Shawn and I met on LDSSingles.com. I used to cringe when I would tell people that because really who meets their husband online? Apparently, a ton of people do! I am grateful for technology, and I am thankful for LDSSingles. There is no way that I would have met Shawn without it. I was a very busy single mother working full time and raising my three children. He was a single full-time father of two. We also lived an hour and a half apart and in two completely different environments. After my divorce, I was determined never to get married again. Actually, I was quite content to be a single mother forever. I was sure that I could be the mom and the dad (and definitely do it better than it had been done in the past.) I was able to be the person I always wanted to be without being held back. I absolutely love being with my kids. We had family movie night every Friday night just me and my kids. We would rent a movie pop popcorn or make a special treat and snuggle on the couch together. We planted a garden together and took care of our yard together. We even planned a vacation to Denver to see my sister and did this together. I absolutely cherished every moment with my children. Then the April 2010 General Conference came. I feel like that entire general conference was directed to me. I could raise my kids by myself, but my kids needed a strong priesthood influence in their life. They needed a dad! One that would love and respect them as his own, one that could teach my sons the importance of being a good husband and father, how to serve in the church, and how to prepare them to serve missions of their own one day. A dad that would help my McKenzie realize that she is a beautiful little girl inside and out - the way only a father can do. The talks that were prepared for that General Conference were an inspiration to me. But, I never wanted to be hurt the way I was in my previous relationship.
So, I made the impossible list. IF I was going to get married again, then this man would have to meet EVERY little detail on this list. I would NEVER put my myself or my children through another divorce, and they needed an example of what an ETERNAL marriage should be. My list included a man that had a firm testimony of the gospel, but this had to radiate from him. The gospel and every one of it's principles had to be the most important thing. I wanted someone who would love my children as his own, who would spend time with them, teach them, and be a good example to them. I wanted someone who would love me for who I am. I needed someone who would be my eternal companion in every definition of the word. Someone that I would walk side-by-side into eternity with, not dragging them behind me. There were many other things on my list, but those were the most important.
Timing is everything... I dated a few bozo's. They really started me thinking that "Mr. Perfect" didn't exist. Then I met Shawn. We hit it off right away. Our first on-line chat lasted til well after 2 in the morning. When we finally agreed to meet. I was extremely nervous. I knew that he was educated, spiritual, and he talked about his two kids all of the time. Another thing that really impressed me about him was how he talked about his mother. He talked about her with such admiration and respect. You are always told as a little girl that a man will treat you the same way that he treats his mother. I knew that with Shawn I would never have to worry about being disrespected or put down in anyway. Our first date we went to Cafe Rio and we were far to busy talking to eat. Then we drove up to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple and walked around it. There was such an amazing connection. So many of our beliefs and goals for this life were exactly the same. He has such a wonderful testimony of the gospel - and he bares that testimony through his words and actions. We then went up to the Draper Temple, since I had never been to that temple either, then we drove down to the Jordan River Temple. This temple has always held a special place in my heart because it is where my Grandma McKee served for so many years of her life. After dating for a while, we decided to introduce our kids. I invited him and his two adorable kids up to my house in Tremonton for dinner and a movie. His daughter Brooke is 6-months older than my McKenzie and they hit it off right away. They were plotting how they were going to get mom and dad married so they could be sisters from the first meeting. His son Brandon is 2 months older than my Bradley. They also hit it off right away. So it's like I now have two sets of twins. Then my little Carson just follows all of them around and joins in on whatever each of them is doing. It seemed like were were all meant to be together right from the start.
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