Sunday, January 29, 2012
How It All Started (Whitney's Story)
Jason and I met April 2011 a few days before the semester started. My roommate and I decided to apply for jobs on campus at BYU-Idaho as custodians. They were only going to be giving out 100 jobs, and we were supposed to take a number and wait. I think I was number 73. Jason's number was 28. We were thinking that by the time they got to us, the only positions available would be early morning 4AM to 7AM, but surprisingly, all of those spots were filled before we went in. There were still a bunch of positions available on the night crew at the Manwaring Center from 8:30 to 11:30PM. This was the same shift Jason had chosen. For the first half of the semester, I hardly ever saw Jason at work, because he was working on the other side of the building. We had both served as missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He caught word that I was a returned missionary, so he decided to start talking to me before the shift would start. He had returned from his mission five days before I got home, so we were in the same awkward phase. I didn't really consider being more than friends at that point. He also had a class in one of the same buildings as I had one of my classes, so he would pass by while I was studying, and without fail, he would always say hi. After spending a year and a half in New Jersey where nobody said hi to anyone, I thought Jason was kind of weird.
About halfway through the semester, we were told to start washing all of the tables and chairs in the Crossroads (Cafeteria). This gave me the opportunity to get to know Jason a little better. We started sharing stories about our missions, and as the days went by, our conversations turned into how our days went, and then what our opinions are about different topics. I found it very easy to talk to him. Mostly because I knew I didn't have to do all the talking. I decided I was going to add all my co-workers on Facebook. At first I couldn't find Jason, but once I had added another co-worker, he showed up as a friend of a friend, so I was able to find him. We started having conversations on Facebook after work. The middle of June, we were both fed up with dating. We both had not so good experiences with dating, and we just wanted to find the person we were going to marry, so we can be done with the dating world. One of my co-workers who had recently gotten married said to me, "Being married is the best... you should get married." I asked him if he had any suggestions of people I could be set up with. He said he couldn't think of any off the top of his head, but he would think about it. That was about a week before the 4th of July.
The weekend of the 4th of July was when it all happened. Jason had invited me to a get-together the Saturday before the 4th of July, but I wasn't able to make it, because I had to perform in the University Concert Band for a fireworks celebration in Driggs Idaho. So Jason invited me on Thursday or Friday, but I told him I wasn't able to go. Friday, we were told to show up to work at 5:00 PM instead of 8:30PM. This meant that we would be done with our shift at 8:00. Nearly every Wednesday and Friday at BYU-Idaho, there are dances the students can go to, and they start at 8:00. Both Jason and I enjoy dancing, but because of our shift, we usually weren't able to go. Friday was our opportunity to go dancing. We had talked to our co-workers and tried to get a big group together, but Jason and I were the only ones who showed up. We ended up dancing with each other most of the night. After the dance, Jason invited me to go watch movies at a friend's house, so I decided to go. We were watching the movie, and the friend had placed a big bowl of popcorn between us on the couch. Part of me started imagining like a little girl that I would reach into the popcorn bowl and his hand would just happen to be there the same time. Well, it didn't happen like that, but when I was about to go back to my apartment, Jason asked if I wanted him to walk me home. I figured it wouldn't hurt, so I agreed. Jason asked for my number as he walked me home. He invited me to spend some time with him Saturday morning since I wouldn't be able to make it to his party. Even though we were still considered friends, the whole evening felt like a date. It felt customary to give him a hug when we got to the door of my apartment.
Saturday we spent some time together, and this was the day we both knew we were supposed to get married. But we didn't tell each other at that point, because we were just friends. I went to perform for the celebration, and he hosted his party. The whole time, I was wishing I was at the party. I found myself missing him. Sunday, Jason invited me to go stadium singing. Stadium singing is an event that takes place at BYU-Idaho. Nearly every Sunday, students have the opportunity to stand under the bleachers at the stadium and sing hymns. It sounds really cool because you can hear the singing a couple blocks away, and it seems like the angels are singing. Stadium singing went well. I wanted Jason to hold my hand, but it still didn't happen. I invited Jason to a get-together that my ward (congregation) was having during the day of the 4th of July. Jason had invited me to go watch fireworks with him that night. He showed up to the get-together, and we were there for a little while, then we decided to go for a walk. We played the quarter game where you flip the coin, and it determines which direction you go, but we ended up going up to the temple grounds. We sat on a bench and had a nice long conversation. We then met up with our friends that were going to Idaho Falls to see the fireworks with. The whole night, I wanted Jason to hold my hand, but he didn't. We were in the back seat of the car driving back to Rexburg, and it finally happened. Our hands were nearly touching, and Jason finally held my hand. In the culture of the members of the church, that usually means there's some form of commitment. He walked me home that night, and we held hands the whole way.
Tuesday I texted him just to make sure that his interpretation of the hand holding was the same as my interpretation. They were the same: we were officially steady dating. Wednesday through Saturday, I had to request off work so I could attend the dress rehearsals for my band concert on Saturday. My parents were planning on coming up to Rexburg to attend the concert. Thursday, we went to the Gardens (a beautiful place on campus that couples usually go), and after a little while talking, we began to discuss marriage. We had both known on Saturday that we were supposed to get married, so when the topic came up, it wasn't a surprise to either of us. We decided that we would pray about it just to make sure and we would compare notes on Friday. Friday, we compared notes, and we had gotten the same answer. Saturday we both got a definite yes answer, so we started to go ring shopping. My parents came and met Jason. The concert went well. We went out to get ice cream after the concert, and when my parents dropped us off, my dad gave me a hug and he said with a smile, "We talked... I aprove." We had originally planned on getting married in November, but we both felt like we should move the day sooner. Sunday, we had discussed this, and we went up to the temple grounds near the place where we talked on the 4th of July. We prayed to know if moving the date sooner would be the right thing to do. We both got a confirmation that we needed to. Then Jason went down on one knee and proposed. Without hesitation, I said yes.
The semester was about to end, and Jason had made plans to go home to Minnesota and also to visit family during the break between semesters. This meant that all of the preliminary wedding stuff had to get done the week before finals. We got engagement pictures, our marriage licence, the rings, and made travel plans all in that week. September 2nd, 2011, we were married. Choosing to marry Jason has been the best decision of my life.
About halfway through the semester, we were told to start washing all of the tables and chairs in the Crossroads (Cafeteria). This gave me the opportunity to get to know Jason a little better. We started sharing stories about our missions, and as the days went by, our conversations turned into how our days went, and then what our opinions are about different topics. I found it very easy to talk to him. Mostly because I knew I didn't have to do all the talking. I decided I was going to add all my co-workers on Facebook. At first I couldn't find Jason, but once I had added another co-worker, he showed up as a friend of a friend, so I was able to find him. We started having conversations on Facebook after work. The middle of June, we were both fed up with dating. We both had not so good experiences with dating, and we just wanted to find the person we were going to marry, so we can be done with the dating world. One of my co-workers who had recently gotten married said to me, "Being married is the best... you should get married." I asked him if he had any suggestions of people I could be set up with. He said he couldn't think of any off the top of his head, but he would think about it. That was about a week before the 4th of July.
The weekend of the 4th of July was when it all happened. Jason had invited me to a get-together the Saturday before the 4th of July, but I wasn't able to make it, because I had to perform in the University Concert Band for a fireworks celebration in Driggs Idaho. So Jason invited me on Thursday or Friday, but I told him I wasn't able to go. Friday, we were told to show up to work at 5:00 PM instead of 8:30PM. This meant that we would be done with our shift at 8:00. Nearly every Wednesday and Friday at BYU-Idaho, there are dances the students can go to, and they start at 8:00. Both Jason and I enjoy dancing, but because of our shift, we usually weren't able to go. Friday was our opportunity to go dancing. We had talked to our co-workers and tried to get a big group together, but Jason and I were the only ones who showed up. We ended up dancing with each other most of the night. After the dance, Jason invited me to go watch movies at a friend's house, so I decided to go. We were watching the movie, and the friend had placed a big bowl of popcorn between us on the couch. Part of me started imagining like a little girl that I would reach into the popcorn bowl and his hand would just happen to be there the same time. Well, it didn't happen like that, but when I was about to go back to my apartment, Jason asked if I wanted him to walk me home. I figured it wouldn't hurt, so I agreed. Jason asked for my number as he walked me home. He invited me to spend some time with him Saturday morning since I wouldn't be able to make it to his party. Even though we were still considered friends, the whole evening felt like a date. It felt customary to give him a hug when we got to the door of my apartment.
Saturday we spent some time together, and this was the day we both knew we were supposed to get married. But we didn't tell each other at that point, because we were just friends. I went to perform for the celebration, and he hosted his party. The whole time, I was wishing I was at the party. I found myself missing him. Sunday, Jason invited me to go stadium singing. Stadium singing is an event that takes place at BYU-Idaho. Nearly every Sunday, students have the opportunity to stand under the bleachers at the stadium and sing hymns. It sounds really cool because you can hear the singing a couple blocks away, and it seems like the angels are singing. Stadium singing went well. I wanted Jason to hold my hand, but it still didn't happen. I invited Jason to a get-together that my ward (congregation) was having during the day of the 4th of July. Jason had invited me to go watch fireworks with him that night. He showed up to the get-together, and we were there for a little while, then we decided to go for a walk. We played the quarter game where you flip the coin, and it determines which direction you go, but we ended up going up to the temple grounds. We sat on a bench and had a nice long conversation. We then met up with our friends that were going to Idaho Falls to see the fireworks with. The whole night, I wanted Jason to hold my hand, but he didn't. We were in the back seat of the car driving back to Rexburg, and it finally happened. Our hands were nearly touching, and Jason finally held my hand. In the culture of the members of the church, that usually means there's some form of commitment. He walked me home that night, and we held hands the whole way.
Tuesday I texted him just to make sure that his interpretation of the hand holding was the same as my interpretation. They were the same: we were officially steady dating. Wednesday through Saturday, I had to request off work so I could attend the dress rehearsals for my band concert on Saturday. My parents were planning on coming up to Rexburg to attend the concert. Thursday, we went to the Gardens (a beautiful place on campus that couples usually go), and after a little while talking, we began to discuss marriage. We had both known on Saturday that we were supposed to get married, so when the topic came up, it wasn't a surprise to either of us. We decided that we would pray about it just to make sure and we would compare notes on Friday. Friday, we compared notes, and we had gotten the same answer. Saturday we both got a definite yes answer, so we started to go ring shopping. My parents came and met Jason. The concert went well. We went out to get ice cream after the concert, and when my parents dropped us off, my dad gave me a hug and he said with a smile, "We talked... I aprove." We had originally planned on getting married in November, but we both felt like we should move the day sooner. Sunday, we had discussed this, and we went up to the temple grounds near the place where we talked on the 4th of July. We prayed to know if moving the date sooner would be the right thing to do. We both got a confirmation that we needed to. Then Jason went down on one knee and proposed. Without hesitation, I said yes.
The semester was about to end, and Jason had made plans to go home to Minnesota and also to visit family during the break between semesters. This meant that all of the preliminary wedding stuff had to get done the week before finals. We got engagement pictures, our marriage licence, the rings, and made travel plans all in that week. September 2nd, 2011, we were married. Choosing to marry Jason has been the best decision of my life.
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