Steve wanted me to make sure that you know that this is my side of the story of how we met. His story differs slightly from mine, but we know that girls always get the facts right so I will just go with my side for now!
It was the summer before my Junior year of college. I was going to school for a BA in Elementary Education. I was looking forward to my student teaching experience in the fall and enjoying my last summer with a dear friend who was leaving on a mission soon. We had dated for awhile but were just friends at that point. The last thing I thought I was looking for was another relationship, but I think in the back of my mind I was. I was a single girl in college, what girl isn't looking for a relationship or at least a fun date?
Anyway, I had moved almost every year while in school, as roommates married off or moved away. I hung out at the Institute a lot and enjoyed being with members of my church, so naturally I wanted roommates that shared the same faith and standards. It was getting late and houses were being rented fast. We found this great house close to campus and the Institute. It was basically two houses in one. The upstairs and downstairs were separate apartments. So we rented the house and put some boys in the downstairs apartment and girls upstairs. We were looking for one more male to fill the extra room downstairs so all the rent would come out evenly. One day while hanging out at the Institute I overheard the secretary speaking to a mother on the phone. The mother was explaining that her son had just returned from his mission and would be going to school in Greeley in the fall. She was looking for a place for him to live (and expressed he wanted male member roommates). I jumped at the moment of opportunity. I grabbed the phone, introduce myself to the mother (my future mother in-law), and explained our situation. She seemed excited, and we scheduled a time for her son, Steve, to come look at the house and for me to show him around campus. It just so happened that this was the very same week that my friend was leaving for his mission.
The day came for me to meet Steve. As I walked from my house to the Church Institute to meet him, I had a thought pop into my head which I knew came from the Holy Ghost. It said, "Amanda, you are going to meet your future husband." I have to admit I was not super excited about this revelation. I was tired, sick, and had on an old outdated outfit. I was not feeling or looking my best. But as soon as I saw Steve at the Institute, all that didn't matter anymore. He was a fun guy, who made me feel comfortable. We laughed and joked. I showed him the house and gave him a tour of campus. I liked Steve right away, but I had no idea how he felt about me. So I tried to flirt a little and see what his feelings were. We were talking, walking, and laughing. Then he turned to me and said, "You smell so good..." At that moment my heart skipped a beat and I got butterflies in my stomach, well, until he finished his sentence. "You smell just like my girl friend." My heart sank about five miles below the earth surface. What's a girl to do? Was I really suppose to marry this man?
Well, since you already know the outcome I will speed up the story. Steve moved into the basement (My room was directly above his...I could actually hear him when he talked on the phone. He always talks louder when he is on the phone. I never told him I could hear him until after we were married!) We were good friends and hung out a lot. Then we both started to develop feelings for each other. Actually he started and my feelings just got stronger. I eventually told 'my missionary' about my feelings and we stopped writing each other. Steve broke up with his girlfriend and we started dating. One thing led to another and we started talking about marriage. Steve was a little weird-ed out that my name was the same as his sister's name so he loving calls me Amanda-Kate. Most of his family calls me Amanda-Kate (or AK) and it is so catchy that some of my family now calls me that as well. Out friendship continued to grow as well as our relationship. Steve proposed on April 20th, at the park where we had our first date. I was waiting well over a month for him to propose and it was killing me, but he was worth the wait. We were married in the Denver Temple a year to the day we met, August 1st, 2008. We have been happy ever since living our fairy tale life.
I have since told Steve that I could hear him talking on the phone in the old house. He just laughed and asked what I overheard. I told him that my favorite conversation was when he called his best friend right after our first date. He just blushed and hugged me.
