Our Story
“Pick a partner,” the instructor shouted across the dance floor. All the girls shyly looked around the room as the boys made their nervous approach. I had my eye on a few I wanted to dance with, but a closer eye on those I didn’t. Without hesitation I looked down to dodge an unwanted glance, only to find a pair of boots pointed my way. I followed the long skinny legs attached, up to a big, cowboy hat and handsome smile. The young man smiled excitedly as he reached out his hand.
That first afternoon I danced with many of the young men in my class. But that first partner left an impression of charm and excitement. For the first month of spring semester we remained only acquaintances, Jake and I. Although he had played it off like he wasn’t that interested, he had tried to ask me out a few times, but I had always been busy. He had gone completely out of his way once at a basketball game to make it seem like he had conveniently bumped into me. He succeeded and talked me into a treat at his apartment with our friends following the game. Jake kindly offered me his jacket and hat to avoid the rain that night. The long, black sleeves hung past my hands. We scurried across the street through splashing puddles. I smiled up at him as he held the door for me to go in. I could barely see past the bill of the oversized hat. I loved that it was too big.
I had been at a friend’s apartment studying for a physiology exam one night when we
were interrupted by an unlikely guest. I peered across the room only to find a tall, skinny cowboy standing in her doorway. Jake. I was confused at first how he knew my friend Tiffany. Quickly I made the connection. They looked just alike. They were brother and sister! He flashed a smile to have successfully conquered surprise. He was always one for a startling impression, presenting unexpected talents and tricks at a moment’s notice to liven the setting. Once he teed two golf balls balanced on one anther, only to drive the bottom ball with his club and cleverly catch the top in his hat. I learned not to underestimate even the most absurd challenges.
A few weeks later I received a phone call from Tiffany’s phone while I was on a date with a neighbor of mine. Surprisingly a man’s voice echoed out of the phone.
“Hey I was wondering if you wanted to go grab an ice cream; maybe it’ll help you do better on your test tomorrow.” It was Jake. I really wanted to go, but my date was sitting right next to me. I reluctantly turned him down.
Not a week later I came to class with a new hair cut. Immediately Jake darted across the room to tell me he loved it. After class he took me to lunch, marking our first date. We became inseparable from then on.
I soon learned that Jake would be leaving. He worked as a hunting guide in Alaska twice a year. He left that May to brave bears and caribou in the cold Alaskan terrain. It was hard to see him go, because we hadn’t been apart more than a couple of days since February. He was home two weeks later to work construction for the summer. Although I stayed in Logan, he had moved to Highland for his job. The two hours that separated us didn’t keep us apart very often. We spent that summer making cherished memories at concerts, rodeos, vacations with each other’s families and spontaneous trips to see one another when we felt like we couldn’t be apart a
day longer. My biggest fear was August. I had endured the previous separation from Jake with tolerable patience. But this time he would be gone for two months instead of two weeks. The thought was heart wrenching. We knew the distance would make us stronger, but it was still hard to think about what our lives would be like without one another for that long. We had only been
in one another’s lives for nearly six months, but as close as we were, we felt like we had always been in love. We were more than a significant other; we were absolutely the best of friends.
I took him to the airport that dreadful day. We both seemed agitated and glum. We knew what was ahead of us and it was daunting. Cuddled in a pair of hard chairs at the airport we spoke of the last week we had shared. We made it as special as we could; we attended a final concert, a day on the lake, and a fun weekend celebrating his birthday. We visited there trying so hard not to think about the next two months. Our time was up when he had to walk through that gate. I held back the tears until he turned away. Then I burst into a pathetic, weeping idiot and his image became blurred. Blinking through the tears, I tried to keep my eye on him as long as possible. He turned to find me through the ocean of bodies, and waved goodbye. He was gone.
Our story didn’t end that day and from the day of our first date on February 23, 2006 I’ve felt we’ll never see an end. It was so wonderful to see him again when he finally came home mid October. Like always he returned in surprise, grabbing me in my parking lot between cars without any previous notice of his return. It took my breath away to see him in front of me. So happy, so perfect and the burden weight was lifted at last. He was home, safe, and most importantly in love with me. Although he retuned to live in Highland, the much shorter, more convenient distance was manageable. Oh the money we put towards gas was astronomical! We didn’t care, we were happy. I was absolutely spoiled on my birthday we he came that day. And Thanksgiving was a relaxing break at my parents’ in Idaho. Even Christmas we had made the long journey to be with both families and of course each other. That winter was beautiful, and for the first time since May he’d be living in Logan for Spring semester. My life was so wonderful. I was finishing classes at Utah State, my relationship with my Heavenly Father and his gospel was stronger than ever, and I had Jake.
We were coming up on a year anniversary soon. I’d been imagining a perfect life with Jake for months and months. We’d discussed it often, but the timing wasn’t quite right. When I had prayed about being sealed to Jake for time and all eternity, I was overwhelmed with confirmation. Our Heavenly Father knows how great we could be together and he was supportive of our desire. We had waited our whole lives for this, it would be perfect.
Mean while every date, every smile, every second was wonderful. He was especially busy with his school work, but I was still his every thought. That Spring we had enrolled into the continuation of the country swing dance class that we had met in a year earlier. That room brought back the sweet memories we had made flirting constantly and falling in love. We both felt more fortunate to have each other. It was always a competition who could surpass the other with their affection and charming surprises. But oh how that desire to serve and respect one another blessed our lives. For that reason we both felt exceedingly special and loved.
One morning Jake woke me with a video camera and a single red rose. He clicked on my lamp and grinned. Embarrassed, I tried to cover my face and fix my hair. He just looked at me like I was an angle, not seeing a single flaw. His expression was comforting and I decided to play along with his questions as he recorded our conversation.
“Good morning beautiful.” he said. He continued with detailed questions. “So if you marry me one day, will you still let me go hunting whenever I want?” I nodded. “And let me hang out with the boys? And buy a motorcycle?” He had me just where he wanted. Promising all these things, while recording every word for proof. But I agreed to every request honestly. I knew those things made him happy, and that’s exactly how he should be.
He picked me up from school a few hours later in that black Toyota. As I walked toward his truck he rolled down the window and a glare of light caught my eye. He was still holding that camera! With a sigh a tried to cover my red face and climb in the truck. He continued to record all the while I knew what the special occasion was. It was February 23, a year from our first date. “Wanna guess where we’re going to lunch?” he asked. “Mmm” I knew it would be somewhere significant. We were down the hill by then turning onto Center Street. “Center Street Grill!” I shouted. “Oh how cute, it’s where we went on our first date.” He strained to safely pull into the parking lot without putting down the camera. He flashed a smile before getting out and my heart squirmed with excitement. I loved his romantic personality. I knew we would have a fun day to remember.
Later that day we drove up the canyon to Hardware Ranch, the place of our second date. We shot clay pigeons a year before with Brady and Tiffany, then stopped to see all the elk scattered across the open ranch. Boy, I had a lot to learn about Jake and hunting.
When we got back into town he drove us past the apartment building he lived in when we first started dating. Memories flooded my mind. Running through those halls, playing games and watching movies in his apartment, leaving surprises outside his door, talking, flirting, falling in love. Those were wonderful times, I could even remember the scent of the open entryway. I just smiled.
We pulled into my parking lot. “I’ll be back to get you for dinner.” he said. Still in a daze I grinned and hopped out. “Can’t wait.”
I received a text message from him a few hours later. “Is eight okay?” I replied that I would be ready. I became anxious. I knew he would make the night special, as he always made me feel that way. I tried to look my best, picking out his favorite shirt. I knew he thought I was beautiful but I wanted to stand out tonight. He arrived, very handsome, and eager. “Ready?” He took my hand and we left my apartment.
“Ready for your first surprise?” he asked. “Yep.” We pulled into the mall parking lot and he told me I was going to get to look at engagement rings! I squealed and threw my arms around him. There were so many beautiful, stones in the glowing case in front of me. “Show me what you like sweetheart.” I giggle and began pointing out particular features. There wasn’t one ring that had all the features I loved. I could only explain over and over again just what I wanted. As time past Jake told me we’d better leave for dinner. I wasn’t sad to leave the store, I was so happy he took the time to take me there. He did want to marry me!
Once in the truck he asked me to put his handkerchief over my eyes. “You’re blindfolding me?” I asked in surprise. “Yep, we’re going to a really fancy restaurant and I don’t want you to know where until we get there.” I agreed and tried to image all the possible places he would take me. The drive seemed to last forever. I was completely lost when finally we stopped. Still blindfolded he helped me out of the truck. I heard cars passing, and people talking as we crossed the street. He led me up a few steps and inside. He continued to guide me along throughout the building, I imaged all these people starring at me wondering why I had my eyes covered. I could have sworn I heard a racquetball bouncing in the distance, but how, we were at a restaurant?
Suddenly it got quiet and my heels hit the hard wood. “Jake, are we here?” Without and answer I felt his hand turn me around to face him. He untied the knot and I blinked in amazement! This room, I thought, why were we here? I looked up at his sweet smiling face. I was standing in that very dance room where we met. It was dark except for the glow of a lantern and a circle of candles around us. The mirrors on each side of the room seemed to make the walls never end. He swallowed then leaned into tell me how much he loved me and wanted to be with me forever. “I love you.” he said. Before I could respond he reached into his back pocket and began to kneel. The air rushed out of my chest and I could only cover my mouth in surprise. My eyes focused on his. “Tayli Shae, will you marry me?” I couldn’t speak. I starred into his glowing eyes and tried to decide if this were all really happening. He blinked and I realized I still hadn’t answered. I bent down to stand him up with a sighing, “YES!” We wrapped our arms around each other and laughed. He spun me around in a big hug and pointed out his sister in the corner, with that camera. He had the whole day on tape.
“Don’t you want to see what is looks like?” he asked. “Ha, of course.” I was still trying to understand what had happened. He opened the small box in front of me. Then a few familiar friends rushed in and flipped on the lights. “Did she say yes?” they shouted. We all nodded and I turned back to finally see the ring. It was perfect! “How did you...” I started to ask? “I just barely told you how I wanted it tonight.” The ring was exactly the way I had described it only minutes before to the clerk in the ring store. All the while he had the ring in his pocket! I looked into his loving eyes and kissed him while the image of us at the temple flashed in my mind. Spinning and laughing in the small room that was so significant to us, my world began to fall into place.
Three and a half months later, Jake took me to the Manti temple where we were sealed for time and all eternity. June Ninth, Two Thousand Seven.
Our story is genuine and sincere and true. It seems to be a classic love story waiting for a classic ever after. And somewhere a lonely dance floor has an original story to tell. How these two met there in its holy place. Not just any story, our story.