How I Met Love, Yoga

Tuesday, May 20, 2008, Day 18

My roommate Kim and I had moved the furniture and laid out our mats in preparation for yoga that morning. We followed a program that came on the television every day and found it a wonderful way to start the morning. It wasn't every day, though, that we had someone else joining us :) Shanam knocked on the door 5 minutes before it started.

"Just in time! Come on. We've got a mat all set up for you!" I said as I opened the door to let him in.

"Well, good morning to you, too!" he joked. "Hey, Kim! How are you? You're doing yoga with us? Great. Now I'll have too girls laughing at me the whole time!"

"I won't laugh too hard." Kim joked back. "You're free to laugh at me, too. I haven't been doing this for very long."

"Well, I'm sure you're much better than I am! I can't even touch my toes."

"This is going to be fun!" I said, lightly pushing him off balance as he stood on his mat.

I was impressed at what a good sport he was and that he was willing to even try yoga in the first place. As the program began, I watched out of the corner of my eye as he tried to follow the basic warm up positions. I couldn't help but smile at how cute he was :) We tried to take it seriously as the program progressed into some deeper poses, but it was just too funny to watch him try to balance and stretch at the same time. His body quivered and he would tip over to the side every time, catching himself with a loud thud as his foot hit the hard tile floor. He did try, though, through the laughter, but in the end we resorted to sitting and talking on the floor while pretending to stretch. Not the most productive yoga session, but definitely worth the ab workout provided by the laughter! :)

When the program ended, we headed to the kitchen and enjoyed a nice breakfast with Kim, then made our way to my bedroom where Jennlyn was still asleep. We quietly climbed onto my bed to cuddle and talk but I guess we were too loud because before we knew it, Jennlyn was awake.

"Hey, Shanam." she said sleepily. "I didn't know you were coming over this morning. I would have done my hair for you." We all laughed, remembering her previous morning "do."

"Hey, I wanna cuddle, too." she said.

With that, she grabbed her teddy bear and made her way over to my bed where she climbed on and proceeded to steamroll us.

"Haha! Jennlyn get off!" We laughed and I started tickling her so she would stop. Once I started that, she immediately jumped off the bed and jumped back to hers, still clutching her teddy bear. We all talked for a while, then she left and got ready for the day so we could chat by ourselves. It was lovely laying in each others arms, having no where we needed to be, having nothing we needed to do. We were content just to be in each others company.

"I brought all the stuff I needed to fix the flat tire on your bike, if you want me to do that today." he mentioned.

I was blown away that he had remembered me telling him about my flat tire a few days back and that he would take the initiative to not only fix it for me but to buy and bring all the stuff he needed to do it.

"Are you serious! That would be awesome!" I responded exuberantly. "How did I get so lucky to have a man like you around!" I was seriously impressed and I wanted to make sure he knew that :)

We spent the morning leisurely talking as we moved from one location of the house to the next, spending time by the pool, on the swing, walking hand in hand through the yard. Time seemed to stand still whenever we were together.

After fixing my bike, we decided to go to PF Changs for lunch. I loved going out to eat with him. We had such similar taste in food and loved sharing each others meals. We made sure not to get the same thing so that we could try both dishes and we loved to critique and comment on what we thought of it. The simple act of sharing our love of good food was so gratifying and unifying.

We were enjoying our chicken lettuce wraps, when Shanam nonchalantly threw out the invitation, "Why don't you come out to Utah with me?"

I almost choked. "Like, in two weeks?"

"Well, ya. Wouldn't you like to see your family?"

"Of course I would, but I can't afford that. Plus, how am I supposed to get a week off of work in such short notice?"

Shanam sat and looked at me for a second, then said, "If you can figure out how to get work off, I'll take care of your plane tickets."

His generous offer took me by surprise and I didn't know what to say.

"Between my dad and I, we've got lots of frequent flyer miles, so it would be no problem at all." He tried to assure me. "I would really love it if you could come."

I was still taken back by the invitation.

"Of course, if you feel like that's too much, you could always say no." He said, trying to guess what I was thinking and fill the silence.

Still trying to formulate my thoughts, I said."No, no. I do want to go. And I'm so grateful for the invitation. It just took me by surprise. That's all. Are you sure you'd be okay getting my plane tickets? I mean, I guess I could see if anyone would be able to trade shifts with me, but wow, ok. Let me think about this." I was still trying to wrap my brain around the idea.

"I've told my sister all about you and she would really like to meet you. And plus, you'd actually be there when I meet your parents." He said smiling.

I looked up at him and somehow, seeing that smile, made the whole situation not as serious as I was making it. I told him I would see what I could do at work and let him know as soon as I figured out a way to go. The idea of traveling with him made my heart beat just a little bit faster with excitement :)

Text Message

Monday, May 19, 2008, Day 17

Text Message (10:00 am)

Me: You've definitely got to do yoga with me one of these days!

Him: Right. I'll end up tearing something or not be able to walk after

Me: Nah, we'll take it nice and easy ;)

Him: I don't know if I can resist your requests :) Tomorrow morning?

Me: Isn't Tuesday your busiest day?

Him: It is in the evening but I could stay until about four.

Me: Ok. If you insist :) Yoga starts at 8:30 am. That's pretty early for you!

Him: Yes it is but you have a funny way of getting me to do things :) I will see what kind of magic I can pull off today. You can't laugh too hard at me when my body won't go into those weird positions

Me: Oh yes I can!

Text Message

Saturday, May 17, 2008, Day 15

Text Message (2:00 am)

Him: Sweet dreams. You're the best. Miss your kisses already :)

Me: Yours will definitely carry me through the night!

Him: Hopefully they carry you a bit longer than that. I don't think I'll be there tomorrow to give you some more

Me: Bummer! You leave me wanting more. What a dirty trick!

Him: Don't worry. There will be time to make up for it. Lots of time :)

Me: Well, I guess I'm it in for the long haul, then. Bring it on!

Him: Ha! You have no idea what you're in for ;)

Me: Now look who's being mischievous :) So does this mean I should change my status on facebook from single to in a relationship?

Him: I was wondering if you were going to do that. That's a pretty serious move, don't you think? I mean, it is facebook after all :)

Me: Hmmm. I know. I think I should give this some thought ;)

Text Message (10:00 am)

Him: You missed a good morning at the beach. Wish you were here

Me: You went to the beach! I hate living so far away! I'm sure you enjoyed it for me, though. I spent the morning uploading all the pics to facebook. Check it out when you get a chance!

Him: You didn't include the ones from last night did you?

Me: Sure did :) Don't worry. You look dead sexy in all of them ;)

Him: Ya right. I know better than that. So, we're connected on facebook now? Dangerous! :)

How I Met Love, Orlando Dance

Friday, May 16, 2008, Day 14

Text Message (11:00 am)

Me: I'm looking forward to dancing with you tonight. Make sure to save me a slow dance ;)

Him: And you think I would leave one open for someone else?!

__________________________________________________________

"When is he going to get here?" Amy asked for the third time. We had been at the Orlando dance for over an hour and he still wasn't there yet. His Elders Quorum Secretary was getting sealed to his wife in the temple that night, so Shanam was going to come to the dance right after that was over. Amy had heard all about "Mr. Perfect", as she called him, but hadn't officially met him, yet. I couldn't wait for her to meet him and we kept looking over at the door, hoping to see him as we danced.

"Bethany, is that him?!" Amy suddenly shouted. I quickly looked over and saw his figure in the doorway. My body immediately reacted and I looked away, not sure if he had seen me yet.

"That's him!" I said, smiling, feeling suddenly nervous.

"Well, let's go say 'Hi!'" she said.

"Wait, wait! Let's just wait until he comes over here." My nerves were too jumpy and I needed a moment to calm down.

"Why is this happening?! Why won't my body just relax! How can he still have this effect over me?!"

"Hey, you!" said a low, deep voice behind me. As soon as I heard him and felt his hands on my shoulders, my body instantly melted.

I managed to turn around and gave him a big hug saying, "It's about time you showed up! I could barely stand to wait much longer!"

Turning towards Amy, I introduced them to each other, then placed my hand in his and led him towards our group of friends. After more introductions, we had fun dancing with everyone and I had fun receiving looks of approval as different friends caught my eye. He was true to his word and left no slow songs open for anyone else. We danced every song together and rarely left each other's side for more than a minute :)

After the dance was over, we drove back to my house and settled in on the couch, wrapped in each other's arms.

"Did I tell you how gorgeous you looked tonight?" he said.

"Yes, only about 50 times." I said, not being able to contain my enjoyment. "Did I tell you how much fun I had with you tonight?"

"Yes, only about 50 times." he mimicked back.

"We really do need to start taking salsa lessons, though." I laughed. "Then we could cross another thing off our list and actually not look like complete dorks on the dance floor!"

"I think I pull it off quite nicely, thank you very much!" he joked.

"You're right. Like you say, it's all in the facial expressions, and you've got those down." I giggled out loud, remembering his "salsa" poses.

We talked late into the night, once again not wanting to part. Living so far apart from each other was hard, but it also made our time together that much more meaningful. We used every moment to find out more about each other and because of that, I felt like I had known him for a lot longer than two weeks. I felt so comfortable with him. It just felt right.

It was getting late, but before I could mention anything about Shanam heading home, he drew me in closer and tilted my head up towards his. He looked into my eyes...and I knew.

I knew he loved me.

And I knew I loved him.

Our lips met.

Our hearts connected.

I felt his love encompass my whole being.

It wasn't a kiss of passion.

It was a kiss of true love.

How I Met Love, Text Message

Text Message (1:30 pm)

Him: Thanks for a great time. You are the best! I think I have a perma smile!

Me: I can't shake this feeling! I don't know what sort of powers you possess! All I know is you're good. Real good!

Him: Ha! My plan is working!

Me: Lol! I like a man who knows what he wants and goes after it :)

Him: I couldn't loose any time since I wasn't the only one going after you, but I think I'm getting safer. :)

Me: I just got off the phone with my mom and my best friend, so I think that's a pretty good sign you're headed to the "safe zone"

Him: Good news...but never safe. Have to always be worthy of it!

Me: It's statements like that that make me like you even more!

How I Met Love, Sunrise Sunset, Part 4

Thursday, May 15, 2008, Day 13

I woke up the next day after everyone else, and could hear Shanam's voice down in the kitchen. I stood staring at myself in the bathroom mirror preparing for what I was going to say to his parents.

"I'm sorry I'm such an idiot! Normally, I know what's coming out of my mouth, but really, it was all your son's fault. He did it to me!"

I knew that wouldn't quite work, so all I could do was laugh, and hope for the best! As I made my way down the stairs, I admired the beautiful dark wood floors and gorgeous artwork hung on the walls. The house had a very classy, formal feel to it, but it was also inviting and homey at the same time. I liked it. A lot. :)

"Good morning!" I said cheerfully, as I entered the kitchen. Shanam's mother was getting dishes out of the cupboard, his father was trying to find the hand mixer, and Shanam was cracking an egg into a huge bowl on the counter. They all stopped and turned, immediately greeting me with warm good mornings.

"How did you sleep?" asked his mother.

"Do you like waffles?" his father asked.

I laughed and said, "I slept very well, thank you. And yes, I love waffles! Can I help with anything?"

Shanam responded, "No, I think we've got it. Just make yourself comfortable on the bar stool."

He finished with the egg and came over to pull the stool out for me. Only, when he got near, he drew me into a hug and said, "I missed not waking up next to you. You spoiled me yesterday."

I giggled and said, "Who spoiled who?" He let go with a smile and made sure I was situated before going back to his work in progress. It impressed me that he was so open in front of his family. It was, after all, a rather long "good morning" embrace.

"You have such a beautiful home!" I said.

"Well, thank you!" his mother responded. "We're so glad you could come stay with us."

"Yes, thank you! It was very nice of you to let me come!" I paused before saying, "I do apologize for last night, though. I really wasn't myself..."

"Oh, don't worry about it!" she quickly assured me. "You two had a very long day! Didn't you just love Ophelia's?" Not another word was mentioned about our first introduction.

I happily expressed how much I enjoyed dinner and how I could see why that was her favorite restaurant. Shanam and I then recounted our whole day for them, from sun-up to sun-down. As we talked, I watched in amazement as Shanam made the waffle batter using no instructions! The waffles turned out incredible, of course, and I thought,

"When is it going to stop? When will he stop exceeding my expectations and show me some sort of flaw! Even his parents are amazing!"

Unfortunately, we couldn't stay for very long. I had to be back at work at 1 o'clock and we had a two hour drive ahead of us. After getting all my stuff together, we all stood out front by the car saying our goodbyes.

"You'll definitely have to come back for dinner, sometime!" Shanam's mother said, giving me a hug.

His dad gave me a hug next and said, "We can't promise anything like Ophelia's, though."

Laughing, I said, "Thank you so much! I hope I do come back!"

"Drive safely!" they both shouted as we got in the car and drove away.

I looked over at Shanam and said, "You have such wonderful parents! I'm so glad I got to meet them. Thank you."

"I think they like you." he smiled at me.

"Well, I hope so, 'cuz I really like them!" I said.

When we pulled onto the highway, we somehow got on the subject of everything we wanted to do or see in life. It started out as individual dreams, but the more we shared, the more we found ourselves exclaiming things like:

"No way!"

"Me, too!"

"I've always wanted to do that!"

I scrounged around, looking for paper to write on and finally found some bank deposit envelopes.

"Alright. Let's write down everything we want to do!" I said. "Starting with one we can already cross off. #1) Watch the sunrise and sunset on the same day."

Our list grew to 20, to 50, to 75 things, until we finally reached 100 things we wanted to do together! We finished just as we were pulling off the highway in Orlando and were amazed at how fast the time had passed! We had shared dreams and goals that we had never shared with anyone else before. Neither one of us took that lightly while we came up with our list. No matter how outrageous the dream was, it was listed.

We arrived at my house and he walked me to my door, carrying my overnight bag. We said a long goodbye, feeling sad to part, but comforted knowing that we would see each other the next day at the Orlando dance. I closed the front door behind me and literally felt a huge shiver of excitement run through my whole body. None of my five roommates were home, but I had to tell someone about my date! I realized that I hadn't told my parents about Shanam at all! My family lived in Utah and I usually called them about every other Sunday, but I knew this couldn't wait! I jumped onto my bed, laid down, and dialed my home phone, hoping my mom was there.

"Hello?" my mom answered.

"Mom!! Hi!! How are you!!"

"I'm doing great, Beth." she said laughing. "How are you? You sound just a little excited!"

"Mom, I have to tell you about this guy I met!" I began. I started at the very beginning and told her everything.

"He's just so amazing! I don't think I've ever felt like this before! For the first time, I feel like I have to do everything I can to keep him. Before, I have always just let things play out to see what would happen, but this time...I don't think I could bare to loose him!"

"Well, I've sure never heard you talk about a guy like this before, so he must be special!" my mother replied. Then she paused, "Is he from another country?"

I burst out laughing, remembering that I never explained his name.

"No, mom. He's American, born and raised. His name is Sanskrit and means 'peace.'"

"Oh, okay. The picture I was envisioning of him just changed dramatically." She laughed. "Well, you'll have to tell me how it goes!"

I paused before I said, "You can meet him if you want! He'll actually be in Utah with his parents in a few weeks for a short trip."

"Wow, you really are serious about this guy! I'll talk to your father and maybe we'll have them over for dinner one night."

After I got off the phone with her, I had to call my best friend, Bre, and fill her in. I went through the exact same story, but this time I remembered to explain his name in the beginning. Unfortunately, I was so wrapped up in Shanam that I completely forgot it was her birthday! It wasn't until after I had hung up, that I realized what I had done! I quickly called her back and apologized profusely, but she just laughed, saying that she would have done the same thing, too, if she had met someone like Shanam. :)

How I Met Love, Sunrise Sunset, Part 3

Our dinner reservation was coming up so we ran back to our car, feeling light and giddy. It only took a few minutes to arrive at the restaurant and when we saw how crowded the parking lot was, we were glad we had made reservations! We pulled up to the valet and two men dressed in sports coats opened each of our doors. One helped me out, taking my hand, then opened the door to the restaurant for me. I waited for Shanam and we entered the foyer together.

My immediate reaction was amazement! The house had been dramatically renovated and looked like a classy restaurant that you would find in New York City. But what amazed me the most, was the the entire back wall was made out of glass! The property sat right on the bay and I could see that there were tables all along the open back porch and wooden dock. There was even a small boat tied up right out back that I later learned was from a neighboring house. A couple had driven a boat instead of a car to dinner!

"Did you get us a table by the water? Oh, I hope so! Look how beautiful it is out there." I said, pointing, hugging his arm. Shanam just turned to me and smiled. Outside, the day was turning to dusk and the moon was slightly peaking through the trees in the distance. The dark blue water was calm and serene and birds from the island sanctuary close by provided the music.

Our hostess walked us toward the back windows, out the back doors and to our own small table on the dock. I literally felt like I was in a dream! I sat down and looked around me, trying to take it all in, but my eyes wouldn't focus. The small twinkle lights covering the trees looked like tiny balls of light and everything had a soft hue around it, even Shanam. I had no words to describe what I was feeling. All I knew was that I didn't want to wake up!

Our waiters brought out warm, fresh bread and a whole bulb of roasted garlic. I could have stopped right there and been completely content, but when my entree of Braised Lamb with button mushrooms, white truffle essence, roma tomatoes, rosemary, and lobster studded potatoes came out, I knew I was in heaven! I had no idea what it had cost, because there were no prices on the menu, but I would have paid anything for just one bite of that meal! I couldn't say much as we ate because I felt so overwhelmed! It was as if my body had overdosed on happiness and I was in a complete daze.

The daze followed me all the way to Shanam's parents house, and I tried to get myself under control so I could present myself properly, but it was no use. The culmination of everything that had happened that day left me comatose! I hoped they were forgiving because I knew the first impression was going to be a little rough. All I remember is saying hello and getting a goodnight kiss from Shanam after he showed me to my room. We must have had some sort of conversation, but I had no recollection of what was said, or how long it lasted!

How I Met Love, Sunrise Sunset, Part 2

When we both woke up at about 2 o'clock, we were refreshed and ready for the next adventure! We climbed back in the car and stopped for a bite to eat before we made our way over to the west coast. Orlando is almost directly in the center of the state, so it takes about an hour to an hour and a half to get to either coast. Because of that, we had decided that we would stay in Sarasota at his parents house, instead of driving me back home that night. So, not only was I spending almost two days with Shanam, I would be meeting his parents for the first time.

"You're sure your parents are okay with letting me stay there?"

"Of course!" he assured me. "They are more than happy. They wanted us to come for dinner, but I told them I was already taking you to Ophelia's. Which reminds me, we need to stop in to make reservations."

We arrived in Sarasota at about 6:00, so we didn't have quite enough time to eat before the sunset. I waited in the car while Shanam ran into the restaurant to make reservations. From the outside, Ophelia's looked like a regular one story house with only a small paved area in place of a yard. It was even located in a residential neighborhood with palm trees and huge, mature banyan trees that draped over the street. I wondered where everyone parked and then noticed that there was only valet parking offered.

"What kind of restaurant is this?" I almost said out loud to myself. But, I fully trusted Shanam's judgement and he had told me that this was his mother's favorite restaurant, so I would just have to wait and see.

Once he got back in the car, he suggested that we drive around the neighborhood a little to look at all the huge houses. Yet again, I was impressed that he would even have the desire to do that! This was a common activity that my parents did whenever they went to visit a new town, so I was one hundred percent on board! As we explored tiny streets and went up long driveways we weren't supposed to, we pointed out everything we liked or disliked. We shared our dream house fantasies and were surprised by how similar our dreams were!

"I would love to have at least two homes!" Shanam shared. "One in New England and the other, a large cabin in the mountains!"

"Oh, yes! And I would put a third house in the south of France!" I added.

Shanam agreed enthusiastically, "Definitely!!"

We could have gallivanted around those neighborhoods all night, but the sun was getting closer and closer to the horizon, so we headed to the beach just down the street. We rounded the corner into the parking lot and sure enough, the white sand was absolutely gorgeous, just like he had said! I couldn't wait to get out and feel it.

"Come on! Let's go!" I said, hopping out of the car before Shanam even had a chance to turn off the ignition. I went around to his door and helped him get out of the car, pulling on his arm while jumping up and down, like a child.

"Hold on, hold on," he said laughing.

The minute I stepped barefoot into the sand, I felt the fine powder seep between my toes and I squealed out in delight. We walked down the beach hand in hand, watching children play and parents relaxing, and I squeezed his hand tighter, once again feeling a wave of gratitude for just being able to be with him. A woman was kind enough to take a picture of us right before the sunset. I wanted to make sure I had something to prove that this day had actually happened. I also collected a tiny cup full of sand from each beach for the same reason. :)

We stood in each other's arms watching the sky as it turned from peach to sultry orange and said goodbye to the same sun that had begun our memorable day. We waited until the top arch of the sun slowly slid out of sight before we drew our eyes from the sky and looked at one another. Our faces were almost touching as we looked into each other's eyes. I knew he wanted to kiss me, just like I knew he wanted to kiss me a hundred times before, but I was still too scared to let him. I was still too scared to let him into my heart. I looked away, breaking the gaze and placed my head on his chest instead. My heart was racing almost as fast as his was. He slowly took my hand and turned to lead us back to the car when suddenly a loud voice inside my head said, "Just do it!!"

I couldn't deny the prompting, so I pulled back on his hand and turned him towards me. I looked up at him with eager anticipation and brought my lips closer to his. He bent down and met my lips with a sweet, tender kiss that intensified into a deeper, more passionate connection. My whole body rejoiced! When we pulled apart, I was so happy that all I could do was laugh! He looked at me with a puzzled expression, so I quickly had to explain to Shanam that I was laughing because he made me so happy and not for any other reason :)

How I Met Love, Sunrise Sunset, Part 1

Wednesday, May, 14, 2008, Day 12

"So, when's the last time you were at Cocoa Beach?" I asked. It was 5 o'clock in the morning and we were headed to the closest east coast beach to begin our date with a sunrise. Shanam had spent the night at Chuck's house and had gotten up at 4 that morning to prepare for our day. When he arrived at my doorstep, he was carrying a cooler full of fresh fruit and water bottles. (Now, a man who gets up that early to be with you and comes prepared without even being asked, is a man worth holding on to!)

"Maybe two years ago, or so. We usually head to the west coast since it's closer. I can't wait to show you Siesta Key Beach! It has the most beautiful white sand you have ever seen! It's so fine that it feels like you're walking in baby powder!"

"Wow! I can't wait!" I said, thinking about how lucky I was to be spending the whole day with him.

We arrived at Cocoa Beach about 10 minutes before the sun was scheduled to rise, so once we found the perfect spot, we quickly spread a blanket out on the sand. I sat down in front of him and made myself comfortable, leaning back against his strong chest. He wrapped the other blanket tight around us. Even though there were a few people scattered on the beach, as we sat huddled inside each others warmth, it felt like the sun was about to rise just for us.

We watched reverently as the top arch of the sun slowly peaked over the clouds. The sky brightened and the ocean's surface gleamed in the orange light. The sound of the rhythmic waves filled the silence and I felt my body sink deeper into the arms of the man behind me. Whatever else happened, I knew that this moment would be a moment I would always remember.

After a while, I felt my eyes getting heavier and I remembered it was still 6:30 in the morning, so I suggested we lay back and take a little nap. I laid my head on his chest and listened to his heart beat as my body relaxed completely and drifted off to sleep.

When I awoke about half an hour later, it took me a second to gage where I was. I smiled as the morning's memories gently made their way back into my remembrance. Shanam was still asleep next to me, so I studied his handsome face as he breathed deeply in and out.

"What an amazing man! How is he not married, yet? How did I get so lucky?"

As I was pondering those thoughts, an overwhelming feeling of gratitude swept over me. I prayed in my heart, Heavenly Father, thank you so much for letting this man enter my life. I don't know what lies ahead, but I'm so grateful for the opportunity to be with him now. Please guide my heart and help me know if this is a man I could spend eternity with.

I knew it was a little early to be thinking about marriage, but I needed help. The more time I spent with him, the more I liked him, so I didn't want to be headed down that path if God knew something I didn't.

Shanam started to stir and opened his eyes to look up at me.

"Good morning, beautiful." he said, smiling. I basked in those words and could have kissed him right there,but I decided to wait.

"Good morning." I said, smiling back. "Should we get breakfast ready? I'm starving!"

After our lovely breakfast of grapes and strawberries, we changed into our running shoes and went for a short jog along the beach. The morning air was moist and refreshing and we enjoyed bumping into each other as we ran to get out of the oncoming waves. Shanam switched off between running circles around me and running backwards in front of me, teasing that I wasn't going fast enough. I just laughed at him and told him how much I admired his athletic ability. :)

On our way back to our blanket we were thrilled to see sail boats pushing off into the water! A race had just begun and we could hear the men on the boats shouting orders as they tried to get the sails pointed in the right direction. It was so much fun to be right where all the action was! Shanam struck up a conversation with a couple walking next to us and I was again impressed by his hidden talents. He casually spoke and laughed with them as if they were old friends, thinking nothing of it! I'm not someone that talks to strangers very often, so the fact that he did it so easily, completely blew me away.

After we had said goodbye to the nice couple, who were celebrating their 20th anniversary vacationing at the beach, we packed up our belongings and headed back to Orlando. I decided to take a shower at my house and found Shanam asleep on my bed when I had finished getting ready. I couldn't bare to wake the poor guy up so I decided to join him and gladly welcomed the second nap of the day.

How I Met Love, Breakfast Crepes

Saturday, May 10, 2008, Day 9

"So, why is it that you like pecans so much, again?" I asked Shanam, as he rinsed the strawberries he had brought.

"I don't know, really. There's just something about pecan pancakes with real maple syrup on top."

"Well, I hope you like these crepes. I haven't made them since I was in France." I was concentrating on getting all the lumps out of the batter and it was taking more effort than usual. "You should taste the crepes in Paris! Oh, they are so amazing!"

"Well, maybe one of these days, I'll hire you as my tour guide and you can show me everything you love about Paris." he said, grinning.

Laughing, I said, "It's a deal!"

Shanam turned around and sauntered over to where I was, humming a Parisian tune and slid his arms around my waist. I continued to beat the batter and giggled. That only encouraged him more, so he rocked his hips back and forth, humming into my ear. My giggling must have awakened my roommate, because at that moment, Jennlyn slowly walked into the kitchen, half asleep.

Rubbing her eyes she said, "Good morning, you two."

We both turned around and saw her standing against the wall, obviously using it as a support to keep her up. We burst out laughing! First, because she had caught us in the kitchen dancing and second, because her hair was standing straight up, sticking out in all different directions.

"I'm sorry, Jennlyn. Did we wake you up?" I apologized, trying to hold back my laughter. "This is Shanam, by the way."

She looked at Shanam and did her best to give him a smile. She was still waking up.

Shanam said, "Good morning," and after a slight pause, "nice hair!" Jennlyn joined in the round of laughter that began again and touched her hair to see just how tall it was that morning.

We finished preparing the crepes as Jennlyn sat down at the table and chatted with us. Shanam turned out to be quite the chef as he took over in the kitchen, flipping the crepes up and into the air, catching them perfectly each time. I was thoroughly impressed and wondered what other talents he hadn't shared with me yet. :)

We piled our crepes high with strawberries, pecans, and homemade whipped cream, that he had also "whipped up" himself. Our breakfast was delicious and gladly shared with Jennlyn as we all sat at the kitchen table discussing places we wanted to visit in Florida. Shanam had brought me beautiful pink-tipped roses that morning and I had displayed them in the center of the table in a bright blue glass vase.

"Do you know what I've always wanted to do?" I said, touching one of the rose petals, "I've always wanted to see the sunrise on the east coast and the sunset on the west coast, both in the same day. Florida's the only place you can do that."

"You know, I've always wanted to do that, too." Shanam said.

"You guys should definitely do it, then." suggested Jennlyn.

Shanam smiled at me, "Well, it looks like we just found our next date idea."

How I Met Love, Text Message

Thursday, May 8, 2008, Day 7

Text Message (8:00 am)

Him: Good morning if you're up! Have a great day!

Me: Good morning prince charming

Him: Lol. And which princess are you this morning?

Me: Who's your favorite?

Him: Isn't Cinderella the most beautiful?

Me: I guess only to those attracted to blond hair and big blue eyes. :)

Him: Well that would make me a true sucker then. What are you doing for lunch Saturday before work?

Me: Wow! Two dates in the same week! You really don't want to leave time for anyone else, do you? That is, assuming you were planning on asking me out :) How about I make you breakfast? Crepes perhaps?

Him: Of course I don't want to leave room, you kidding! And your idea sounds perfect! Love it. Then I have a bit more time with you before you have to go to work

Me: I'm glad you like the idea. Breakfast crepes it is! I won't forget to pick up some pecans :)

How I Met Love, Seasons 52, Part 2

*To start at the beginning click here.*

He was leaning back comfortably in his chair, smiling, watching my enjoyment.

"What do you think?" he asked, already knowing the answer.

"It's incredible! It's just so beautiful!"

"Just wait until you try the food! Why don't you go ahead and look at the menu and I'll be right back. I'm going to go wash up."

I opened the menu and started skimming through all the selections. I didn't know how I was ever going to choose! Everything looked delicious! When Shanam returned I expressed my dilemma.

"How am I supposed to decide?! Look at this amazing chicken and roasted garlic flatbread. And this pear and pine nut spinach salad. What a great combination! I have never seen that before!" I paused to take a breath, then continued, "As far as the entrees go, I think I've narrowed it down to two. Either the grilled jumbo sea scallops or the crab-stuffed shrimp. What would you recommend?"

When I looked up from the menu, Shanam's huge grin said it all.

"I'm sorry!" I laughed, "I really love good food!"

"No need to apologize. I'm glad you love food. It's something I love, too." he said, not able to stop smiling.

When the waitress came by to take our order, Shanam did something I never would have expected. Without even opening his menu to choose what he wanted, he ordered every single thing I had pointed out! When the waitress left, I just stared at him dumbfounded.

"We'll share. This way you get to try everything," he stated. At that very moment, Shanam rose above any other guy I had ever dated. He became my hero.

All throughout dinner, our relaxed discussion traveled in and out of various topics, weaving a pattern of common threads; interests and passions we shared, similar experiences and lessons we had learned, even down to the same type of seasoning our family used growing up (which is "Spike"--don't ask me how that came up!). Before we knew it, two hours had gone by and our waitress was back, asking what we wanted for dessert. Part of our discussion earlier covered how we felt about desserts and food that used coffee or alcohol as ingredients, so when she offered a dessert shot of tiramasu as one of our choices, we both smiled at each other and simultaneously said, "Tiramasu, please."

By the time we finished, the sun had long past set, but the night air was cool and inviting.

"What would you like to do now?" Shanam asked, as we walked back to the car.

"Wouldn't it be great if we could go on a boat out on the lake?" I answered dreamily.

"That's exactly what I was thinking! The weather is perfect, but where are we going to find a boat?"

"I have an idea." I smiled mischievously. "There's a boat that takes guests from the Wilderness Lodge to the Magic Kingdom. I bet we could hitch a ride. Want to try it?"

He agreed that was a great idea, so we jumped back into the car and took off towards Disney World. We had no problem getting into the resort and once we found the dock, we ran to jump on a boat that was just about to leave. He sat down first, with his arm extended towards me on the back of the seat and I gladly slid right in beside him. The night was indeed perfect for boating and we enjoyed being on the water, watching as the lights of Magic Kingdom became brighter and brighter as we got closer. We got off and decided to hop on the monorail to go explore the different resorts it stopped at. He hadn't been to Disney World in a while, so I had fun being tour guide on my home turf. Our final stop was the Polynesian Resort where I led him through the amazing lobby and out the back doors. I had a specific place in mind that I knew he would love.

The walkways, lined with tiki torches, curved and twisted through large tropical plants. Calming Hawaiian music floated through the trees and we felt as though we had been transported to an exotic island. The atmosphere was enchanting and as we walked side by side, it felt completely natural when Shanam gently reached over and took my hand in his.

We had arrived at the beach I wanted to show him, where hammocks awaited us. We chose one secluded from the rest and nestled into each other, laying in each other's arms. We talked about past relationships, what our dating standards and limits were, what we looked for in the opposite sex, and most importantly, what we enjoyed about each other. We laid in that hammock not caring what time it was, not worrying about work the next day, not wanting to end that magical night.

Text Message (2:00 am)

Me: Thank you for a perfect date! I had a fabulous time. You are amazing and definitely know how to make a girl feel special. Drive home safely!

Him: Thank you so much for making the night wonderful. I have to say it was the best ever! This drive would be much better if you were with me.

How I Met Love, Seasons 52, Part 1

*To start at the beginning click here.*

Wednesday, May 7, 2008, Day 6

"Jennlyn, which necklace should I wear?" I shouted from the bathroom. It was date night and I wanted to make sure I looked good. Jennlyn came into the bathroom and started playing with my curly hair.

"I think the one you have on looks great. And your hair! I wish I had hair like this!" she said, continuing to fluff the curls from the bottom. Just then, the doorbell rang. I looked at Jennlyn with huge, wide eyes, not able to hide my excitement.

"Well, go get it!" she laughed...referring to the door. :)

It felt like I was gliding on air as I hurried out the bathroom. I got to the front door and saw his dark figure through the frosted glass. My adrenaline was in full gear, so at that point I had to tell myself to exhale slowly. When I was ready, I pulled open the door, prepared for whatever the night had in store.

"Hi!" he said simply when he saw me.

"Hi!" I smiled back.

"You look amazing! I didn't know you had curly hair!"

"Well, thank you! It's au naturel." I said with my best french accent. "Do you want to come in while I grab my purse?"

When he agreed, I opened the door wider, to allow more space. He walked by me and I could smell the sweet scent of his cologne, immediately bringing me back to our last date. I scurried around, making sure I had everything I needed and finally presented myself as being ready. He had been making conversation with my roommate, Amy, and her boyfriend, Chuck, while he waited. As I followed him out the door, I turned around to wave goodbye and they both gave me a thumbs-up sign. I had to laugh and appreciate what great friends I had. :)

"My car's in the shop tonight so I had to borrow my dad's." he said in an overly apologetic tone. We approached the car and once again, it was a gorgeous, silver BMW. Only this car was an M5, stick-shift, fully-loaded beauty. He reached for the handle to open the door for me.

"I'm pretty bummed." he said sarcastically.

"Yeah, me too!" I played along.

I slid onto the black leather seat and felt completely encircled in luxury. I could definitely get used to this! I watched as Shanam made his way around the car and into the driver's seat.

"Are you ready for this?" he asked.

I looked directly into his eyes and said, "Bring it on!"

As soon as we turned onto the main road, he showed me what the car was made of. He accelerated so fast that my head pushed back against the head rest as if we were riding a rollercoaster! I admired how beautifully he handled the car and laughed with pure enjoyment. Despite the 0-60 rush, I felt completely relaxed as we easily transitioned into conversation and picked up where we had left off.

He chose to take me to one of his favorite restaurants called Seasons 52. This restaurant prides itself on having a seasonal menu, meaning the menu changes with every season, using only the freshest ingredients available. When we arrived, there was a 45 minute wait so we chose to sit outside on the patio surrounded by lush green plants and a water fountain.

We found two chairs facing each other, but they were obviously too far apart because soon into our conversation, Shanam brought his chair up to the point where our knees were almost touching. I smiled in approval, inviting his show of interest and undivided attention.

Our names were called and we followed our hostess through the piano bar and main dining area out to the rear balcony. My whole body rang with happiness as my eyes beheld our breathtaking view. There, before us, was a brilliant blue lake. Colors of pink and orange lit up the sky as the sun slowly set beyond the horizon. My heart could not have been happier. Tiny paper lanterns were strung along the ceiling, candles adorned each table, and the wicker tables and chairs set the mood completely as I let myself sink into the soft, flowered seat cushions. As I gazed across the table at the man I was with, I knew there was no where else in the world I would rather be.

How I Met Love, Text Message

Sunday, May 4, 2008

Text Message (9:00 am)

Me: It was nice to wake up with good memories, thanks again for last night :) Have a great day!

Him: Agreed! I had a lot of fun. Careful, it sounds kinda like you're asking for that second date :)

Me: Not at all :) Just being honest. It is the best policy after all, especially when it could score me another date with you :)

Him: Lol! It just did! You make me laugh. At least I don't have to ask too hard :)

Me: Lol! We'll see about that

Him: You challenging me? :)

_______________________________________________

After a welcome phone call that evening, I made sure it wasn't too easy to set up another date. My work schedule did make it a little complicated, but we finally settled on having dinner Wednesday night. He called or texted each day and with every contact my desire to see him grew.

How I Met Love, Ice Cream, Part 2

*To start at the beginning click here.*

We pulled apart and Shanam immediately turned towards the shops.

"Where to?" he asked, excitedly.

"Ghiradelli's is just right here, we could try that."

"Sounds great!" he said, already leading the way though the parked cars. His huge strides matched his enthusiasm and I giggled as I stepped quickly every few feet, so I wouldn't get left behind.

"Does he always walk this fast? Or is he just nervous?"

I tried to suppress my giggles but he noticed and turned towards me, smiling, "What? What's so funny?"

Looking up at him, I managed to say, "I can barely keep up!!"

We both just laughed and he apologized, blaming it on the fact that he was really excited to get some ice cream. I would later find out how true that really was :)

Ghiradellis turned out to be closed due to some construction, so we started our long journey to the other side of Downtown Disney where there was a Haagen-Daaz ice cream shop. As we weaved through the crowds, I realized that I enjoyed being seen with him. I felt a sense of pride that I had never felt with anyone else before. I liked that and it made me stand up just a little bit taller :)

We arrived at the ice cream counter and I debated over what flavor I wanted. Shanam seemed to have no trouble all.

"Yes! They have my favorite!" he nearly shouted, "Swiss Almond Vanilla!"

I chuckled at how easily pleased he was and decided on mint chocolate chip with warm, gooey fudge drizzled on top. At the register, I pulled out my Disney ID card so we could get an employee discount.

"That'll be $3.60 total, please." said the cashier.

Shanam was impressed and he turned to me saying, "Wow! I should have you along more often! Where else do you get discounts?"

"Lots of restaurants all over Orlando."

"Is that a hint?" he teased. "Are you asking for a second date?"

I just smiled back, waving my ID card at him.

We chose to sit outside along the river front, since it was a beautiful night and there wasn't as much noise. The lights from the resort across the lake shone brightly off the water's surface and a slight breeze stirred the leaves on the trees above us. We sat down on a small wooden bench and enjoyed our view while we savored each bite of ice cream.

"See that resort across the water?" I asked. "That's one of the resorts I work at. It's called Saratoga Springs."

Our conversation flowed easily as we shared the details of our lives. I enjoyed listening as he told me about where he grew up--how he had traveled and lived all over the United States, not really being able to call one distinct place "home." As a child, his father was in medical school, transferring from one school to another and when Shanam got older he attended private schools along the east coast. One of them being an athletic school where he specialized in downhill ski racing! We also talked about his current job and where he wanted to be in 5-10 years. I admired his ambition and his clear perspective on life. He sounded like he had a good grasp on reality and was responsible enough to take ownership of his decisions. Two very important things I always looked for.

While we were talking he kept interjecting, "I'm sorry, I usually don't talk this much! I want to find out more about you!"

To which I would respond, "Don't worry about it! I'm thoroughly enjoying getting to know you." And I would ask another question. My purpose that night was to listen. I wanted to find out if he was half as good as he looked. :)

"Hey, look over there! Is that a gator in the water?" he asked, pointing to a dark spot not too far from where we sat.

"No way!" I quickly leaned forward to get a better look.

"I really think it is!!" he exclaimed.

As I squinted, I finally came to the conclusion that it was just a duck, and started to lean back against the bench. Only...it wasn't the bench that I felt...it was his arm :) I was definitely okay with that and snuggled in closer.

"Smooth. Very smooth."

How I Met Love, Ice Cream, Part 1

*To start at the beginning click here.*

Saturday, May 3, 2008, Day 2

"Oh no!! I left my phone at home!" I helplessly exclaimed as I put my purse in my work locker. I had to endure my entire shift without knowing if he had called! As Front Desk Concierge, I tried to concentrate on the concerns of the resort guests, but my thoughts kept slipping back to Shanam.

"What if he calls and thinks I'm ignoring him because I don't call him back? Or worse, what if he doesn't even call!"

As soon as 11 o'clock hit, I was out the door and in my car. I had to get home quickly so I could finally get answers to the questions that had been pounding in my head all day long! Arriving home, I ran to my room and prayed as I picked up my phone. Had he

called?!...Yes!!! Shanam had sent two text messages and had just barely called. I breathed out a sigh of relief as I clutched the phone to my chest, able to finally release my pent up anxiety. I decided I needed to chill out a bit before I spoke to him, so I focused on changing my clothes and reapplying a little make-up. I then sat down on my bed, took a deep breath and pressed the call back button.

"Hello?" answered the low, deep voice.

"Hi! It's Bethany. How are you?"

"I'm great! Are you still up for ice cream or are you too tired?" He didn't hesitate to get right to the point.

"I think I can stay up a little longer," I said, smiling. "How are you feeling? You're the one who has a two hour drive home."

"Oh, I'll be just fine. I'm a night owl. So, where should we go? Do you know of any place that's open this late?"

"Yeah, Downtown Disney has several ice cream shops. I think they close at 1 on Saturdays."

"Great! Do you want me to come pick you up?"

I didn't want him to know where I lived, just yet, so I said, "No, thank you. I'll just meet you there. It's only a few minutes from my house. Do you know how to get there?"

"The streets around Disney World are crazy, so I would love some help!"

I carefully explained how to get from where he was to Downtown Disney, but instead of saying goodbye when I finished, we stayed on the phone talking and laughing, as if our date had already begun. By that time, I had already climbed back into my car and was driving to meet him. During our conversation, I asked him a question that had intrigued me from when we had met the night before.

"So, Shanam, what does your name mean, exactly? What's the story behind it?"

"Well, to give you the short version, it means 'peace' in Sanskrit. That's the oldest written language. My mom really liked it. What about your name?"

"It's definitely not as fancy as yours but my mom liked it, too. She chose Bethany because that was the town where all of Jesus' friends lived."

The conversation continued until both cars pulled into the parking lot. I got there a little before he did, so I was able to see him drive right by me into the next space. He was behind the wheel of a gorgeous Beemer, silver with black interior.

"Maybe I should have let him pick me up!" I thought.

He stepped out of the car, still holding the phone up to his ear as he said hello for a second time. As he put his phone into his pocket and made his way over to my car, I couldn't help but admire his nice physique. He stood about six foot two with broad shoulders and a narrow, trim waist. That night, he was wearing a black dress shirt with faint white pin-stripes. He had again rolled up the sleeves, and had on dark jeans with European square-toed dress shoes. He looked fabulous!

"Your directions were perfect. They led me right to you!" he said as he wrapped his arms around me in a welcoming embrace.

"Well, I'm glad you finally found me," I said, breathing in his sweet cologne, enjoying the double meaning of what I had just said.

How I Met Love, Tampa Dance, Part 3

*To start at the beginning click here.*

There was now a country song playing and everyone was filling in the space around us.

"Do you want to come dance over here and meet my friends?" he asked.

"Sure."

He lead me to the corner where a group of 10 or 15 people were dancing and laughing. We danced with them for a little while, stealing glances at each other whenever we could. Each time our eyes met, it felt like every nerve in my body was tingling. No contact was necessary! One of his friends yelled something into his ear and Shanam turned to me to relay the message.

"We're all headed out to eat now, but I'm going to be in Orlando tomorrow night. Would you like to get dessert somewhere?"

My first thought was, "Is he asking me out? Could this gorgeous man actually want to see me again?!"

"I'd love to, but I have to work late." I sadly informed him.

"Well, we could get together when you get off. What time do you work until?"

"I don't get off until 11," I said, shrugging my shoulders.

"That's okay. I'll give you a call tomorrow night and we'll see if you feel up for some ice cream." There was no way I could refuse that proposal (and there was no way I would want to), so I agreed. He brought out his cell phone from his back pocket and I slowly rocked back and forth on my heels, peering over the phone to make sure he was entering my number exactly right. I watched as the muscles in his forearm flexed as he pressed each button.

"Alright, Bethany, I'll talk to you tomorrow, then." With that, he leaned over and gave me a quick hug, barely making it out the door to join his friends.

I stood there stunned for a brief moment. "Did that really just happen?" Amy rushed over to where I was standing, but all I could do was laugh.

"Who was that guy?! He was way cute!! Did he just get your number?! Oh my gosh! Are you going out with him?!"

I finally regained my composure and told her everything.

"Can you believe it?!" I exclaimed. "I doubt I'll be able to concentrate at all at work tomorrow!"

I didn't have to wait until the next day to see him, however. It turned out that our group of friends decided to go out to eat at the same restaurant. Fate? Perhaps :)

As soon as we walked into Applebees, I spotted his friends seated near the bar. I couldn't see where he was sitting exactly, but just knowing he was there immediately gave me butterflies in my stomach. I gathered up my courage and started walking towards his table. One of his friends saw me and waved, making me feel a little braver.

"Hey guys! Long time no see," I said, trying to cover up my nervousness. Everyone stopped their conversation to see who it was. "Just wanted to come over and say, 'Hi.'" All eyes were on me, but I only saw one face. He was seated in the corner between two girls.

"Oh, hey, Bethany!" Shanam said.

"Hey." I smiled and turned my head back to my friends. I saw that they were moving out of the entry-way, so I said, "Oops, I gotta go! They're seating our group, now!" I was glad I didn't have to try and find something to talk about. I had made my appearance and that was good enough for me. Short and sweet. :)

How I Met Love, Tampa Dance, Part 2

*To start at the beginning, click here. *

A little later on, I decided to take a break and catch my breath by the refreshment table. As I was sipping water, the familiar low voice was again by my side.

"It sure is hot in here, isn't it."

This time when I turned to him he was facing the dance floor, glancing at me from the corner of his eye.

"It sure is! I can't seem to cool down," I said smiling, happy that he had chosen to come talk to me.

"Do you know how to dance to this?" I asked. The song was a Latin Samba, something that was played often in Florida.

He laughed, "No, not really!"

"Great!" I laughed back, "Me neither. Let's go try it!"

"You're not serious, are you? I really can't dance!"

"That's okay, it'll be fun."

I teased him as I turned around in front of him and started to sway my hips back and forth, leering him onto the dance floor. He smiled and took my hand. As the music played, we twisted and turned, in and out of each other's arms. We filled the space around us with laughter as we tried to imitate what others were doing.

"Are you from Tampa?" he asked.

"No, I live in Orlando. Are you from here? I've never seen you at a dance before," I responded.

Laughing he said, "Yeah, it's been almost two years since I've been to one of these. A friend asked me to help set up for an activity before this and then she made me stay for the dance. I'm from Bradenton. It's about 30 minutes from here."

"I hadn't planned on coming tonight, either," I said. "I was scheduled to work, but luckily I got off early." I hoped he could tell by my voice that I was very happy to be there.

"So, what's your name?" he questioned.

"Bethany, what's yours?"

He paused for a moment, making sure I was listening and said, "Shanam."

"Shanam? How do you spell that?"

"S-H-A-N-A-M."

I thought that was quite an interesting name and I wanted to know more, but it definitely wasn't the time to ask.

"Well, it's very nice to meet you, Shanam," I said instead.

"You, too, Bethany." Once again flashing his pearly whites.

Slowly, our movements turned from being silly and uncoordinated to smooth and focused. With every pull toward him, I was more and more aware of his warmth and strength and less aware of anything or anyone else around me. When he gently pulled me up from the final dip, and I looked into his eyes, I felt like I was seeing him in a whole new light. It took a moment for me to catch my breath and return back to my surroundings.

How I Met Love, Tampa Dance, Part 1

Friday, May 2, 2008

"You're coming to the dance tonight, right?!" Amy shouted on her way out the door for work.

"I already told you! I have to work!" I shouted back. I was leisurely making breakfast, and didn't want to be reminded that I was going to miss out on all the fun that night.

"Bethany, there are going to be TONS of guys there! You can't miss it! Besides, I need a you. You know I love my men, but I can't take 'em all," she half joked, half pleaded.

"Okay, okay. I'll see what I can do. You better get going, though! You'll be late for work!"

I laughed as she slammed the front door and ran to her car. Sometimes having an afternoon shift at Disney World paid off, but that day I wished I was the one running out the door. Instead, I was scheduled to work until 11:00 p.m., right about when the party in Tampa would be getting started 2 hours away. Only a miracle would get me to that dance!

Later that night, after doing a bit of my own pleading, I got my miracle! My manager at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort agreed to let me leave early! I drove to a gas station by the freeway, where Amy and Jared met me with a change of clothes, and hopped in their car. We were off!

As soon as we arrived in Tampa and walked through the doors of the auditorium, we were greeted by all our friends, beckoning us to join them on the dance floor. Amy and I just looked at each other and smiled. This was what being young and single was all about! The excitement in the air was invigorating and we quickly fell into the rhythm of the music, laughing and smiling, letting the beat control our movements.

"Come with me to pick out a song for Pedro, it's his birthday!"Amy grabbed my arm and we weaved our way up to the front. When we got to the front table, there was only room for one person to squeeze in with the people huddled around the playlist, so I stood close by, offering my opinion, when asked. I was enjoying watching the break-dancers up front when suddenly my admiration was interrupted by a low, deep voice.

"Wow! You remind me of a girl I know from California. You look just like her!"

I turned my head in the direction of the voice and saw a tan, handsome, brunette facing me. I immediately noticed his bright white smile and playful eyes. He was wearing a loose, white button-up shirt, rolled up at the wrists with dark-washed jeans.

"I do?! That's funny, cause that's where I grew up!" I responded. But before I even finished my sentence, he was pulled back into the huddle to help choose the next song. I wondered where he was from and why I had not seen him at a dance before. I wouldn't get the chance to ask, though, because two seconds later, Amy finished up and grabbed my hand to lead me back on to the dance floor.

Let the Love Story Begin!

When Shanam and I got engaged, I started writing our love story as a wedding gift for him...but never finished. Actually, I only got to the third date or so :) Hey, it's tough planning a wedding and writing a novel at the same time! (Instead, we had fun reading the journal where I had written down every single text we had ever sent to each other :) We laughed quite a bit!) Anyway, I shared what I had written so far with a few of my friends and it was really fun to have their encouragement to keep going, so I decided to finish what I began exactly three years ago. To help me keep going, I will be posting our story on our blog, in hopes that your encouragement will help me get it done :) My goal is to have it done by the time Michael arrives near the middle of April, so that I can give the book to Shanam for our third anniversary on May 2nd. I figure it is perfect timing since we won't be going on many adventures during my last three months of preggoness, so I really think I can do it. I hope you enjoy going down memory lane with me. :)

P.S. I'll only be using first names of everyone involved, but if you don't want your name in there please let me know and I'll make one up for you :)

Christmas Letter 2011

*This year we only mailed cards to friends and family not connected through our blog or facebook*

Merry Christmas Everyone!!

It’s Annabelle here, again. Can you believe a year has gone by already! Last time I wrote, I had only been born a couple months prior and now here I am almost walking and talking! I must say, this has been such a wonderful year for my family! Looking back on all our travels and adventures, it feels like we did a great job packing in the fun and making great memories with our loved ones. Isn’t that what life is all about? Well, that’s what I’ve learned life is all about :)

Would you like to see my traveling stats?

• I’ve been to 8 states: Texas (of course), Utah (6 times), New Mexico (5 times), Colorado

(3 times), Florida, New Jersey, New York, and Massachusetts

• I've been on 6 round trip flights

• I've traveled by car, plane, golf cart, bus, taxi, boat, and subway

• I've been camping 5 times

• I've seen the beach, the mountains, the desert, the forest, the plains, the city, and the country

• I've been to Disney’s Magic Kingdom and EPCOT

What’s even better than having been to all those places with the people I love is that my mom has completely documented every trip so that when I grow up I can look back at all the pictures! She just finished converting the first year of my blog, www.mapetiteannabelle.blogspot.com, into a book! I love it so much already!

Daddy’s work is going really well and we feel so blessed! He did accomplish his goal of getting his pilot’s license this year and has actually been able to use it for work several times. I’m so proud of him and am so grateful that he is so ambitious! My favorite part of the day is when he comes home from work, though :) As soon as I hear him come in the door, I shriek and crawl as fast as I can to him. Then, I sit at his feet with my arms outstretched. I get very impatient if I have to wait for him to even take his shoes off! We love playing in the living room together while mom gets dinner ready.

Mommy is having fun teaching the young women at church and volunteering at her mother’s group. She has made lots of friends there and while she’s with them, I get to play with my friends, too! She did make progress towards her goal of running in a half marathon by doing a 5K during the summer, but she’ll have to wait until next summer to do the half because I’M GETTING A LITTLE BROTHER!!! He is coming at the end of April and I cannot wait to have someone to play with all the time! Mom started a blog for him, too, www.michaelblainemcg.blogspot.com. Hopefully she can keep up with his blog as well as she did with mine!

We’ve got a great year planned ahead and we are looking forward to new adventures! This year we got to visit where Daddy grew up on the east coast and next year we’ll get to visit where Mommy grew up on the west coast. Feel free to keep up with our travels by following our family blog, www.bethanyandshanam.blogspot.com. We love all of you so much and we are so grateful you are part of our lives! May you have a wonderful new year filled with happiness and thanksgiving! :)

Love,

The McGaughys