The Beginning

I was thinking of what I wanted my next post to be and I decided that if I want this to be a history for my family, then I need to start at the beginning. The beginning of our Family, that is. Steve and I have known each other for a long time. So long, in fact, that we don't remember exactly how we met. We do know we met through our mutual friend, Michele, but the day, time and what we were doing escapes both of us. It just seems as though we have always been friends.

We are pretty sure we met when I was in grade 9. It was either at a volleyball game(that he was playing in) at my school, or it was at one of the many parties at the Thomson house. It doesn't really matter. We were instantly friends. Steve has always been so much fun, and easy to be with. After that we spent a lot of time together. It wasn't long before I realized that he felt a little differently about me that I did about him. He actually asked me to be his grad date when he graduated from LCI. It was fun to go with him, even though I was only 16!

He was around and working for a year before his mission because he was only 18 when he graduated. We were still very close friends, but things were a little strained because I wouldn't date him, but I did date other people. This always frustrated Steve, and I tell him now that I was inspired and I didn't know it. By the time he left on his mission to Portugal, he was quite miffed at me for not dating him. Needless to say, we didn't write much - or at all! I actually wrote him many letters but never sent them because I thought he was mad and I didn't want to distract him from his missionary work.

When he came home from his mission, I was just finishing my diploma for Optometric/Ophthalmic Assisting in Calgary and had moved back home to find a job. I knew I would see him at the dance, and I really wanted to rekindle our friendship. I had always counted him as one of my best friends. It is still hard for me to describe to him how I felt. I was so excited to see him again and we started to hang out a bit together. This time, it wasn't long before I knew that it was me who felt a little differently about him. He wanted to make amends because he didn't like having bad feelings for me, but I wanted more! We started dating just a week or so after my birthday in March(I am positive Steve knows the exact day!). By April we were engaged(again - he remembers the date), and by August we were married! Wow!

I am glad that we didn't date until after his mission. If we had dated before his mission I know that things would have never been the same for us after he came home and we would have gone in different directions. So, here are some pictures of us on our wedding day, August 9, 1996 - I do know that day ;). I can't believe how young we look!

We couldn't have asked for a more wonderful day! We had so much help and support from friends and both our families. I can't believe that it has been 12 years since we were sealed. The time seems both longer and shorter sometimes. I am so grateful for Steve and for our children. We have been blessed with 4 amazing kids and we try each day to do our best to teach them and prepare them for this life. It has been fun to relive such wonderful memories!