Engaged!

Fifteen years ago Utah Dad and I got engaged (it was actually on July 12th). We had known each other for exactly 14 days. Seriously.

Two of my roommates had been dating two of Utah Dad's roommates (they would eventually marry each other) so I regularly hung out with my friends in their boyfriends' apartment. Six guys lived in the apartment and during the summer I had casually dated three of them. The remaining roommate (Utah Dad) I had heard about but not yet met. He spent much of his time in Salt Lake with his family.

One weekend at the end of June, one of my roommates, her boyfriend, Dale (a roommate whose name has been changed) and I went on a double date up the canyon. We built a camp fire and roasted our dinner before heading back to the guys' apartment. Dale left to go help his parents with a project for a few weeks and I stayed to visit with my roommate and her boyfriend. Utah Dad and his friend came back to the apartment and joined us. Before long, Utah Dad and I were deep in conversation and when it was time for my roommate and I to return to our own apartment, Utah Dad walked us to the car.

Just as I was about to get in the car, Utah Dad asked me if I was dating any of his roommates. "No," I answered and our relationship was started with a lie. He asked me out on a date for the next day.

For our first date, Utah Dad and I drove up Provo Canyon and drove Alpine Loop. He had prepared a picnic dinner which we ate in a quiet meadow. Talking with him was immediately comfortable and we conversed about everything from our families and our studies to our hopes and dreams for the future.

I went with him to church in his ward the next day to hear him teach his Sunday School class and we saw each other every day after that.

He had already scheduled a date with another girl on Tuesday. I insisted that he keep the date. We had only been dating for four days and I was freaked out about how serious our relationship was already. He left on his other date and returned a half an hour later. I was planning to break it off or at least slow it down. We talked all night, went to breakfast and knew then that we would get married.

I met his family on the Fourth of July and I really felt like I had known them (even the crazy ones) forever.

My family had a family reunion planned to raft the Green River. My dear cousin and I had made a pact that we wouldn't take anyone else with us since many of our other cousins were bringing "significant others". However, things had suddenly changed and I took Utah Dad home with me to meet my family. He had insisted on meeting them before making anything "official". My cousin did forgive me, thank goodness.

I wasn't expecting an actual proposal yet. That Friday evening, Utah Dad and I sat together near the fire pit in my parents' backyard and he suddenly asked me if I would marry him. I, of course, said yes. I believe we had ten minutes to ourselves before we were joined by my younger brothers and sisters. Spontaneous and simple. Perfect for me.

We told my parents our news the next day after my extended family left. What could my parents say? They had gotten engaged on their second date. I don't think they were terribly surprised. Utah Dad was the only boyfriend I had ever taken home. We told Utah Dad's parents when we returned to Salt Lake. They weren't surprised. In fact, their lack of surprise actually surprised me.

Perhaps the most surprised person was Dale. When he returned from his parents', he called to ask me out and I had to tell him that I was now engaged--to his roommate.