Exactly 10 Years Ago

Can I just tell you how wonderful my husband is!?! As most of you know, Paul is up in Washington State with his new job while the rest of us are here in Utah trying to get the house sold. It's been hard and at times depressing. We've been making it work though, but we all miss each other more than words can say.

Last night, Paul and I were talking and I just burst into tears. I'm sick of all this waiting and not knowing what's going to happen. So I kinda let it all out on him. Which I'm sorry for, Paul. So, today I woke up feeling kinda bummed about things still but tried to go about my day in a happy way. We ran out to MacDonald's around lunch time and when we got home there was a package on the doorstep.

Inside was this:

And a card that said this:

"An Epic meeting + 2 hours of babbling = 10 years of the greatest happiness.
Who knew? Thank you for being everything you are to me, and letting
me become part of your life those many years ago.

-November 22nd 1998"

Let me explain that note a bit. The day we met was at a singles ward on a Sunday. It was the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Paul and I had never met, but he says he saw me up on the stand. I was asked to play the piano at the last minute for Sacrament meeting. He said he noticed me up there looking kinda frazzled and nervous. Paul told me after seeing me up there he wanted to find me after Sacrament meeting was over and introduce himself. But after the meeting he lost track of me and went to stack chairs in the primary room and then stayed to practice some songs. One song he practiced was a song he wrote, which he called "Epic" (which is the "epic" part of the note). As he was practicing, I was stuck out in the hall just a few doors down from the primary room and could hear him playing, so after I got out of being cornered by someone, I decided to stop by the room to see if maybe whoever was playing had sheet music they wouldn't mind sharing.

I cracked the door open and stuck my head in, fully expecting a woman to be sitting at the piano. But as I blurted out the words "Sounds good, do you have the sheet music for that?" I noticed it wasn't a woman at all. It was a man I'd never seen before, but since I'd already asked the question, I figure I may as well go in and see if the sheet music was available.

I had no idea that first meeting with Paul would be over 2 hours long. He talked and talked, and I sat and listened. I could have told you a ton about him after those 2 hours. I did get the music, a couple of weeks later. Paul was going to be up in Washington for Thanksgiving so I knew it would be 2 weeks before I saw him again.

Now, just a quick back history here. Normally when I would meet someone, the next time I would see them, the person wouldn't really remember me. Paul seemed to like me and I liked him. Wasn't sure anything other than a friendship would come of it, so I decided to test him. The first time he saw me and we met, I had straight hair. So the next Sunday I knew he would be there, I decided to do my hair up curly to see if he 1- would remember me and 2- if he was actually serious enough to come looking for me.

It worked. He found me! But when I told him later (after we got married) that I did that to test him, he was glad he passed the test.

So anywho, 10 years ago to this exact date, Paul and I met for the very first time. I have to say, being with Paul has really changed my life. I cannot express how thankful I am to have him for a husband. He's so extremely patient with me and our daughters. Paul treats me with absolute respect. He loves me and tells me in so many ways each and everyday. I have to say that I am the most blest to have him.

Paul, I love you with all my heart and more. Thank you for all you do. I can't wait for us to be a family again.