our beginning: hers

Here is our beginning according to yours truly:

Our Story: Hers

So I guess some would think that our story started with the letter to Santa requesting a date with me as the one thing they wanted for Christmas. But little do most know that my side of the story started a month or so before that.

I started to attend the Scottsdale 3rd Ward in September of 2008. The first week I was contacted by the executive secretary to meet with the bishop. That night I met with the bishop. The following Sunday I met with one of his counselors to receive a calling. My calling: FHE leader. Little did I know at the time that this would be a tool in meeting my future husband! I tell you it was divinely inspired.

A month or so later I started seeing a guy in the ward. He shall remain nameless (not for any reason, just because). I remember seeing Bry at an FHE activity and just loving his smile. I couldn’t stop staring at his perfectly straight teeth. I was mesmerized. Me being the insecure person, I know we all are sometimes, thought that he wouldn’t want anything to do with me. So I focused on Nameless Guy (I hope you aren’t offended if you are reading this).

One ward FHE, I was talking to Nameless Guy and setting up a date when I looked up and saw Bry playing shoot out with some guys in the ward. I can’t remember if he bumped into me or what but I remember trying to play it cool and ask him “I’m sorry, what’s your name again?” I knew his name. haha. But it was an excuse to talk to him. “Bryan.” Right. Bryan. Well to make a long story short Nameless Guy moved back to Utah suddenly and that was that.

So I set out on a new mission. I wanted to meet this boy with the perfect smile and I was about to use my church calling to do it. I was feeling a need for a change and decided to change my hair. So Monday night after returning from Utah I went to work in Tom and Ashley’s bathroom. I came out sassy black and blonde panels.

I was in a sassy mood and gave sassiness to Bry that night at FHE. That is when I found out the horrible news. The news that made me re-think this whole mission. I found out that night that Bryan was a Ute. A Ute, that is right. He had attended the one school that really got me going. How was this ever supposed to work? That night I also told him that we couldn’t be friends. Wow did I eat those words right up.

I continued to concoct different ways and different activities to have our groups combine for FHE. Annie please don’t hate me for doing this! Corrine, bless her heart, came up with the best activity yet and she didn’t even know it! Our groups combined to go to the Tempe Symphony at Gammage Theater at ASU. I had most of the tickets for the event that night. We all gathered outside of the theater. I waited. I over heard someone mention that Bryan was running late and that he had a couple of friends with them. I volunteered to wait outside for them with tickets. I made sure to have a set to give that was in our section. Haha. Lame I know.

Well…. Everyone basically ended up waiting outside. Bryan arrived. I chickened out in trying to sit next to him and moved across the row and took a seat. Chris, Jeff, and Dave had fun eating all the candy we could find in my purse. If you know me, you know I always have snacks during activities (i.e. church, movies, football games, etc.). I looked down the row and there bry is sitting next to a really cute girl. I was kind of bummed.

Then it happened. I was set on not liking her just because she was where I wanted to be. Haha. Real mature. When I got a “pssst.” I looked down and the girl said, “Jen I just LOVE your shoes… where did you get them?” I couldn’t hate her then. My lovely zebra shoes! MacKenzie is a doll and I love her.

During the second act I got a nice little note on the back of the program letting me know how lame BYU was. And that the Utes this and the Utes that. We started passing notes back and forth. It was really fun to get saucy with him about the rivalry and have it all be in good fun. I started to like him more and more as the night progressed and his sense of humor started to come out. I don’t think I heard a single song that night. I was too busy listening to the wheels turn in my head about what to do next.

Finally it was over. We all proceeded outside to visit. And enter The Other Guy. The Other Guy and I started chatting about playing tennis. Any time I got the chance I tried to include Bryan in the conversation or at least try to send the message of who I really wanted to talk to. It ended up being helpful to us getting together—The Other Guy. He asked for my phone number to get together and play tennis. And so did Bry. I didn’t get his number though. Just The Other Guy’s. Great. Sigh. I tried to keep the evening going by suggesting we all head to the I hop across the street for a snack. Strike. No such luck.

Oh well. That was fun while it lasted. Or was it just starting? Obviously that question is already answered by the fact that this site even exists. Back Story: Bry had gone out with my now roommate, who wasn’t my roommate at the time that we lived together. That will come into play later. Keep that in the back of your mind.

I was pleasantly surprised to get a text a few days later during lunch from a number that I didn’t recognize. “IT IS HIM!” I remember my stomach dropping. I was so excited. We text back and forth for some time. And later he sent out one of his witty and clever text to the tennis group that he coordinated. The message said that I should come and play tennis and that I should invite this other roommate to come with me. Now, I’m thinking, “Great he is totally using me to get back with her.” I didn’t want any part of that. When I got home I asked her if she wanted to come. She declined the offer and said that I should go anyways.

My wonderful sister offered the best advice to me as I was discussing the situation with her. I will forever be indebted to her (for many more reasons than this). She told me “Jen, GO! Boys don’t ask girls to play sports with them for the competition. They ask them for other reasons. Duh!” So just when I was about to bail out, I decided to dust off my racquet and gear and go. Sigh. “I am going to completely humiliate myself.”

Off I went to my first Tennis Thursday get together. It had been a while. A LONG WHILE since I had picked up my racquet. And it didn’t help that I wasn’t very good to begin with. Ha ha. Thanks to Rob, Bryce, and Paige I was able to at least hit the ball. Enter in The Other Guy AGAIN. He was there. Chatting it up with me. I ended up play with Bryan somehow; go figure against The Other Guy and some other guy.

I only got hit once because I wasn’t paying attention. I was so nervous, I couldn’t do anything other than stand there. “What the heck is your problem? You look ridiculously stupid!” And that was the truth. You can ask him. I was feeling bad that we lost. I took my sorry stuff to a different court and began hitting back and forth with The Other Guy. I probably shouldn’t have done that (sending the wrong message) but it was helping me to relax because I wasn’t trying to impress him. I finally started to get back into the “swing” of things (bry that one was for you).

The night ended with me winning Around the World 3 times. I at least did that much. Then the awkwardness commenced with discussion of weekend plans. There was a big Holiday Party at a house in our ward. Lemme tell you these boys know how to throw one Classy Christmas Party. I confirmed with both The Other Guy and with Bryan that I would be there. I had to look not only good, but classy (not that that is hard or anything—classy not trashy). So it was off to pick an outfit for the venture. Enter in Ashley of the Ashley and Tom dynamic duo who saved me from being homeless in Arizona. We combined for what I would say ended up being a winner ensemble.

Saturday arrived. I spent too much time in front of the mirror. But I ended up being happy with the choice of outfit. A knee length herringbone dress and black turtle neck. Casual but dressy all at one time. Topped it off with red pumps. I love to wear black and white and add a punch of color with accessories. LOVE shoes. Then I added the poinsettia for the holiday affect. Around 9:00 I went to pick up my friends Laurel and Markay. We were fashionably late (the party started at 7:30). I got text after text from both B and The Other Guy. I was coming, hold your horses.

Upon arrival, we set down our contributions to the party and started out looking for people we knew, mostly just looking for Bryan. Shot some cute pictures with Megan and MacKenzie. I was nonchalantly scoping out the rooms for B. No luck. Kenzie came and told me that I had to see this wall at the back of the house. Being the crafty person that she is she lead me to these giant posters on the wall for which guests were supposed to write their holiday “wish lists” and letters to Santa.

Apparently it was my turn to write on the wall. I started to read the wall for inspiration when my eyes got caught up on my name… wait… what did that just say. “Dear Santa, All I want for Christmas is a date with Jen Lee next Friday” followed by a phone number. But wait, the phone number had been crossed out and replaced with a different number. A number I recognized. Not really the number I was hoping for (no offense). I had to read it again. And AGAIN. And all I could do was point and say “That’s me!”

I went up and put the phone number in my phone. I was elated when Bry’s name came up (I didn’t recognize his number at first). I pushed SEND. By this time everyone who had already seen the entry had come in to see what I was going to say and to listen to me call. I honestly felt like a million dollars that day. I was on cloud nine. It went straight to voicemail. “Hi this is Bryan….” Ah! I hung up before I realized it. Then turned around and answered a million “so who is it’s?” I turned back around to re-read the message when I felt two hand on each of my shoulders.

Then a voice. “So what do you say?” I turned around and that voice did not belong to who I was hoping it did, it was him, The Other Guy. I was trying to be as nice as possible. I thought it was kind of rude for him to take credit for something some else had done. Not super impressed. I politely declined saying that I already had plans (because I had every intention of telling Bryan yes and he did ask first). Ten minutes later I was present with another alternative date by TOG. Once again I politely declined.

A few minutes later I was prompted by the crowd to write a response. So I did. It went something like this “Yes. Dear Santa, I don’t need anything for Christmas I got everything I ever wanted (with an arrow pointing to his letter). And I really have gotten everything I have ever wanted and more.

After what seemed like forever, I saw him. He walked up to me and said “So?” And I said “What?” (smooth) “Are you available next Friday?” “Um, I have to ask my parents.” (“did I just say what I think I said, ‘I have to ask my parents?’ what?”). I was telling myself how stupid I just sounded. Really Jen? Really? Out of all the things you could say. Bounce back say something…. “Well I have to ask my mom and dad because they are coming in from California that weekend and we are supposed to do things together as a family. Can I get back to you?” “Uh, sure.” Phew. Wow.

We spent the evening hanging out with friends and just having fun. He looked SO good in his cream sweater and holiday tie. I was completely smitten.

The next day I did ask my mom. I told her the story and she said “Jen, of course you have to go out with him. GO OUT WITH HIM! You are crazy if you don’t.” So I did.

I had to wait 6 days until our date. 6 days! We text every day for most of the day (when appropriate at work of course). We chatted at night. 6 days. What the heck, let’s go out tomorrow! Could I wait until then. Let’s get this party started! And we did. Thursday he invited me over after asking if I was any good in the kitchen. Ha, am I good in the kitchen?

Upon arrival I met his mom and youngest sister. We both cleared any misunderstanding that may have come up about the Nameless Guy and my now roommate. We cooked ginger bread with lemon sauce, red hot candied apple slices, and wassle. Talked and headed home. Friday was our first official date. The Christmas party was a hit. Bryan invited some of his guy friends and the girl of their choice. Lexi and her friend Erin served us. Wonderful service.

And of course you all I'm sure are wondering what I wore to this Christmas shin dig to snag such a fella.

Well that is a good story in and of itself. I had asked Bryan what his favorite color was. I wanted to do something that showed that I was really interested in him and what he like. His response, “grass green.” Okay, grass green it is. With that in mind I set out on search for the perfect grass green shirt to wear to the party. It took me all six days to find it, but I finally did.

The evening was filled with laughter and just good company. We played the gift exchange game called Greed. I can’t remember what I won. I just remember laughing so hard while we played Catch Phrase. “Put the sandwich in the bag… in the bag” and “It’s made with ham…I know, A HAMBURGER!”

The guests left and the clean up began. We spent a few hours washing dishes and getting to know one another. I asked for a different shirt to wear while washing the dishes, as to not ruin my new silk grass green shirt. And tada… he produced his Utah t-shirt. I was about to commit the cardinal sin for a guy. Wow I must really like this guy. I changed into the t shirt and fought every urge to “accidentally” get food all over it. I even wore my four inch heels to wash the dishes so I could be a comfortable height to use the sink.

The evening went well into the early morning. I think we talked until three in the morning (didn’t have our first kiss until a week later so the night was definitely g rated). I drove home and crawled into bed. That night I had a “sleeping with the enemy” experience in the fact that I wore the U t-shirt to sleep. AH!!!! I still bleed blue. I will die bleeding blue. GO COUGARS!

And it’s been history since then. We spent every day together until I left for California for Christmas. Talked every day while I was gone and then continued to spend every day together until about the end of February/March. And fell in love.

the end.

Or

the beginning.