Today Garret and I spoke in church. Because we are new to the ward I introduced Garret and I and told the congregation a little bit about ourselves including the story of how we met. We both got so many comments about our little story and that is was almost to perfect to even be true. I thought I might share a more detailed version of how Garret and I met on my blog:
Garret and I met in January of 2011 at the Salt Lake Community College Institute. I was on the institute council at the time and several of us in the council really wanted to take a class from one of our favorite teachers. We found a time where we could all attend institute and went to check to see what class this teacher would be teaching that hour. It was the Happiness in Dating Class... we decided that we would still take the class even though we weren't sure we really wanted to be in the "marriage" class but we love the teacher and it was the only time we could all go. So me and 5 other people from the institute council started attending this class.
A few weeks after the class started there was a boy who joined our class. I always noticed him because he usually was asked to play the piano for us during our hymns. The piano is my favorite instrument and even though I can't play it I just love to hear the music it creates. So I was always impressed with anyone who could play. This boy was very quiet in class and didn't talk much, he also usually sat in the back row on the left side. I thought he was pretty cute, but I also had told myself that after my last relationship I needed to take a break from boys and take some time for myself. I was apprehensive because of this promise I had made to myself. I couple months went by and all we had exchanged was a few glances and smiles but no words.
We had a lesson on communication and the importance of being able to talk to those who you are dating and eventually your spouse. Our teacher was discussing the importance of body language when communicating and how to carry on a conversation to help you to really get to know a person. He then paired us off for what was called an "in-class date". Our teacher would pair up a girl and boy in the class and then you would get to "practice". Since this was a bit awkward our teacher usually had to force us together so he would call out names to pair up. When he got to me he called the shy boy from the back. He sat down next to me and he introduced himself as Garret Hegland. We then had 10 minutes to talk to each other about anything and to just try to get to know each other. Garret and I clicked at once. As we were talking I couldn't help but smile at him and giggle at some of the things he said. I don't even remember what exactly we told each other, but I do remember how easily our conversation flowed from one topic to the next. That 10 minutes just flew right by. After our "in-class date" our teacher mentioned on some things he noticed as he was walking around the room. He used Garret and I as a great example of how to communicate. Apparently we had great body language, and we were able to continue talking without any pauses or breaks.
A few more weeks went by and Garret and I would say hi when we would pass in the hall of the institute but we hadn't exchanged more then that. I was getting anxious because after our first real conversation I wanted to get to know him more.
The annual color festive was coming up and I was getting a group of friends together to go.While I was talking about it with some people in the hall Garret walked by to say hi and noticed what we were talking about. He mentioned that he wanted to go since he has never been, and his buddies were all busy that day. This was my perfect opportunity to finally have a good reason to invite him to come hang out. Garret said yes and I got him some information for where to meet us.
At the color festival there was a group of about 20 of us. For those of you who haven't been to a Hindu color festival, they can be insane and extremely packed. It took over an hour to get to the temple and then longer to find a parking spot. We got in line to buy some of the colors to throw and went to find a spot amongst the crowd for the count down. During this chaos I somehow managed to lose Garret. I looked all over for him and he was no where to be seen. The countdown was starting and once the colors were getting thrown you could barely even see the person right in front of your face. It wasn't until 15 minutes after the color dust settled that we finally found Garret. So on our first hang out I didn't even get to see him, but we did sit next to each other on the drive back and talked the entire way which totally made up for it.
A few days later Garret stopped me just outside the Institute council office. He mentioned that General Conference was that next week and he had tickets to the Sunday Morning Session. He asked if I would like to go with him. Of course I said yes, number one tickets to conference are hard to get and two I would get to go out on a date with this kid that I have had a crush on. Once Garret left I went back into the council office where some of my friends were hanging out and I literally did a "Happy Dance" I was so excited!!!!
Leading up to our date on Sunday we hung out every day. We would find each other on campus to chat and I invited him to drive down all the way to Layton to pick up some dance costumes and he agreed to join me. The whole week I kept trying to hold his hand or something to let him know that I was interested but it never worked out. I was really hoping something would happen on our date.
So Sunday finally comes and I find out that it isn't just Garret and I going on this date, we were going with his family. To be specific, his parents and his grandma. It made me so nervous to be with his family on our first date, some girls might have even freaked out and cancelled but I was so excited. So we go on this date and in the Conference Center I sit between Garret and his dad. Garret's parents were so kind and made things so comfortable. They were just asking questions about me and my family. I really enjoyed getting to meet them.
When conference was over I was expecting to be going home, but as we were walking to the car Garret mentioned that they have a family tradition where everyone goes over to his grandparents on his mother's side between conference sessions for lunch. They were going to be heading over there now, but Garret asked if I would prefer to go home instead. Of course I couldn't say no so I not only met Garret's parents on our first date, but I also met all the grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. I was so nervous on the drive over but the Hegland/Morgan family are the sweetest people you could meet. They were so kind and happy and I absolutely enjoyed myself. When you picture a grandparents house full of family that is what it looked like. It was perfect. Little kids running around playing, the adults talking and laughing. Everyone wandering around talking to each other.
My wish also came true, while sitting on the couch at Garret's grandparents he held my hand and I was on cloud 9 with excitement! Our first date couldn't have gone better.
After that day I don't think we have managed to go 24 hours without seeing each other with the exception of Garret's family vacation that summer. We have spent all our free time with each other and I have loved every moment. Almost exactly three months after our first date at conference Garret took me on a scavenger hunt to all the places that we love to go and at the end he took me to the conference center and temple square where our first date was and he proposed to me. Another 3 months went by and we were again at that same spot being sealed for time and all eternity.
I am the luckiest girl to get to marry the cute boy in the back that plays the piano. I am so excited to spend not only my life with Garret but to spend eternity with him! He is my better half and I couldn't have picked a better guy (my mom and grandmother tell me this all the time).
Garret I love you babe!!!!
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