Our Story...Sarah's version...(Spencer has his own special version)

Preface: December 29th is our 6th Anniversary! Spencer and I have had such a wonderful time together these past 6 years. We can now imagine being together for eternity because it's hard to remember what life was like without our other half.
I love to hear couples' stories. How did you meet? How did you fall in love? Every story is unique and exciting and full of happiness. Share yours with us!



Our story is...interesting and fabulous, of course. Let me share it with you.

I had not always wanted to serve a mission. I had toyed with the idea throughout my life. I determined that if I hit my 21st birthday and I wasn't married, and if it was right, I would serve a mission. Well, the summer that I was going to turn 21 I was an EFY counselor. I had no intentions of serving a mission at the beginning of summer, but some time in mid-July, in a single day, I decided that yes, the mission was what I was going to do. (You see, honestly, I believe I was sick of the dating game, sick of flirting, sick of BYU. I needed a change; so mission it was! I had thought about studying in Russia, but my parents didn't support that idea.) Anyway, I was looking for something. I was desparately searching and I thought that a mission was what I wanted. I thought I had the answer. So I turned in my papers and I started to prepare.

Ironically, just a few days after that, I met Spencer. I saw him in the Cannon Center (the BYU dorms cafeteria). He was a Sports Camp Counselor. I think I fell in love instantly. All of my flirtiness came zooming back (it was gone the entire summer). I sat down next to him with my friend, Lisa, who helped me have the courage to sit by him. We struck up a conversation and hit it off. He was from Madera. The only thing I knew about Madera was that it was close to Fresno and their cross country team dominated the CCC. We had a lot in common. At the end of our meal, I asked Spencer what his full name was. I intended on looking up his email on "Stalker-Net". I wanted to see him again. This is really embarrassing to admit.

So I look up "Spencer Hyer" on Route Y and email him: "Hey Spencer, it was so fun to hang out with you. You are awesome. We should hang out again. Here's my phone number."

A few weeks go by and I don't hear from him, so I focus on the mission. He calls me (finally) and we talk for about one hour. I finally have the courage to tell him I am going on a mission. He stalls for a few seconds and says, "uh, I have to go now. Bye". (It was really funny, now that I think about it. )
I thought I would never see him again. Oh well. I did my part.

He finally calls me back about a week later and asks me on a date, but he says he is bringing a friend. He makes it sound totally casual, like a hang- out. Phew. I hate single dates. He shows up at my door by himself! Yikes! We go to Salt Lake, walk around the city, watch "The Testaments"in the Joseph Smith Building, eat dinner, go to Jamba Juice, and take a stroll in a park. It was a LONG date. But it was a good date. We both felt right at home with each other. It was a good feeling. I could actually be myself around him.

I had a great time, but I was still going on a mission. I was set to go home in a week. OK, I thought, I have a week. I'll hang out with Spencer and then go home and forget about him and go on a mission.

We hung out everyday that week. That was fine, but Spencer kept pushing the physical relationship along... That was NOT fine. I gave him all the hints that I was going on a mission. I liked him a lot, but I was going on a mission. He TOTALLY ignored my hints. And my hints are real. I fold my arms so he won't hold my hand. I turn my head and avoid eye contact so he won't kiss me. None of this worked. Somehow, the night before I was going to leave, Spencer stole a kiss from me. I needed to get out of there. He was dangerous! He was threatening to keep me from my mission committments.

I went home and he followed me! I really liked him. I wanted to see him and hang out, but it just doesn't really mesh well with serving a mission. I met his family. The thing that struck me the most about his family is how warm and accepting they were of me. I enjoyed my time with him and his family. We went to Pismo beach together and had a wonderful visit.


Then Spencer came to my home and he didn't recieve a warm welcome from Mom. She wanted me to serve a mission. Dad, of course, was thrilled. He's a marriage fanatic. Someone asked Spencer to share a mission experience (probably Dad) and he could only think to share of the time his companion tried to kill him! Yes, now my mother confirmed her dislike for this boy!


Needless to say, we fell in love through all of this. Spencer went back to Utah to start school. I stayed in California to get ready to serve. I got my wisdom teeth pulled, I bought all my clothing. All the while I was talking to Spencer every night on the phone.


Then, on September 18th, 2001 I got my call to serve! (One week after 9/11). I was called to serve in the Utica, New York Mission. I wasn't set to leave until January 9th!! Can you believe all that time they gave me to wait at home? Somehow Spencer convinced me to go to Utah to wait to go on the mission and somehow my parents let me go. I guess I wanted to find out how serious Spencer and I were before leaving. We fell more in love and knew we wanted to get married.


I asked Spencer if he would wait for me. He said, "No way. I will be married when you get back". Now, don't you think that's rude! No support, no support at all! My only regret is that Spencer didn't support me in serving.


That is our story. I honorably declined my mission because I knew that it was right to marry Spencer.



Now we have three beautiful, happy, healthy children and we are all just one big happy family. And we lived happily ever after. THE END.

(This is one of our engagement pics)

Dec. 29, 2001 Oakland Temple

(OK, my other regret is that I didn't fix my hair or make-up professionally for my wedding...that way, when the rains come falling, all the hairspray would have held my hair in place!)

Now share your story...PLEASE!