The day I met my husband, Anthony was definitely a good day! It was March of 1994 and he was a newly returned LDS missionary from Las Vegas, Nevada. I was living in a small town in southern Utah at the time, and just happened to live next door to his grandparents!
Anthony was asked to speak in our little ward that day, and he was the only speaker (I told you it was a small town). I was the chorister, and late to the meeting, due to my class getting out late (one of his uncles was my teacher and the other my Bishop). No, it was not my fault! I quickly went up to the front of the chapel, looked at the cute returned missionary, and proceeded to lead the music. When he spoke about his New Zealand mission, I distinctly thought, “this is the kind of guy I want to marry!” Interestingly enough, he told me later that he looked at me and knew he would marry me!
After church Anthony was surrounded, and a friend of mine, who spent the night before at my house, was trying desperately to speak with him. I got annoyed and left, thinking, “Oh, well!” I changed into some comfy clothes, including sweatpants and a shirt with an upside down fish skeleton on it that read, “Eat fish and die!” (no idea where I got it or what it meant) and I drove my friend home. I had the windows down and let my frizzy blonde hair fly!
When I got home, Anthony, the cute returned missionary, was in my front room talking with my parents and three brothers! I must have looked a mess, with my hair all over and my fashionable t-shirt and sweats on! He chatted with all of us for a little while and then invited my family to a dinner his family was having at the church building. He was actually late for this dinner and it was in his honor! Oops!
I changed and we all went to the dinner with his family. I knew a lot of the family, since most of them lived in this small town! Anthony sat and talked with me the whole time. My Mom says that some of his cousins complained that he spent all his time with me, an his Grandpa told them to leave him alone, he was “dear hunting!” I later found out his Grandpa George had given him a picture of me and told him where I lived! I always loved Grandpa George! He lived next door and ran the store in town. They were good friends before they became family!
I talked with Anthony until he had to leave with his family back to Las Vegas. He gave me a New Zealand key chain and asked if he could take me on a date sometime soon. I, of course, said “yes.” Life was good! We were married that next August. There is, of course, more to the story, but that was one very good day!
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