Her Side:
Monday and Garden of the Gods came. It was good to talk with Joel on the way down and go hiking. Oh how i had missed hiking while I was away. We trekked around and I realized just how out of shape I was. We ended up sitting on the top of a rock formation and watching the clouds roll in and rain on us. We had a good time and continued talking most of the day about all kinds of random things that no body ever remembers after the conversation ends.
We had planned to meet up with Ryan Marsden and Chelly Shaeffer for dinner later that night. Chelly had had a rough time while I was gone and my heart was saddened because of everything she had gone through. It made me look at Joel and realize that he was a good guy and I was lucky that he wanted to hang around. Ryan and Chelly have been my best of friends for a long time and probably will continue to be for a long time.
On the ride home I asked if we could stop at the Denver Temple. It was 10 or 11 at night and a Monday. The chances that the gates were closed were pretty high, but we stopped non the less. To our surprise the gates were open. When we parked a security guard stopped and said he felt like he needed to leave the gates open and that we could take as long as we needed to. Joel and I walked around and then talked some more. Standing in front of the temple I remember saying, I hope to never do anything that I couldn't do in front of the temple. Then this is where we differ, I thought I said, "When I get married, I want to have a small wedding."
Somehow someway that interpreted differently in Joel's mind and he ran with the idea of us getting married. By the time we left the temple it was early a.m hours. We stopped in a parking lot and attempted to get a few hours of shut eye in a very uncomfortable car. On the way home we stopped at a few stores and played the game, "Can you handle..." These were things that we wanted to know if the other person would be able to live with.
Apparently these were things that we could live with because we both ran with the idea of being unofficially engaged. I came back Tuesday to Mama Hank's house and she asked how the time in Colorado Springs had gone. She knew something and had always known something. I told her that we had a great time and had decided to get unofficially engaged. She and Brother Hanks weren't surprised. I should have know at this time that they were scheming! But I was blissful and ignorant.
Joel left Tuesday to head back up to Wyoming. It was a strange situation. Joel was in Wyoming and I was in Colorado. We had planned to get married some time in November. That would give us plenty of time to schedule things. As far as we knew, Joel was running with FoCo kids in the Grand Teton Relay. We planned to me up there. Dana was living in Rexburg so it was a perfect meeting place for my family to see me after my mission and for them to meet Joel. We figured that we should probably call me parents and let them know our plans.
I remember calling and reaching my Mom. It was busy in the background and I asked where they were. They were at The Phantom of the Opera show downtown. I said oh... They had a few minutes and asked what was up. I quickly told them that Joel and I were unofficially engaged. She laughed and said, "Good one. I'll call you after the show." They didn't believe us! I mean, we couldn't blame them because I had just barely gotten home and to be engaged was laughable.
They called back and we talked and they still thought I was joking. I told them that I'd be up in Idaho for the race and it would be a good time to come visit and meet Joel and everyone get together. Joel went back to work in Wyoming. I figured out how to make it up to Idaho for the race. After the race I would go home to Wyoming to meet Joel's family and spend some time with him and them. Then afterwards, he would drive me home and I'd figure out life from there. We had set the date for November 8. That was Joel's Dad's birthdate and since he'd already passed, Joel wanted him to be a part of it still somehow. The plans were set, but you know what that means...
Wednesday, July 13, 2016
Red Returns
Her Side:
I left on my mission and it was a love/hate relationship with Joel. We didn't leave on the best of terms and I had a lot to sort out. Each transfer and companionship would somehow determine whether or not he got a good letter or a not so good letter. Good companion meant good letters. Poor companion relationship meant I don't like you, letters. This went on throughout the mission.
I left on my mission and it was a love/hate relationship with Joel. We didn't leave on the best of terms and I had a lot to sort out. Each transfer and companionship would somehow determine whether or not he got a good letter or a not so good letter. Good companion meant good letters. Poor companion relationship meant I don't like you, letters. This went on throughout the mission.
President Thomas knew about Joel. He knew a lot about Joel. In his own way he kept tabs on the relationship and sometimes encouraged it without actually encouraging me to it. Ex: We were at a zone conference and President Thomas asked all the Elders with girlfriends at home to raise their hands. They did so. Then he turned to the 6 Sisters and asked the same question. Only one sister raised her hand. President Thomas took the time to look at me for a moment longer. I folded my arms tightly. I did not have a boy friend at home.
Eventually life happened and it was time for me to return home. The mission had been brutal and I was ready to go home. I had served for 14 months and life was falling apart in a way that was sending me home. I was ok with that. I had stopped writing to Joel about 3 months previously when things started turning rough for me in the mission. The last I knew, Joel was working in Wyoming.
I returned home to Colorado on a Saturday. President Russell McClure, Bishop Steve Hitz, my parents and Sister Lynette Hanks were the only ones that knew I was coming home. Sister Hanks picked me up at the airport and let me stay with her for a short time till I figured out the next step. I was glad to be back in Colorado.
Mamma Hanks asked if I had kept in touch with Joel while I was away. I said a little bit. She kept asking if I had called him. yet I said no, and no, and no. Then she handed me the phone and said Joel is on the line. We talked awkwardly for a few minutes. Then the blow came that Joel was actually in town for a wedding that he went to Friday night. Shannon Harrison had gotten married and he came down for the wedding. Mama Hanks knew this. She encouraged me to come to a play her son was in and bring Joel with. I told Joel about it and that he could meet us there.
When he got out of his car he looked like a scruffy mountain man. I'm pretty sure he had plaid on, but I honestly can't remember, and he had a full mountain man beard. At the play with Mama Hanks and I, I sat as far away from him as I could without completely sitting on Mama Hanks. The flay was good and at the end Joel offered to take me home and Mama Hanks agreed.
I don't recall what happened later that evening. I do remember calling Ryan Marsden before the play to see if he wanted to come up Sunday for church and visit. I needed a man friend to block Joel. Neither of them knew this.
Sunday was great and it was great seeing old friends. Somehow someway Ryan disappeared and Joel and I ended up talking. It was good to talk with him. He originally was planning on leaving that weekend to go back to work but called his boss and extended his stay. I told him that I had wanted to visit Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs before my mission but never made it there. We planned to go the next day.
Mamma Hanks asked if I had kept in touch with Joel while I was away. I said a little bit. She kept asking if I had called him. yet I said no, and no, and no. Then she handed me the phone and said Joel is on the line. We talked awkwardly for a few minutes. Then the blow came that Joel was actually in town for a wedding that he went to Friday night. Shannon Harrison had gotten married and he came down for the wedding. Mama Hanks knew this. She encouraged me to come to a play her son was in and bring Joel with. I told Joel about it and that he could meet us there.
When he got out of his car he looked like a scruffy mountain man. I'm pretty sure he had plaid on, but I honestly can't remember, and he had a full mountain man beard. At the play with Mama Hanks and I, I sat as far away from him as I could without completely sitting on Mama Hanks. The flay was good and at the end Joel offered to take me home and Mama Hanks agreed.
I don't recall what happened later that evening. I do remember calling Ryan Marsden before the play to see if he wanted to come up Sunday for church and visit. I needed a man friend to block Joel. Neither of them knew this.
Sunday was great and it was great seeing old friends. Somehow someway Ryan disappeared and Joel and I ended up talking. It was good to talk with him. He originally was planning on leaving that weekend to go back to work but called his boss and extended his stay. I told him that I had wanted to visit Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs before my mission but never made it there. We planned to go the next day.
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His Side
Safe but not so safe
Obviously the friend was Joel.
We talked most of the bight and continued to hang out. I had told him that I was going on a mission in roughly six weeks so I wasn't looking for anything. During the conversations it somehow came out that he had just moved here and was working on things in his life so he wasn't looking for anything either. He was safe.
Well, there is no such thing as safe. Dana wasn't super excited about us hanging out all of the time. She was rather upset about the whole Joel thing and promptly moved to Utah. She was planning on moving to Utah in June anyway because that is when our lease was up and I was reporting to the MTC.
Joel and I would hang out and it eventually just turned somehow into dating.
We would go places, movies, hang out, etc. There wasn't much that I can officially remember. I do remember going to the movies and not letting him pay. He wasn't super excited about that.
One of the big planned dates Joel did was a scavenger hunt. He sent me to many of the places that we had been while hanging out or dating. Each place had a clue and a sunflower. The last place he was waiting with the rest of the bouquet.
One of the big planned dates Joel did was a scavenger hunt. He sent me to many of the places that we had been while hanging out or dating. Each place had a clue and a sunflower. The last place he was waiting with the rest of the bouquet.
They always say that before you leave there is a temptation. Well, Joel was that distraction and temptation. I learned a lot before I left, but left I did.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------His Side of Not so Safe
How we met, Her Side vs His Side
HIS SIDE
Where to start. Where should I start? I guess that should be the beginning of it all. At the end of the 2010-11 skiing season I had found myself in a little dilemma. I could stay in Avon Co and continue working for Vail Resorts--A job that I loved. I had over 130 days straight of skiing on the mountain not including Sundays. My testimony was rebuilding quickly in the church and life was looking up. I worked 4 tens and had every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday off. It was the beginning of April and I was offered a summer job and I was super excited. Dream job heaven was coming my way. Or so I thought.
Life as usual had other plans.
I had my three day weekend and for some reason I could not sleep. I mean at all. I tried everything for three days and nights to get tired enough to sleep. I hiked the mountain at night, I skied all day Saturday, and I just could not sleep. I knew something was up and I couldn't figure out what it was. So in the middle of the night I started to pray, and for some reason during that prayer I asked if I was supposed to move to Fort Collins with my friend. I fell asleep there and woke up late for work. In fact I didn't even go back to work. I literally packed my bags and moved that Monday.
On the way to FOCO I looked up who my bishop was and got a hold of Bishop Wilber who told me my Bishop was Steven Hitz and I was in the Spring Creek Ward. I called him and found out he was from my home town and knew my family quite well. That first Sunday was odd. Really odd. I think Bishop assigned a few of the elders to be my buddies. I was greeted at the door by name, and escorted to a seat in the middle of a bunch of guys. I almost felt like a investigator. After church I made my rounds to try and figure out just who everybody was and where I could fit in with everyone.
And in walks Dana Brooksby to forever change my life.
Dana was a fun, bubbly, bounce off the wall brunette that seemed like she was flirting with me just a little. And she was cute to boot. So yeah I didn't mind. As we talked I kept surveying the room. And each time I looked up I noticed I was being watched very carefully by a Redhead. And I was getting the Evil Eye like there was no tomorrow. I had no idea why. But she was gorgeous and having a thing for redheads I wanted to get to know her at least a little bit.
That week went by and I kept getting bugged and asked to hang out by Dana. And I didn't shurk from the idea but I wasn't in a big hurry either. So the next Saturday i said why not. And I somehow got drug to a church play. Afterwords Dana wanted me to meet her sister and her sister's friend Ryan. Well as it turns out, the redhead at church and Dana'a sister just happened to be the same person. Thus how Dana is the one totally at fault for changing my life forever.
We hit it off that night. The three of us hung out and Ryan and I didn't leave till far after midnight and we had a blast. The next few days I kept finding reasons to go over and hang with Dana and the Redhead, who I started calling Red. It took Dana about a week to figure out that I didn't have any real interest in her but her sister. That didn't bode well.
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HER SIDE
It was about six or eight weeks away from the date I was supposed to leave on my mission. Life was busy. I was rehearsing for the Savior of the World play as well as working at Chase Bank full time. Dana was living with me and working as well. We were enjoying life. Tyler had just left on his mission to St. George Utah.
We were enjoying life in the singles ward. Dana was on the hunt for a new friend and she was as flirtatious as ever. One Sunday after church a group of us were gathered talking. Dana was flirting with a new guy and he didn't have any problem returning the gestures. I rolled my eyes and continued talking to everyone else.
I had started dating a friend but it wasn't working out. The night of the Savior of the World play I let him know that. The play went off really well. After the play Dana and her friend that she had met got together with Ryan Marsden and I. We headed back to the house for games. Dana's friend had no problem starting a tickle fight on the way. Ryan didn't discourage it. Payback I guess.
The next morning I woke up with a severe sore throat, a fever, and was an all around miserable mess! That Monday night Dana brought her friend over. They had recently gone to Walmart and when they got back, Dana realized she had forgotten a couple bags and went back. Dana's friend and I had started talking and he said he would keep me company until she got back. Joel didn't leave that until 7 am. We talked into the early morning when I finally said I'm going to bed. He crashed on the couch until 7 when I said he had to go so Dana wouldn't know I'd let a boy stay over.
Where to start. Where should I start? I guess that should be the beginning of it all. At the end of the 2010-11 skiing season I had found myself in a little dilemma. I could stay in Avon Co and continue working for Vail Resorts--A job that I loved. I had over 130 days straight of skiing on the mountain not including Sundays. My testimony was rebuilding quickly in the church and life was looking up. I worked 4 tens and had every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday off. It was the beginning of April and I was offered a summer job and I was super excited. Dream job heaven was coming my way. Or so I thought.
Life as usual had other plans.
I had my three day weekend and for some reason I could not sleep. I mean at all. I tried everything for three days and nights to get tired enough to sleep. I hiked the mountain at night, I skied all day Saturday, and I just could not sleep. I knew something was up and I couldn't figure out what it was. So in the middle of the night I started to pray, and for some reason during that prayer I asked if I was supposed to move to Fort Collins with my friend. I fell asleep there and woke up late for work. In fact I didn't even go back to work. I literally packed my bags and moved that Monday.
On the way to FOCO I looked up who my bishop was and got a hold of Bishop Wilber who told me my Bishop was Steven Hitz and I was in the Spring Creek Ward. I called him and found out he was from my home town and knew my family quite well. That first Sunday was odd. Really odd. I think Bishop assigned a few of the elders to be my buddies. I was greeted at the door by name, and escorted to a seat in the middle of a bunch of guys. I almost felt like a investigator. After church I made my rounds to try and figure out just who everybody was and where I could fit in with everyone.
And in walks Dana Brooksby to forever change my life.
Dana was a fun, bubbly, bounce off the wall brunette that seemed like she was flirting with me just a little. And she was cute to boot. So yeah I didn't mind. As we talked I kept surveying the room. And each time I looked up I noticed I was being watched very carefully by a Redhead. And I was getting the Evil Eye like there was no tomorrow. I had no idea why. But she was gorgeous and having a thing for redheads I wanted to get to know her at least a little bit.
That week went by and I kept getting bugged and asked to hang out by Dana. And I didn't shurk from the idea but I wasn't in a big hurry either. So the next Saturday i said why not. And I somehow got drug to a church play. Afterwords Dana wanted me to meet her sister and her sister's friend Ryan. Well as it turns out, the redhead at church and Dana'a sister just happened to be the same person. Thus how Dana is the one totally at fault for changing my life forever.
We hit it off that night. The three of us hung out and Ryan and I didn't leave till far after midnight and we had a blast. The next few days I kept finding reasons to go over and hang with Dana and the Redhead, who I started calling Red. It took Dana about a week to figure out that I didn't have any real interest in her but her sister. That didn't bode well.
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HER SIDE
It was about six or eight weeks away from the date I was supposed to leave on my mission. Life was busy. I was rehearsing for the Savior of the World play as well as working at Chase Bank full time. Dana was living with me and working as well. We were enjoying life. Tyler had just left on his mission to St. George Utah.
We were enjoying life in the singles ward. Dana was on the hunt for a new friend and she was as flirtatious as ever. One Sunday after church a group of us were gathered talking. Dana was flirting with a new guy and he didn't have any problem returning the gestures. I rolled my eyes and continued talking to everyone else.
I had started dating a friend but it wasn't working out. The night of the Savior of the World play I let him know that. The play went off really well. After the play Dana and her friend that she had met got together with Ryan Marsden and I. We headed back to the house for games. Dana's friend had no problem starting a tickle fight on the way. Ryan didn't discourage it. Payback I guess.
The next morning I woke up with a severe sore throat, a fever, and was an all around miserable mess! That Monday night Dana brought her friend over. They had recently gone to Walmart and when they got back, Dana realized she had forgotten a couple bags and went back. Dana's friend and I had started talking and he said he would keep me company until she got back. Joel didn't leave that until 7 am. We talked into the early morning when I finally said I'm going to bed. He crashed on the couch until 7 when I said he had to go so Dana wouldn't know I'd let a boy stay over.
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