Newelyweds

Joel and I spent our Honeymoon up at a cabin in McCall. We had fun playing on the snowmobile, sledding, building a snow fort, and playing super mario on the super nintendo. We were sad to leave and come back to reality.

As soon as the Honeymoon was over, Joel and I drove to Provo, Utah so I could attend my college graduation. My parents came with us so they could watch my graduation and they also came to Rexburg to help us get moved in. My graduation was good but I got a bloody nose right after I walked across the stage and shook hands with L. Tom Perry. I had to walk out and rush to the bathroom. All of the stalls were full but a lady in there gave me a kleenex. I stuffed it in my nose and tried to get back in to the ceremony but they wouldn't let anyone through the doors. I had to wait for Joel and my parents to exit once everything was over and then we left right away. I didn't really want to see all of my old friends when I had toilet paper stuffed in my nose.

We drove to Rexburg and moved into our third floor one bedroom apartment. We had a dresser, a bed, a table with four chairs, and two rocking chairs and three night stands, one for the T.V. We were in love with our new place and happy to be there. Joel started working with a construction company on monday. His brother, Josh worked with the company and it fulfilled Joel's internship requirement. He had to work really long hours and he worked a lot. They gave him lots of Fridays off to make up for it but it was hard on me to have him gone all the time during the week. Joel was able to build us a desk and bookshelf with some left over wood from a house.

For the whole summer I filled out job applications and looked for a job. I didn't know anyone in Rexburg so it was lonely and kind of depressing. We went home to visit a lot and my sister Alesha came and spent a weekend with us in Rexburg. We also spent a fun week up in Oregon with my family.

I didn't find a job until the end of the summer. I had started to think I wasn't going to find one and then I was offered a job with two different schools. Eventually I took a job teaching first grade at Hillview Elementary school in Ammon, Idaho. I felt so blessed to finally have something to keep me occupied. I had a great class with the best kids. Maybe I will write more about that later.

Joel was about to finish his internship right before I started teaching school. Eventually Joel started school again and I was busy working. I helped him with his homework and he helped me come up with teaching ideas. We spent several Saturdays at the elementary school with Joel helping me prepare things for the week.

We went to Boise for Thanksgiving and for Christmas. While we were home for Christmas we got in a car accident on Christmas Eve. We went to a party at Joanna's house and it snowed a lot while we were there. There were lots of big snow drifts. Joel was driving on the way to my parent's house and going a little too fast when we hit a really big snow drift and the car started spinning right out of control. And we were headed for some really big trees in someone's front yard. I remember Joel telling me to hold on. I was holding two chocolate covered cherries and they flew out of my hand as we crashed into the wooden fence of someone's backyard and our bumper hit their huge tree. Luckily we were fine. The car was really beat up and undrivable, not to mention it was down a big hill from the road, but it was fixable. The owners of the house were nice and invited us in to watch the football game. Apparently we were the second car to crash into that fence that year. We were less than five minutes away from my parent's house so my dad came and got us and we left the car there for the night. I was really sore the next day but we felt blessed that there was not that much damage. Joel and his brothers, plus my dad, all went out and got the car on Christmas Day and Joel had the bumps beat out and it was sanded and ready to paint before we left back for school. It just looked a little bit funny.

This is our car before the crash on a trip to the sand dunes where we got it stuck in the sand. 

Joel started new classes in January. His brother Josh started to build a house there in Rexburg when the company he was working for (the same one Joel worked for that summer) went out of business. Josh had to finish the house but he couldn't afford rent. His wife and daughter went to live in Boise with her parents while Josh moved into our one bedroom apartment. Joel offered to let him stay with us and I was mad at him for doing that without even talking to me but it worked out ok. Joel helped him a lot too and I even helped out a little bit too. The worst part was that it just took up most of Joel's free time. Josh brought his king sized mattress and kept it in our living room, along with a few suitcases. We would just set the mattress up when we wanted to use the computer or watch tv. In the middle of February Joel's parents came from Canada to help Josh with the house so we had even more people living in our little apartment. They stayed for a month and all three of them slept on that mattress in our living room. It was quite the site to see them asleep on that mattress in the middle of our floor. In April Joel and I celebrated our one year anniversary by moving into a new apartment. We found a cheaper place and we thought the move would be a good way to save some money. We moved right before our anniversary. Josh stayed in our old apartment until the end of the month and then his house was done enough so he could move in.

Our first year as a married couple was full of lot of adjustments, arguments, working things out, and many many fun adventures. Being married is still a challenge even today but so worth it. Joel looks out for me and takes care of me and I try to take care of him. We are a team and we work together. Our marriage has never been perfect, it is hard work, but we are committed to this thing and in it for eternity.

Engagement and Wedding

Joel and I spent a few days together right after we got engaged and then we both had to go to school. I had to finish my last semester, my student teaching, and Joel started his first semester. The worst part is that I was in Utah and Joel was in Idaho. We took engagement pictures before we parted and planned the wedding while we were at school. Joel got himself a cell phone for Christmas so I could actually call him when I wanted to.

 Joel made some trips to see me and I made one trip to Rexburg where I got to meet Joel's parents for the first time. I stayed with them and Joel's youngest sister and nephew Tyson in the spare bedroom of his brother Josh's small apartment. It was fun to finally meet them. They came down because one of Joel's cousin's was getting married.

Joel had an early morning custodian job that semester so he went to bed really early. I spent the beginning of the semester student teaching for a second grade class all the way in Sandy, Utah. Which was a 45 minute drive for me and the weather was really bad that winter. Eventually I got to teach Kindergarten in Orem which was only 15 minutes away. I liked that so much better.

BYU lasted one week longer than BYU-Idaho so we had planned to get married one week after I was done, on the 26th of April. Then we found out that the school I was student teaching in had their spring break the week of finals so I got done a week early. As soon as I learned that we decided to move up the wedding day a week. It was set for April 19, 2008.

Joel and I finished school on the same day and Joel came and got me. I left my car loaded with all of my things at my aunt's house. We drove to Boise and spent the week finalizing all of the wedding plans. My cousin's drove up with us in Joel's car. I think they packed more things than we did.

It felt so good to be around Joel all the time again. We couldn't wait to be married. We went to the temple on Wednesday night so I could take out my endowments. On Friday most of our families were here. We had a fun family picnic at the church while we set up the decorations and got ready for the reception. Joel got to meet my aunt Lisa and her family and several of my aunts and cousins and I got to meet all of Joel's sisters and their kids. It was a really fun get together.

On Saturday, Joel and I went to the Boise Idaho Temple and we were sealed around noon. It was such a great feeling to be sitting in the sealing room surrounded by all of our family and to know that we were being married for eternity. I was sad that not everyone could come but I wouldn't trade that feeling for anything. I did get a little worried earlier though because they told me to wait in this room and that Joel would be here any minute and he wasn't there for almost an hour. At least is seemed like that long. I was starting to think he wasn't coming but they just got mixed up and had him waiting somewhere else. Thank goodness he didn't change his mind.

Joel and I got to walk out of the temple hand in hand that day as husband and wife! We stayed there and my uncle Rob took hundreds of pictures for us. We took lots with family and some with just Joel and me. By the time we got home we were both exhausted but we still had to go to our reception.

The rest of the night is kind of a blur. I was in such a state of happiness. I remember lots of great food, speeches, and family. I think a good time was had by all. At least, I had a really great time. Lots of family and friends came out to support us. We left in Joel's old car that was decorated with just married written all over it. Not to mention there was newspaper all in the front seats. We also heard clanging all the way to my parent's house. It turned out to be old cans and milk jugs that were tied to the bumper. At my parents' house we changed cars and drove to a motel room for the night.

The next day we went up to a cabin in McCall for our honeymoon. We didn't get to stay for long because I wanted to make it back to Utah for my graduation that was on Thursday and Friday. Not to mention, Joel had to start work for his internship on Monday. It was still great while it lasted. We were just thrilled to finally be married and together again. (Written Dec. 2012)

Popping the Question

Joel and I went on our first date in at the beginning of June 2007. In September of that year I left for school while Joel stayed there in the Boise area. Right before I left, Joel's oldest nephew, Tucker, was killed in a four wheeling accident; which made it even harder to leave. Joel made the six hour drive down to Provo to see me several times. He even drove up just for the day to see me on my birthday. Normally he would stay at my aunt and uncle's house. All of my roommates loved it when he came because he would fix anything that was broken.

The hardest part about being away from Joel is that he didn't have a cell phone. He would usually call me at night before he went to bed from his sister's phone but I had no way of contacting him. Somehow we survived those long months of separation. Joel's sister had a baby boy (Taggert) during that time and Joel worked like crazy so he could get lots of money to pay for school and the ring he wanted to buy. I survived a long, hard semester of school and a four day stay in the hospital with meningitis. At this time I knew I loved Joel and that he wanted to marry me so I was praying really hard to know if this was what the Lord had in plan for me. For a while I didn't think I was getting an answer and I was getting worried that this wasn't right. I remember pouring out my heart to my Heavenly Father asking him if this was right. I think it was just the feeling I got afterwards. I wanted it to be right so bad and the thought of not being with Joel was heartbreaking. There was no reason for the Lord to say no so that is when I knew it was right. I was ready to take the next step in my life and get married. Joel and I were both committed to our relationship, we just needed to make it official.

During Thanksgiving that year, I went home and we spent the holidays with my family. Joel went shopping on Black Friday so he could find a good deal on a ring. He wouldn't tell me if he bought one or not but I was pretty sure he did. He drove me back to school and we stopped at temple square at Salt Lake and we looked at the christmas lights. Joel tried to take me up to the top of the conference center but it was closed. He had wanted to propose up there but he didn't have the ring with him at the time so it is just as well. He took me to school and then He left for Canada.

 I finished the semester and then I went back home for Christmas. Joel spent some time with his parents and got to help them build their house.  He got a job working at an Alfalfa Cubing company and then came down to be with me for Christmas before he had to start school. He tried to propose to me several times while we were there. He took me to this nice romantic place one time and told me this nice story and then all of a sudden he just ended it and we went home. We were sitting on the couch one day when we panicked and had me leave the room. He lost the ring out of his pocket in one of the couch cushions. He was carrying it in his pocket in case a great opportunity came along where Joel could propose. I am going to let Joel tell the story about how he finally proposed. He wrote this paper for an english class and I think he told the story really well. In fact, whenever I read it it makes me fall in love with him even more. I am just going to include the whole paper. (He said I could) It is kind of long but I think it is well worth the read.

Oct, 8, 2008

                                                          Popping the Question

        Melissa and I had gone on many dates and I was seriously thinking about proposing. I had strong feelings that she was the one I was to marry. We shared same life goals and really enjoyed each other’s company. I thought it would be perfect for us to be married; I only hoped Melissa would see things the same way.

    On December 31, 2007 around five o’clock, I arrived at Melissa’s elegant abode to escort her to play new-years-eve card games with my family. As I picked Melissa up, I must have had a strange worried look on my face, because she asked me if something was wrong. I wondered if she suspected anything. Trying to come up with some kind of excuse to keep the proposal a secret; I said I was just a little tired, trying to play my startled look down. She seemed to except it as truth, which helped me keep my secret. 

     I tried several attempts previously to popping the question, but nothing worked. I felt ill prepared, not confident in myself. I was mostly scared what other people would think if they found out the way I proposed was kind-a lame. I wanted it to be special for just the two of us. I wanted it to be something no one had ever done before, yet something everyone would be amazed by. I looked everywhere for ideas, on the internet mostly, but all of those ideas seemed unrealistic to Melissa and I (and way too expensive). I plead with my siblings for any information on great ideas for proposing.  I finally got the perfect idea from my sister Joanna when her husband Travis carved out “Will you Marry me” in the St. Anthony sand dunes. Then it clicked, I knew what I would do.  Adding my own little twist to the idea I discussed it with my two older brothers Jacob and Josh. We came up with a grand plan, to make this proposal explosive. I felt confident that this idea would work, I was ready. I had decided that if I spelt the words out there would be no way I would chicken out like in the past. Tonight I was bound and determined to ask no matter what happened.

     Melissa and I finally arrived at my sister’s house in Melba after the thirty minute drive. Those thirty minutes I was engulfed in a lie, I had never lied to Melissa or tried to trick her before. I felt like I was destroying her, keeping this a secret, but in all reality I was only torturing myself. She seemed calm, like we were just going to have some fun. But I knew that it was a disguise for the proposal. I didn’t want to do that to her, but to keep it a secret I did.

     I was extremely nervous, trying to decide the words I would share with my sweetheart, when the time came. It must have seemed like I was off in my own little world as we held our cards. I was just nervous hoping everything would work out as planned. My family looked at me like I had the weight of the world on my shoulders. They couldn’t believe I was going to do it tonight. I could tell they were excited for me.

        As we played games my brothers disappeared, I had to watch the clock now to get the timing right, if Melissa and I arrived too early or to late the proposal would be ruined. It was finally time to leave, we said our goodbyes but instead of taking her home, I asked her if she wanted to go look at the stars for a few minutes. She really liked that idea, we enjoyed being alone together so we could talk and ponder on the future. I got a phone call just as I was heading out the door; to my astonishment it was Jacob. They weren’t ready. I needed to stall. I thought to myself what am I going to do? Melissa is going to suspect something now for sure. I played it cool, deciding to have a longer drive to look at the stars.

        We took off in my 1989 tan Honda Accord to approach the spot; I pretended to get lost for almost fifteen minutes, when my brothers were frantically getting ready. I hoped and prayed that everything would work out well that night. Time dragged on, the fifteen minutes seemed an hour. She must have assumed something now.  I decided that if she already knew or if the night didn’t develop into the dream it was intended to be, I would ask her anyway.

        It was running on eight o’clock when I asked my sweetheart Melissa to marry me. We arrived at a cliffs edge on the outskirts of Melba, Idaho. We Overlooked the Snake river Valley into a huge sea of blackness. As I started out this day, I had confidence that my dream of finally asking the one I love to marry me would come true.

     It was time!  I was scared and nervous. I couldn’t think straight. What was I going to say? What was I going to do? Having my two older brothers there to help me made things easier. We had created a plan and it was ready to be tested. When Melissa and I arrived at the edge of the cliff in my car, she had no idea what was going to happen. This was just what I wanted her to think. It needed to be a surprise to make it memorable. When the Lights of the Honda were turned off the sign had been given to my older siblings. Melissa and I heard someone down in the black abyss say “Lets light this thing.”  As I escorted Melissa to the edge of the cliff, tripping over lava rocks, she was oblivious to what was going on. She was even somewhat reluctant to get so close to the edge.

     All of a sudden, down the cliff about three hundred feet, an extremely bright light started to appear. It was a fire that had been started. My heart started to pound in my chest faster than a thousand stampeding horses. The flames started to roar.  We could feel the heat, as the words WILL YOU lit up the valley floor. When Melissa was preoccupied with looking at what had just happened, and thinking what it meant, she didn’t notice me gradually getting to one knee. The sharp jagged lava rocks poked into my knee, but I didn’t even flinch. Nothing could stop me from popping the question now. It had to be done. The flames raging uncontrollably weren’t even enough to daunt me. I knew what the answer would be; I just needed to hear it from her lips to be reassured that she loved me enough to spend the rest of her life with me. As my Sweetheart looked down at me, we instantly caught one another’s eyes. Shocks of uncertainty shot through my veins. Looking into her fire reflecting eyes, as the warm breeze blew her brown hair gave me great courage. Her eyes were waiting, wanting to hear the words. As I continued to look at her something amazing happened. I could see things; Things that I could never see before. It was like I looked into the soul of God’s most beautiful creation, and was able to know all of her secrets and desires. It felt like the fire was swarming up the cliff warming my insides, but it was her eyes that warmed me. Assurance filled my heart and I knew we were to be together forever. Still looking deeper in her eyes I made out my own reflection which wasn’t on the surface but somewhere in her soul. It almost felt like eternity opened and told me that our life together was planned from the beginning of time.

     I thought I was stalling, waiting too long to ask. I was caught up in the moment of wondering about our life. I finally asked her “Melissa will you marry me”. A bright white smile appeared with the word “yes”. All the tension and worry completely released me. The feeling that we both wanted to be together is all we needed.

     From the time I met my beautiful wife; scared, unsure, excited, and assurance feelings have flooded my heart. Now that we are married, the scared feelings and the unsure feelings have diminished. And now we have feelings of greater love for one another, a pure love. A type of love that no matter what comes into our lives we can handle them. Together we are strong.

This is the spot where Joel proposed

I sure do love Joel. No wonder I fell in love with him. For the record Joel never asked me to look at the stars with him. He said we needed to get some tool for his sister. (He said looking at the stars sounded better for the paper though.) Joel was acting kind of nervous that whole day and there were several private phone call with his brothers on my cell phone so I knew he was up to something and that it had to do with proposing. I was still surprised when I saw the  fire. I didn't suspect that. I also remember that my first reaction after he proposed was to ask Joel why he didn't tell me to get my camera. I went to get my camera before we left and Joel told me I didn't need it. It really was the coolest sight. I am still sad I don't have a picture of it. We went back to this spot a few years later and you can still see the words burned in the road. (The road was closed for the winter because it is really steep.) Joel's brothers Jake and Josh almost got caught by a policeman after Joel proposed to me. They put out the fire and left quickly because they could see him coming. I am so glad Joel finally asked me to marry him. He picked out the ring all by himself and he did a great job. I sure do love him. (Written Nov. 2012)