9 years!! Holy cow!

Our story begins.......

Shad and I met through one of my friends who was dating one of his friends and they wanted to go to girls choice and needed someone to double with. So I agreed, reluctantly..I really didn't know Shad and further more thought he wasn't even close to my type! I am so glad we went tho because little did I know that I would find the most caring, and loving person I have ever met! We had such a good time and we have been together ever since! So our date was on March 19, 1995, and it was literally the first day of the best years of my life!

THEN......

On December 26th, 1998 Shad asked me to marry him! I was a little upset because I thought for sure he would ask on Christmas day, but no ring...Then the day after Christmas he came to pick me up after I got off of work and he was acting all weird. I just thought he was in one of those weird moods. He told me to go out and start his truck which I thought was kinda odd, but really didn't think much of it. Then he came out and his face was all red and his hands were all sweaty...I wasn't for sure what was going on! Then we got to his parents house and he told me that his dad had lost his horse shoe ring while he was feeding the horses and we needed to help him find it. (still no clue, yes I am a blond) So we get out to the barn and I asked his dad what he was doing the last time he saw it. He said he was getting hay out of the wheelbarrow. So I start sifting through the hay and there is a little baggie with a ring in it..(still no clue) I said "Oh my gosh! Somebody lost their ring in this bail of hay!" And of course when everyone stood there looking at me like I was a total idiot, and noticed the look on Shad's face I THEN got it! I was so excited and I kept saying "seriously?" Then he got down on one knee and asked and of course I said "YES!" Come to find out the reason he was acting so weird at my house was because he was asking my dad for permission. Which still to this day he says he was making negotiations as to how much they would pay him to marry me....... Either way it must have been enough because on May 14th, 1999 we got hitched!

It was such a good day! And we were lucky that my dad was Bishop at the time so he got to marry us! I remember walking down the isle and looking at him and knowing he was my partner, best friend, and love of my life. He is everything I could have ever asked for, I know we are meant for each other. When we went into our interview with my dad before the wedding he asked us to set a goal as to when we wanted to be sealed as an eternal family and Shad and I both said 2 years. We were pretty close because 3 years later...

We were sealed in the Logan Temple, May 14th, 2002. This was such a special day! I had lost Payden 5 months prior, and I was 3 months pregnant with Gracie. I cannot explain to you all how close I felt to my Heavenly Father that day, and especially how I KNEW Payden was right by our side. We will always remember this day! I think we both cryed harder on this day than on our wedding day!!

Shad and I have had our ups and downs, but no matter what we have been at each others side! I think our marriage has gone through more than most, but we are still together and still very much in love! As I was thinking of what pictures and words I wanted to put on this post I couldn't choose because we have so many fun pictures and TOO many memories...But one thing is for sure we will have many more, and I can't wait to get old with him! His is truly the love of my life, and I know he loves me for me! He ALWAYS tells me that he loves me when we get off the phone, or when he goes to work, or just out of the blue. He is always doing things to try and make life easier for me. I know I am not the easiest person to live with, but he shows me the kind of person I want to be. I love that we always know what one another is thinking before we even say anything. One memory that comes to mind is the day we lost Payden and I was sitting in my hospital room just wanting him to get there, because he was at work, and I will never forget the look on his face when he walked into that room..I knew he was feeling sad too, but it was like he hurt so bad that I was sad that he wasn't even thinking about himself. I also remember the day that I found out I was pregnant with Gracie and how his face lite up! And of course the day that we went to the doctor when I was pregnant with Acen and the dr asked if we wanted to know what it was and I said "NO!" and he said "I DO!" so the dr took him out into the hall and told him...I didn't even need to be told because I already knew by the look on Shad's face that he was finally getting his boy.. So many memories so little time to tell them all, but I just want to tell Shad how thankful I am for him and thank you for having 3 beautiful kids with me. I am so glad I asked you to girls choice 13 years ago!! (holy cow).....