Well, I work at Chick-fil-A. Lame, I know.
It was just an average day at work in February of 2012. My two friends, Maddy Thompson and Linsey Rogerson came flying in saying that I was going on a date. Well, okay! They said that Jared Hancock needed a date and that I needed to ask him. It was the girls asking the guys. So, when I got off work, I asked him! He already knew about it, but I still had to. We all met over at Shalai's. First, we had some pizza. Then, we went to Nickelcade. It was so much fun! The other people that were on the date were Shalai Matagi and Mike Peters, Linsey Rogerson and Isaac Harwood, Maddy Thompson and Austin Farnsworth, and then me and Jared Hancock. When we were done at Nickelcade, we went back to Shalai's house and played Catch Phrase and some other fun games. During catch phrase I sat in the middle of Mike and Jared. Mike kept helping me as we were playing the game. Anyway, the night was fun. I had drove, so I took Jared and Mike home with Shalai. We had to drop Jared off first because Mike needed to get a snow shovel from his house. So, we were all kind of joking about that and how he urgently needed that shovel. Hilarious! Then, we dropped Mike off. When he got out, he opened the door where I was sitting and thanked me for the ride. I thought that was really nice. On the way to take Shalai home we talked about how we both weren't really into our dates. So, yes... I did think that Mike was cute and I knew there was somethin' there. (I didn't tell her that.)
I remember the next day, Mike texted me saying thanks again for the ride. Who does that? I knew that he just wanted to talk to me. ;) He would text me every once in a while after that and there wasn't really anything. He even says that sometimes I wouldn't text him back. I don't really believe him, but whatever!
Towards the end of that month, I was surprised one night with a call from Jared asking me if I had been asked to Junior Prom, which was coming up in March. I told him no and then got off the phone. I knew that something was up. About ten minutes later there was a knock at my door and I went outside. Four boys dressed in banana suits got out of the car and danced to the bananas song by Britney Spears. LOL. It was hilarious. One of them yelled, telling me to look on the porch. That's where I saw this banana:
It reads, "Kenzie, I would go "bananas" if you went to Jr. Prom with me. -Mike P."
I was so excited, needless to say!! This was my first dance that I had actually been asked to. Yes, I know that's sad. I knew it would be a great time with him!
I had a trip that I was going on with Dance Company before Jr. Prom. I remember, it was the night before I left and I was at work. He came in when I got off and he brought me my favorite, chocolate licorice and a letter. The letter just told me about fun things that I needed to do in San Fran while I was there and that he was excited for Jr. Prom and such. It was very thoughtful of him. I think I died! We talked a bunch also while I was on trip. :) So, I went to San Fran. When I got back, I wrote him a letter and talked about my trip and what not. Then, a couple days later, I won a gift card to Applebee's at a Chick-fil-A banquet. I immediately knew that I wanted to invite him to go with me. I thought it would be good for us to go on a date before Jr. Prom. Ya know? So, we invited Madi to come with a date. She invited this guy, Isaiah. That night was great and I think we really hit it off. I knew that I really liked Mike at this point.
The night before Jr. Prom, my friend Cadee had set all of us girls up on this fun date. I went with Chris Bietzel. It was not the best date. Honestly, all I could think about was Mike and how I would go with him the next day.
March 17th was Jr. Prom and it was a blast! Mike had a polo game in the day, which made it so we couldn't go with the group to the day activity. I was kind of upset about it at first, but once it had all played out, I was glad to spend some time with just him. We went to Village Inn for breakfast and then to his game. After that, we went to get ice cream at Ab's. That is when I learned that he does not eat sweets. He did not go to get ice cream for him, but for me. The polo game was cool to see and I even met his fam. It was kind of awkward to pretty much see him naked in his speedo on one of our first dates. LOL. So then, he took me home after Ab's and I got ready. He picked me up and we went to the Spaghetti Factory and then the dance. It was all so fun. And I was glad to see that he actually liked to dance at a dance! I thought it was very sweet when my best friend, Natalie's, date went to the bathroom and then missed a slow dance. Mike let Natalie dance with us. I loved that he did that. After the dance, we stopped at his house and his family took pictures and then we went over to Jared's. The moms set up all of this fruit and sweets to dip in chocolate. It was great. Then we watched Prom Night. It was Mike's first time and he was pretty scared. And then... he held my hand. I even got to say happy birthday to him at midnight. I was first! It made me so happy. After the movie, he took me home and walked me to my door. We hugged and said goodbye. What an amazing night!!
So, I guess you could say that this is what started it all.
Right off the bat, it was like I knew that I loved this guy and that I would be with him forever. I immediately started to journal everything and cherish every moment.
A couple nights later, we went to Village Inn with Natalie and Jaden to get pie. (Well, for me.) As we were walking in, he put his arm around me and said, "It's really good to see you." I about died right at that moment. I felt like I had been with this guy forever. I knew that I loved him. We were already so comfortable with each other.
I guess the rest is history...
Well, we started to not date other people and hang out a lot! We saw each other at school every day and we did stuff after school most days of the week. It was so fun. He never asked me to be his girlfriend, it just happened. I ended up asking him to Sr. Ball and I did it quick before anyone else got to him. I could go on and on about that night and all of its perfection. We danced the night away! Mike was even crowned Duke. That was cool, but he did have to dance with another girl for the ONLY slow danced. I was kind of bummed. But, the whole night was just perfect, as I said. So, that was in May.
We graduated together in June 2012 and that summer was one that I will never forget. We spent so much time together. So fun! But, the summer went by fast and it was time for college. Mike had been planning to go to Dixie and he was still going. I was staying here and going to Salt Lake Community College. It was so hard to take him down there and say goodbye. But we have made it work and it has prepared us for his mission. He has tried to come down a lot. So, it was usually every other weekend. It wasn't too bad. My friends and I even went down to see him one weekend. That was way fun! All I know is that distance really makes you realize that you need to cherish the time that you do have together. Also, I would like to thank technology (long phone calls, texting, skyping, emailing, etc.). How hard this journey has been!
So, here we are now (April 2013), looking at this last month of our first year of college. Crazy how the time flew! He has his call now and he is leaving in July. It is going to come faster than we know. When he comes back in a month, we have two months together and that's it for two years! I'm so excited for him to come home for good, well two months. But, it will be amazing. We need to cherish every moment we have together, hold each other tighter, smile more, kiss more, go on more adventures and just take it all in. I can't wait!
March 17th (Jr. Prom) is the day we decided to make our anniversary. It is the day that we believe started it all. So, now we want to go to Village Inn every year for the rest of our lives on March 17th. We went this year and it was so fun. I realized after that we forgot to take a picture. Looks like we will have to start that tradition next time. While he is gone, I plan on going there on our anniversary. Maybe with some friends, but I HAVE to be there that day. It will make me feel closer to him. I know it will be the best for me.
He gave me a promise ring last month, too. (That would be March 2013.) He was dropping me off before heading back to St. George and he pulled it out of his bag. Of course we both started crying. He told me how he loved me so much and he knew that I would wait for him and we would be together when he returned. He trusts me and that is what I love.
So we have almost been together for a year and one month now. I can not even believe it. The time flew by. I am so in love with Mike. I can't even believe it. I feel so lucky and grateful to have met him. He is perfect for me and I know that we will be together for eternity. He is my best friend and my other half. What a perfect person. Now, as we take on this journey TOGETHER, I know that we can get through it. We have to. He is going to be one amazing missionary. I am so proud of him for being so strong and making such a hard decision to give up his life for two years. He is my rock.
So, that's what happened. That's our story.
I am so lucky and I love my life.
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