Our Story: Getting Serious

I was so happy, I felt like I was floating. I couldn't believe that I found someone that had so many amazing qualities. What was even more unbelievable was that he also returned my feelings and treated me like a queen. He made me feel completely loved. Here are some of my favorite "Rick quotes" taken from my journal and from old notes...

• You are too perfect to be real. Tell me, are you really an alien?
• It isn't fair that you are so perfect and beautiful. To even yourself up with the other girls, you should gain 50 pounds, cheese grate your face off, and start calling everybody an a-hole.
• If I ever cheat on you, you can kick me in the balls with steel-toed boots.
• I must have been best friends with Christ in the pre-existence to get somebody like you.
• I don't have any money (He often wanted to make sure I wasn't a gold-digger).

If that isn't proof of undying devotion, I don't know what it. At this point, I knew that it was only a matter of time before he proposed.

At the end of March, we flew to Seattle. Although I had briefly met Rick's parents while they were visiting Provo, Rick wanted to meet my parents and wanted to ask my father's permission in person to marry me. Also, we thought it would be a good idea for our parents to meet each other as well.

Nervously snacking during the flight

Rick lugged all of our bags around the airport. How much do we need for one weekend?

Our first night in town, we hung out with my family. Rick wowed them all with his dazzling personality and his diarrhea stories. Yes, he got the ball rolling on that topic, and soon everybody was sharing similar stories about pooing their pants. He also demonstrated a very special talent... he did a blue dart for everybody, including my mom. He is lucky that my family is insane and they were more impressed than revolted.

On the second day of our trip, Rick decided to get the "permission" out of the way.

I was hiding in another room, nervously waiting for Rick as he tried to win my Dad's approval. According to Rick, he says that he and my Dad were in the family room, watching TV and chatting. Rick broke the ice by asking my Dad about his job and the industry he works in. Apparently that really got my Dad talking. Rick eventually had to change the subject. He told my Dad that he wanted to ask permission to marry me. My Dad quickly said something like, "OK", and then said, "So about marketing..." and went right back into what they were talking about. That sure was easier than Rick thought it would be. I took a lot of comfort in knowing that my Dad was so quick to give me up.

Later during our visit, Rick and I, along with our parents and Rick's little brother Kirk, all went to dinner to get to know each other better and to celebrate our future engagement. That seemed to go well. Two hard things were now out of the way.

All of us at dinner. Yes, Kirk is on my lap. It was love at first sight for him and me.
Rick and I at dinner. We were happy that things we going so well

Rick and I returned to Utah, feeling great about how the trip went and excited for what the future would hold. We did a little ring shopping and I sat and held my breath wondering....will today be the day?