The Love of My Life

When I was a kid in junior high, a new family moved into our ward. They came to a ward talent show at the old 1st ward building. I don't know if people believe in love at first sight, especially at such a young age, but I knew that there was something that I really liked about this girl. As a Sophomore in high school I was helping register the incoming Freshman group, when she walked in again. My friend that was working at the same table tapped me on the shoulder and said "wow, look at that one" I didn't tell him that for the previous few years, that is all that I had been doing. Every week at church I would look for her, when summer came I knew that I wouldn't see her because the Tebb's would usually spend more time out of town. When summer was over and she would come home I couldn't wait to see her. The only problem was, she was slightly less interested in me than I was in her. The closest that I got to being her boyfriend was at a youth conference. We were watching a movie, I took the soft chairs from the foyer and brought them into the gym. Somewhere in the middle of the movie I got up enough courage to reach over and hold her pinky finger. Time went by, I watched her date other guys, some I liked, others I thought were dweebs. Before going on my mission I finally got up enough courage to ask her out. I took her to the comedy show at Ballys. After the date I walked her to the door, and even got a hug, she told me what a good friend I was. I didn't want to be a friend, but there were only weeks to go before my mission so there was no reason to pursue.

During my mission in Scotland she came to visit her sister in England. She mentioned that she was going to take a trip into Edinburough. In order to get there she would have to drive through the small town of Galashields that I was in. For the next couple of weeks, I would look at every tour bus that drove by hoping to see her. It didn't happen. I did receive a gift package from her though. It had all the good junk food that I could not buy in Scotland.

When I came home from my mission she was at school at BYU, but had come home for a visit. She came by the house to say hi, and all of the feeling from my youth came rushing back. I could not stop thinking about this girl that I had instantly fallen for from the first day that I met her. When she came back into town we went to a movie with friends. I sat next to her during the movie, afterwards I made up a lame reason to walk her home from the theater instead of riding back with our friends. It was magic, I remember that night like it was yesterday. During her stay I could not stop thinking about her. We went on a couple of dates and I made every excuse imaginable to see her. On one date we sat in the car in front of her house talking. I was too chicken to make a move, I didn't want to mess it up, but when she leaned over and kissed me it was over.

We dated, married, and here we are today. During these years there have been ups and downs. I have mental snapshots of her in my head of our life together. Nights that we went out and she would dress up, the 4 times that she has given birth to our children. Lying in the hospital bed after going through the most painful thing imaginable, but she never has looked so beautiful and with the birth of each of our children I loved her more.

She is my best friend, confidante, partner in both business and life, and the love of my life. Over the years I have been constantly amazed to watch how compassionate, resourcefully and giving she is. I look at my children and realize that they are the type of people they are because they were lucky enough to have a one of a kind Mom. Sometimes at night she will hold my pinky when we walk. At night when I can't sleep, I look at her and love to see her peacefully sleeping.

I know that there have been times in life that I have fallen short of being the perfect husband, there is nothing that I would not do for this lady.

Last night we went out for dinner, she loves sushi and so we went to her favorite place. During the course of dinner I looked over at her as she was looking at what she was going to eat. I caught a glimpse of her and realized how much more beautiful she is now, and I can't imagine a second of my life without her. I love you Kathy, have a great Mothers day.