Our story begins like many other BYU romances. We met at church. We were in the same ward and even the same FHE group. But, there are a few differences...
The Beginning
Kristie: I was just beginning my first year of college, and unlike most Freshman, I was going to be living in an apartment with mostly return missionaries and upper-class students. The day I moved into my apartment, I was unpacking, and received a phone call. I answered and Jared was on the other line (calling to talk to my roommates), but I was the only one home. We ended up talking for a long time, about who knows what. He invited me and my roommates to go caving with him and some friends. At the end of the conversation, Jared said, "Kristie, you're really cool. If in like 40 years, neither of us are married, we should get hitched." I jokingly agreed. We became instant friends.
The Courtship
Jared: Kristie actually asked me out. It was mid-November, and I was sitting at home when I got a phone call from the Department of Family Science at BYU. They were apparently doing a survey on dating experiences at BYU. Okay, it was really Kristie, and she was doing this so-called "survey" to ask me out for that Saturday. I wasn't supposed to recognize her voice (she was trying to disguise it), but I did. And of course I said, "Yes". Needless to say, it was a great date. She did get lost trying to find my house and at one point lost her car in the parking lot, but it was a blast, and I just felt good.
Kristie: I actually asked him out to make another guy jealous. I wanted to go with someone who was a good friend and there was no romance potential (surprise, surprise). We went to a murder mystery dinner, so we got to get a little dressed up. I was so impressed with the guy! No one had ever treated me so well on a date. He opened doors for me, pulled out my chair, helped me in and out of the car, and even helped me with my seat belt. Then, after we went to a friend's apartment and watched "Clue" to go with the theme of the night. Then, he took me home. I remember going to my room and kneeling down, and thanking the Lord for letting me know that there really were some great guys out there. We were pretty much inseparable after. We enjoyed many late night movies (we had our first kiss during Lord of the Rings), bowling league competitions, and just being silly with each other. He was unlike any other guy I'd dated, and I knew we had something special.
The Proposal
Jared: I proposed on February 20th. I had met her family the previous week. So, I called up her dad that morning (kinda scary), and he gave me her hand. That night, I showed up at her door with 3 purple roses. I took her out to eat at a really nice Italian restaurant (we had Italian on our first date). Then I drove her up to Hobble Creek Canyon, where we had our first date.
Kristie: He took me out of the car, but kept the headlights on. He started singing the song that he had written for me for Valentine's Day. But when he came to the end, he continued with a new verse: "Forever we will be this happy, forever we will know this joy. Forever you will be the girl who was prepared just for this zany boy. Forever I will hold your hand and forever I'll be at your side. Forever I will be the man you need in whom you always can confide. Forever I will keep you with me and hold you oh so close. Forever I will make you happy and cherish you the most. Forever I'll be there for you holding you and loving you. I'll never ever let you go." He then got down on one knee, pulled out a ring he made out of a dollar bill, and sang, "Will you be my wife forever?" Of course I said, "Yes!"Jared: Well I just twirled her around and hugged her. Then, I went and got 21 more roses from the trunk for a total of 24- "16 for every waking hour of every day spent thinking about you, and 8 for every sleeping hour of every night I dream about you. All day, every day, for the rest of my life, I'll have you on my mind."
We were married for time and all eternity in the temple on May 29th, 2004
