A Love Story

Our 8 year anniversary is coming up very shortly so I wanted to write down "Our Love Story"

So long ago, it began with girls like these! Ana and Maria Enriquez and a place called "Girls Camp" at camp Zarahemla. At the time, I was dating a guy Travis Clark I think, and during this time at girls camp I got to know Ana and Maria, (Now goes by her middle name Victoria, so I will be referring to her as Vicky). We became good friends that week but we are about 3 years age difference. They said, hey we have a brother and the rest is history! Literally now that's what were calling it because we have so much history.

The first time I saw him, but didn't speak to him was at a stake standards night in Pasco. I sat not too far behind them and I, and Juan even remember what I was wearing. I had on a stretchy black skirt with a light purple button up shirt. Ana and Vicky came up to me after it was over and were getting refreshments. They came up to me and gave me thier number. I remember looking over there and seeing him standing by his dad. I have been told a number of times that his dad told him, "You need a good girl like that."

As I watched thier blue suburban pull out of the parking lot I never knew that I would never get to meet his dad or even see that subruban again.

I talked to him a couple times on the phone and he would help me with my spanish homework but I was so embarrased to even try and say anything not much got accomplished. I didn't talk to him too much longer after that and we went our seperate ways. He lived by the Bleazards because his dad worked for them and so he went to Pasco High and I went to Connell. Long distance relationships don't work. I ended up breaking up with Travis and later on dating Allen Liebing from 15-16 years old. He also went to Pasco high.

Next thing that happened is such a tragedy. I remember hearing it from my friend Andrea at school in an area where you can eat but it wasn't the lunch room. She had said that Juan's family had been in an accident in Mexico and his dad and little sister Laura had passed away. I couldn't believe it but it didn't really get me because I hadn't really known them. (Funny little side note, Juan and Andrea "dated" throughout elementary and some middle school.) Juan was not on this trip to Mexico and so he was not in the car accident. Juans life was flipped upside down, inside out and eventually his mom moved them to Connell School in January-February 2000 I think.

We talked a little but I remember the little school girl feeling when he came and he was the "new boy" but I already knew him so I felt like I had an "in" with him. haha! needless to say, there were girls that wanted to get to know him and he was interested in other girls. I went up to him and gave him a picture of his sisters and me to give to them. That was my way of going to say hi. From that point on, we would talk at lunch times, but I was also dating Allen still and so my friends would tell me don't do this to him, and that's messed up, etc. But my little girl hormones couldn't resist.

We had a sweethearts type of stake dance thing at the Columbia Basin Ward where both Allen and Juan were there. I ended up dancing the last song with Juan and not Allen, and so Allen knew that something was going on. So the next day we broke it off.

Which brings us to the next part! This is the day that Juan and I had our first kiss! I brought my dad's truck to school for some reason and I was taking him to his friend Alex's house in Basin City and I was bringing his sisters with me to our house.

Juan was... lets just say a gangster. He did the things you don't want your kids to do. So this is him. But this is to show where we were THEN, and NOW.

I remember the thoughts here exactly. I had on a superman sweatshirt and this was our couch at the football games. I wasn't too happy about his appearance in his face. The eyes.

Juan has come a LONG LONG ways! He's an incredible story of how someone can change thier life. He had a rough life. The streets, the drugs and alcohol, the works. I don't know but I was always attracted to the "bad boys" maybe thinking I could change them? Only leading me to much crying and in trouble time after time after time! There was just something that I couldn't leave about him. I was already to indebted to our relationship.

Our senior year we took off and went to Mexico for a month with his family. All crammed in his mom's little mini van! I'm a little embarrased to say that but it's our story and thats what happened.

We went to multiple dances together that didn't exactly make my parents happy. I wish that we could all go back and make the right changes when we were stupid and young and in love. But we have grown from those mistakes. It makes us who we are today.

We have done so many things together....

Trips to Silverwood!

Crazy times with the in-laws...

I moved out and in with him about a month before graduation. Of course my parents weren't ok with any of my decision and I thought I knew everything in life. Looking back on everything and looking and myself, I look like a child! A child people! What WAS I thinking? Why did I hurry and move out when I just have a whole life long of living with him in my future? What's done is done.

My dad took our engagement pictures. This is the one we chose to use as our invitation.

On October 17, 2003 I walked down the isle at the Basin City LDS church. We had lots of support and that's the day that our lives changed. We were no longer two people living together. We were a married couple working on our way to a better life. Juan was working at Sage Hill in Basin City and we lived in a 2 bedroom apt in Kennewick. I tried working at the Wal-mart in Kennewick but that didn't last for longer then about 1 hour! I walked in got started and started crying and walked out. I never went back there and never told them I left.

Bishop Kent Mackay will always have a special place in our hearts for him. Juan never did graduate from High School and was going to be a super senior. Bishop was always talking to us and was supportive of our decisions. Juan didn't want to get married right away. He didn't think there was any rush because we already lived together. But he convinced Juan to rethink some things. To skip out on school, get your GED, start college and get married. That's exactly what he did. Not too many days later, Kent took Juan to Columbia Basin College, got him registered to take the GED test, (Juan is very smart with school but had some hold backs so it's not that he didn't know his stuff) he didn't have to take the GED classes and went right in and passed everything the first time. He was then on his way to starting college. Things really seemed to fall into place here after. Things with the weddings, things with school We knew that we were FINALLY doing what we should.

Juans Family: Bertha, Ana, Alise, Juan, Vicky, Samuel and Luis

Don't they look like a happy bunch

My Family: Kira, Cameron, Rebecca and Brandon, Tyson and Cody, My dad Scot, us and our ringboy, Clayton, my oldest nephew, my mom Tamlee, Heather and Bailey, Seth and Alex

Our cake, Kaye Freeman made this for us along with the cake you serve. My parents didn't have to pay for it because my dad had done some stuff for them. Another things that just so happened to work out.

My 19th birthday. Not too long before this, I had started beauty school in Pasco.

Fourth of July on the Columbia River

On October 23 2004 We were sealed for time and all eternity in the Columbia River Washington temple

Juan had to do a project for one of his art classes at school and so he did a etching on some plastic of the temple. We now have this is our book.

And then there for 3! On Dec 14, 2005 we were welcomed by this special child Damon! Only at the time, we didn't just know "how special" he really is.

Trips to Seattle

A trip to Hawaii

And then we were welcomed again by another boy Keenan

We have lived in a galvanized shed...

Moved to other states...Idaho, California, Washington, and Oregon

College students together and a BS graduate for Juan

And herre we are TODAY! Three boys later, working a real job, living the real life after college and loving every minute of it!

So here is to another 88888888 years into eternity with my best friend who I love spending all my time with! He is the love of my life, the BEST father anyone could want, and an amazing person! I love you and happy anniversary!