How it all began...12 yrs ago

I've been lucky & blessed to have the CUTEST and most AWESOME BOYFRIEND for the past 12 years. We met July 14th, 1996 and our FIRST DATE anniversary was just a couple days ago on the 20th. So who wants to hear my fairy tale story again...I know you all do. So it was a Sunday and I was attending church for my cousin's (Nate Gordon) Missionary Farewell. Sitting in the same row as me was this good looking guy! WOW!!! After church, we were introduced and we started visiting. It was immediately obvious that we had a great connection. Leonard, who is from Corvallis, MT served a 2 year mission for our church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) in AZ. and while he was serving, he became friends with my relatives, (Tom & June Gordon Family) who was serving as the ward mission leader. That is what put us in the right place at the right time. Leonard was living in Show Low, AZ for the summer as an electricians apprentice to earn $ for college. I had just graduated High School and was working & getting ready to start college at MCC. I was so looking forward to meeting some RM's (returned missionaries) and by surprise met the one for me, or so I hoped. A few days after we met, I got a phone call from Leonard. I was freaking out! I was so happy he hunted my # down. He invited me on a date to go fishing with him in Show Low. (a 3 hour drive for me but worth every minute!) I really hoped my parents would let me go, since it was a long weekend with some strange guy. The aunt and Uncle vouched for him, giving him 2 thumbs up. Looking back I think angels interveened, cuz they said yes and off I went. We had a wonderful weekend. Fishing, (which i have never done before & I caught more fish than him and gutted them out myself...I know impressive.) cliff jumping and hiking. He arranged for me to stay the night at a family's home he taught while on his mission. Great people, i just loved them. Sunday morning, Leonard made me Bananna Pancakes and the Rest is HISTORY!!! We were insepereable since then 12 years ago. Leonard is my Best Friend and I love him like crazy!

This picture goes back to one of our first few dates, I had a free photo shoot at a studio and we had fun being silly. We both had a LOT more hair back then but we are still just as good looking! OH YEAH! Leonard called me his "little teenager" since I was 18 and he was an OLD 21 yr old. So Funny!

This picture is one of the last weekend dates we had before college. We dated 6 weekends and he left to Idaho to Ricks College (now know as BYU-Idaho) & I started school at MCC. We were IN LOVE by this time and we could hardly stand being apart. We wrote letters almost everyday and talked on the phone daily. All the $ i earned went to pay the phone bill. - Don't you just love mushy gushy love stories. This is so fun for me to reminense. On October 3, 1996. I got to go to Idaho to finally see my man in person and I was still twitterpated and deeply in love. It was a long 6 weeks wait but a wonderful day! Leonard drove me to the Idaho Falls Temple where he proposed to me. YES YES YES!!! I was so thrilled & excited! Leonard is an answer to my prayers, I KNOW he is to be my eternal companion.

Our big day was December 21, 1996. We were married for Time and All Eternity in the Mesa, Arizona Temple. It was the happiest day of our lives. I thank my Heavenly Father everyday for helping me find the Man of my Dreams. It has been a Wonderful 12 years having Leonard in my life. I couldn't ask for a better husband, friend, father of my kids, & partner in crime ;)