8 Years Ago Today...

... Mike and I began dating.

Fun, huh?

And just because I'm feeling, oh, sentimental today. I thought I'd write a bit about how we met.

Note: Back when I was 18 (that's when we met), I was a little conceited. And snobby. And a tad immature. Remember that.

In August 2000, after sending one of my best friends off on his mission and sending all of my high school friends off to college (I was planning on attending MCC), I realized I was kind of alone. Friends-wise. So, I went to the singles branch one Sunday, not knowing anyone, but hoping my friend, Liz, would be there.

I got there, and stood in the doorway looking for her. She wasn't there. I was just about to go and make a friend, when a girl walked up to me, introduced herself, and invited me to sit with her friends.

I ended up sitting next to Mike. I remember looking at him, and thinking, "Ew!" because he had facial hair... which is just obviously SO gross! At least in my 'high school' thinking it was. Of course, at the time, one of my life goals was to marry a doctor. Really. And become the next Diane Sawyer.

But, anyways, I started hanging out with him and his friends, and got to know everyone a bit better. A few days before I began school, I went to a dance. He asked me to dance and began flirting with me, and I remember thinking,

"Sad. The gross facial hair boy likes me."

But then he told me he was majoring in business, and I felt a bit better. Because CEOs are pretty close to doctors, right? So, at least he was a bit more worthy to like me. However, I had no intentions of ever liking him. Or getting serious for at least 8 years. So, it didn't bother me too much.

This is getting embarrassing at how shallow I was.

On Labor Day, I went to a party, and he was there. Flirting with me again. EXCEPT when he went to introduce me to someone, he couldn't even remember my name. Which was just the biggest shock, ever! This guy was supposed to be in love with me, and I was SO above him on the social scale (remember, the facial hair? And he wore really ugly shoes). It made me mad. So, I began flirting back, and told him to email me, thinking I'd string him along for while. Because he forgot my name. Which was beyond embarrassing. Plus, I still thought he was dating this other girl, and I thought it could get interesting.

I was very childish at the time. Remember?

So, we began emailing. And we helped a friend move. And went with a bunch of friends to a football game. And sat together during church. And held hands during a fireside that night (you now know for sure that I'm a skank, Kristi :) ). And he told me about his mission and his testimony. And we talked on the phone the next day, Monday, where he told me he loved me. And I began wondering, "What have I done?" (I'm glad I had somewhat of a conscience.).

And then on September 12, 2000 he drove out to Mesa to take me to the zoo.

Somewhere between walking through the rose garden and driving to get dinner, where he blushed as he asked, "Will you be my girlfriend?" in a totally sweet, 2nd grade-kind-of-way, something strange happened.

I didn't care that he wasn't going to be a doctor. Or that he had fashion issues. Or that he still was sporting a goattee.

I fell in love.

And it's been that way ever since.