Michael is really good at telling our story. He can make it funny, sad, happy, whatever mood he is in. But the one thing he isn't good at is letting me tell it from my point of view. So we decided that we would write down our points of view for future generations. I also thought it might be fun to post! Its kind of long. I will under stand if you can't read it all. Its 13 pages long. Good luck!
Me and Mike meet way back in
September of 2009. We were in the same institute class. After class one day I
was talking to Becca Sweagle (now Becca Hainsworth) in the foyer when all of a
sudden Mike gets up out of his chair and comes and joins us. It was fun talking
to both of them, I was new and hadn’t made any friends yet. After awhile, I
leave. Shortly after I get home I get this phone call from Becca! I was lying
on my bed and this is how the conversation went.
“Mariah! You have no idea what I
had to go through to find you number.”
“Hi Becca! I’m glad you found
it.”
“Well you remember that guy Mike
we were talking to?”
“Yeah.”
“Well he was wondering if he
could have your number.”
I think for a bit. Chad
my missionary flashes through my mind. But everything everyone has told me
about how I need to date while he’s gone comes to mind as well. So I say…
“Sure. Why not?”
“Awesome! Well I’ll give it to
him. You should be getting a call shortly.”
We then said good bye and I
continue to read my book. I get a few pages along when Mike calls.
He sounded very nervous the whole
time we talk. He asks me to go on a date the first weekend in October. I had to
decline because my parents were coming into town. So we set it up for the next
week end.
The next weekend comes and I was
home alone for awhile that evening. Mike called me to find out where I live to
pick me up. I remember him trying to be sarcastic but he was so nervous I
couldn’t figure out what he was doing. So he came across as over apologetic
with a dash of mean. I also remember there being a really long awkward silence
and it was so long I just hung up. I don’t know if he knows that but he’ll find
out when he reads this. Hahaha! He called back and said there must have been a
bad connection or something and I ran with that.
He finally made to my house. It
takes about 30 min to get here from anywhere. ( we live in the middle of
nowhere.) And the plan was to go get ice cream but neither of us knew where to
get some on this side of Tucson so we went to a Denny’s that was right next to
the free way. There we sat, talked,
laughed, and ate food. Somewhere in there he called me a vampire and told me I
wanted to suck his blood… still not sure where that came from… After that we
went driving around hoping to find a park where we could walk and talk but that
didn’t work out. So we drove all over the place listing to accaplla church
music. I thought something along to the lines of “Oh great he’s peter
priesthood” and as the date progresses I couldn’t see our relationship going
any further. Because he made a comment along the lines of “Mariah I can see us
becoming great friends!” and then at the end of the date he gave me a side hug.
Ok I thought he won’t ever call
me again. I had fun but he’s right we’ll just stay friends. A few days later I
get a call from Mike asking me if I wanted to come over to his place to watch a
movie with a bunch of people. I said sure and got my stuff and headed over. I
have to call him to get directions and he ends up having to stand outside so I
can find it. We get in there and there are his roommates and one or two other
girls. I sit down on the couch and am very shy. He sits down next to me and
promptly puts a pillow between us. I think “Yep just friends” and we watch the movie.
This is where I discover Mike’s very loud very unique laugh. I sit there
watching the movie and start laughing just because Mike is laughing. And I
think “Oh my who is this guy and what am I doing here?” After the movie we
stand around and talk and Mike keeps his distance and I believe I walk out to
my car alone. Although Roger and Carli did help me back out of their crazy
drive way…
The next morning Leon and Jen ask
me if there is any interest and I say no not really. They ask what it is I
don’t like about Mike. I say “You’re going to think this is really mean but… I
don’t like his laugh.” Now let me just say this I LOVE Mike’s laugh now I think
its great. I do jump sometimes when it comes out of nowhere when we are in
public. But I love it J
I think a huge part of me was nit picking at all the guys I went out with to
help protect me from falling for another guy while I was waiting for Chad. That
being said lets continue…
A couple weeks later or so, I
believe it was in November, I get a phone call from Mike and he asks me out on
another date. I think to myself “Really?” But I say yes and tell Jen I’m going
to tell Mike that I’m not interested. And ask if we can just stay friends. So
the date comes and the plan is to go to chilies. But once again we can’t find
it. Driving around I think “Hasn’t he ever heard of Google maps?” I wasn’t very
nice back then….
So we end up going to something
better so it was ok J
we go to this place called chipotle and Jamba Juice!!! I tell him about my
family and how spoiled I am and he tells me about his family and how messed up
it is. Then I start getting really hyper off the jamba juice. We go back to his
place and we watch a movie. I don’t remember what. And I put my legs across his
lap and we talk and goof off and I’m totally failing at telling him I’m not
interested. And then at the end of the date he asks me if I’ll go to the
Christmas dance with him at the institute. And I say YES! WHAT KIND OF JERK FACE
AM I!!!
The whole way home I’m kicking
myself. The next day was Sunday and by this time I’m really good friends with
Becca. Rephrase that Becca had become my best friend here in AZ. And I tell her
about what had happened and she suggested I call Mike up for a walk after
church and just tell him what’s going on. So that’s what I did.
I use to wear this ring. It was
gold with a blue sapphire in the shape of a heart set into it. Chad
had given it to me as a promise ring. Mike had asked me about it the night
before. So that was the route I was going to take. So he meets me at the
institute building and we go for a walk around the University of Arizona
campus. We talk for a long time. He being the one to start it all and me being
the one dreading what I have to say. Finally he says “Gee Mariah I’m sorry I’ve
been talking away and I don’t even know why you wanted to go on this walk. What
did you want to talk about?” I think “Dang it! I don’t want to do this!” So I
say “You remember you asked me about my ring last night. Well…” Then I proceed
to tell him about my missionary and how I promised him I would date other
people but I wouldn’t be married when he got back. Then I laugh and say “I
guess technically that means I could be engaged.” I tell him that if he wants
to ask someone else to the dance he can. He shakes his head and says “I don’t
know if I want to take someone else. I don’t know who I would take.” Then he
walks me back to my car we say good bye and I think to myself. Well after the
dance I don’t think I’ll be seeing him again.
Well I see him at institute and
we hang out now again but that’s all they are to me are hang outs and I start
to see some hope of keeping Mike as a friend. Then one fate full day we go shopping
to buy him some clothes for the dance. And somehow it comes up that I think
this is just a hang out and Mike gets this look on his face that spells out
despair. And I ask what’s wrong and he says “Nothing, this just obviously meant
more to me then it did to you.” Punch to the gut! I felt horrible! But life
went on…
The day of the Christmas dance I
went and got ready at Becca’s place. Mike and Zak came and picked us up. After
a makeup disaster and trying to get our hair to work we were only 5 or so minutes
late. Mike will probably say it’s more but all well.
At the dance I had such a great
time. We had dinner which was delicious till I found a hair in it. Then Mike
gave me his! We watched a play which was a singles ward princess bride spoof.
And then we danced. I had such a blast! Mike is a pretty good dancer. I
remember at one point we were standing near the back of the gym and I had my
hand on his chest and I looked up at him and I thought “I like him.” But that’s
as far as I would let it go. I was waiting for Chad
I would NOT fall for another guy I knew Chad was the one for me! (BLAH! I
was stupid…)
So the night ended and I had
thoroughly enjoyed myself. It was either this night or another one where me and
mike had a DTR (Determine the relationship) We had a few. All of them evolved
me shedding a tear or two and telling him that I had to wait for Chad. But I did
manage to convince him to stay my friend. He said something along the lines of
“Those people who are truly good friends will be your friends whether or not
you are waiting for a missionary.” So he kind of backed himself into a corner
and had to be my friend or he wouldn’t be a “good friend” hahahha. But honestly
I wouldn’t have blamed him. But he did. He stayed my friend.
I went home to Utah for Christmas and didn’t want to come
back. But I did. I came back to Arizona.
I got a blessing from Dad that said I had people here outside my families that
needed me. When I told Becca about it she said she was one. I think Mike was
definitely another and maybe even Heather Kunz another friend of mine that
comes into the story awhile later. But I fallowed the council although I didn’t
want to and I came back.
Mike came up with this great idea
while I was gone. He decided that he was going to help me wait for my
missionary by pretending to be my boyfriend. AKA we were going to go hang out a
lot and be friends and let the institute gossip take care of the rest. I
thought it was a great idea! We made a game out of it even. We would go to
activities and someone would wait till we were by ourselves and then come up to
us and ask us if me and mike where dating or together or seeing each other. And
I would say no we were just really good friends. But Mike, oh Mike, he would
milk it for all that it was worth. Then at the end of the conversation he would
say something like “Ah just joking man! But seriously…” And then walk off
leaving them still wondering.
During this time period Mike had
two girl friends. I hoped and prayed that both of them would work out. I really
wanted my friend to be happy. But these relationships where not meant to be.
And apparently my relationship with Chad wasn’t meant to be either.
I flew up for his homecoming. I
went and saw him the Saturday before. We spent all day together. He wasn’t very
nice. I told him what happened between me and Chase and he called me a dirty
cup. Used merchandise. He told me that his parents were trying to convince him
that he shouldn’t be with me because I was flunking out of school; I would go
behind his back and stop taking birth control so I could have a baby sooner. He
told me that they didn’t think we would go well together because we shared so
many of the same flaws. I sat there and took it and I didn’t understand where
any of this had come from. I thought his family loved me. But apparently not.
The whole time I was so happy to be with him but it wasn’t the same as it use
to be. We were both so different. I look back now and I can see the high school
girl trying so hard to make this work and I look at where I am now and I would
have never been happy with him or his family.
I go back and I tell Mike
everything that happened with Chad
and I cry on Mike’s shoulder. He tells me that he and Nicole broke up while I
was gone as well. So we decided that we are going to have a pity party
together. We go get ice cream and pick up stuff from target. While we are in
target Mike makes a joke about Chad
calling me a dirty cup. Before I realize what I’m doing I slap Mike and start
to walk away. Mike grabs my arm and pulls me in and apologizes. I just start to
cry. And good long cry right there in the middle of target. Right after that we
leave and go back to his house and feast on ice cream.
Well it turns out things are
still really complicated with Mike and Nicole. She told him she needed space
and time. But she kept texting him like nothing had happened. Utterly confused
Mike calls me up and asks it we could talk. So we meet up at this shopping
complex and he tells me what she’s been saying and how he’s not sure what he
even wants any more. So we come up with a plan for him to meet up with her and
just talk things out in person once and for all. So then we just end up talking
and walking. And I remember telling him about Leon and Jen trying to convince
me to stay in Arizona.
Telling me how I should find a guy down here and then I could be their nanny
forever. Leon
also kept asking me if I had kissed Mike yet. So I tell Mike that even if me
and Mike did end up together I would drag him up to Utah because school was cheaper their any
ways.
A dance came up that same week on
Friday. I manage to drag Mike there to go with me. It was fun! We learned how
to salsa and tango a little bit. Then the dance really started and he and I
just have a blast on the dance floor. Then Nicole shows up and Mike asks her to
dance. I look on really hopping that things work out. That these two can live
happily ever after. But then Mike asks a question and Nicole draws away says
something shakes her head and walks away talks to her friends and then leaves.
Mike walks over to me and asks if we can leave. I say sure.
We go back to his apartment and
watch Iron Man with Heather and Drey. So we all sit on the same couch and get
nice and cozy. And the seating arrangement is thus: Me on the far left, Mike,
Heather, then Drey. Mike being broad shouldered wasn’t very comfortable with
this situation. So he leans forward and says “This isn’t going to work.” And
puts his arms across Heather’s and my shoulders. Heather says something along
the lines of “Uh, no.” and I just lift his arm off me and place it next to him.
Later Mike says “Really guys.” And does it again. Heather removes his hand
again and this time I snuggle into him. This takes us both by surprise. But we
enjoy the rest of the movie sitting like that.
The next week (I think) I get a
random phone call from Mike. He is frantic. He tells me I have to come over
right now. I have to meet him at his place and we have to watch a movie. I was
in the middle of a very good book and really just wanted to stay at home in bed
and read. I was in my PJs, had no makeup on, and I’m not even sure if I
showered that day. But after much convincing and even a plea to Leon to extend
my curfew a bit I head over to Mike’s.
I show up slightly frustrated and
slightly amused. After we decide to watch spider wick, we sit on the couch. I
sit in my normal position, curled up in the corner with a pillow. I have
watched lots of movies at mikes house before.
Mike, however, sits very stiffly next to me. I give him a weird look and
think ok… He then puts his arm around me and asks “Is this ok?” I giggle and
say yeah and then snuggle into him.
I have to leave before we finish
the movie because Leon
did not extend my curfew. But I remember being slightly confused because I
didn’t feel guilty for cuddling with Mike. And for the past two years every
time I cuddled with any guy I would feel awful. But not anymore. It was kind of
nice and kind of strange.
Right before I left Mike asked
me, change that, he told me I needed to come over the next day and finish the
movie. I agreed. I had the next day off of work and if I got my stuff all
packed for Utah
I could head over no problem. So as I was packing my things I get a phone call
from Becca. She asks me what I’m doing that night. I reply, “Ummm well I need
to get all my stuff packed for Utah.
And some other stuff. And I need to get a good night sleep and sooooo Yeah I’m
don’t think I can do anything tonight.”
I hear Becca sigh and then she
pulls out the big guns. “So Mike called me and told me you guys had a date last
night and are going on another one tonight.”
“Well I don’t know if I would
call it a date…”
“Mariah, You cuddled. I think
that’s a date.”
I groan and laugh at the same
time. “Becca! I don’t know how I feel about this!” I then proceed to explain to
her that I really don’t know what I’m doing. I don’t know how I feel. I still
have this faint hope of things working out with Chad. And I’m going to Utah! I have to move
back to Utah
in August for school and everything… I just don’t know what to do!
Becca then gave me some wise
advice. And we deiced that I would tell Mike that I couldn’t commit to anything
till after the Utah
trip. (I don’t know if I stated this earlier but Leon and Jen where going to Hawaii for two weeks. So
I went to Utah
for the same amount of time.)
So the date came. I meet up with
Mike at his place. After that we took off to Target where Mike was going to buy
a book for me to read on my trip to Utah.
But as we were walking in I told him this story. “Mike there is something I
have to tell you.” By the way I’m holding his hand as I say this. “There are
two guys in my life right now. One that I think I love and one that I could
fall in love with. I’m not sure with path I should take right now but just so
you know I don’t think I can commit to anything till after I get back from Utah.”
And I believe he replied with
something along the lines of. “Well that’s not really what I want to hear, but
I guess it’s fair enough.” And he still held my hand! Why he didn’t ditch me
right then I don’t know. But he stayed.
We go in buy the book and a few
other things that are not relevant to this story and we left to go finish the
movie. When we got to the apartment one of his roommates was back with his girl
friend; their names are Scott and Chelsea. They were planning on making dinner
together and then working on some homework. So Mike said that we would finish
watching our movie then we would leave so they could eat together and do
homework for a bit. Then if they wanted they could watch a movie with us. They
agreed. So after the movie we went to go for a walk.
We hoped in the car and Mike
drove me to a park were we could walk around under the full moon. It was a lot
of fun. We talked about crazy stuff. I don’t even remember. I do remember
running towards to swings and spending a long time talking there. Then as Mike
likes to say “Everyone and their dogs showed up to use the swings.” So Mike
said we should take another lap around the park so we did. Now at the top of
this park there was a huge trench to help catch the water during monsoon
season. And we could walk through it just like we were walking in between two
good sized hills. So right as we come up on this location Mike starts to
stutter a bit, repeat the same phrase over and over again. Then right was in
enter the trench Mike pulls me in (the Phrase “oh crap” went through my mind)
and kisses me. I melt. Literally. My knees went weak and I couldn’t stand. My
mind was blank. Mike pulls away and asks if I was alright. I node. Then he
asked if he could kiss me again. I look up and say yes. He was such a good
kisser. Or I just hadn’t kissed in such a long time. Every time he kissed me
that night I just melted. And believe me as we finished walking around the park
and before we went back inside the apartment we kissed plenty of more times.
So we go back in and stick in the
movie “Up”. We watched it on a lap top because the TV in the apartment was
dying. The sound was definitely dead. But we along with Scott and Chelsea
cuddled up and had a great time. By the end of the movie we had to say good
night. Because I still had a curfew (side note: that is one of the best things
about being married is not having to answer to someone of higher authority in
your home J ) I
went home very happy that night.
The next morning I wake up and
stick my head in where Leon, Jen, and Auna are sitting. “So,” Leon says “Did
he kiss you yet?” I knew this question was coming. Leon would ask me every time I went
on a date. Or even just spent time with a boy. So when I nod and say yes, Leon’s eyes go wide
and Jen says “Really.” I nod and say yes again they both start laughing. And
asking questions. It was a fun morning. Later that morning I flew off to Utah. And it wasn’t till
then that I started to wonder what my parents might think.
When I arrived in Utah my parents picked
me up from the air port. I absolutely love Utah. Every time I go back I roll down the
windows so I can just soak up the smell of the plants and mountains. On the way
home I talked to my parents about all sorts of stuff. But I avoided the subject
of mike. I didn’t know how I was going to tell them. But it really didn’t take
me to long to. The opportunity presented its self in due time.
Mike called me that night. I went
outside and walk around the yard as I talked to him. We talked for a good long
while about everything and nothing. But by the time I went back inside my mom
knew something was up. I went in to talk to her while she was lying on her bed
reading the paper. I curled up next to her like I usually do. And she asked
calmly, “So, who where you talking to?”
“Michael Smith.”
“Who?” I then proceed to explain
who he is what we’ve done together and how we are now going out. After a pause
she asks “Well, what about Chad?”
So, I tell her about all the awful things his family has been saying and now
that I’m going out with Mike I can kind of see where Chad might not have been the best
person for me. “Ok sweetheart,” mom replies, “just don’t rush into anything
ok?”
As the week continued Mike and I
would talk to each other at least once a day for an hour or more. I was falling
more and more in love, and my parents… well they were getting more and more
worried that Mike was a rebound.
During one of my many
conversations with Michael, he asked if he could come up and see me and my
family. I was shocked I told him I would love to see him but I wasn’t sure how
my family would react. So I would have to check.
Moms response was “I don’t want
to share you with a boy right now!”
Dads response was “I think you
would be giving a message you aren’t ready to send yet.”
So it was a no. I told Mike that
my parents didn’t want him to come up yet. He asked why. I told him that they
were afraid he was a rebound. Michael didn’t care for that response to much.
But it was what it was. And besides I still had to go on one last date with Chad…
Chad was being completely ridiculous as all ways. I was trying
to set up a date and time to see him and tell him I had a boy friend and he
didn’t have to worry about me anymore. And he was telling me he wasn’t sure when
he could make time for me. Ok fine with me if he didn’t make time for me while
I was there I would send him an email and call it good. But finally he settled
for the last Friday I was there.
Michael knew about the date. He
wasn’t happy with it. But he put up with it. Said he could understand why I
would want this closure. So the day of the date arrived. I called Mike up and
told him everything would be fine right before the date began.
Chad showed up in his new yellow car that his parents bought
him. Bribed him with. “don’t date Mariah seriously and will give you car and a
laptop and help pay for your schooling!” BLAH! I hated that car. Chad came in.
Said hi to my family and we headed off to Granny Annie’s. On the way there I
told him I was dating Mike. I got it out there at the very beginning! I was
proud of myself. Things were a little tense there for awhile. Chad asked me
why we where even going on this date if I already had a boy friend. And I told
him it was because I thought he deserved to hear it in person and this way we
could talk about it if he wanted to. So we went got scones talked about it for
a bit and he handled it really well. He got depressed at one point when I was
giving him advice about dating other girls, but besides that he did really
well.
After we ate we went back to my
house and went on a double with my brother Mike and my friend Ari. We all went
bowling together. It was a lot of fun. And we all pretty much stunk. The whole
time Chad
was flirting with me too. And to my regret I was flirting back.
After bowling we went back home
and watched a movie. I don’t remember what movie. I think it might have been
August Rush. While we were watching it Chad leaned over and said “You’re
the one with the boy friend so I’ll let you decide how close you sit.” What
kind of guy says that! And what kind of girl am I to actually do it! I should
have given him a dirty look and walked away. But no I scooted closer. And we
watched the movie all snuggled up. In my defense I did wait for this guy for
two years. And it’s not like you can just throw all those emotions out the
window in one go. It takes time. All I can say is that Chad was doing
a great job of pulling all those emotions back from the past. The date ended.
And now I was more confused than I had been in a long time.
And it stayed that way for the
rest of the time I was in Utah.
I saw Chad
again that Sunday for a friends homecoming. And I continued to talk to Mike on
the phone every day. I talked to my good friend Meagan about it. And I even
asked my dad for a fathers blessing. In the blessing I was told that I would
just have to wait things out and see. He couldn’t give me an answer. So I took
that as “Mariah, don’t choose either one yet. Go on a mission!” So that’s what
I told Chad.
I told him I’ll move back to Utah
go to school and go on a mission and then we can see where things are when I
get back. And he was okay with that. But he didn’t seem very happy when I said
good bye.
So on my flight back to Arizona I thought about
how I was going to tell Mike. It was a like a broken record playing in the back
of my mind for the hours I was on the planes and the time I just sat waiting in
the air port.
When I finally reached Tucson I had made a
decision. I was just going to flat out tell him. My friend Heather had come to
pick me up. So when I saw her I told her “Me and Mike are going to slow down
for a bit.” And she nodded like she understood and then said “I left my bag
over here let me go get it.” So she left to go get it and I waited for my bag.
When around corner came Mike! My heart jumped and before I knew what I was
doing I took off running and flew into his arms! I didn’t realize how much I
missed him or how much I truly liked him till I saw him standing there waiting
to surprise me with this huge smile plastered on his face. There was even a guy
standing in the air port that turned to Heather and said “Well she didn’t miss
him much did she?” But that wasn’t the
end of the surprise.
Mike helped me with my bags and
we headed out to the car. He opened up the trunk and asked me to put my smaller
bag in the back seat. When I opened up the door there was this huge bouquet of
flowers! They were absolutely beautiful. I was stunned I put my hand over my
mouth and gave a nervous laugh and did a little dance. Then went up to Mike and
gave him a hug and a kiss. He had the biggest smile on his face.
The following Monday (so the next
day) Mike picked me up and we went to FHE and Ultimate Frisbee. Afterwards he
gave me a ride home. We stood outside the car holding each other as we were
saying good night and Mike pulls me away from him and says with a very serious
look on his face “Mariah I love you.” I was shocked! I didn’t know what to say!
Just a day ago I was so sure I was going on a mission and I couldn’t make up my
mind if I wanted to date Mike or Chad! And here is a guy that is
telling me he loves me! And he real meant it I could tell. He really thought he
was in love me. I slowly fell back on his chest and told him “I don’t know if I
can say that to you yet.” I felt horrible. But this amazing man just nodded and
said “That’s ok.” We said good night I went inside and I prayed.
I prayed for that whole week! I
didn’t know what to think or what to say. But Mike just acted like nothing was
wrong. Which was great! No pressure! I was able to take me time and find out if
I really did love him. So that Friday, Mike came over and we went for a walk.
And while we were on that walk we sat down on the curb and talked and looked
out across the desert (not much to see it was night and pretty dark). As we sat
there I felt so at peace and so my self. I realized that I did love Mike. At
least I thought did as much as a 20 year old girl can know she is in love. So I
hesently said “Michael I think I do love you.” He reached down (my head was on
his chest again he has a nice big chest. Good broad shoulders) lifted my chin
and kissed me. Oh he kissed me! We kissed for awhile. Then we stood up and
started to walk down the street back to Leon and Jen’s. As we were walking I
felt a little hand grasp mine. I looked down and I saw in my minds eye a little
girl with red pig tails holding my hand with a stern look on her face and she
said “Mommy don’t ever forget what this feels like.” And she walked for us with
a bit. And I knew right then that Mike was the guy I was going to marry. He was
the right guy for me! When we got back to the house and I was saying good bye
to Mike next to his car I told him (I still can’t BELIEVE I did this) that we
could start talking about marriage. He was kind of shocked and really happy to
hear that.
Then we dated! We watched movies,
went on walks, hung out at his place and played games, I meet the Smiths (his
adapted family), and we kissed, a lot. We dated for about 7 weeks. At that
point we deiced he should meet my family.
I remember calling and telling my
parents that I was bring Mike to meet them. They were so worried. They told me
they didn’t want me to give this guy the wrong idea. To which I responded that
I knew I wasn’t giving him the wrong idea I was trying to give them the right
one. I even told dad about the little girl who held my hand, I’m pretty sure
her name is Ruth. Dad said ok and he looked forward to meeting the guy.
So we picked a weekend and drove
all night up to meet my parents. We stopped in Orem for breakfast and for us to meet one of
Mike’s best friends, Andrew Sealer. Then we drove over to my grandmothers were
we showered and tried to sleep for a little bit before we went the last hour to
Kaysville. I slept just fine, Mike however did not. When we got to my parents I
introduced him to everyone and then went back to bed. Mike again couldn’t sleep
so he helped my family put together the basement. They had just put down carpet
and so they were putting everything back. This turned out to be great! It let
my family see how great a guy Mike is as well as give Mike something to do so
he didn’t feel as nervous.
After I woke up I went to go find
everyone and found them working on the basement. So I hoped right in. After a
little while Kristie walks down the hall and walks right back up and says “Why
is the bed room door locked?”
My mom responds “Michael is
talking to Dad.” It was a very short and curt response.
I look up with a deer in the head
lights look. Kristie says “Ohhhh Kaaay….” And goes back to doing whatever. I am
all of a sudden very nervous. Earlier I found out that Mike was planning on
asking my dad for my hand in marriage while we were up there. I couldn’t wait
to find out how my dad was going to respond. I honestly had no idea. I wait and
wait for them to come out and it feels like forever! But in reality it was only
a few min. They walk out together and they go up stairs! There was no chance to
corner them and ask what was going on.
That evening Mike and I had
planed to go to the temple and do baptisms for the dead. We eat dinner and Mike
didn’t eat much. He told me, on the drive to the temple, it was because he was
still shook up about talking to Dad. The talk went something like this.
“Brother Walker I would like to
ask you for your daughters hand in marriage. Me and Mariah have talked about it
and we feel like it’s the right thing”
“Well I trust my daughter.”
So we get to the Bountiful
temple go to the baptistery and a temple worker stops us and says the
baptistery is closed. It had flooded! Go figure right… So we go back out. We
decided earlier that we were going to share our patriartical blessings while we
were there and enjoy the temple grounds. We walk and find a pretty place on the
grounds and have a seat. We read and talk about our blessings for a bit and
then sit back and enjoy the sun set and amazing view. I’m leaning on Mikes
chest, again, and his heart is racing! I ask him why and he says “I’m still
shook up from talking to your dad.”
“Still?!”
“Yep.”
Yeah I’m gullible. About a minute
later I feel him reaching in his bag for something and he says “Mariah will you
marry me?” I look down at his hand and he is holding a ring! In a little blue
box! Oh I was soooooo excited! I was speechless! I nodded and said yes about
50,000 times! I even cried. After ward we kissed and headed back to Mom and
Dad’s. On the drive over we text about a million people.
We had a brilliant plan on how to
tell Mom and Dad, but for some reason it didn’t work. So I walk in through the
back door and Michael follows a little ways behind. I look around and see that
no one is around except for one of my brothers on the computer. I ask him where
ever body is. He replies that they are down stairs. I head over to the stairs
and up walks Mom and Dad. I just hold up my left hand. Mom looks at it looks
back and me and squeals! She starts to laugh! And then says “You knew this was
going to happen didn’t you!” I just shack my head and start to laugh too! We
all sit down and start to plan out the date. How we are going to do things.
Where we are going to get married and all that fun stuff!
My friend Meagan Flint ended up
playing a huge roll in my wedding. She took our engagement and bride/groom
pictures and she made my wedding dress! Everything she did was beautiful! I
couldn’t have pulled it off with out her. Well maybe but it would have been a
lot more expensive! Meagan even flew down to Arizona to finish up the wedding dress. She
made sure that we always gave our best smile, while taking pictures, by saying
silly things like “Boobies!” Yeah don’t ask it’s just who she is… She is such,
SUCH, a good friend. I’m so glad she is my best friend ever!!!
So after a few trips to Utah in-between we
headed up to get married the week of October 14. I had my endowment session the
Tuesday before. And it was amazing! There was a bit of difficulty but it didn’t
dampen my sprits! On the Thursday we got married and the sealer did such an
amazing job! He talked about staying true and faithful to each other for time
and all eternity and how wicked the world is and how important it is going to
be to keep our home a safe place to come home too. He then started to perform
the ceremony and when it came Michaels turn to say “yes” he said it a little
early. It was quite funny. On the way out of the temple we stopped and talked
to the sister who was leading us out and asked her if we had to leave. It felt
so good! So wonderful that we didn’t want to leave, EVER! She gave us a big
smile and said yes we had to leave but we could come back as often as we
wanted. My cousin Sandra took our pictures before the sealing and took the
group pictures after wards. It was a lot of fun.
On our way back to my parents
house to rest for a bit we stopped at Wendy’s for some fries. Wedding dress and
all! We were both really hungry and it was a while before the luncheon and
besides I think we made the girl at the windows day!
The Luncheon was amazing! Really really good food. She was the same
person who catered my cousins wedding (she got married a week before we did).
And she even made a surprise cake for Mike! We surprised him with the whole
lunch actually. He thought we were having sandwiches (that was the original
plan until mom discovered this lady). But we ended up having manicotti and
salad and really yummy bread and a star wars cake! He told me after wards how
he use to joke with his friends that he would some how squeeze star wars into
his wedding. And it turns out he didn’t have too! His wife did it for him.
After the luncheon we took off
for our honey moon! At least for the first night any ways. We went to a place
my parents had a time share called Wolf
Creek! It was a lot fun.
And we wont go into details…
The next day was the reception.
We headed down early. Mike didn’t like that plan but I insisted! We started to
decorate and put things together. Leon, Jen, Mom, Dad, and us were basically
the only ones who really stuck it out. I really thank Jen because she made the
reception look the best that it could be! My other siblings helped out for
awhile but they ducked out before it was finished. We had to do that too so I
could get my hair done and all fun stuff. My good friend Ashley did my hair
whenever I needed it, pictures, wedding day, and reception! She is so great!
Kristie’s good friend Shiree made
our wedding cake. Sister Waters catered our reception. And me and Mom put
together the decorations for my reception. If there was one thing I would
change that would be it. Trying to explain to mom what I wanted while in a different
state was really hard. But I know mom and Kristie did the best they could when
they went out shopping. And it did turn out rather beautiful.
We weren’t going to have a line
at the reception because Mike didn’t want to have to choose who was going to
stand in the line. His dad, his mother, Randy and Lauren. They all mean so much
to him but they don’t get along so well. His mother decided not to come. And
Byron (his father) just stepped up to plate and joined the line. Randy and
Lauren being the great people that they are just smiled and took the job of
being photographers! So I guess we shouldn’t have worried and it all worked its
self out. I’m so glad Lauren took pictures because I thought someone was going
to but I don’t think I ever asked someone officially to do it. Lauren is always
such a life saver!
After the reception we took off
for our honey moon again. We did that for 2 more days then headed home to our
cute little apartment in Tucson
Arizona. Fun store about the
apartment. Mike had to move in about a month before we got married. On my
birthday actually. So I go and help him move. I show up in an old pair of jeans
and T-shirt and Mike takes one look and me and gets the biggest smile on his
face! He told me I looked so sexy! That was only one of the reasons I knew I
was marrying the right guy. I thought I looked great no matter what I was
wearing! I reminded me of that country song “Gimmie that girl” by Joe Nichols
The following weekend that we got
back we had a Open house at the Smith’s. Randy and Lauren were so nice to let
us have it at their place. We had it out on their back padio with some Italian
lights and tables and chairs. They had chair covers and table cloths leftover
from one of their daughter’s weddings. So my colors at this reception were
black red and white! It was kind of fun to have two sets of colors. They even provided a lot of the food. Of
course Aunt Sabrina made Mike’s favorite cake, Texas sheet cake. Mike’s Aunt Dawn and her
daughter made us a gorgeous cake. Only the top was real but it looked like a
three tear cake. And Ooooo it was so pretty and so yummy!
One of the things Michael liked
to do at both receptions was when a little girl would come up he would ask “Have
you ever met a real princess?” they would shake their heads no. Then he would
reply “Well here is one. I just married her!” He can all ways make me feel like
such a princess.
And now we are living happily
ever after! Of course we have had our ups and downs but marriage is work. I’m
just very happy I have someone that is so willing to work at it with me!
