Jon and Jess: my love

Jon graduated!!

So proud of him. He graduated in history teaching, with a major in History and a minor in Spanish. He has worked so hard for this! He is so motivated and hard-working, and I just love seeing him succeed. We got married in the middle of a crazy semester for us both, so school has been a stress for us both since day 1 of our marriage. BUT, it is helping us learn how much we can accomplish when we're working together towards the same goals and relying on each other and on the LORD. It was especially hard during his student teaching semester when we were first married... that was stressful. But he did it!! We did it. And I couldn't be more pleased and happy with my wonderful husband. GOOD JOB BABE!!

It happened on Sunday July 24, 2o11.

Jon and I started dating 'officially' on the 24th of April, and each month since Jon (being the sweet person that he is) has always surprised me with something on the 24th of each month. So on THIS particular twenty-fourth, when he mentioned that he had a surprise for me after church, I suspected something similar to the small surprises like flowers or a super fun date that he had surprised me with in the past.

....Boy, was I wrong.

The wonderful surprise began at my parents house, where he gave me an envelope with a #1 on it. I opened it, and it said I was going on a scavenger hunt! There were ten envelopes in all, each describing a place that is special to our relationship and how much these places mean to him and why - places that we had gone on dates, the place where we first met, the place that he first told me that he loved me... lots of special places! Some of these places were the Weber State Institute, a park, the Bountiful Temple, the overpass in FW, even a Smith's store in Ogden. :) Seemingly super random places, right? But each place is so special to us, and each hold such wonderful memories that I sure wish I could just relive over and over again!

Well FF to clue #9, which led me to the overpass in FW. At this point I began to be really confused, becuase we had ALREADY been to the overpass... and I knew that if there had been more than one clues up there I would have seen it! But he said to just trust him, so that I did. Looking back I can't believe this, but at this point I STILL did not suspect a thing!! Not one thing. I think that this was due somewhat to the fact that my tricky boyfriend told me that he wanted to pay in CASH for the ring, so he was going to have to wait for at least a couple more paychecks. Which was fine! Yet so tricky.... :)

So when we pulled up to overpass, he had me close my eyes, and he took my hand and led me up the top. {a little background on the overpass... I LOVE this place! It is seriously one of my favorite places to come to just watch all the cars zoom beneath you. I'm a little weird :) We have had several picnics up there, and Jon took me up there one night to dance and then said "I love you " for the first time} When I finally opened my eyes, it was so beautiful!! He had a table set up with a table cloth and the most beautiful flowers and delicious cookies and my favorite drink! Coca colas mexicanas. It was so beautiful, and such a special moment. We sat together at the table and talked for a bit, ate our delicious cookies, and just enjoyed it.

Becuase I thought this was my surprise, I was just taking my sweet time and enjoying every second, while Jon on the other hand, was getting pretty anxious :) He kept saying, "Open your last letter Jess." and I kept just wanting to talk and take my time. I finally opened it, and it was the sweetest letter, telling me how much he loves me and why. At the bottom, it said 'Close your eyes, I have one more surprise for you." And when I opened my eyes he was on one knee, with cars zooming beneath him, asking me to marry him!! It was such a shock, and I couldn't have been more happy than I was at that moment.

When I finally stopped hugging him and turned around, another surprise - two of my best friends Jesse and Kayla Postak had been nearby on this entire journey with cameras, documenting each moment. SO special. I couldn't love this boy any more, and I'm so excited to get to be his wife forever.