pumpkin carving night with friends.

Our fabulous plank tower.

Ward Ski night.  My 2nd time ever going Skiing. 

Ice Skating at Merlin Olsen Park in Logan.

Temple date night the same day Cameron went to the Gilbert Temple open house. 

My cousin Paige Bigler's Wedding

Jared's College Graduation, so proud!

Ward bonfire after graduation. Such a good time with such great friends!

Playing with Emmery and Karson.  Jared got a makeover. 


Jared and I went through a lot over the year and a half that we dated. Road trips, rejected kisses, sickness, deaths, births, first kisses, holidays, watching friends break up while other friends got married, hunts, races, breaks in our relationship, birthdays, many temple dates, horse rides and so many other things that I wouldn't change.  We were able to learn and grow together through all of these things and become the people we both loved dearly who we wanted to spend the rest of eternity with.  I will tell you it was not easy one little bit dating Jared.  But without a doubt, it was 100% worth it.  



Thursday, July 16, 2015

Novemener 3rd 2012

Our first official date was on November 3rd. We went to the temple early in the morning to finish those names for my grandma, he took me home after so I could go and volunteer for a couple of hours at Special Olympics, then he picked me back up to take me on our horse ride :). I love horses!! Jared rode buck and "ponied" Jasmine while I rode Ginger. We rode up Smithfield canyon. It was really fun to ride, talk, and get to know each other better. This was my first "real" mountain ride on a horse and probably only the fourth time I had even been on a horse so I was a bit nervous, but I wanted to impress Jared so I kept thinking...fake it till you make it. I was going to fake that I was a really good/confident horse rider until I became one. (My definition of a real mountain ride was not some trail through flat ground like I had been on before. It was narrow, up the mountain side, crossing over logs and streams and at times having the mountain at one side and a cliff on the other). Jared had been talking about turning around but hadn't found a good place to so we kept going higher when all of a sudden we were into some snow. Jared decided we better turn around right a way, so we did. The only problem was, that put me and my horse in lead and not only was I uncomfortable with leading, my horse was extremely uncomfortable with leading. But Jared knew this and helped me get off my horse on the narrow trail and tried to walk the two other horses around my horses and down but there wasn't enough room so he took my horse and walked her down while I held the other two back. His big horse buck likes to rub his head on you and gave me a good rub that knocked me down the cliff side hill a little, while stepping/twisting up my foot which made me pretty nervous! Haha but I was still trying to act tough for Jared so I got right back up, switched the horses around and got back on Ginger for the ride home. We had fun talking the rest of the ride and I began to truly feel the connection I had been wanting to feel for over a year now. And it really seemed like he was feeling it as well! 

Friday, July 10, 2015

Where it all began...pt 2

I started receiving calls from Jared at the most random times, just to talk. It was weird, but I really liked it. I remember receiving several over Christmas break, then throughout spring 2012 semester at the most random times, and quite a few that summer as well.  I had never had a guy friend that would call up just to talk like Jared, unless they were my boyfriend. I would always get excited when I saw it was him and it seemed like we were good at carrying on conversations. It made me wonder if deep down Jared really did want to date me cause I knew deep down at this point I really wanted to date him.
In May of 2012 his roommates and him organized a weekend adventure down in Benjamin (his home town) and they invited me and my roommates a long. He was currently working at the tramp shop...haha Propel trampolines. Where they stored tramps and loaded them up in trucks to sale to different businesses or people. His boss needed him to take three tramps to there different locations on our way down, which was actually nice because our gas was paid for. They picked Ellen and I up in North Ogden, then we dropped off a tramp in Syracuse and picked up Kaitlyn in Layton, then dropped a tramp off in Kearns, and another one in Riverton where we met up with Parkers girlfriend and our other roommate Marisa. We drove down to Jared's house where his lovely mom Jennifer had a lunch all packed for us. We met up with Jared's sweet sister Melynn and twin brother Garrett (holy cow those two looked, sounded, and acted exactly alike). Then loaded up the horses and headed up Payson canyon for our ride/picnic. We all took turn riding Pearl, Buster, and Buck and those not riding got to eat lunch. Then we all went swimming in the nasty little lake. Haha it was still a fun adventure! After we dried off we loaded up and headed home. We first had to make a stop by Mountain View Hospital where Ellen was born hah then we went back to the Elliott's and got all cleaned up. Their family was watching the college softball World Series!!! I was so excited (before I went up to Utah State I played softball for Snow College). When his dad got home he began asking us all kinds of questions to get to know us better. I felt very welcomed into their home and I was excited to already have so much in common. That's basically when I decided I wanted to date Jared... and become apart of his family.  We spent the night and went to church at the BYU singles ward where his dad was bishop. It was fun to experience church in the Law building and it was delightful to hear Jared's dad (Scott) bear such a wonderful testimony. We met the rest of his family at Sunday dinner and even though I was just one of Jared's 4 friends there, they made me feel very welcome. A few days later, Ellen and I were at work when I told her that I really wanted to date Jared and she said that she really wanted me to date him as well. So she texted him and told him that she thought he should ask me out and he said that he'd been thinking the same thing. (Sorry, this is all so immature and childish, but I really want to remember these funny details someday). Later that week, I got a call from Jared seeing if I wanted to go boating with Britian, McKenzie and him the next day. So I met up with them and we had a really good time. I was really comfortable around Jared but there just wasn't much more than the just friend feeling going on for either of us (I believe). Even though I wanted it so bad.
We went on the rest of the summer talking/hanging out here and there. After hanging out with him one time I went down to my friend Alyssa's apartment in Provo and I told her all about Jared. I told her that I was going to definitely marry him (we still weren't even dating at this point).
Shortly after telling Alyssa this, the new school year began. I was now living at Hillside apartments with Ellen, Kaitlyn, and JaNae. Jared was living across town (close to Ellen's sister Carlie) at Maple Valley apartments. School began and I knew my semester was going to be busy and hard but I was excited to be getting closer to graduating. I was also training for my first marathon at this point and was super excited.  I was dating around and I didn't realize it at the time but Jared had a girlfriend... It wasn't until the end of October when I realized he had one. Jared and I would text every once in awhile for the first month of school. But I was still interested so I began inviting him to a few things. At first he was "busy" with homework but then he started to come. He came and did baptisms for the dead with Ellen and I (we did names my Grandma Walters had found). Then he came to a couple of USU volleyball games with me to watch my friend Shay play. Then, I believe it was on October 29th Ellen and I went to a friend from the previous years (they had all been in the same ward as me and Jared) surprise birthday party and while we were waiting for the birthday boy to show I overheard someone ask one of the girls where her boyfriend was and I didn't know she was dating someone so I said, "oh...who is your boyfriend?" And she responded, "Jared Elliott". I'm pretty sure my jaw dropped at that moment. But by the time I left the party I was thinking...well all I've done is invited him to things and he has said yes and came along. I felt bad for her but I really really liked this kid and as long as I invited and he kept saying yes or if he began inviting me as well, I was going to let it happen.
Two days later, Carlie was throwing a Halloween party at her apartment. So after our indoor soccer game, Ellen, JaNae, and I went to her party (dressed as sweaty soccer players of course). The first person I noticed as we walked in was Jared (alone) so I got very excited and began talking to him. After hanging out at the party for a little bit, he invited me and my roommates to go and watch the Jazz game at his apartment!!! I was ecstatic, of course I would go and watch it! The next night, Jared dropped by on his way home from studying "just to say hi." We hung out and talked for a little bit and as he left he asked if I wanted to go on a horse ride on Saturday!? I had also asked him if he'd want to go to the temple to help me finish up a few more names and we both agreed that it would be a date :)
   
          Football Game with Jared's current girlfriend and soon to be girlfriend...and lots of friends!

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Where it all began...

Since I want this to be a blog about our life, I want to start from the beginning.  Jared and I met up at Utah State University in 2011. I lived at Pineview 18 and Jared lived in the house at the garden court apartments. We both had some terrific roommates. Our apartments became the best of friends and we did everything together. I spoke in sacrament meeting one of the very first Sunday's in that ward and Jared claims that I caught his eye. He says he thought I was beautiful and he could tell I had a strong testimony (which he liked). We didn't officially meet until later that night. His roommate came and introduced himself to me and my roommates at ward prayer then invited us over to tour his house and meet his roommates. As we were going through his apartment, me and my roommates were introduced to Jared as he was running out the door. Jared caught my eye as well, I thought he was very handsome and seemed really nice. A couple of minutes after he left, I noticed a wedding invitation on their fridge and it looked like a picture of Jared...so I thought, oh darn! I guess he's already taken. The next morning I walked into my 7:30am history class and I noticed Jared across the room. He seemed very friendly but I didn't think I should sit by him since he was engaged. So for the next few days I sat on the opposite side of the room trying to avoid him, but he was always so friendly that I figured I could be friendly back. We had class every Monday/Wednesday/Friday so the next week I moved a couple rows closer to Jared each day until I was sitting right next to him. We had a lot of great conversations and I was really impressed that he was training for a marathon. That next week I was over at his apartment with my roommates but Jared wasn't there. I asked one of his roommates where he was and he said that he was at his brothers Bachelor party. I was shocked that him and his brother were getting married around the same time, "he has a brother getting married", I said. And his roommate responded, "ya, didn't you see his invitation on our fridge?" I was shocked. It looked like Jared. His roommates let me know they were identical twins and that Garrett was getting married, not Jared. Hahaha I felt like such a fool but slightly relieved. The next week Jared asked me out on a date! We doubled with my best friend Ellen and his roommate Parker. They walked over to pick us up then we walked back to get in Jared's car. Jared walked up to the backseat door behind the drivers eat and opened up the door for me...I thought it was weird but I didn't want him to feel dumb so I just got on in and didn't say anything. He got in the drivers seat and Parker kind of laughed and decided to open the passengers door for Ellen and he got in the back with me. It was hilarious... Haha Jared apologized and said that he worked really late last night and wasn't thinking when he did that.  Now he claims that he was just use to opening that door for anyone that rode with him. It makes for a great story so I kind of like it. We ordered a fazookie and just hung out and talked. It was fun to get to know him. We actually had a lot in common!
We began hanging out a little more but both didn't seem to be interested in being more than friends. I wasn't sure why, but that's just how I felt and it seemed to be how he felt as well.  The more time I spent with Jared, the more I liked him but I just didn't want to date him. I would tell Ellen all the time.."I don't want to date Jared, but he is going to mean a whole lot to me someday". I couldn't explain why I felt this way, but I did.  And whenever I would see him talk to other girls, I would get so dang jealous, but then I was also thinking of people to set him up with...I made no sense.
I began to realize that he is EXACTLY like my dad. He is handsome, kind, hardworking, manly, happy, funny/corny, tan, and studying engineering. I had always said that I wanted to marry someone just like my dad and Jared was that guy. That freaked me out. I didn't even want to date this kid, let alone marry him! We continued to hang out and have fun together while both of us dated around. My parents came down for family day in our ward and I made sure to introduce my parents to my dads "twin".
To be continued....

Video about my roommates with Jared and his roommates help



Dinner with my roommates and Jared's roommates Nov. 2011 


Jared and I on our shooting adventure after finals, Dec 2011.