Night on the Roof

OH WHAT A NIGHT!!!

November 3, 2006 is definitely a night to remember!

Steve took me to our favorite restaurant. The Roof in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building has sentimental meaning to the both of us. Not only is it one of our first dates but it has delicious food and an amazing desert bar! Yumm Yummm Yummmmm

We got our window seat with a view. This is such an unbelievably romantic place with piano music playing in the background. I LOVE IT!!! I especially love the company :)

During dinner Steve gave me my engagement ring. It was so pretty. He picked it out himself and did a great job! It is shaped like a heart and he told me that I will always have a special place in his heart. I know he has filled my heart with so much happiness.

Our servers know us personally by now and they are pretty excited about our engagement. They are so nice there. They are always willing to take pictures of the two of us. Even kissin' Oh Yeah Baby!

The Salt Lake Temple is one of our favorites and we were so excited as we began planning for our upcoming wedding. Life is Awesome!!!! Soon Howie will be my eternal love! YEAH!

Our Engagement

What a special day! Howie had planned to take me to the Seattle Temple while I was up visiting. When we arrived I was absolutely amazed at the beauty of the temple grounds. The fall colors were so brilliant (they don't show up very well in the photos) and the flowers were gorgeous! Steve allowed me to take pictures (lots!) before we entered the temple. I was trying to capture this beautiful day but I had no idea at that point how much more beautiful and special this day would soon become!

Fall colors were striking against the dark green pine trees.

This picture is a bit foggy but you can kind of see the beauty.

This is an entrance to a beautiful garden walkway area. It reminded me of how the Garden of Eden would look. So peaceful and serene.

There were flowers and statues EVERYWHERE in full bloom. Sooooo Pretty!

We went to a session and I felt the spirit so much that day. As we met together in the celestial room I felt so much for this man. I had only known him a few short weeks but I was LOVE STRUCK!!! As we sat together on the couch and soaked in the beauty of that sacred room, Steve leaned over to me and asked if I would marry him. Without hesitation I answered YES! I had such a calm reassurance that my Heavenly Father had placed him in my life and he would be my eternal mate. It was such a very special day in my life I will never forget.

After our session we walked over to visit Howie's friend, Jerome, who works in the security booth on the temple grounds. We had a nice long visit with him. He is such a nice man and very single so if you know any eligible women out there let us know. He'd make a Great catch!

Howie and Jerome

Never imagined this day would end up with the two of us engaged but it did! YIPEE!

I am floating on air. Pinch me.... wake me up from this dream.... can this be real????

After the temple we met his daughters at a restaurant and I was able to visit with them and get to know them. I think they are awesome! Hayley took this picture of us and I love it of Howie. I carried around this picture for the next few months everywhere I went because it reminded me so much of that day and the love and happiness I felt.

That night after the temple visit we decided to go to the Ape Caves to go caving. They are volcanic tunnels that run from Mount Saint Helens. It was a few hours away from where Steve lived so we got our gear together and headed out on the road.

This man really knows how to have a good time! He is soo funny!!

As we drove I felt more and more insecure with myself and my past. Steve is this wonderful man who I felt is this spiritual giant in my eyes. I started doubting myself and felt that if he knew about my past mistakes he would not want me as his wife. (By the way... if you do not know me I had made some pretty poor choices throughout my life) As we drove I decided to confess all of my past wrongs to him, letting him know that if he wanted to change his mind about marrying me he could and I would totally understand. It was pretty emotional and both of us were crying. After a while, he abruptly pulled the car over to the side of the road..... went around the car and ripped open my door. He took me by the arm and marched me over to this beautiful wooded area. I did not know what was happening or what he was about to do. He got down on his knees with tears streaming down his face and told me how much he loved and adored me. He told me that the experiences I had gone through in my life made me who I am today. He loved that person I had become and on bended knee asked me once again to marry him. I seriously could not believe my ears. I was so happy... he loved and accepted me for ME!!!

Inside this wooded area was like the sacred grove. Trees and greenery everywhere. Very quiet and peaceful.


Kissing away my tears.......

Making me laugh......


Goofing off!

HE LOVES ME!!!

I told him it would be getting too dark to go caving and he gently reminded me that it is dark in caves so it does not matter what time we go. Oh yeah.... duh! By the time we got to the caves it was really late. (Like after 10:00 pm.) It was so much fun walking through the darkness with our little flashlights on our head to guide us.

When we got to the end of the cave the ceilings were only about 4 feet high. We could not stand up. We crawled around and made a cozy spot. We played tic tac toe in the sand. We drew I love you messages in it and then Howie gave me the most beautiful priesthood blessing I could ever imagine. It was probably one of the most spiritual moments in my life. I felt of the deep love he has for me as well as the priesthood which he holds. He has truly helped heal my broken heart and helped me believe in myself again. He also has helped me realize that I have a loving Heavenly Father who is very aware of my needs and desires.

Hey.....guess what?......I love this man!

For those of you who do not know me..... get used to this phrase.

My kids just answer it for me each time they hear me say..... "Guess what"

They respond with...."We know mom.. YOU Love Howie" :)

We "clicked" from the start.....

Our love started with a simple click of the mouse.... and the rest is history. Steve and I met on LDS Planet ( a singles website sponsored by the church). It was most definitely love at first click. We have been walking on cloud nine or ten ever since. Here are some of the first pictures we saw of each other from our profiles on the internet.

I thought he looked like a kind gentle man in this picture
and that is exactly what he turned out to be!
I love his baby blue eyes


This is a picture of Howie's three youngest kids




Thumbs up to this internet dating!!!



Steve ready to go to the gym to work out and run.
He loves running and wanted me to be his new running buddy but he leaves me in the dust. I am such a wimp!


Here are just a few pictures I had on my profile. I had a TON!

Me "Cheezin" it

Skydiving Fun



Wakeboarding at Powell.
Howie said it was the "LEGS" that got him to write to me first. He is such a crack up!


Me with Brady on Halloween

My Girls at Hogle Zoo

Me and Boo

At the end of Seve's profile on the internet he said that he was willing to relocate. It also said he loved to sing (especially in the shower). I thought I would be a smartelic and see how serious he was about moving here to UTAH. I emailed him and asked if he knew the song to Mr. Roger's Neighborhood and if so would he sing it for me. For those of you that do not know which song I was thinking about it was... "Won't you be my neighbor". I told him there was a nice piece of property for sell right next door and if he were to move up here to Utah... and be my neighbor... he could UP my property value. All he would have to do is stand out on the front porch and I would have a nice scenic view of this hot sexy man!!!
Well he took the bait and ran with it! He wrote back and we spent many, many, many hours online and on the telephone getting to know each other.

Two weeks after our first online contact we met. Steve was coming down to Salt Lake to visit during conference weekend. He decided to drive instead of flying. That way he could leave whenever he wanted. The drive is over 13 hours and he and I talked the entire time. All through the night we stayed on the phone, talking and laughing as I tried to keep him awake. He got pretty excited about coming to Utah and he put the pedal to the medal.... BUT.... the police officer caught him traveling well over the speed limit and gave him a ticket. Bummer!

When he finally arrived in Salt Lake we were both pretty anxious to finally meet. We had spent so much time writing back and forth as well as visiting on the phone that we felt we already knew each other. But the anticipation to meet this awesome man face to face was almost unbearable.

I felt as though I had known him forever. We were so comfortable around each other. Rather than feeling like I was meeting some stranger for the first time it felt like we were being reunited. I am convinced we had to have known each other in the pre-existence. And our Heavenly Father has guided him back into my life. Wow... what a life it has become!

We went to the Joseph Smith Memorial Building and watched the film on Joseph Smith's life

We walked around Temple Square and saw the sites

Later that night Steve took me out to the Roof Restaurant and we had the most romantic dinner I have ever experienced in my entire life! Seriously it was absolutely incredible!!! It literally felt like I was in a dream and thought this couldn't possibly be happening to little ole me. The piano music was playing and the lights were dim and we had a window seat (right across from the temple) with a beautiful view and Moroni as our chaperone. The moment brought me to tears and I couldn't compose myself. As I was crying, Steve ask if I was Okay and I could hardly speak. I just told him how overwhelmed I was by all of it and how awesome I felt. He responded with "Get use to it "T" we've only just begun! There's more to come!" I didn't realize how true that statement he made that night was. We had only just begun and since that first day spent together it has only gotten better with each day that passes. By the way..... guess what? I love him! Just in case you didn't figure that one out yet!!!

We have had so many dates and have taken so many pictures that I don't think I will ever be able to catch up on all of them. Here are just a few our most fun and memorable times together from his first visit to Utah. We had a riot!

We went up Big Cottonwood Canyon after conference Sunday afternoon. The fall colors were beautiful.

We hiked up a pathway to see the autumn colors and came across this beautiful waterfall. The water ran down the mountain and through the hole at the top of this huge cave. We climbed under the cave part and it was sooo cool. We were told that "Doughnut Falls" had been closed down because someone had died in the area recently. So when we came upon this waterfall we thought it was another one. Someone has since told me that it was indeed Doughnut Falls. I thought our name was much more original! It looked like a huge bagel from the inside. Hence.... our name....Bagel Falls.

You could climb way under this rock and it was hollow inside. One day this spring we are going to take a picnic up and eat it under there. Sounds fun!

On the way down we did a little "tree tippin". Steve had never heard of this before and he was very impressed with my unbelievable strength. It helps if the tree is dead!

The following day we drove up to Timpanogas Cave and went on a hike. It was absolutely gorgeous. The hike was a little too strenuous though, so we had to stop at each and every lookout spot to rest and relax. (okay, okay, I must confess...we used it as an excuse to kiss ) but the air up there was quite thin and I was in need of a little mouth to mouth... if you know what I mean! he he he he :)

We finally made it to the top!! Yeah. We loved the tour inside. It was nice and DARK! There was one room in there that was absolutely SPECTACULAR!!! I didn't think it was possible to have fireworks inside a cave but there definately were sparks flying every which way. WOW! Fun memory!

We packed a picnic with us and after our hike to the cave we came down and ate our lunch next to this river.

Howie had originally planned on only spending the weekend in Utah but he ended up extending it for a few more days and we just played and enjoyed each other's company.
He spoiled me with flowers. He still to this day showers me with love notes, chocolates, and flowers, flowers, and more flowers!
I think I found the man of my dreams...... Thanks LDS Planet! He's the BEST!

This kind man helped heal my broken heart!

After Howie left to go back to Washington we both went into severe withdrawals from each other :) We both knew we could not go long without seeing each other again. He instantly booked a flight for me to come up to Washington to visit him. Two weeks later we were together again!!!

Here are some picts of our time together in the Seattle areaWe took a walk through this gorgeous park on his break from work. It amazed me because the bushes along the side of the path are giant blackberry bushes. You could just pick as many as you wanted to snack on. They were huge....YUMMY! Howie playing Tarzan on this really cool tree.
The parks in Washington are all so peaceful and beautiful.I know his eyes are closed but I love this shot of my man!

Now this is a classy shot of me.... coming out of the bathroom....Nice Steve!

The first night in Washington we took a walk along the Puget Sound. There is this boardwalk but we decided to go underneath it and walk along the shoreline in the sand. We took off our shoes and socks and set them on some stairs, climbed down and started walking. We gathered seashells and played a bit in the water. We then found a giant log to sit on and we decided to watch the sun go down. It was a beautiful sunset....(I think) We did a little kissing there. No really the sunset was beautiful..... but as it got darker the waves started coming closer and closer to us. There was not much shoreline and before we knew it the waves were crashing up against us and the wall. We thought we'd better get the heck out of there. It was getting pretty late. As we ran back towards the stairs we realized the waves were crashing well over the stairs where we had place our things. Then we realized our shoes and socks had washed away. Good ole Howie rushed out in the water and tried retriveing them. He was my hero for the night cuz he was able to find everything but one of his socks. It was so funny to see him drenched with water hanging onto his very expensive $250 shoes. (by the way who spends that much money on one stinkin' pair of shoes?) The funniest part of it is when we got up to the top of the boardwalk dripping wet, there stood his bishop and his wife. They were probably wondering what we were doing down there in the dark, half dressed and dripping wet.....ha ha ha It was all on the up and up! I promise mom!

This is a picture of his sock that survived that night. Sad thing is it no longer has a match... hey but neither do any of Seve's other sock he owns. ha ha ha!

The next day we went sightseeing and visited the Bremerton Shipyard. We took a ton of silly pictures and this is my favorite. We are so in love after such a short time.

We then took a Ferry to downtown Seattle. That was a lot of fun. Before we left Steve bought a loaf of bread for the trip. It was so cool. As we were going across the water he took bits of bread
and held them out in his hands. Soon tons of seagulls came right up to him. They would just hover over us traveling the same speed as the ferry just gliding there. Then they would come one by one to eat from his hand. It looked so awesome. We had a huge crowd of people from the ferry watching. They were all amazed at the sight. When we got to Seattle we stopped by to see the Locks. We totally enjoyed ourselves there and they actually had to announce for us to leave because we did not realize they were closed. We were so interested in the "Fish eggs" we did not notice that everyone had left. (Long story but a funny one)

To end the night he took me to the Space Needle to a nice restauant at the very top. It was AWESOME! The funny thing about this picture is the story behind the big round spot on Howie's shirt. It was not until we were on our way up to the Space Needle that we discovered it. He had placed a chocolate truffel into his pocket earlier in the day but things must have heated up quite a bit at the Locks and melted it. I like to believe I melted his heart.... but it was just a chocolate truffle melted and squished because of our many hugs throughout the night.

This is a picture I love so much because if you look at the way he is holding my hands it totally describes Steve to a "T". Since day one he has held my hands so tenderly... always wrapping them both in his. Each time we pray he does this and I love it. He seriously is the most gentle man I know. He is always so kind!

Within two weeks of meeting face to face we were engaged and very, very much in love!

Well this summarizes the first few weeks together but there were many other dates and special moments together but no way can I possibly write about them all if I plan on catching up to date on this blog. Maybe later if I can catch up. It has been so much fun recalling these memories and writing about them. We have known each other for 15 months now and I can not believe how truly happy we both still are. I feel blessed!