We met in a room full of other new missionaries. We gathered to take a picture and I awkwardly stood next to this nice guy from Mexico. About a week later, we saw each other again in another meeting. I was shy and said nothing the whole time. But through my companion volunteering to donate our left over pizza each Monday, we became really good friends...despite me constantly teasing him about how he spoke English (x We never thought we would like each other. Friends for sure, but anything more? We didn't think so. The joke was on us!

After our missions, Allan had to return back to Mexico to continue his schooling and I had to do the same in Idaho. We didn't let that stop us from dating though! He asked me to come visit him so I hopped on a plane to Monterrey, Mexico! I remember we were both so nervous as we walked to meet each other in the airport. However, as soon as we saw each other, all the fear washed away. Our first date was later that night when he took me to a restaurant called El Papalote. I felt bad for ordering the most American item on the menu so I tried to impress him by eating the hottest salsa they had...bad idea! I ended up coughing and drinking both our waters. But hey, we are here! So it must have worked (;

Remember the meeting that we met in? It was at an old church building in Salt Lake City. It had always been a special place in our mind because that is where we met and our story began but Allan made it even more special by proposing there. He surprised me by decorating the room we met in with lights and pictures of our favorite memories through out the past two and a half years. He set up a nice dinner and after we were done eating, he knelt down and asked me the question I had been waiting for with the most beautiful ring. It intimate, just him and I. No hidden photographer, nothing over the top. Just something sincere and special. It was perfect.