A few days ago my sister Felicia posted her love story on her blog, and even though I'd heard it all before, I loved hearing the little details and it definitely made me smile to think of them back then when they were falling in love. Neil and I celebrated our 4th anniversary just a few days ago and I thought now would be a fun time to post our love story.I was living in Orem at College Terrace apartments going to cosmetology school, Neil was living in the same complex going to UVSC. I was going to school 8am-5pm then working 6pm-11pm, so needless to say a day off was precious. My roommate Miriam had set up this huge game night with tons of people on my first night off in 2 weeks, which would have been fine if she had stuck around, but out of the blue she had decided to pick up and run off to Idaho for a week and not bother to tell anybody she had invited. So I was thrilled to be parked next to phone and a front door all night being Miriam's answering service. My patience was wearing thin and I was annoyed, and Neil just happened to come to the door when I had decided I'd had enough. I answered the door, he asked "Is Miriam here?" me being patient and polite yelled "NO, and she won't be back for like 5 days!" and slammed the door in his face, my other roommate Madison was there and couldn't believe what I'd just done. That was my first encounter with this Neil character, and I honestly didn't remember his face, and didn't think he'd remember mine.
The next day was Sunday, so me and Madison are sitting there in sacrament meeting listening and this guy giving his talk says something about how his friend's roommate slammed the door in his face. I was mortified, I turned bright red and Madison gasps and starts giggling. I'm sure everyone around knew I was guilty. I manage to avoid him the rest of church and head home. Our neighbor Holly was having a movie night that night and she insisted I grab a blanket and head over. Thinking it was going to be mostly girls, I change into to pj's, grab a blanket and head over. Walking in the front door I'm greeted by the same face that I the night before had slammed a door on and had completely embarrassed me during church today. Trying to play it cool I introduce myself and Holly says something like "I know you guys have met before". I sit on the other couch that Neil isn't sitting on, and he says something about avoiding him and I say I'm not. He says "good" and joins me on the little couch. Holly says something about getting cozy and he jokingly puts his arm around me and pulls me into a hug giving me whisker burn on my nose from his stubble. We laughed and talked and got to know each other and I apologized for my rudeness the night before, laughed it off saying he thought it was funny.
He started being around when I'd get off work and stuff and we started seeing a lot of each other. Thinking that we were just good friends, I let another guy kiss me. And when I told Neil he wasn't exactly happy about it, liking the idea that he wanted to date me exclusively. After spending every available hour together for about a month, I knew there was something very special about this guy and I needed to sit up and take notice. One night we were sitting on the stairs "saying goodbye" and he looks me in the eye and says "I love you, Angelica." my heart skips a beat and I'm speechless. I cross my fingers and pray he won't be hurt when I ask him not to feel bad about me not saying it back right away. A couple of weeks later I have to admit that I've falling in love with him. Neil had some trouble excepting that fact that he was going to marry a 19 year old girl from Utah (exactly what he said he wouldn't do) but we worked it out and knew it was right. I was constantly getting flack from the girls at school about not having a ring yet and having most of my wedding planned already. One day after school I had had enough, and Neil had told me we were going on a fancy date and I needed to dress up, I told him I didn't want him to spend money on a fancy date, but to spend it on my engagement ring. Looking back now, this is as play as day, and I had some suspicions.
When he climbed in the car on June 17th for the date I watched his pockets to see if there was a certain tale-tell square bulge, nope, but he did pull his camera case out of his pocket and ask me to put it in my purse. I complied thinking, "is it really a fancy date if we're taking pictures?" He took us to La Caille for a beautiful 3 course meal. After each course I kept thinking, "ok maybe he will now. Ok maybe it'll happen after this course" After we'd finished our food and ordered dessert, I had to excuse myself to the ladies room to give myself a pep talk, and convince myself I shouldn't be disappointed when it doesn't happen tonight. We decided to take our dessert out on the grounds, which were amazing, and we came upon this gazebo. Neil said we should take a picture, so he located a table near by and set up the timer on the camera. He walked back to me and went down on one knee and proposed just as the picture took. I said "YES!" and cried, it turns out that he'd left the ring box at home and put the ring in his camera case, which was in my purse the whole blessed evening. He later told me that this was where his dad had proposed to his mom, I thought that was so sweet. Neil and I were married July 29th 2006 in the Manti Temple. Its been 4 amazing years full of ups and downs and I love the idea of the rest of eternity with this guy, he keeps me on my toes, and laughing. I love you Neil, thanks for being my "lub"
