We were cleaning files off our computer and Matt found this word document that he typed way back when...it is a memory of how we met. He meant to finish it and make it our story....how cute! I want to put it on my blog, not to make myself look good with all the compliments Matt paid me (he really must have been blinded by love because he really talked me up to more then what I really am...thanks for that Matt) but I put it on my blog so when I make my scrapbook/journal/blog book then I have our story and my kids will have HIS version :)
"I never was much of an Institute-goer during college. Embarrassingly enough, a warm piece of bread or a quick nap in the Sunburst lounge always seemed a bit more enticing than sitting through gospel lessons on the Pearl of Great Price or the Book of Mormon. Oddly enough, I decided to give it another go when I learned that Brother Scott Shelton, my seminary teacher at Bear River High School, would be teaching an institute class Spring Quarter 1996. We’d be studying the latter sections of the D&C and I expected it to be an enjoyable time. I respected and loved Brother Shelton—he had an uncanny way of exciting me about the gospel and I consider his classes in high school a major reason for my staying somewhat on the strait and narrow through high school until I went on my mission. I was excited to see him again.
The first day of class was great. When I walked into class, Brother Shelton took my hand and greeted me like an old friend. He remembered my name and where I’d served my mission—amazing. Sadly, there were few cute girls in the class to provide the extra bit of motivation I was hoping for. It would still be a struggle to maintain regular attendance. Thankfully, the lessons were great and my excitement about the D&C increased. I read fairly regularly and was fascinated by the background stories related by Brother Shelton. I didn’t miss a class for the first two weeks, a considerable achievement.
Then, on the next Monday morning, a blessing came from above. Into the class walked a bubbly, cute, energetic girl. She immediately took over the class. Not with bravado or loudness. She took over with kindness and pure ‘niceness.’ She introduced herself to Brother Shelton and apologized for coming into the class so far into the quarter. OK, I was eavesdropping a little bit, but she was fascinating. Sara Gillespie had just returned from a trip with the USU Sunburst Dancers to Thailand. The two week excursion carried over into the first part of spring quarter and she was ready to catch up on what she’d missed. With her appearance, my attendance became that much easier to bear. She sat on the back row behind me and the class went on. Par for the course, I didn’t make an attempt to meet her after class or for several more classes after that. But I surely thought she was a doll!
One morning immediately after class, while walking to the Business building, I was discussing missions with another person and mentioned that I’d served in Russia. From behind me, an excited voice exclaimed, “Russia!?” and as I turned, I was very, very pleased to see Sara beaming at me. She proceeded to tell me about her friend who was serving there and we conducted our own little ‘Do you know?’ game on the side walk. You know, it’s funny, I remember lying in the MTC with the rest of the boys and daydreaming out loud about how many women we’d woo when we returned home, simply because we’d served in Russia. We’d say the word Russia with a sort of dramatic, breathy hiss, meant to mimic the gasp, then hush that would fall over all within earshot of us each time we were asked where we’d labored. Naive, naive young men we were…but, you know, THIS time was gratifying enough to make up for all the anti-climactic ones I experienced since my return. Sara made me feel as though I had done the most amazing thing by serving where I did. She made me the center of attention as we walked the rest of the way to our next classes. Yes, it was a good day.
I was smitten from that meeting on. It took me a week or so to get up the nerve to ask her out, though we sat next to each other in institute almost every day and walked together afterward to the business building each morning. I absolutely lived for that class and the walk thereafter. Institute took on a whole new meaning for me. I wish I could say I became a D&C scholar, but I’d be fibbing just a little. My time with Sara was the only thing I cared about. Brother Shelton’s lessons, heaven bless him, fell largely on deaf ears as I conjured up the courage to finally ask Sara for a date. When she smiled and said yes on the steps of the business building, well, let’s just say I walked a little taller that day.
I decided to take her to dinner and a play on the USU campus. Seemed like a nice, cultured way to start out. I wanted to impress her with my deft avoidance of the ‘dinner and a movie’ faux pas, so often committed by lesser men. It’s funny how soon the ‘faux pas’ turned into a very viable option the longer we wandered around campus the night of our date, trying to find the alleged play. I was mortified, but Sara’s giggles and teasing made me feel much better about looking like a complete fool. She patiently followed me around as I searched for a Statesman, looked for signs, and practically prayed to find this play. Alas, it wasn’t meant to be. I don’t know to this day from where I got the crazy idea there was a play that night. I’ll definitely chalk it up to another blessing from above, because as we traveled and searched, we got to know each other in a special way. My guard was down, my pride basically shattered. True to form, she just tried to make me feel good about the whole mess and strangely enough, I did. I’ve always been impressed with how awesome I feel every time I’m in her presence. She lifts me up, and everyone else around her.
So, our dinner-and-a-play date turned into dinner and a movie. To this day, I love Sabrina. It’s definitely one of my favorite movies. Half way through it, I actually mustered the wherewithal to take Sara’s hand. Talk about a great feeling. I melted like a vat of movie theater butter. Thank heaven for that movie. I love to watch it and remember how great I felt sitting there and knowing that I had one neat girl at my side. She looked beautiful, but even more, she just seemed ‘right’for me.
It took me several more dates and a lot of pounding my head against the wall until I finally gave Sara a kiss. Talk about romantic…one day, she came and watched me play basketball with the guys from work. After our victory, in my sweaty gym shorts, I stood at her dormitory door and gave her a quick peck on the lips. For me, it didn’t matter. It was the sheer joy of kissing her that did the job for me. On the other hand, I doubt that Sara envisions that kiss as the most romantic moment she’s ever experienced. Ahh, young love. So exciting, yet so, so awkward. All sweat and gym socks aside, I was pretty darned excited about the whole situation. The same went for every time we were together during the rest of the school year. Soon after our first date, we drove down to Salt Lake and met her family. What great people! Her mom and dad are some of the nicest people I’d ever been around. They reminded me so much of my parents. Her brothers and sisters were so much fun. I remember playing with Tyson, Heidi and Jeff’s little boy, on the trampoline out in back of their house. Sara was so cute with him. She and her sister Kim are the lives of the party, no question about it. Everyone just lights up around them. I tend to judge a person by the quality of their family. It means a great deal to me. In the Gillespie home, I felt just like I do with my own family—a spirit of love and acceptance. "
That's all he wrote...if I were as good of a writer as Matt then maybe I'd give you my version. But long story short he had to wait for me to grow up, go on a mission and finally accept his hand in marriage! And I am one lucky girl! Love ya Matt!
This is a picture of one of our dates we went on with all my roommates. Notice Matt's "fluffy" hair as Luke calls it :) I can't say anything because mine was not much better :)
This is a picture of Matt and I at one of the USU dances. I think this is actually after I left Utah State and just came back to go to the dance with Matt.
Who is this nerdy little tourist? Or wait that's my son complete with life jacket and Emma's Hello Kitty visor! :) He looked pretty funny! :) But hey he was safe and the sun was not in his eyes :)
Emma saw me taking all the "all boy" pictures and so she rounded up some girls for her "all girls" shot :)
This is the random kid we met on the beach. I think he was trying to meet the teenage girls by helping the little girls and boys :)
