9 years, 4 months, 13 days.

Nine years ago today I married my soul mate. Yes, 9 years ago! I can't believe it's been that long. I thought I would share our story with all of you out there who may not know it...

I moved home from college after Fall semester 1998. I had been praying and felt that even though I hadn't quite finished my associates I needed to move home. I had many different reasons as to why I thought I was being prompted to move home, but none of them included Jason. In fact, I didn't even know Jason.

I didn't want to go back to my regular ward and found that a returned missionary I really liked was going to a singles ward. So, I went there. Jason says he came up and introduced himself the first time I was there - I don't remember that. Sorry, but he didn't make any kind of impression on me - and really, I was there to follow the returned missionary. I didn't need a guy, right?

On December 31st I received a phone call, a guy named Jason was wanting me to go on a date with him. I've been taught by my oldest sister that free food is free food, so go and enjoy it even if you don't end up liking the guy. He had left me a message saying he met me in the singles ward and since he worked with the records he got my phone number. I asked my sister if she knew who he was, since he graduated the same year she did. She said she didn't know him that well, but knew he was a good guy. Apparently he was really close friends with our next door neighbor. So, I called him back and said yes.

We went on our first date on January 1, 1999. When he came to pick me up he had a bouquet of wild flowers - not roses. So right there, I was impressed. He later told me his mom always told them to take flowers to their dates on their first date. Good thinking mom! We went to Hard Rock - my first time ever. I don't remember what I ate, but I do remember what I wore. I still have the fleece sweater - wish I still fit in the pants. After we went mini golfing and talked about Murphy's law. We talked about how we were both believers in it. Odd, I know - but hey.

After the date I knew I liked him, and he was cute - but there weren't any "love" feelings. He asked me out again and we went and rented movies to watch at his house. We had digiorno pizza - another first for me (how sheltered am I?). I remember when we were renting the movies we ran into someone he knew - a girl - and he introduced me. We also held hands for the first time that night too.

between a few days of talking on the phone and him coming over one night to share poetry, I fell in love. Seems like a long time, but in all actuality, it was only about a week since our first date. He invited me to come to his house while his brother was having a b-day party - I said sure. I was friends with a lot of his brother's friends. I also found out that Jason gave the best bear hugs in the history of man kind.

We talked about marriage and decided to pray about it. We both got the same answer, but I told him to wait until my parents got back from a cruise they had been planning. Especially since we'd only known each other a week.

We started taking a religion class together at the local University and the first night we went early and walked around campus and talked. Then as he was driving over to the class he stopped at a parking lot that over looks the Ogden valley - there he proposed. He had flowers in the backseat the whole time and I didn't know it! This was January 13th. Do the math - 13 days is all!

After class we went to our ward skating party where we told a couple people, before we knew it it was announced over the loud speaker - so we had to book it home before someone called my parents.

I woke up my mom and dad while Jason was downstairs and told them the news. They acted happy for me, but I could tell they were concerned, afterall I had only known the guy for 13 days. They came downstairs and I went up stairs to tell Crystal, who had become my best friend since I had been home. She screamed, "no, you can't marry him" of course Jason heard this. I also told my little brother, who said, "what about Nick?" (the missionary I had send off a few months earlier). Yeah, my family was pretty funny about it.

I'm sure my dad did a background check and I'm guessing Jason passed. My parents did have some sit down talks with me about if I was sure he was the one, I know they were worried, but it sure annoyed me then.

4 months and 13 days after we first met we were married for time and all eternity in the Bountiful Temple. It hasn't been the easiest 9 years, but we have worked together and he has been so understanding of all my medical issues and schooling. I love him with all of my heart and can't imagine life without him. He has given me such strength and hope. He is my best friend.

I love you Jason and always will. I'm glad you agreed that I could keep you forever.