I figured I better start with how me and Derrin met. And how it lead to the best decision of my life! This is my view of our beginnings and I hope you all enjoy!
So, as most of you know we met in the Deer Hollow singles ward. Talk about a miracle. I have been in this ward since I graduated from high school, except for that short year when I was living in Provo. I absolutely love the ward but it had always been so small and full of people I already knew. In other words, very little dating options. But that of course changed...
The first memory I have of Derrin was a night (I think it was spring time, 2010) of indoor volleyball for FHE. My great friends, Rob and Jarom were my ward activity buddies. We would never go to a ward activity without each other. For me it was at the time in my life when I was not in the mood to meet new people by myself (I'm sure we have all experienced that). So there we were playing volleyball. Towards the end of the night many people started to leave and there were only a few of us left. Surprisingly we had stayed the whole time and wanted to keep playing. Derrin had stayed along as well and we all decided to play one more game. For those who know me well, you know that when I am with my best friends I can get very hyper. Probably a surprise to those who only knew me as a very shy girl in jr. high and high school. Anyways, towards the end of this night I was at my best hyper self. I was bouncing off the walls. The whole time I was thinking that this kid (Derrin) probably thinks I am crazy! Yet I could not stop myself. I was just having too much fun. I even recall saying out loud, while pointing to Derrin, "he probably thinks I am crazy!" Derrin claims he liked it, but I am still sure he thought I was beyond crazy. Come to find out, Derrin thought me and Rob were dating at the time so he didn't really pursue me. Sure Derrin... nice excuse ;)
This is when things become really blurry in my memory. I will share what I do remember although it may not be in the exact order. I recall one summer night me, Rob and Jarom hanging out in Rob's backyard just looking at the stars. We of course were talking about relationships. At that time we were all single and discussing who we were all interested in dating. Of course we played that game of "who would you date in the ward." I believe it was either Rob or me who brought up Derrin. My response was around the topic of how it would never happen because he hung out with the greatest girls in the ward and that he would never notice me. So I had convinced myself it would never happen. My next memory was a sacrament meeting. I was sitting by myself on one huge row. A little after the meeting started Derrin came in and sat on the same row but sat pretty far away. At the end of sacrament I remember thanking him for sitting by me even though we weren't really sitting close. Pretty sure he gave me a funny look. At this point our only contact/conversations were saying hi to each other and that was it.
The next memory I have was when the Lucero's invited the ward over to their house for a birthday party for the gorgeous Camilla. I had never really hung out with this group but Artie convinced me to come so of course I made sure Rob was going and I talked myself into going. When I first got there I ran into someone I used to work with at Winegars. As me and her were talking I noticed that Derrin (in his very good looking church clothes) came in. Me and this girls' (can't remember her name, sadly) conversation was dying so I decided to go over and say hi. I believe we had a little conversation but I don't remember what it was about. The whole night I was excited that we had talked. I had a fun time at the party but we didn't speak again that night. Here is a picture from that night...
The next memory I have, and probably the best one, was the ward's Thanksgiving Feast. Unfortunately I am going to hold off on this story till next time. So everyone can wait in suspense ;)
