Courtship, the 3 Proposals, and the Big Day

Beau and I were each home for the holidays. We spoke at least once a day, everyday, for several hours. We talked about everything, and missed each other terribly. In January, Beau came out to California for a few days to spend some extra time together. We went to the Sacramento Zoo, and San Francisco. I knew he was a keeper because even my dad loved him. As we walked along the peer in San Francisco, I realized for the first time that I truly loved him, and I wanted to marry him.

We didn't see each other again until March, when I drove up to Oregon to spend some time getting to know his family. I drove all night after work to get there. We had so much fun together, and I thought that he would propose that weekend. We went to Silver Falls and hiked around all the waterfalls, drove up to the Portland Temple, went to the park and walked together, and we went to the beach. Beau never proposed that weekend, and I became a little concerned that he wasn't all that excited to get married.

The following Sunday, we were talking on the phone, when Beau said it would be funny to post that we were engaged on Facebook. I didn't find this funny because it would give everyone the wrong idea. After a few more minutes of teasing, I thought I would shut him up, and asked, "Are you asking me to marry you?" The phone went silent. The thought, "Oh, Crap, please don't propose over the phone," rushed through my head. He then asked, "Joanne, Will you marry me?" I went quiet. Darn he asked me over the phone. I answered, yes.

We decided to wait a week before telling anyone. I wanted to find the right way to tell my family, and didn't want to be rushed. The next morning Beau called me, and told me that he told his mom, and didn't think he could keep our secret. I spent all day trying to find the easiest way to tell my parents. My parents were going to be excited, but I knew they would also be concerned with me still in college, and no real money. I told my parents that night at dinner, and it was official. We were engaged.

I didn't get to see Beau again until the end of May. I went back up to school in April, and Beau had started a Service Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, in March. We continued to talk over the phone everyday. At the time I was working for a company named Progrexion, and my coworkers hassled me everyday because I didn't have an engagement ring. They said that we weren't official until a ring had been purchased. Beau had gotten a subsitute while he ordere my ring, and brought the fake when we saw each other in May. His family was having a reunion in Montana for Memorial Day Weekend, and I drove up and met them. When we got to the hotel, as Beau wished me goodnight, he got down on one knee and proposed "officially" for the first time. He said beautiful words, and I was the proudest owner of the prettiest fake I had ever seen.

The final Proposal came a few weeks later when Beau came to Rexburg with the real ring. He showed up a day early to surprise me, and took me to the Ricks Gardens on the Brigham Young University - Idaho campus. He once again said beautiful words, and promised his love and affection for me. He then gave me the prettiest ring I have ever seen. He did such a great job picking out the ring. We were finally, truly officially engaged!

We were married on September 29, 2007 in the Oakland California Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Fall Semester 2006

Playing Clue with Joanne's Roommates, Sarah and Rachel, and their friend, Greg.

Hangin' on Game Night.

After Joanne's very first snow fight!

The morning Joanne was going home for Christmas.

More goodbye's.

Are you a sitter or a cuddler?

Often people ask us how we met. The story is typically told in the same way every time . . . depending on who you ask. If you are a gluten for punishment, then please read the story. The story according to Joanne is this:

It all started with a 3 1/2 hour nap. It was the fall semester of 2006. I had just woken up from my 3 1/2 hour nap, and walked into the living room. I lived in American Manor, Apartment A3, and we were an especially social apartment. We had people coming over all the time. I loved it! On this Friday afternoon Greg, one of our apartments friends, had come over to visit. Not long after, Beau arrived. I don't remember what we talked about, but my roommate Emily called me into her room, and when I came out Beau was gone. I didn't think much of it, at least not until that following Sunday. Beau had come over for Sunday night games, and we were all sitting around talking. Out of the blue, Beau says, "I like that shirt you were wearing the other day." I found it odd, and I couldn't even remember what I had been wearing. He pointed to a picture on the wall, and said, "It was that one." It all came back to me. He noticed me after a 3 1/2 hour nap. I had woken up, and had been sleeping in a tank top and a pair of sweat pants. I put on a brown shirt with pink flowers before walking into the living room. I still cringe at the thought of my gray sweat pants, and my brown shirt.

The following Tuesday or Wednesday, Beau came over again. I sat on the couch and ate Lucky Charms as we talked. I wanted to invite him to our apartments movie night, but didn't know how. As he was leaving, I finally mustered the courage to ask him, and then he told me he like my khaki pants.

The following Friday came, and I spent all afternoon getting ready. I thought Beau may come early, and I wanted to be ready. Sure enough, he showed up 2 hours early. I was sitting at the island in my kithcen when we decided to watch Hercules, the Disney Cartoon. Beau was sitting on the couch and asked if I would like to sit next to him. I said, "I think I will." We sat next to each other, and then came the question that changed my life, "Are you a sitter or a cuddler?" I pondered the question when he nudged me with his elbow and his knee, "Well?" and my response, "I think I can be a cuddler." He put his arm around me, and then followed the most awkward hour and a half of my life. I sat so stiff and rigged. I felt hot and nervous, not knowing what I had gotten myself into. At the end of the movie, everyone else had arrived and we all watched National Treasure. We cuddled much more comfortably, and just as I began to relax, he started edging his hand closer and closer to mine, and I knew he was going to try to hold my hand. I made sure my hand was just far enough from his so that we wouldn't hold hands. After the movie was over we sat and talked, and he asked me out for the next evening. We hugged and the night was over.

The next evening took an eternity to come. I went and made pies, and dipped pretzels all afternoon. My friends and I talked and laughed, and speculated what the evening would bring. He came right on time, and we went to dinner at Frontier Pies. We ordered, and sat and talked of our families, and life. After dinner we went to movies to see The Prestige. The whole way in the truck Beau tried to hold my hand, and I kept my hand securely in my lap. When we got to the movie, we sat down, and I waited for him to try to put his arm around me, but he didn't. I thought that it would be nice to just sit there and enjoy the movie. At the end of the movie, Beau seemed a little disappointed. We got into the car and he tried to hold my hand, and I decided to be straightforward. I told him I wasn't going to hold his hand until I was ready. He accepted that, and he drove me home. When we got to my apartment, we went inside and started talking. Thats when he said, "So what are we." I couldn't believe he was DTR'ing (Determine the Relationship) me on the first date. I told him we were friends with possibilities. He was satisfied, and then a little later he went home.

The next week was Thanksgiving. Beau went home to Oregon, and we spent the week texting and myspacing. On November 26, Sunday, it was Beau's Birthday I called to wish him a happy birthday. I got a bunch of friends together, and we called to sing to him. I got his voicemail, and we sang him the Birthday Song, and at the end, I ended the message without thinking, "Happy Birthday Beau, hope you have a great day!! Love you!" I hung up and realized what I said. I said love. I hoped he wouldn't notice. Beau called back a couple hours later, and we talked for an hour. He never mentioned the love thing, and we had a lot of fun talking.

Beau came back the next day, on my birthday. We went for a walk, and talked some more. I decided I wanted to hold his hand, and took my hand out of my pocket. After a block he reached down, and we held hands for a few blocks until Beau's next big question. "What does this mean?" as he pulled our arms up in a big swing. I said, "I don't know." He asked, "Do you want to date?" I asked, "Aren't we dating already?" He then countered, "Do you want to go out?" I said, "Aren't we already out?" He then asked, "Do you want to go a courtin'?" Smiling, I said "What's that?" He then asked, "Will you be my girlfriend?" I nodded and we continued walking.

We dated for the next month until the end of the semester. I told everyone that I didn't think we would stay together that long, and I was having fun. A week before the end of the semester we were watching Mary Poppins, when Beau first told me that he loved me. I sat in silence for five minutes. He asked me if I was going to say anything, when I told him, "Thank you seems inappropriate." We laughed, and soon we said goodnight. As we were hugging, I looked up and kissed him for the first time. It was quick and awkward, and cute. A week later we said goodbye as I was going home for Christmas Break. Beau helped my roommate, Emily, and I pack, and then as we said goodbye's I told him I loved him. I left for California, and we didn't break up. We were in love, and it was just the beginning!