Today Doug and I have been married for five years. I have a difficult time believing how fast it has all happened. I wanted to take this opportunity to tell Doug I love him and tell him how happy I am. I also thought we'd share "the story of us" for some of our family who requested it. Our friends are welcome to read as well, it's just a bit lengthy, that's all. Also, I thought I'd post a couple of old photos (thanks for the idea, Kenzie) of our "younger years" :) Well, here it goes for those who want a long story...
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In the fall of 1999, Heather enrolls at the local college. Her plans of attending SUU had been altered by a stolen and dismantled vehicle.....was this fate? Also that fall, Doug signs up for a subsequent semester of college.
Doug gets asked to run as VP of public relations with some friends in student government. He accepts and life gets hectic running for office and storing 3,000 pounds of bananas in his garage. Trying to gain the favor of students for the upcoming election, Doug and his team volunteer to help at a DEX (marketing association) event. Heather, who is involved with the club, happens to be helping also. While helping run the event, they meet each other briefly. Doug sees a cute girl he might like to get a date with someday and later asks a mutual friend who is there to identify the mystery girl as Heather Pierson, and to potentially set up a date . . . which never happened.
Heather, while working out with a guy friend at the LAC (gym) spots a campaign poster capturing Doug Moore and his teammates. She exclaims, “that guy is cute” which was followed by a “and what are you going to do about it” from her friend. She states that she WILL find a way to get a date with that handsome fellow . . . someday.
Doug and the “One Party” (Bricannie Towers, Jake Packard, Todd Barnett, Crista Anxiety, and Tim Dennis) win the election. The school year progresses, with notes, papers, and finals. In a math class in spring of 2000, Heather meets Todd (T.B.) Barnett, who convinces her to check out the student government fine arts board.
Heather joins the fine arts board. Doug immediately recognizes the elusive Heather when she begins to spend time in the student government office. They enjoy spending some time together such as the night they hiked the St. George narrows with a group of students. They are both definitely interested in one another.
Soon after, Doug and Heather begin going on dates, which include a fun night hike up a Salt Lake canyon, and Doug’s unsuccessful attempt to kiss Heather at the top of the mountain. (Some say that Doug blabbered uselessly trying to get up the nerve while Heather got frustrated with the whole escapade).
In early September, Heather went with her fine arts group to San Jose. Sindee, a friend of Doug’s, admitted he was a bit discouraged because he had attempted to take Heather on several dates in which Heather had claimed to be SO busy (some say she may actually have been busy). Doug thought Heather didn’t want to date him and that he should give up and move on (she was probably out of his league, anyway). Heather had a feeling that, although she felt he was out of her league, she needed to keep him in her life, so she asks him on a date. They go out to eat at the Olive Garden, listen to a Copland tribute concert by the Utah Symphony, and watch “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” This date re-ignites Doug’s hopes and determination.
In December, Doug takes Heather out to dinner, a dance, and then they watch “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” Doug gets his first (yet small) kiss. The day before Heather’s birthday, Doug takes her out to eat at Chili’s and they color in a coloring book. This unique date impresses her (finally, a date that doesn’t just consist of dinner and a movie).
During the summer of 2001, Doug and Heather both leave the state and head in different directions (Heather to California and “fat camp”, Doug to Denver and home security sales). Doug calls Heather the day after he gets home, and is very happy to find that she has returned and is available for an evening together. Another date leads to The Iceberg for shakes to be enjoyed on a “dessert picnic” on the grass in front of the business building. Doug is finally convinced that Heather can give nice big kisses (some say that she is finally willing to).
In September of 2001, much to Doug’s dismay, Heather departs and spends the fall and winter in Florida working for the Disney Corporation (who some say are trying to take over the world). Doug makes occasional lengthy phone calls that require dialing 39 digits before being allowed to speak with Heather.
January 19th, 2002 (you may want to remember the January 19th part of this story) Heather and Doug go on their first date upon Heather’s return from Florida. When Doug picks her up, he feels a few goose bumps and a little excitement as she opens the door. They spend the evening with friends, snow tubing near Park City and eating dinner and playing games at the home of Bricannie Towers. During this date Doug realizes that maybe dating Heather is more than just a fun adventure.
Stupid Cupid is February 8th, and although Doug and Heather arrive with different friends, they manage to find each other and actually get married by Mr. Elvis Presley (would have been a sissy without Johnny Cash) that night! Doug gets a kiss in the parking lot (a first since Heather’s return from Florida). For his birthday, Heather cooks Doug an enchilada dinner at her grandma’s house and they watch the Jade Scorpion. By March Heather and Doug are together all the time. They go to plays, the arts festival, concerts, and other things. To prove their adventurous natures, Doug and Heather decide to spend a week in California. With a few phone calls and preparation, they pack their bags and load themselves and a cooler full of food into Heather’s car. They drive down the I-15 with books of CD’s and building excitement for the time to come. The first stop is Las Vegas. Doug and Heather spend an evening walking “the strip” and searching for Elvis Presley. They visit a couple of wedding chapels and send letters to their families on wedding chapel stationary. In California they stay with Cheryl and Scott Toland (Heather’s cousin and her husband) and Doug’s Grandparents. They spend a day in Tijuana, managing to never give in to the temptation to purchase “a cigar for your Grandpa.” They enjoy a day of boogie boarding at the beach in Carlsbad, and another day spent at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Other favorite moments include a trip to the pier and a wonderful dinner at Fish House Vera Cruz in Oceanside. On their return trip they stay in St. George with Tammy and Brent Low, and experience the exciting sport of “Geocaching.”
As they attend school together (now at the University of Utah), their love for each other seems to grow stronger. Doug finds himself desperately searching for moments to spend with Heather, and even attends her ballroom dance class for some time (and keeps his eyes on all the other boys).
When Christmas break arrives, Doug and Heather find themselves driving to the sprawling metropolis of Alton, Utah for the Bastian Family Reunion and a lot of fun in the snow. While in Alton, Doug begins to realize that he wants to do something big, soon.
On January 4th, 2003, Doug is driving to his weekly stop at the plasma bank, when he decides to stop and look at rings in the mall. He discovers the perfect ring for Heather, and decides the waiting is over. When Doug comes home with a shiny ring, he begins to formulate a plan.
On January 19th, Heather and Doug attend church together. Doug intends to sneak out of church to complete a few “chores,” but unfortunately classes are held together that day. Doug sneaks out for a “drink” and calls home to ask his sister, Leslie Johnson, to finish his “chores.” When Heather and Doug leave the church that day, Doug decides to blindfold Heather on the drive home. Heather thinks Doug is up to his usual silly antics. When Heather’s blindfold is removed, she sees a romantic dinner prepared and two dozen roses on the table with a message tied to each stem. The room is filled with nearly 100 glowing candles. Heather gives Doug a hug of appreciation and love, and discovers that for some reason, Doug is acting a little strange. He kneels down before her and asks “Heather will you marry me”? He then slips a ring onto her finger. Heather kneels down facing Doug and says, “I couldn’t be happier marrying you.”
In preparation for this event, Doug went to Village Inn with Claudia and Steven Pierson to ask for their daughter’s hand in marriage. This experience, according to Doug, was more traumatic than asking Heather to marry him. However, it turned out to be a great experience in which Heather’s parents expressed their great love for her, and excitement for their future together.
For the next seven months Doug and Heather plan for the big day. In May, Heather begins her last summer semester at the U of U to finish her bachelor’s degree. Doug and Heather continue working on the reception and design their own announcements. Heather finishes school the first week in August (whew!) and they move their stuff into an apartment where Heather stays until they get back from their honeymoon. On August 15th, both Heather and Doug (who have actually slept fairly well) get up early. Heather drives to get her hair done and waits for her hairdresser who is 15 minutes late and takes a half-hour longer to do her hair! Frantically, she drives to Doug’s house to pick him up, and finds him relieved to know she hasn’t changed her mind, after all. They both race down the I-15 while Heather attempts to put on make-up, and decide they have a good excuse for speeding if they get pulled over. The room is filled with some close family members and they have a beautiful day.
After getting settled in, they truly enjoy a few months where life is simple. After an unsettling event in their apartment building, Heather announces her intention to buy a house and they both agree the time is right. They have a bit of a hectic time, and after they finally completely move in, they spend the next few months remodeling the interior. They also think it would be great to have an additional member of the family (other than their dog). At just about completion of the house (when they finally thought they could slow down for a bit), Doug’s work decides to move him to Logan. So, they finish and sell the house, live with Heather’s parents for a few months (while Heather is getting a bit bigger in the middle), and work with a builder to finish a home in Logan. From then up to the current time, time seems to fly by. In no particular order, Doug puts in a yard and landscaping, builds a deck, and Doug and Heather have two beautiful baby girls (whew!). Life continues to fly at warp speed but life is accompanied by ample joys of spending time as a family together.
2 comments:
This was cute Heather. I was hooked right from the title!
I loved reading your guys' story. You two are so great together. And Heather has such a cute way of saying it. Hope all is well.
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