The Real Peter Parker and Mary Jane

So by popular demand, Dustin and I will be recording our story for your reading delight. We thought it might be more fun for both of us to tell our sides of the story. So sorry if this is a little long. Just a few warnings before you embark upon this journey. First, Dustin will be talking in italics just to make it easier to distinguish who is talking. Second, we're schmoopy, aka sappy. So if your stomach can't take the mush, don't even bother.

So there I was, cleaning the church meticulously setting up the primary room chairs when a girl with this beautiful smile peaked in and said, "Hi, I'm Nicki." and then we were dating.

That is what I get for asking him to help. I deserved that one. But we met in August cleaning the church and then saw each other a week later on the way to choir.

Following the choir encounter, I saw Nicki and her sister Jessica at one of the thirty birthday parties held in September. We engaged in conversation about pickle juice, electrolytes, and shin splints which was interrupted by a phone conversation with my sister.

After he disappeared I was sure I had blown it and should have kept my mouth shut about the tibialis anterior separating from the periostium. I mean this guy was cute, and I have no filtering system.

So on a fine evening in October, several business trips later, Nicki held this great party. Not quite sure of the details, I called her up and said, "Hey!" She said, "Cool," and then I came over. Upon arrival, while Nicki was entertaining hundreds of guests (almost literally), I fearlessly embarked upon the dangerous activity of ziplinning. After looking awesome, I ate some grub, played a couple games with Nicki, then skedaddled.

Keep in mind that at this time my sights were set in a different direction, and Dustin had been out of a relationship for 2 days at this point. The next thing we remember was Dustin finding me on facebook and we started talking a bit more. We had found some mutual friends and enjoyed making connections. Then I left for M*ch*g*n for my friends wedding and ran into one of those connections and was excited to tell him that Dustin was in my ward.

When she got back, we talked on the phone about our mutual friend during which I mentioned that my parents, in a couple of days, were coming in town for a week. So, for the next week and a half, I was predisposed.

I was pretty sure he was telling me this to explain why on earth he wasn't asking me out yet. I thought we got along pretty well and was interested in getting to know him better. So at church that Sunday when these two "adults" sat in front of me at church I was sure they were Dustin's parents and I thought it had to be some sort of a hint. I said hi and introduced myself. Then I watched them during sacrament meeting and was really impressed. They just seemed like good people. So during Sunday School my friend Stephanie had been bugging me about going on a double date with her and her boyfriend Dave and Dave asked who I wanted to be set up with. So I said Dustin. Afterwards I taught the Relief Society Lesson and was for some odd reason really nervous that Sister Hinton was in the audience. I thought for sure that from some of my stories she would think I was not good enough for her son.

Scene change -- driving home in my car. Mom: So, the relief society lesson was great today. Me: Really? What was it about. Mom: It was about child and parent relationships. Me: Interesting. Mom: Do you know a Nicki Shepherd in your ward. Me: Yes mom. Mom: She seems like a really great girl. Me: I'm sure she is. But I'm not sure I'm ready for a relationship yet. Mom: Why not? Dad: Okay...

Dave approached me around this time and asked if I would double with Nicki and them. I was originally going paragliding that weekend, but the weather looked like I would not be able to go. So, I said, "Sure." However, the weather did clear up, so I asked for a rain check.

When Stephanie called me to let me know Dustin had canceled I said I was done. But I wanted to let him know I wasn't upset that he couldn't go, because it really was a good reason. However, I had convinced myself he wasn't interested and that I should turn my focus elsewhere. And yet we ended up talking on the phone for about an hour that night.

The next night, the night that was supposed to be our date, I met up with Stephanie and Dave at a huge house party. But when I walked in the door I ran into Dustin, who said he was sorry, but they ended up not going anyways, and then I didn't see him for the rest of the night (he later said he was playing ping pong in the basement). I was slightly flustered, so Stephanie told me to come to dinner with her and Dave. At dinner Dave gave a needed pep talk, and told me that he had recently gotten out of a relationship and to just be patient. So I was patient....

We talked on the phone a couple of times and then by a stoke of luck Nicki became part of my groups talent show act -- Harry Potter Puppet Pals -- as Hermione (I was Snape wearing a mullet wig sideways). So, between rehearsals and the performance, we spent some good time getting to know each other. This lead to flirting at FHE, and then I finally got my act together and asked her out the day before Thanksgiving.

This night was one of the more stressful nights of my dating career. A friend in the ward had asked me out for dinner, and another guy in the ward asked me over for games, and then Dustin randomly texted me to see if I wanted to get ice cream or hot chocolate that night. My dinner friend was at work until 8pm and wouldn't be able to talk, but I wanted to go out with Dustin. So I texted this friend to let him know that my sister Jessica and Dustin would be joining us for dinner. Dustin was worried about overstepping his bounds by cramping his style, but I reassured him that he and I were just friends.

My experience was quite different. I went out with this great girl, laughed, talked about great things, and just all around enjoyed myself, completely unaware of the stress she was/went through. I told her I could probably come by in the evening on Thanksgiving, but wasn't sure when I would get there. I believe that day was even more stressful for Nicki because a guy in the ward asked if he could come over for the day. When I got there, I could tell the guy liked her, and I didn't know what she thought, so I stayed for a while then left quickly so that I wouldn't bother the two of them. Needless to say, this frustrated her a great deal!

Watching Dustin walk away with this other guy standing next to me might have made me freak out a little bit. Maybe. Then I worked that Friday night, and Saturday was the BYU vs. Utah game, and I was going to have people over for the game, but ended up going over to a mutual friend's house. I knew I had to do something that night to let Dustin know that it was him I was interested in, and not the 5 other guys that were asking me out at the time. :) Translation: I looked hot. And we ended up talking after the game for about an hour, just enjoying getting to know each other. However, he left in a rush, to go pick up a friend from the airport. Again, making me think that I'd been a bit too much.

The next day at church I was really busy and didn't have much time to talk. This made Nicki think that she had blown it again. Luckily, through a complex turn of events, we were able to enjoy the evening playing games with Dave and Stephanie.

Then, after an evening at FHE on Monday, Dustin discovered that I was having computer troubles and offered to fix it the next day at his place. That night Dustin wooed me with his masterful technical skills. We laughed for 3 hours. My cheeks hurt by the time I got home.

Nicki worked for the next couple of days, but she was able to get Friday off and I took her on our first real date. We went to a Thai place, got mango sticky rice, then went to a friends place to play games. I think Nicki's cheeks were hurting at the end of the night...again. I had thoroughly enjoyed myself and went home happy.

The next morning a friend drove me to the airport so I could join my family in M*ch*g*n for my niece Isabelle's baby blessing. We kept in touch until we saw each other at FHE the next night, setting another computer fixing date for that Tuesday. This was the night that he really decided he wanted me....because I made him Orange Chicken. And it was good.

Heck yeah! It was succulently delicious!!! So, I was lucky enough to receive an invite to Nicki's brother's birthday party (Josh) scheduled for Friday (Dec. 11). I came over and joined in the festivities which included watching Harry Potter 6. I once again thoroughly enjoyed myself. Nicki however was worried because her parents were making out on the couch next to us. I didn't really notice this however. In contrast, I felt really comfortable that night and decided that I wanted to date this girl.

I know I freaked out a lot. But I had my mom telling me the whole time to just enjoy being with him and be patient. So the next morning (Saturday) we went to a Birthday breakfast for a friend and then he picked me up again so we could attend the ward Christmas Party that night. This was when all the freaking out paid off. After enjoying an evening chatting with ward friends, we went on our way to a friend's birthday party. Walking to the car....are you ready for it?? Yes, Dustin held my hand. Oh baby.

Our unofficial announcement to the ward came the next day when we held hands at church. Needless to say, I was happy about it. That night we went to the temple visitor's center with Dave and Stephanie to watch Jessica (sister) perform. The performance was great as were the temple lights, but Nicki started to not feel well. We came back to her place, but didn't stay long because she was feeling worse. I didn't want to kiss her when she wasn't feeling well so instead I gave her a quick kiss on the forehead as I left.

Monday night I went over to Dustin's house after FHE and we read together "The Fourth Wiseman". Then we ended up talking. I asked him what he thought about our relationship and how on earth it came about, because looking back I wasn't sure what happened exactly. It was here that I learned about the conversation with him mom in the car and we talked about our thought processes. Then Dustin explained why he hadn't kissed me yet, and I told him to take as long as he needed. This alone shows how much I liked this guy, because I am NOT a patient person!! This is one of those nights that I'll always treasure because I feel that we opened up a lot, and was another crucial step in building a trusting relationship.

The next night Dustin had an institute performance that I couldn't attend because I was visiting teaching. But he came over after the performance. I could tell he was tired, but I was working the next three days, so I had to get my fill. And on comes the schmoopiness. I walked him to his car, feeling rather silly in my Grandma's long coat with fur around the hood, but it was the first thing I could find and I wasn't going to make him wait while I found something else. And so of course he decided to kiss me. And silly girl that I am...I thanked him!! But besides the coat and me thanking him...it was perfect.

I didn't know at the time, but her family had bets on when I was going to kiss her. They all thought it would be another week before I did it. When Nicki said "thank you," it seemed like she was saying, "Finally!" But, we are both happy with how things went.

Anyway, now we are just enjoying getting to know each other better and just having fun by making gingerbread houses, going to Wicked and many other things. Living the dream...as always...

This is us at the hotel before going to Wicked.

This is my smart boyfriend who is wearing his Christmas present for when we watched the Rose Bowl.