3 Month Anniversary

Well, today is our 3 month anniversary. So I find it appropriate to continue telling the story of our courtship. We left off at Red Robin, our first time alone together away from the movie theater. It was a nice night. I paid for her meal even though she insisted she wasn't hungry. It being a Monday the restaurant was pretty dead so we were pretty much the only people there for 2 1/2 hours. When we said goodbye, I really thought it would be the last time I'd ever see her, it was a pretty sad thought.

So I go off to tropical paradise during her last week in Utah. My original suspicion was right, as I was unable to see her before she went to Kentucky. We texted back and forth a couple times while I was in Hawaii and as she remembers it, we even talked an hour or two on the phone while I was there. When she left for Kentucky, I had accepted the fact that nothing would probably ever happen between us, but for the time being I had made a new friend with whom I found I could talk to about just about anything. And talk we did. Quite a bit actually. I guess her phone bill for the first 2 months in Kentucky were actually $40 - $50 higher than normal, so she had to get her plan extended to cover all the communication happening b/w us.
We talked about all sorts of stuff. Family, work, school, movies, and I would talk about girls I'd been seeing. She didn't talk about guys at all, cause there virtually were none for her back there. Now I had actually been actively dating quite a number of girls, none of which were working out the way I'd hoped. I even got to the point where I had 4 dates cancel on me, in a 3 day period. This frustrated me to the point where I came to the decision to swear off dating and girls altogether for a full month. I wouldn't think about them, I wouldn't ask for numbers, I wouldn't call numbers I had for dates. And when some of these girls asked me to go out, I had to tell them no. This was my "Dating Fast".
Now of course I told Cindy all about this while it was going on. But because I had no expectation of anything happening with her, I saw no reason to cut off communication with her. And so things went on. And as the month came to a close, I realized that I should probably consider who to take on a date at some point once the fast was over. I talked to Cindy about that too. I remember one day, the fast had just recently come to a close, and I was talking to Cindy about how I was questioning whether or not I should call a certain girl for a date. About an hour or two later, Cindy calls me up during class, I can't answer it, so I call her back after class is over. She tells me, "It made me uncomfortable when you were talking to me about asking that other girl on a date..."
Well great, now this friend that I had become very comfortable talking to about anything, was telling me that there was now something I shouldn't talk to her about. So I said, "OK, then I just won't tell you about the girls I'm seeing I guess."
"No, I want you to feel like you can talk to me about anything"
"But you don't want me to talk about seeing other girls"
"No"
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"So....... you're telling me you don't want me to see other girls?"
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"Ya, I guess I am."
WoW! This was definately something I didn't see coming. Long story short, we both feel really good about it. I thought to myself, I've had such a great time on my dating fast, why not just continue it another couple months.
So I guess I'll have to end things here for now. And just so you know, the pictures that were posted throughout this blog were the ones that we sent to eachother while she was in Kentucky.

Tender Mercies

Due to circumstances happening within the close people in my life, I've found myself reflecting on the most important aspects of our time here on earth. So I'd like to take this opportunity to recognize many of the big players in my life, and the impact they've had on me.
First I'd like to recognize my parents. After all, as my mother has said, she "Endured many painstaking hours to bring me into the world" so they really deserve my thanks. I've had a few conversations with my parents over the past couple months regarding life and the choices we make. My Dad said something along the lines of, "You do realize, your ability to choose good has very little to do with the way your mother and I raised you right?" When I asked him to expound he told me about how he and my Mom have looked at each of their children and seen how different each of them have come into the world. He told me we each have very different characteristics and talents. And that he cannot claim responsibility for the good people we have each become. He says that it has been a blessing in his life to see each of his children choose the proverbial 'good over evil' and that its not due to our upbringing, but do to the nature of our spirits. While he may be right, I still know that there isn't much point to having a good nature if you aren't taught how to use it. So I'd like to thank my parents for helping me learn for myself time and time again how to guide my own life in the way that I should.
I'd also like to thank my family. My brothers and sisters, as well as members of my extended family. Without naming names, I'd just like everyone to know that almost every lesson I've really learned in life, I've learned it by example from my family. Life isn't always going to be full of sunshine and chocolate bunnies... sometimes when you're down, and thinking you can't get up, what it takes to get you up is someone kicking dust in your eye to get you to jump to your feet... sometimes when your leg is broken, its ok to ask other people to do things for you, and even after you've healed, its still ok... if you see someone having a hard time, there are things you can say other than, "Hey are you OK", sometimes they just need a "Hey, lets get outta here and forget life for a while...
I wouldn't be the person I am today without the experiences I learned on my mission. Soon we'll be moving to Idaho for school, when that time comes, I'll be forced to go through some old mission stuff and find my old missionary journal as well as my final report. I'd like to think that when that time comes i'll be able to include a couple excerpts from it for this blog. But off the top of my head, I'd just like to hit a few key notes. President Allen is one of the greatest men I've ever known. He was the one who cleared up some questions I've had about life, specifically, sometimes, when you think you understand whats going on, and you know whats right is right, and whats wrong is wrong, you could still be an idiot sitting on your head. I met many amazing people on my mission. Teresa, where ever she is, is probably one of the strongest willed people I know, and loves her Heavenly Father. John Hansen taught me that it isn't what I want that matters, its what the Lord wants. He wasn't a perfect person, or a perfect missionary, but he never claimed to be. He just knew that I needed to find out what was important on the mission, and helped show me the way. Jon Hoagland, the proof to me that the Lord provides a way for any task in life. He's got a strong heart, a strong mind, and a wonderful family. The Himmer Family is probably one of the most selfless households I've ever felt a part of. Curtis Stevens taught me all I'll ever need to know about being a role model, and I thank him for the humbling opportunities he brought to me.... this section is actually getting a little long, so I'll cut it off here for now, but there will be more to come.
Last, but certainly not least, is my beautiful Bride. Cindy Olsen Kenney. I remember the first day that I met her, someone told me that I shouldn't even try to catch her attention cause she was already taken and I'd never stand a chance. So I didn't, and yet somehow I find myself next to her still at night. Someone may need to explain that to me someday, but no rush, I'm perfectly happy not knowing right now. She has brought new life into me. Everything in my life has led up to me meeting and marrying her. I feel like I don't really know what to do next. But she's there to hold my hand as we take the next few, and eventually next many, steps in life together. I love her with all my heart and thank my Heavenly Father each day for sending her into my life.
Thats quite enough rambling for now. I'll try to pick up this soapbox another time, hopefully soon.

I've got a Ticket to Riiiiiiide!

This last Christmas Cindy's parents gave each of their kids a copy of the game Ticket to Ride. Its been a Kenney Classic as many of you know for a couple years now. But the Olsen family has just recently been getting into it.
In talking with my Gates cousins (even though all but one of them have now officially changed their names from Gates) I heard that you can play Ticket to Ride online, so last Sunday, after getting thoroughly smashed by my wife, Sister-in-law and Mother-in-law, I tell them about how it can be played online. So Cindy and her sister have been playing it a lot lately. Cindy especially. Infact, to date she has played 74 games in the past 8 days. She is still recovering and needs rest, and so she enjoys having something to do on days she doesn't work.
Its a really fun game, and if any of you want to play check it out. Maybe we'll see you on there.