He changed my life!

Today is a big day! It is the 4th anniversary of Adam and I meeting. Now many of you don't know me on a personal basis, but I thought I would share a little bit of that day with you today ... you know ... reminiscing!

I bet you are wondering ... why in the world are they standing in front of IHOP? Well ... here is the story.

April 30, 2005 ... I moved from my apartment in Provo, UT to move back in with my parents. I had been cleaning, packing, and was quite cranky. What single, 24 year old, moving back in with the parents wouldn't be cranky? I just finished my first semester at LDS business college where I was studying Interior Design and was moving home until I heard back from Martha Stewart Magazine in NY as a possible internship for the summer. Things were looking really promising, and I was just waiting for that phone call to move to NY. I got home around 4 pm and my parents talked me into going to dinner with them for my nephew Jacob's birthday. We went to Highland, UT where my sister lived, and when they asked Jacob where he wanted to go to dinner for his birthday, he said IHOP!We all cringed, but decided to go anyway!

Meanwhile, Adam moved to live with his Brother Sean, and Sister-in-Law Sara's house for the summer in Highland, Utah. Sara invited him to go to dinner with her family that evening. They went to a nice Italian restaurant in American Fork, Utah ... but it was over an hour wait. They decided to ask Sara's grandpa where he wanted to go for dinner ... and he said he wanted pancakes. The only place close enough for pancakes was IHOP ... and so they went there.

When I walked into IHOP with my family ... Adam was already sitting down with his group. I saw him and thought ... MAN he is SERIOUSLY HOT! Little did I know ... he was thinking I wasn't too bad looking either. They sat my family at a table that was parallel to his table. My back was facing Adam and he and his brother were checking me out.

Throughout dinner I was making louder than normal comments trying to hint that I was single and available in conversation ... hoping that he would overhear. Little did I know that Sara's brother-in-law was listening intently to the conversation the entire time. Adam decided he needed to find some way to ask me out. He mentioned buying me a drink ... but obviously we weren't at a bar. Then his brother mentioned buying my family's dinner. He was a poor starving college student and couldn't do that but did mention picking up at least my dinner. Little did everyone know that Sara's father was listening the whole time. He finally got fed up with the ideas, and quietly stood up and walked over to my dad. He said ... you don't know me, but I sure would LOVE to purchase your family's dinner, if your daughter would be willing to go out with this young man.

WOW ... I don't think either Adam and I have ever seen each others faces so red! We were so embarrassed ... but flattered at the same time! The two tables talked for a minute or two ... he got my phone number ... and it was history from there.
We only dated 5 weeks and were engaged. Then were married 2 1/2 months later. It was fast, but so right! We had both been in and out of serious relationships ... so we both knew when it was right. We have been so blissfully happy since that day. I am so grateful for the Gardner family and their willingness to buy my dinner ... go out on a limb ... and take a chance. I don't know where I would be without Adam. Love you babe!