Gary's Graduation

We are so excited to celebrate Gary's graduation from Utah State University this
December.  He is excited to start teaching elementary students.  He has worked so hard and has achieved much!  He is an amazing husband and is going to be the best teacher ever! I love you Gary!

Life after D.C.

After our jobs ended in Washington D.C. we made our way back to Logan, Utah where LaRecia received a job as a Special Education teacher at Nibley Elementary school, and I continued my education at Utah State University.  I was able to receive my old job back working with adults with disabilities and continued to do so even to this day.  In my own quest to decide what field I wanted to go into, I believe my experience working as a teacher's aide in Washington D.C. inspired me to begin to pursue a career as an elementary education teacher.  I absolutely love working with children in the schools and know for a surety that this is where I need to be.  Over time we've felt impressed by the spirit that Logan, Utah was our place to settle down and so we decided to purchase a home of our own and begin a long life together!

Washington D.C.

LaRecia graduated from Utah State University in December of 2006.  She graduated with a Mild/Moderate Special Education degree.  Soon after graduation, LaRecia received a job offer from BYU, teaching 1st grade at an inner city charter school in Washington D.C.  I was able to get a job at the same school as a 2nd grade teacher's aide.

While we were in Washington D.C., we were able to see Arlington National Cemetery, the Washington Mall (memorials), the Pentagon, and Mt. Vernon. Our very favorite places to visit were the Holocaust museum, the Natural History museum, and the Thomas Jefferson memorial.

Our stay in D.C. lasted 6 months.  It was a wonderful experience to grow together as a couple, spiritually.  We were faced with challenges daily and were able to rely on one another for love and support.  We learned so much about different life styles and cultures.  Living in D.C. helped strengthen our marriage, because all of our family lived back on the west coast.  We had no choice but rely on each other and the Lord. 

Wedding Day

March 11, 2006

We were married for time and all eternity at the San Diego, CA Temple. 

 I love being married to my best friend!

       After a couple of months of dating, Gary and I got engaged.  He proposed to me on my  22nd birthday.  He had me go on a scavenger hunt for my birthday gifts and all the clues led me to him dressed in a tux, standing among hundreds of burning candles.   He dropped to his knee and told me how much he loved me.  He asked me if I would marry him.  How could I say "no" to a diamond for my birthday? Just kidding, I couldn't wait for the day he asked me to be his wife!  We set our wedding date as March 11, 2006 at the San Diego, California temple.  

Our story begins here...

       Gary and I started dating in October of 2005.  I was a student at Utah State University studying Special Education.  Gary had just returned from his LDS mission in July and was working at Wingers in Logan.  It all started when I went into Wingers with some friends after a late night class.  Gary was our waiter and he gave me his number.   After a bit of phone tag we were able to plan our first date.

     Our first date was amazing!  Gary picked me up in his awesome spray painted blazer.  We went and picked out pumpkins to carve.  We headed back to his house for some lunch and pumpkin carving.  Life was great... no awkward conversations, it felt like I had known him my whole life! He took me home on a much better ride...a beautiful motorcycle.  I was hooked!