{Part 4}

So after the "M" word was mentioned, there was nothing. Absolutely no talk of marriage for another  month and a half! We dated, and grew further and further in love, but there was no other mention of the "M." Well, as any girl knows, this simply wouldn't do. You can't just randomly mention marriage without expounding. I was dying to know what he was thinking about on the marriage front. The tension just built and built, until finally after one of our dress-up dates, I just blurted out "Jason, are you going to marry me or what?!" (I know, real mature) He must have been kind of expecting something like this, because it didn't even phase him! He simply asked, "Ash, are you proposing to me?" Pretty funny, right? Man, he's a hoot. I was not in the mood for this answer, though, and so I told him again that he better make his intentions known. This was a very serious conversation. He told me that yes, he did want to marry me, but he didn't know where to start. So I took the initiative.

As you may know, at the time, I was working at Duke's Jewelers in Springville. The next day, I went to work, and pulled out the folder I had made a million years ago with pictures of my favorite rings. I circled my top two, and told Richard (my boss) that Jason would be coming in soon, and described the kind of diamonds that I would like for him to bring in for Jason to look at.

On December 1st, while we were driving in my car, I told Jason that I was thinking that if we were going to get married, we might as well do it soon. I had always dreamed of a winter wedding, and Christmas break seemed like the optimal time. I then proceeded to tell him that I had the folder all ready to go, and that all he had to do was walk into Dukes, and Richard would take care of the rest. I told him that all he had to do was propose, and my mom and I would take over from there.

So off he went! A day or two later, we went to the store and talked to Richard and picked out the ring and diamond. (Richard said he was so nervous!) And that was that! I thought for sure Richard would take a while to get finishing my ring, it usually takes a few weeks, especially because Rich told me that we had to order the ring in, and then he had to set it. Jason got real sneaky on me two days later. He told me that he wanted to me to go get my hair done, and that it was on him! (Looking back, I SO should have suspected something here.) He had to get rid of me, you see, because we only had 1 car! (Jason had sold his the previous month) Luckily, the hair appointment took longer than expected, because it gave Jase time to run out to Dukes and get the ring that was done early!

That night we had a date planned to my ward's Christmas Party up at sundance... The rest of the engagement story is here :)

So that's how we met, fell in love, and got engaged to be married! I love my little love story :)

{Part 3}

That was the first of many crazy adventures.

We saw each other every day after that, and for the first week or so, I didn't know exactly where this was going, or what was happening between us, but I knew that I liked him, and that he was so fun to be around.

I still remember when I called him out.

We had gone up the side of a mountain in Springville to look at the lights, and he leaned in to kiss me, and I let him give me one little kiss before I stopped him-

He seemed a little surprised, but not as surprised as he was when I asked "What did that kiss mean to you?" He didn't seem to know what to say, so even though I was way nervous, I said the next part really fast: "because my dad always says that a guy will be honest if you ask him what a kiss means to him, if it means nothing, he will tell you, and that's when you know to stop wasting your kisses."

Jason then told me that he didn't know what my plans were, if I was going to stay in Utah County, or if I was headed back to Logan, or what, so he was just enjoying my company as long as he could. He said that he had a huge crush on me, and liked me a lot, and thanked me for asking him, because it made him respect me a lot more.

Then he completely surprised me and turned the question around and asked me "Well, what did the kiss mean to you?" 

I flat out told him, that if I didn't like him, or see at least a little bit of a future, I wouldn't still be there. I told him that if he was just in it for a non-committal make-out I was out of there, because I wasn't that kind of a girl. It scared me to death saying it, but as silly as it sounds, I knew that I was doing the right thing. He just hugged me, and said "what a girl." with a huge smile on his face.

The "L" Word

After that, we were dating, and did all kinds of fun things like going to the zoo, concerts, but mostly we just went on a lot of walks, and talked and got to know each other. I still remember the day I told him that I loved him. (Yes, I said it first... on accident) It was the end of september, and I had been feeling those feelings for a month or so, but I was waiting for him to say it first. We were saying goodnight in his grandma's basement, and it just came out! I was just finishing out a laugh, and without realizing it, I said 'You're too funny, I love you!' Jason stopped mid laugh, and just stared at me. Then he started telling me how much I meant to him, that I was such a cool girl, but HE DIDN'T SAY IT BACK! haha. I was mortified. Mortified, I tell you. I cried myself to sleep that night, and was a little standoffish for a day or two after that. The next week, Jason took me to Salem Pond during the sunset, and while we were watching the pretty sky and the reflections on the pond, Jason took my hand and told me he loved me, and ten reasons WHY he loved me. He said that he hadn't wanted to say the "L" word until he had prayed, and knew for sure. After that, every date we went on was magical, I seriously felt like I was walking on air!

The "M" Word

One night, probably mid october, Jason was walking me to my car just before midnight. We were talking about whatever we had been doing that night, and laughing about it, and gradually he got really quiet, and then started talking about selling his car for some reason. I was completely baffled, because that boy loved loved loved his car. That thing was always spotless, and smelling good. It was his baby. I asked him why on earth he would sell his car, and he was like ' I don't really need it, I mean, we have your car to get us places, and if we're going to get married, I need to save up for... stuff." I just stared at him. And then started laughing! I'm not going to lie, I had been thinking about it, but I was not expecting it to be brought up this fast, or this way! I was completely shocked, my heart was pounding so fast! And I was so completely happy. After I stopped laughing, I told him that I had been thinking about the 'M' word too, and coyly left it at that. It was just a brief mentioning, but it was enough to make me giddy! I might be the future Mrs. Jensen!!

{Part 4 to come later...}

{Part Two}

The next day:
The next day was sunday, and for dinner my dad had made the best homemade hamburgers in the whole world! I was so excited to eat them, but Tessa really wanted to go over to Jason's house to eat spaghetti... and Jason had stolen my glasses... so we went. I didn't eat much because first off, he made wheat spaghetti, and second off, I wanted to save room for these hamburgers that my dad had made. After eating, I kept trying to leave, but Jason thought it would be fun to make cookies, even though he didn't have any of the stuff you need to make cookies- So he sent Tess and I around to all of the boy apartments in his complex to gather the stuff. We made the cookies, and they were really really good, and Jason slyly got my number without me realizing it. But I was ready to eat those hamburgers, so I told Jason he could come if he wanted, but I was going to go to Salem. We made a detour to Salem Pond on the way home because I promised Tess and J that I would show it to them, and I kinda kept wandering away while we were there, trying to give Tess and Jason some space, but then Jason would leave Tessa by herself, and so when I went back to Tess, Jason would be right there again! haha

The cookies we made

Note the glasses

After the pond, we finally got home and dug into those delicious hamburgers, and Jason met the family for the first time. They liked him, he liked them, and we all got along. Nobody really thought anything about it really, and it was very chill.

We headed back to provo, Jason so he could go home, and Tess and I because we were going to sleep out by the library for the freedom parade the next night. Jason said he would meet up with us at the parade the next day. That night was horrible, we didn't sleep a wink, and it wasn't because I was up dreaming about Jason, there were noisy teenagers running all over the place, and I think my hair even got stepped on at one point in the night. Needless to say, Tess and I got out of the fast, and went back to Salem to sleep, not even caring if we made it to the parade or not. The next morning, I got a text from some number I didn't know with a picture of the parade saying that the parade was awesome. I asked Tess, and she said it was Jason, and I kind of got butterflies, even though I knew Tess had claim to him.

We did eventually get out to provo for the freedom festival, and on the way, Tess told me that she thought Jason liked me, and that I should go for it. I asked if she was sure, and she said yeah, which made me feel a lot better about the little crush I was developing for this boy. Jason met up with us, and we had an absolute BLAST. We went to colonial days, and the carnival, and thoroughly wore ourselves out.

Colonial Days at the freedom festival

Playing dress up

Caligraphy

Just before Tessa had to leave...

This is where it gets good:
We decided it would be so fun to have a pool party, and then do fireworks afterwards! Tessa had to go home that afternoon, but we tried so hard to get her to stay! She couldn't, and I felt a little awkward with what I was going to do for the rest of the night, Jason hadn't exactly invited just me to a pool party and fireworks, he had invited both of us girls, so I didn't know what to do... We went to the grocery store with Tess so she could grab a drink for the ride home, and while we were there, Jason pulled me into the fireworks isle and had me help him pick out the fireworks we should light off! I was giddy!

After Tess left, Jason and I went to the pool and kind of had our own little pool party complete with music from my Ipod, eventually a few other people joined, but Jase and I were having a blast just tossing a Frisbee back and forth in the water and flirting it up.

We finally got sick of the pool, but it wasn't dark enough to light off fireworks yet, so we decided to watch a movie with his roommates while we waited. This part I can still remember like it was yesterday, and still makes me blush to this day. I sat down on the little love seat that they had in their apartment, and Jase came and sat next to me. A few minutes into the movie, Jason put his arm behind me on the couch, and I was like "oh man, this guy is forward! I hardly know him, but man he's cute so whatevs". We were watching some holocaust movie, and about two-thirds of the way through he used the same arm to hide my eyes from the screen... which pulled my head onto his shoulder. Man! He was so smooth, and I was thinking he was cute, and cuddling with him wouldn't be so bad- my heart was beating so hard, and I didn't know why! Our faces were basically cheek to cheek for whatever reason the way we were cuddling... This next part is so unlike me: Right there, with his roommates in the ROOM, Jason and I's lips brushed... not once, but THREE TIMES! Oh man! I kept thinking, what am I doing?! I barely know this boy! (kids, just because it worked out for dad and I, doesn't mean that I endorse kissing before you get to know somebody) dun dun duunnnn.....

 Anyway, I'll go on to part three tomorrow :)

Our Love Story {Part One}

I was inspired by one of my favorite blogs when she shared her story on how her husband and herself met, so if you are in the mood for TWO love stories, here's the link to her blog.

I really liked this idea because the story's still fresh, and I am sure our baby will want to know the story eventually, and I want to write down the details

Just prior to meeting:
It was June of 2010. I had been laid of from my job in Logan, and had to move home, as much as I didn't want to. I'll admit I was being a sour sport about it, I wasn't too excited to be leaving my life in Logan. Most of my friends were in Logan, and I didn't really have many ties to Utah County other than my family.
My birthday was just around the corner on July 1st, and I decided that I was going to go to the Stadium of Fire for the first time ever. Stadium of fire was on July 3rd that year, and my friend Tessa was coming up for a few days to come with me and to visit! My other friends Brad and Braden came down just for the evening because of their undying love for Carrie Underwood who sang that night.

This was my profile picture just before I met Jason

Jason's profile Pic 

July 3rd, 2010
I was seriously so excited to see Tess and to hang out with that with her! She is the sweetest, and I love her to death. She called me as she was pulling into Utah County the afternoon of the Stadium of Fire, and said that there was this boy in provo that she wanted to see while she was down here, and asked if it was okay with me if she stopped and said hi before coming to Salem. I was totally cool with that, and even teased her a little bit about this boy she had told me a little bit about. I told her to take her time, and I would finish getting ready and meet her in Provo in an hour or so.

I still remember driving into town that evening! I was so excited to see Tess, and to go to the Stadium of Fire! As I walked into the apartment where Tess and this mystery boy were hanging out, Jason said that he thought I was super cute, but I guess I had walked in the door at the same time as some other guy, and he thought I was claimed. We had some fun chitchatting, and I met Jason for the first time. He seemed like a really outgoing guy, and I thought "awe, good job, Tess!" haha!

Tess and I left a few minutes later, but not before Jason invited us to a little party he and his EFY friends were putting on. We said "we'll be there, boy!"

Burry picture of Tessa and I at Stadium of Fire

The Stadium was fun, but what I remember most was getting to the party! By the time we got there, (traffic was horrible!) the party was basically over, they were cleaning up, but the music was still playing, and anyone who knows me knows that when that lady gaga comes on the speakers, this girl loves to DANCE! Luckily, there were like 10 or so guys dancing, so Tess and I went and and joined.

This is the good part. Jason was one of those guys, and I guess my dancing set me apart from the rest of the pack. (I don't know why, but my dancing always seems to be a source of teasing for me, but I just keep on doing it, because I love it, and I must say, I think I dance like no one else can!) Jason was chasing some other girl at the time, so he told his friends that one of them should chase me, because I was cute, and that I was funny. I, of course, was oblivious to it all! I had just gotten out of a relationship, and wasn't looking for another one for a while.

Me on the day we met

I had told Tessa a little earlier that night that we HAD to go to Sammy's, and after the party cleared out, Jason and his brother, along with a few other boys came with us to that delectable of all places. Jason stole the glasses I was wearing that night with the lenses poked out of them. Thank goodness for that, because if he hadn't, I might not have ever seen my future husband again...

Note how the glasses have transferred from mine to Jason's face...

Part two tomorrow :)