Girl Meets Boy

There was a certain apartment #37 with 4 hot, super sexy, and incredibly awesome girls in it. Alvey, Britta, Dezi, and Christie (they had another close friend–former roommate that lived right next door who is all the before mentioned compliments). They had all roomed together their first year attending BYU. Although Dezi, Christie, and Britta knew each other for years previous. They had so much fun that they wanted to do it again, but this time off-campus in Canyon Terrace. It was really one of the few places that had boys so close to the same proximity as girls. Good choice:).

9 years, 2 months, and 1 day ago, September 16, 2000 to be exact, there was a ward talent show. Apartment #37 decided to do a spoof on Britney Spears. They made up a dance that they practiced every so often. They were so silly. Seriously. Coolness just oozed from their apartment.

Apartment #37 was going to ask people to go Bunji jumping. Christie asked Dillon. Christie is still unsure how it turned into this instead:

But everyone still ended up having fun. Dezi predicted that night that Dillon would kiss Christie in 2 weeks time. Dezi was right.

Christie and Dillon went up South Fork Canyon for a hike. It was beautiful. It was cold and Dillon said a bit of a cheesy line about keeping warm. So they kissed. Christie thought it was too soon, but liked it anyways. Dillon couldn’t believe it took him so long.

Dillon was fun to be around. Christie really liked him. He was adventurous and lively. He was so funny. They went to Moab on a fun day trip, they went to the mall and dressed up silly, they tried mountain biking together (but too bad for Dillon, Christie was kind of a wus uphill, although downhill she did quite well). They took a lot of hikes in the canyon because they both shared a love of the outdoors. He took her to rodeos, and out to eat at places she’d never tried. Christie loved all the new things Dillon introduced her to. He was something else. She was beginning to really fall for him.

The timing was funny. After a somewhat disappointing Freshman year as far as dating life went (although the second semester did redeem that quite a bit!), during Christie’s sophomore year, guys had finally started to ask her out! But soon all Christie wanted was to be with Dillon. How could she not, when he’d do stuff like this?

After 3 months of dating, Christie knew that if he were to ask her to marry him, she would say yes. The answer to her came when she was driving in the car. A song came on that reminded her of kids, and the thought came to her that Dillon would make an incredible dad and husband. And that he was everything she ever wanted. He treated her with such respect. He always made her feel like she was special. Christie was in love.

Soon, though, Christie’s Sophomore year ended, and as was the norm with her siblings and college, she moved back home to work and earn more money for the next semester. She was disappointed that Dillon didn’t ask her to marry him yet. They had dated, after all, for 7 or 8 months. And for anyone who knows anything at all about BYU, that was plenty long.

Dillon did not disappoint, however. He drove to Christie nearly every weekend and they continued dating throughout that summer. He’d surprise her and stop and eat at the nasty Grandpa Maddox (NOT the same as the one in Brigham City) that Christie waitressed at. She’d surprise him if she got off work earlier than normal and drive to Provo to see him. It was a good summer.

Once while Christie and Dillon were out walking near his apartment at night, Christie was a little confused. She thought things were going so well, and started to doubt what was going on with Dillon. Maybe he didn’t think she was marriage material? She began to wonder what he was waiting for. She briefly mentioned it, since it was an unspoken rule between them that they wouldn’t ever really talk openly about marriage too much. They knew their feelings for one another, and as far as timing and the ring and everything, they both didn’t want to ruin the great anticipation and surprise of the moment of proposal. He said that he was very serious about finding the perfect wife for him, but also in being the perfect husband for his wife. It was taking him longer to feel ready to be a husband. He said he felt he owed it to her to be ready.

Christie bought a wedding dress in July. She didn’t tell him straight out, but he guessed it because she was a little silly. She asked him, “If I were to wear a fancy dress somewhere on a date, would you want it to be real fancy, or a plainer one?” She was trying to find out his preference in wedding dresses. Dillon didn’t miss a beat. He said, “What color is this dress?” Christie laughed. And so did Dillon.

Christie moved back to Provo for her 3rd year at school. She had been accepted into the Social Work program! Dillon was accepted into the Construction Management program. They were always together. It was a little hard to focus on school!

The 9/11 attack. It was a horrible time for everyone. That whole week prior to 9/11, Christie had examined where their relationship was going, and in tears, told Dillon the night of the attack that she didn’t know if they were going to last. She was getting impatient with him. It was time to move on. He listened and hugged her and was very kind to her. She was depressed.

Dillon nearly fell off the roof of a home he was working on the next day. All of the trusses were falling down and knocking each other over and Dillon had to jump and hang onto the crane to keep from being smashed by them, or knocked 40 feet below.

That same day, September 12, Dillon stopped by Christie’s apartment. There was a small storm, yet he asked Christie if she wanted to go for a hike. He said that he felt that a hike was just what they needed to feel a little better. He took her up South Fork canyon. Christie was a little nervous, as there was lightning and thunder and it was seeming a little crazy to be hiking in that weather. Dillon walked her to the spot of their first kiss. They huddled together under a blanket. It started to rain pretty hard. They didn’t really talk much. Christie laughed and said, “Maybe we should get going Dillon. This rain is comin’ down!” Dillon said, “Ok, I just have to ask you something. Do you think that we can work it out? Do you think that we can make it last?” Christie thought for a minute and said that yes, she believed that they could make things work.

Dillon stood up and hugged her. It was a one-armed hug, as he was getting out the ring. He knelt down, and said, “Christie, will you marry me in the House of the Lord?” Christie was so surprised that she forgot to say anything, and she may have even laughed, but she might deny that. She finally realized he was waiting for an answer. She dropped to her knees by Dillon and said, “Yes, yes, yes!” through kisses. Dillon cried and said he was so happy. Christie felt peace. Happiness. Like everything was right in the world. And although it sounds unreal, the clouds parted, the rain stopped, and the sun shone down on them. Although…when they drove down the canyon, they ran over a skunk and Dillon’s jeep stunk for a week. Yuck. But they don’t dwell on that little tidbit.

The day of their wedding, Dillon was hit on or asked for his phone number on campus 2-3 times!
Christie and Dillon married on November 17, 2001. They love each other more now than they could have ever imagined. They are happy. Happy 8th Anniversary Dillon! I love you SO much! Thank you for a wonderful 8 years.