After my Senior year of High School I found it difficult to decide where I was to attend college. During my decision process I never put into mind the possibility of finding my future husband as a 19 year old...in Rexburg Idaho. After many prayers and Father's blessings I concluded on coming to BYU-I. I felt impressed to attend school on Winter/Spring Track. My nerves were raging as time came closer to leaving my parents, causing them to be empty nesters.
Finally I had become a college student, surprisingly I adapted well and met one of my best friends. One day at church I sat down in the congregation and found one of my home teachers, Colt Summers, sitting up on the hot seat. I was excited to hear him speak. I knew he would have an amazing talk. I looked over to Colt's left and saw another boy that was to share his comments to the 80th Ward in Rexburg. I looked him up and down when the words "Mmm I don't think he'll have a good talk" came to mind. As soon as he opened his mouth, I immediately regretted judging him. His talk was one of the most hilarious and yet spiritual talk I've ever heard. It taught me a lesson to not be so judgmental. As he was talking, my roommate leaned over and said, "He's cute". I agreed but thought nothing of it.
Later on in the week my other home teacher, Phil Smith, invited me to go snowboarding with him and his roommates to celebrate his exciting accomplishments. This was perfect because everyone in my apartment left me that weekend to go home. I was beyond excited to finally snowboard again and to actually have something to do that night. Finally the group of boys came to my apartment at Colonial. I walked down and sat in the designated car. My home teacher introduced me to Garrett Nield, he was sitting in front of me, in the drivers seat. Abruptly I recognized him as the boy I judged at the pulpit one Sunday. Seeing him up close, I automatically was given butterflies. As we started to drive to Kelly Canyon, I watched his every move. He was such a gentleman and so outgoing, I loved the way he interacted with his friends. I also found that he loved all the music I did! Oh his eyes looked so gorgeous in the rear view mirror!! All I wanted was for him to notice me. A couple of times during the ride, I noticed him move the rear view mirror causing us to meet eyes. Awe it made me melt, but once I pulled myself together I noticed how ridiculous I was being. He couldn't have meant to look at me, he was driving, it had to be accidental. My mind was racing, battling the wants from the truth. I made sure that none of my thoughts showed, I didn't want him to think I was crazy.
Eventually we made it to the mountain, the ride went by too quickly, but I still had all night with this man that I seemed to be so intrigued in. There were many rides up on the chair lift that I rushed to make myself sit on the same chair as Garrett. For some reason, two out of the twenty times we went up the chair lift was I able to sit with him. As interested as I've been its obvious that I loved those moments I had with him, 'but why didn't he want to sit by me more?' At the moment in time all I ever wanted was to be with him. BUT then one time as we were skiing/snowboarding down the hill, I ate it hard. Snow was lodged up my jacket. I was caked with snow everywhere apparently. I felt so embarrassed at the hard hit, 'Oh and Garrett saw!' He stopped to ask if I was alright. He helped me get the snow out of the unnecessary places, in fact he touched my butt doing so. Immediately I said, 'hey you touched my butt!' without any acknowledgement he skied on down the hill. This in my mind was a sign, I still had a chance to be with this guy. That is when I started to bring my A-game. I flirted and tried to make it obvious that I was into him. Soon after my dreams were shattered when I found out that Garrett had a girlfriend. On the ride home he called his girlfriend and asked if she wanted to come to the mexican restaurant Ramierez with us all. Now I felt like a fool for trying so hard, but thank heavens his girlfriend couldn't come. After eating the dinner on Saturday night since it was almost after curfew they started to drive me back to my apartment. 'But oh no I forgot my snowboard,' Phil promised he would bring the snowboard over to me the next day. Ok with the idea, I walked up to my lonesome apartment. Since I had nothing to do I went onto facebook, I figured that since I got to know Garrett I might as well add him as a facebook friend. An hour later he wrote me an email. I was giddy but at the same time I knew Garrett was just being polite.
The next day I ate Sunday dinner at my Drew and Anna's apartment (brother and sister-in-law). I told them my story. I was distraught. All I wanted was for Garrett to like me, the conversation went something like this. "Drew!...he's so cute, he has the cutest dimples. But ohh he has a girlfriend. Why..Why cant he like me" (that makes me sound horribly attached haha) but Drew did say something that I loved. He told me, "Ashlee, Girlfriends are speed bumps". Motivation was set back in. I got back to my apartment to find a message from Garrett, asking when he could bring my snowboard over. That Monday, there was a knock on the door...I opened it and immediately my breath had been taken away. Of course it was Garrett, he came in to my apartment (there was no school on Monday). We talked for about a half an hour and then he was off. I couldn't tell if he was or wasn't into me until!!!...He asked me on a date.
That Wednesday we went on a date and to my surprise he told me that he dumped his girlfriend for me. Drew was right! Girlfriends are speed bumps! Automatically I felt so comfortable with him. We practically went on dates everyday. From then on our relationship kept growing. At times I was having the hardest time with my feelings and decisions with the past boyfriend I had. As Garrett and I got more serious, he would ask me questions, I was honest, maybe too honest. Without thinking one time I told Garrett that I already knew that I wasn't going to marry him. He frowned and responded better then I expected. So many times I felt that I was wasting Garrett's time. I even told him so, I felt that I he didn't deserve to wait for me to get over this boy, I told him to date other girls. He pushed aside my comment and told me he wasn't going anywhere. He said, "Ashlee, Let me be sweet to you.." With that kind of response what was a girl to do.
At first I never thought that I would marry him, but as he came to Oregon with me for Spring Break my feelings continued to grow. Seeing him with my family made me like him so much more. At first sight of Garrett my mom, dad and sister automatically felt at peace with Garrett, they absolutely loved him. During this trip home I almost felt like they loved him more than me. Charity went about drilling Garrett with personal questions, thank heavens he survived. His responses we perfect. That trip I started to think of the possibility of marriage. My mom even started planning a wedding but I still didn't find my answer. My dad gave me a blessing. In the blessing, I was told to turn to my mom for guidance to find my eternal answer. That trip I learned three things: That I loved my Garrett, That my family is an important part in finding a husband, and got another confirmation that the priesthood is an amazing power, it speaks nothing but the truth. I'm so grateful for a father that has the priesthood, and for a mother that indeed has counseled me in so many ways. Through our long talks, I found that my situation was exactly like hers. It was through my mother that I found my answer. The answer that Garrett was the one for me. It was one of the most spiritual experiences, its a choice that I have made in my life that I know I will never regret.
We both now had our answers. Finally on May 14th, he proposed to me in Salt Lake City, Utah. My whole family except Brad and Erica were with us. It was a beautiful day, then randomly it started pouring as we walked up to the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. This building has a lot of memories within my family and Garrett's. Both Garrett and I have stared out the huge window out looking the temple. Before we went up, Garrett as usual went to the bathroom, I thought nothing of it. But as we approached the top, I suspected that Garrett might propose. As we reached the window, I noticed that only Garrett and I were walking towards the window that was packed with tons of people. We looked out the window, hugging, I could feel Garrett's heart racing. The change of pace made my heart start to race. He started to say sweet things when I then realized that my sister was recorded us. 'I knew it!! He's proposing!' His face was so sincere and loving, it made me smile even wider. He then got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. An older man asked Garrett if I said yes, OF COURSE I DID!! Everyone then clapped.
I am so in love with this man. I couldn't ask for a better person. He treats me as a queen. The proposal was perfect. It was in the perfect place at the perfect time. My life has been blessed.
Now we only have 74 days until...My name is changed to Ashlee Nield.
August 27th, 2011 we are to be sealed in the Medford Temple.
My best friend has stayed true to his words, He has been more than sweet to me each day.
