We started dating at the end of August 2011. I had recently returned from my mission in Milan, Italy and with most of my family still on missions, I went to visit my previous ballroom coaches at BYU. Before I knew it, they had offered me a position on the team and there I was, back dancing on the BYU Ballroom Tour team where I had danced for 3 years before my mission, except this time, there were different people on the team. . . or should I say a different boy that I hadn't yet met.
At one of our first summer rehearsals, we were being assigned spots and partners for certain dances. It was time for the Lindy and there were two boys without a partner (the rest were with the same partners they were last year) and me and another girl. My coach, Lee, asked me which boy I would like to dance with. Brent immediately got down on one knee and begged for me to pick him. I couldn't ignore such groveling and so I accepted. Little did I know that he would be getting down on one knee a few more times but for different reasons.
Being partners in the Lindy meant we had to practice outside of regular rehearsal on our own so we could learn the tricks. One rehearsal, Brent was being especially cute and flirty and I got nervous because I was dating someone else. I ended our practice early and left. Brent then began to ask around to find out if I was dating anyone. Unable to find out, he decided to ask me out anyway. Luckily for him, I had just broken up with my boyfriend a week prior to his phone call. I remember I was sitting at my desk in my apartment and being discouraged with the dating scene. I prayed that Heavenly Father would send a good man my way. Maybe not my husband, but just a good man to help me get back on my feet and enjoy dating again. Seconds later my phone rang and it was Brent. The conversation went about like this:
Brent: "Hey Kim, this is Brent from team. A group of us are going to a free outdoor movie and I was wondering if you wanted to join us?"
Kim: "Sure, what time does it start?"
Brent: "Eight o'clock."
Kim: "Ok, where is it at?"
Brent: "Rock Canyon Park."
Kim: "Great, so I'll just meet you guys there around 8?"
Brent: "Well, I think we have room in our car, so we could come and pick you up on our way."
Kim: "K, see you then."
So sure enough, handsome Brent comes to pick me up and I get in the car with him and a couple who has been seriously dating for about 1 year. I think nothing of it until we get to the park and meet up with only one other couple who are almost engaged. I ask, "where are the other team members?" to which Brent replies, "oh, it's just us." He then pulls out a blanket for us to sit on, some treats, and a blanket to put over us. . . conclusion. . . this must be a date:)
To this day, we still laugh about our first date for a few reasons:
1. I didn't know it was a date, and
2. The outdoor movie was "Confessions of a Shopaholic"
Too funny.
This date led to many more fun adventures that mostly consisted of hiking in the mountains, going dancing, and talking under the stars.
We did have a bump in our relationship when Brent decided in April 2012 that he wasn't sure if he wanted to marry me. He was confused and worried and as a result, decided it best we didn't date. After a few weeks of torture for both of us, Brent came back and on bended knee, apologized and begged once again to be my partner. We began to date again, graduated BYU with my bachelor's in Social Work and Brent with his Master's in Public Administration, toured with the team to Thailand and Vietnam, and ended up back in good old Provo. After some summer adventures with Uncle Steve on a wild river rafting trip, I decided that I was in love and ready to marry my sweetheart Brent.
On June 24, 2012, Brent took me to a special meadow up Provo Canyon. This was the meadow where we first cuddled and talked for hours on about our 3rd or 4th date. But this time a surprise awaited. A canopy, fine china, a live cellist, candles, twinkle lights, and our favorite dish from Macaroni Grill, chicken scallopini. After dinner and enjoying the majestic view of the mountains, my now best friend got on bended knee for the third time. It was like the the first time I met him, but this time, instead of asking me to be his partner for one Lindy dance, he asked me to be his partner for life.
He said, "This is the meadow where I got to hold you for the first time, and if you'll let me, I'd love to hold you for the rest of my life and eternity. Will you marry me?"
