Our Story

Mike and I met at the BYU Fall Fling in September of 1997, but our story really began when we were in High School. I knew that I wanted to go to BYU , so I sent in my application at the beginning of my senior year of High School and knew early in November of 1996 that I had been accepted. In Arizona, Mike, on the other hand, decided almost at the last minute that he would apply, and barely made the deadline. Thank goodness that he is so brilliant, because despite his almost late application, he was accepted.

We first saw each other during Freshman Orientation Week. It was at an outside dance on campus. I was there with some new friends, and he was there alone, it seemed, wearing his bright blue Hailey's Comet T-shirt and a backpack. He was a few feet away, and amazingly enough, in the large crowd, there was no one between us. We saw each other and smiled.

A few days later I couldn't believe it when I saw him again, this time walking through the Cannon Center. Again, we saw each other and smiled.

The next time we saw each other was at Club Omni. He was there with his friend, Roger, both dressed in very tight 70's attire. They had mistaken "Ladies Night" for "Disco Night." He and Roger were watching some sweet break dancers on the stage. I made my way through the sweaty people to stand next to him, pretending to watch the dancers, but really just hoping he would talk to me. No luck.

Finally, I was at the Fall Fling with my sister, Leslie. We were outside dancing. There must have been thousands of people there. All of a sudden he was there next to me, dancing in the crowd with his friend, Roger. I pointed him out to Leslie, telling her that he was the cute boy I kept seeing everywhere. The next thing I knew, a slow song came on and Leslie told me that I had to ask him to dance. I said I would if she would ask his friend. I found some courage and bravely approached him. He said yes, and to this day insists that he was on his way to ask me. In very BYU-fashion, after the slow song ended, another one began and he asked me if I wanted to keep dancing. Of course I said yes. After the marathon of slow songs, I gave him my phone number, never expecting him to remember it, and we said goodbye.

A few days later, on a Friday night, I was outside of David John Hall, sitting on the grass with some friends. We didn't have any plans. For some reason I wanted to change my clothes, so I ran up to my room. As soon as I got in the door, the phone started ringing. I couldn't believe that he had remembered my number. He was asking me if I wanted to go swing dancing. I didn't even hesitate. He picked me up a few minutes later with Roger and his date, Mikki, in Roger's little Omni.

That was the beginning. Here we are overlooking Provo in the snow.

This picture was taken in California the summer that Mike left on his mission.

Here we are after seeing each other for the first time after he got home from his mission. We were engaged about two months later. Marrying Mike was the easiest decision I have ever made. I knew that we were meant to be together. Now, after nearly five years of marriage and two kids, we are happier than ever. He is the most brilliant man I know. He is smart, ambitious, handsome, funny, and romantic. He is a great dad, and I know that he loves me and our kids more than anything. I am so excited about our future together. I feel like we are still just beginning. I feel so lucky.