I first saw him across a crowded room...

I was called to be a full time missionary for our church in Seattle Washington from June 1995 - November 1996 (with approx. 150 other missionaries at a time serving there). In that time, you proselyte to the public, teaching and spreading the gospel that we believe in and inviting those that accept it to be baptized. http://www.lds.org/ or http://www.mormon.org/ for more information about my beliefs. We have pretty strict rules as full time missionaries. Things like, up by 6, in bed by 10. No dating (or even hugging the opposite sex), no movie theaters, t.v. or newspapers. Also, you only talk to your families on the phone 2 or 3 times a year, otherwise, you write a weekly letter. For 18mo for the women (sister missionaries) and 2 years for men (elders) you dedicate 24hours a day to your missionary experience. You grow in your knowledge as much as you share your knowledge with others. It is a very unique experience and though you set aside the things of the world for that time, it's very rewarding to be obedient to righteous things.
With that said, I looked forward to returning home and dating and going dancing. I had no intention of getting serious with anyone cause I wanted to go to hair school and didn't want to get distracted. So here I am"Sister Wutkee" as I was known, on my first month in the mission field when it's time for a tri-zone conference. My missionary companion and I get group training and we get to socialize a bit with other missionaries we haven't met or haven't seen in awhile. When we get there, my mission president wants to talk to us. Here is where it begins.... He tells my companion/trainer that he has been told that I have been talking inappropriately on the phone with my district leader. (yes you Jared) I was sooo mad! First of all, I wasn't. He and I barely knew each other and we had stuff in common so it was fun to talk about, music, remodeling classic cars and the fact that he was from Pennsylvania was fascinating enough to me as Utah was the furthest east I had ever been. So we were friends. Also, I didn't appreciate that the Mission President didn't ask me a question but basically took someone else's word that obviously didn't have facts AND went to my companion instead of me! Well... he was about to be surprised by how react to 'injustice' (lol). I bit my tongue for as long a possible. It could have been a whole... 3-4 min when in our meeting in the chapel, they invited the "greenies" (new missionaries) to get up and bear testimony of their beliefs. (this we do at a microphone in front of approx. 30 other missionaries) So, I have no problem speaking and with fuel that could pop a volcano, I got up to bear mine.... Let's just say, my testimony took on a theme of "respect" and let's also just say, from that time on, I was known as "Sister Respect" behind my back. Point being, my future husband, "Elder Stuteville" or "Stu" as he was affectionately called by EVERYONE, was in the crowd trying NOT to listen to the piddly new missionaries till I got up and he was like, "Who does that 'greenie' think she is?" He admits later, it was also intriguing. After that meeting I was still at the front mingling when I looked down to the crowd. I am not kidding with what I am saying but I stopped when I saw a missionary with friends on either side of him, standing up from the pew, arms around each of them while smiling and having a great time. His smile hit me (not something I particularly care about) and I literally saw a "Glow" all around him. I couldn't believe it, yet I didn't make a big deal of it or tell anyone else. It's almost like I totally forgot I saw it but not before hearing a voice in my head say "I've gotta get to know that guy".
And that I did, or at least tried, despite the rules. It started out very innocent cause I just wanted to know something about him. Slowly I found out he was from Tennessee and that he liked to sing and play guitar. Interesting... Seeing as at some point over my life till that time, I created images of my husband over the years and some things I thought were: He would have dark brown wavy hair, a goatee, be a convert to the church and distantly, for some reason, I wanted a porch swing (uncharacteristic for California, so it was weird). Later I learned more things... like, girls in the mission were in love with him (gag), he used to have long hair (yuck), he joined our church at the age of 19 and a year later came on his mission. Well, needless to say, against my plan, I began having a crush on "Elder Stuteville" even though, in my 1 1/2 yr mission I only saw him in person, I think 3-5 times. He showed interest in me too but we couldn't and wouldn't do anything about it. Time passed quickly and before I knew it, it was June 96' and "Stu" as I knew Michael, was about to go home from his mission, his duty was served. I called him to say goodbye and good luck. I sorta stuttered around the subject of "hanging out" sometime after our missions. Knowing, surely he'll be married before I even go home in November (that's how we Mormons roll: meet and marry within 6 months). To my surprise, he said, he'd really like that! I was in heaven!! So, he went home and I finished my mission. A few weeks before I was going home, I wrote him a letter and told him I had a great mission experience and this and that had happened. I also included my phone number which was wrong but what can I do about it now. I felt very filled with the spirit when I wrote my words and apparently he could tell because he called! He told me how moved he was by my letter and that he really wanted to see me, even if he has to come all the way to California (he admits later, he had NO plans of ever going there before this talk and didn't things could work out b/c of our distance but now he was moved). I was thrilled! I had never felt this overwhelming feeling and couldn't believe it was happening. In my last two weeks, we admittedly talked a couple times on the phone but wrote letters almost daily (imagine texting that takes 2-3 days to get there, 2-3 days back, and it's your only way to communicate... since no one knows what letter writing is anymore!). In the end we were feeling and telling each other, we loved each other! I KNOW! Crazy but it is sooo true! I got home November 13th to a care package from Michael but had to rush off cause I had to be formally released from my duties as a missionary only to speed off with my brother Vince to a Connells Concert http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Connells in Los Angeles. I proceeded to talk all night about Michael to him and explain these crazy love feelings I was having. I had never had a boyfriend before as I had usually chased them off with my forwardness before they had a chance. That was it...we needed to see each other. I declared to my NOT surprised parents that I was in love with him and had to go see them. My dad wisely applied the brakes and said, "I'm gonna have to be a little old fashioned here. He's going to have to come here first." I whined, "But daaaaaad! He just got a new job and has no money and no time off!" He understood and said, if Michael would let him, he'd pay for 1/2 his flight to get to CA, since he knew he would be talked into paying for me to go there anyway, he was willing to do this instead. At first Michael refused on pride and first impressions that he couldn't do it himself (I understand now, but not then) but after I plead he accepted on the grounds that he would pay my dad back. It was set, he came to CA, on Thanksgiving evening, two weeks after I got home from my mission. My brother Jesse drove me to LAX to get him. I could barely contain myself! On a mission, we are separated by arms length and rules to keep us focused on our task, now I was free to do as I wished... and I did! As soon as we were in the safety of the back seat of the car, I kissed him! (he learned what he was in for, real fast) As far as I was concerned, that had taken too long! Over the '3' days of his trip, we went on our first date to Disneyland (still keep the Pirates of the Caribbean token he made me on my key chain. It reads "I love you, you are my world - Mike), had our first kiss, he met most of my 10 siblings & parents and on the 3rd day as we waited for his plane at the airport, we were picking out wedding dates for June! I felt like I had known him forever, like he knew me our whole lives and there was nothing to stop me from making sure we spent the rest of it together. I visited TN a few weeks later for New Years (MDS paid my whole way, to pay back my dad, Very impressive), where we picked out my ring and 2 months to the day of getting home from Seattle, Jan 13th, I packed up my Grand Am with my brother Vince helping me move and I relocated to TN. I haven't regretted my choice. Though I miss my family very much, I've learned a new meaning to family here in Tennessee. Something different then I've ever had before and this is why I stay and proudly call myself... a Tennessean!