Larry and I were checking out the LDS singles on LDS Planet, ( a web site for meeting singles) and we came across each others profile. I noticed Larry and looked over his profile and noted many things he liked that I liked. For instance: hiking, backpacking, kayaking, camping, going to the Temple, testimony, cooking and many more things. Not to mention he was very good looking and fit. That was important. I wanted someone who could keep up with me. He felt the same way, as I later found out. So I sent him an electronic flirt. He wrote back and we continued talking via the planet. I had a ton of questions for him and he got over 200 questions between the time we met and decided to marry. After Larry would answer my question he would flip the question around and ask me. We had many thought provoking questions and they made us both think, laugh, and get serious about life decisions.
Since we were so far away from each other I thought it would be great to skype. That proved to be a great tool in getting to know each other.We could see reactions to questions and we really had a great time talking.
The first part of June Larry asked me if I wanted to come to Baytown Texas to meet him for the first time. So the soonest date was July 19th. So we set the date. I told my Dad. He did not say anything for a few days and then one morning he said that he had a dream that I should not go. We did not know why. So I told Larry and he asked if he could come and meet me while I was in Utah for my family reunion and continue on to California the following Monday.
Larry drove all the way from Texas to Utah . He stayed with his daughter and son in law. On June 19th he came to my relatives home with his family and met my family and me. When I finally got to meet Larry. It was like we were old friends back together once again. Larry says when he saw me he felt the chemistry right off the bat! As you can tell we were very happy to finally meet. We visited with my family and then left for his daughter's home. After our visit there we had our first date walking around the Salt Lake Temple. It was hard to leave each other. We just wanted to spend as much time together as we could.
The following week he came to California and we dated for 14 days straight. We walked Jody's dog in the morning at 6 am and had activities planned for each day. We hiked, cooked, dressed up for dinner, family activity on the 4th, cooked together, Disneyland, yard work, beach, shopping at the mall and house chores and the Temple. During all the activities we talked and learned more about each other.
While we were visiting the L A Temple and visitor center, I had just finished asking him some questions and getting my questions answered. Then I said, " Do you have any question for me?" Larry said. "Will you marry me. " I said, "yes". We were going to keep our engagement under wraps till I went to Texas later in July. But I could not hold it in. Larry was very accommodating and patient. He had asked Dad earlier and we told Jody my sister and Tammy with some pictures that had words on them with the last one being, " Announcing our Engagement". When we decided to marry, Larry kept telling me we should elope. We can save time and money! Dad even thought it was a good idea. But I wanted to have my friends and family share this day with us. We set the date after I went to Texas, on the 27th of Aug.
When I came to Texas we were so happy to see each other once again. Larry went to work while I was there and I gained some great friendships with the Ferguson family whom I stayed with. But most of all I got to know Larry in his own town and home. I watched him live his life at his home.
We went to visit Larry's Bishop and Stake President. I got to know more about Larry and learn about all that he has done for the stake and ward members. He is generous and lives the example of Christ. He has touched many lives for good.
I got to know Larry's friends in the Baytown Ward. I told them I would be glad to help in their pioneer day activity. Larry was involved and I wanted to be with him and a part of the festivities. We shopped for chicken to get the best deal and I watched Larry Bar-B-Que 100 lbs of chicken leg quarters. He was leaving a trail of great impressions that made me more each day know that he was the one I wanted to be with the rest of my life. So on the pioneer day activity we brought over the chicken, plus cole slaw and beans and set it all up. I helped in directing the members to the trekking stations in my Nauvoo period clothes.
We are so happy we met and can share our lives together. The dates we have had and the realtionship we share is a dream come true. The wedding was perfect. The open house was amazing to see so many good friends and introduce them to Larry. It was great to have all those that came.
