Monday, February 11, 2008

Love is in the Air

In October, I started to tell Kendon and I's LOVE STORY. I never did get around to finishing it (not an indication of how the love story ends mind you!!!!) I just never did. Well, now Valentine's Day is coming upon us, and I thought it would be the perfect week to finish.

To start, here is a re-post of the beginning. Just to get everyone caught up!


Fall is my favorite time of year. I love the colors of leaves changing, putting on a sweater after wearing t-shirts all summer, the smell of pumpkin and spice, the holiday season coming, making soup, drinking warm apple cider....

Well, seven years ago, I was given one more reason to love fall. It was seven years ago that Kendon and I began dating. So, now every fall I get to feeling all warm and fuzzy and tingly and reminiscent.

So, join me as I walk down memory lane a little and recall the beginnings of our story!

Kendon and I were set up. And since you know the way this story ends, I won't be ruining it by saying; blind dates do work!

I was going to school in Lewiston, ID at the time. It was a non-traditional program through Ricks College. All of our course work was done in Rexburg except for one summer that we had to spend in Lewiston. Beings that it was a non-traditional program, I was classmates and roommates in Lewiston with girls who were married. One such girl was Melissa Clark. Her hubby was a police officer with Kendon. It was the Clark's who decided to set us up.

Now, if you have ever been to Lewiston, ID, you know that it STINKS! And I am not just talking, "I have a bad attitude this stinks." I mean truly, literally the town stinks. It is home to a potlatch factory and every morning the terrible stench would arouse us from our sweet (smelling) dreams and throw us back into reality. The reality that we were far from home, going to school when most everyone else was enjoying summer break, and our lives were the most exciting when we watched Survivor on Thursday nights while eating Cherry Dip Cones from Dairy Queen. So, when Melissa approached me with the e-mail address of a boy who might be able to help keep me company and offer a little entertainment, I was game!

And so the long distance correspondence began. I was lucky enough to have a little foresight and saved all of our e-mails. I love reading through them now. They make me laugh. I love how easy it is to be witty and entertaining when you can spend as much time as you want thinking about what you want to say. ( A little like blogging-don't you think!)

Here are a few golden nuggets:

Kendon: "Only believe half of what Shawn says."

Lisa-Marie: "Thanks for telling me about yourself. A tad about me I suppose. Not too much terribly exciting to say, But I suppose that I can make something up." (Oh yes, try to sound really mysterious!)

Kendon: "Yea, I kinda feel like we are in grade school with everyone taking it upon themselves to get hitched up with someone. When does the letter passing start...oh yea isn't this what we are doing. ha ha."

Lisa-Marie: "The bear in the one picture is beautiful. Where did you get it and where is it now?" (That was some major shmoosing. I'm not sure I really cared where he got it but if by chance this relationship did go somewhere I was concerned as to where it was hanging. And I was right to be worried!)

Kendon: (at the end of an e-mail) "Oh yea, this is Kendon." (um. duh.)

Lisa-Marie: "Hakuna Matata. If you're a Disney fan, you know that means, "No worries!" (CHEESY!!!)

Apparently our "well crafted" e-mails were working on each other. We continued to correspond and finally decided to take the plunge and send each other pictures. With the first picture I sent, the subject line of my e-mail was "SKIN." I told him that he might enjoy a shot that included a little skin. ( I know. How provocative of me!) When he opened the attachment (maybe I should have been disappointed that he did. hmmm. I might have to question him about that!!!) the picture he found was of a little girl wearing a swimsuit. (Nothing inappropriate mind you!) Not exactly what he was expecting. So, to be fair, I sent him a picture of the real me and he did likewise.

Here are the pictures that I like to call: The First Vision

Kendon, being Kendon, would not tell me which one was him. I assumed and prayed that he was the babe on the left. I lucked out!He is a sight for sore eyes isn't he!!!

Well, it's late and I'm sure you're bored. So, for anyone still reading... this love story is....

TO BE CONTINUED!


16 comments:

Bridget said...

How fun to look back on the falling in love days. It's a good thing Lewiston wasn't that interesting so you were willing to be set up! What did you study at Ricks?

Celia Fae said...

Oooh, I loved the old photos, although the fact that he wouldn't tell who was who is a little bit rotten. I guess that is what makes life spicy. Looking forward to the next installment.

Paige said...

Did he KILL a bear? That just doesn't happen in CA. And what is potlatch? I'm having culture shock reading your blog!

Lisa-Marie said...

Potlatch in Lewiston is a paper mill. They make paper... I guess. The only fact I am sure on is that it stunk!

And yes, he did kill that bear. It was all a culture shock to me too. Oh, the things you do for love!

Kirsten said...

what a great post! sigh...

D-dawg said...

I love it! I love "how we met" stories. And it is so great that you have the e-mails to look back on and laugh. Great pictures too. Great story. I should share mine and Dave's sometime.

Jake said...

Wow...I'm feeling really old right now. Back when I was courting, we didn't have new-fangled inventions like email, cell phones or CDs. I'm glad techno-love brought the two of you together!!

Talia said...

My parents do own Destinations Inn. It is such a special place! I did know you were in Rexburg! I saw your comment on my friend Tiffany Dansies blog when you made a suggestion for her husbands birthday. I thought it was such a cute idea, and liked the fact that you didn't even know her, but you were helping her out! I went to beauty school in Rexburg almost 5 years ago. My sister currently lives there and loves it! Small world!

Laurel said...

Awwww! A blind-date success story...you beat the odds. I love it! What was the program you were in? I'm dying to know.

Grandma W. said...

Hi Honey! How sweet! I didn't even know about all the letter writing you two did before you actually met! That is cute! And, now look what you have to show for all that!! Three little darlings!
Guess I could add my little dissappointment to your story. Remember when you and Kendon came to Boise for the first time and the folks said you were going to Papa and Grandma Weldon's for dinner? You told Kendon what a good cook I was and when you got here, we had pizza delivered! I have always wondered what went through his head at that time!!
So funny, because that is something we never do!!!
Love you!

Melissa said...

Hey girl! I know Melissa Clark. We grew up as neighbors and she teaches in the classroom diagonal from the classroom that I'm in right now. I didn't realize that it was her and Shawn that hooked you up. That's amazing! I love the story, keep writing it. Melissa's family and my family are really good friends, so that's amazing how small the world can be. Have a great day!

Lauren in GA said...

I loved this!!!!!

It was so smart of you to keep those e-mails! What a treasure!

I agree with Celia, he was a stinker not to tell you which one he was in the picture!

Thanks for sharing that! Ha, Ha! The first vision picture! What a cute title! You look super cute in the picture...no wonder he married you!

Bridget said...

I am very confused that you have another blogging friend named Bridget. I saw the comment and questioned whether I had already commented here. I was quite befuddled. I think this was one of the first posts I read from you! Wow, I guess we're getting to be old friends. I am like Gab and feel old though. I had a word processor when Nathan and I were dating. Not even a computer!

Kim said...

are you going to tell everyone about the first date and all that makeup you wore? Did I just ruin it for everyone?!? :) That's my favorite part! XOXOX You are a wonderful couple. You bring out the best in each other! Miss you all.

Wendi said...

Ooh, I really love a good love story!

Kirsten said...

I love the president president president MONSON! idea! AND I want to hear the rest of your love story! AND please don't tell me that your three year old still wets the bed because mine is almost three and we've been potty training for almost a year--blech! I hate it! AND I soooo miss BYU-I so thanks for great post! AND you are the cutest mom ever to make such fun videos with your kiddos!