I just wanted to make a page that took a little (okay a lot of) time out of my day to let Ray know how very special he is to me. Without him, my life just wouldn't be the same. He has changed me in so many unimaginable ways! He has turned my life completely around. Before I met him I had no opinion for the future, and no drive to get me there. Now I actually have something to live for, and for that I am very thankful.
We First Met
I remember when I first met Ray he would make me so mad! *laffZ* He, Dusty, and Trevor would always tease me in the class that we all had together. In fact, the first time that Ray and I ever really talked was when He and one of his friends switched desks and tried to convince me that I was going insane! (Remember that Ray?) *smileZ* It was cool, though. Often times I would actually make myself seem ditzier then I really am just to be a flirt. (I've always been the queen of flirtiness *teeheehee*) I never really knew how obvious it really was until he actually told me later on. Glad I didn't seem TOO forward. *smileZ* I also remember the first time he ever drove me home after school. We had a big pep rally during our seventh period and instead of going to it he took me home. From that day on I KNEW that this was the man I wanted.
My First Email
Then, once during class I gave him my email address and told him that he HAD to email me. That night, I got home from school to find that he did! *SmileZ* I emailed him back, and in less then 5 minutes, I had another email from him. So, we went into a chat room and talked through our computer. We chatted ALL DAY LONG. It was so funny because we both liked eachother but really didn't know what to do about it. *laffZ* We were both so scared. *smileZ* Well, I was anyway. (According to Ray, he's never scared. *hehe*) Then, on the days that he didn't have to work, he would give me rides home after school. What was funny about that, and I don't even think HE knows this about me, was that from my seventh period classroom to his truck was practically as far as walking home! *L* I would usually have to RUN to my locker and then hurry and RUN down to his seventh hour class door. Just so that I could sit in the same vehicle as him. *teeheehee* Eventually I learned to just keep everything I needed in my backpack so that I didn't have to make that extra trip to my locker. *smileZ*
Little Notes
I can remember how the days seemed so much longer since I met Ray. I would wait and wait and wait for my sixth hour to come along so that I could see Ray. I would always write him a note, EVERYday! *L* The funny thing about these notes was that I would start them during forth hour (Algebra II) And I wouldn't finish them until fifth hour was almost out (Seminary). I would use different colored pens, and different types of handwritings just to make sure that they looked perfect. I would have several people look at them and tell me what needed to be altered to make them look better. Everything had to be perfect for my Ray. *smileZ*
Our First Date
I can still remember our first date. (A double date with his best friend, Kris and a girl named Natalie). It was November 21, 1998. He took me to a resturaunt located about 15 miles from my house. (It also happened to be the day right after a friend of mine had shot himself *sigh*) Even though I was bummed about that, Ray was still able to make me in a good mood. We went to dinner at The Stockmans, and I remember trying so hard to make sure that I had perfect manners, and didn't spill anything on me. It didn't work, I'm the clumbsiest person on Earth. *hehe* It always made me feel better, though, that everytime I would do something stupid, like spill something or say something dumb, I could always look over at Ray and he would give me a reassuring smile. A smile that made me feel like he was saying, "It's okay, I'll love you no matter what." He still gives me that look to this very day. One of the MANY qualities that I love about him. *smile* After dinner we went back to my house and watched the Movie, Armageddon. We cuddled during the movie and I remember trying so hard to make sure that I didn't cry at the sad part so as not to get any of my make-up on his perfectly WHITE shirt. *S* After the movie, Kris left to take Natalie home because it was getting late. Ray and I sat and cuddled on my couch, watching the Aerosmith video at the end of the movie. Suddenly he asked me if I would let him give me a kiss, and of course I said yes. (you would have too!) *smileZ* He bent down and gave me a little kiss on the lips. Nothing that really would seem too serious, but to me, it was heaven. Then we went upstairs so that we could say goodnight because it was time for him to go home. Again, he gave me another little kiss and walked out the door.
Lunch Time
I can recall the first time I went to lunch with Ray. Kris, Matt, and Ray always went to lunch together, and Ray was always inviting me to come along. I was always so scared of imposing that I never dared. Well, one day I told Matt that I was going to go to lunch with them (Matt was in my forth hour class, right before lunch) and so I walked out there with him. You should have seen the shocked look on Ray's face when he saw me walking out there with Matt. *laffZ* Ray was already in the front seat next to Kris, who was driving, so Matt and I sat in the back. We went up to LCL and got some chicken and Ranch; Ray tried to pay for mine but I wouldn't let him. Then we went to Kris' house to eat it. When we were getting back in the car to go back to the school, Matt was getting ready to sit in the back with me again and Ray gave him the evilest look in the world! I SWEAR! *L* Matt just kind of gave a confused look and Ray gave him a sign to get into the front seat. So, Matt got into the front and Ray got in the back with me.
Christmas Shopping
I can remember one day when Raymond, Daniele, Tom, and I went Christmas shopping over in Vernal. On our way over there we decided that we would have to go see a friend who lives over there, so we turned on the turn to his house right before you get into the town, and headed down a long, icy road. We were just playing around and laughing with each other when we hit black ice. We flew all over the road and started to head toward the ditch on the left side of the road. We were spinning in circles in a huge ford extended cab. Then we slid over to the right side of the road and almost ran into a telephone pole so when Ray tried to get away from that we hit a mailbox that was cemented into the ground. **stupid thing** We barely nicked the thing with Ray's Truck's grill and it took out part of the grill, the light, and some that area up there. (I don't know much about trucks.) Ray was so mad! After he finally calmed down, he tried to go talk to the people about the mailbox to ask what they wanted us to do. The person who lives there wasn't home so we went to the neighbors. They told us that the owner always leaves town for the winter, and wouldn't be home until spring. He just left his name and number with the neighbor and we head back over to Ryan's house. (the friend we went down that road to go visit) Turned out that Ryan wasn't even home, anyway! We went through all of that for nothing. Ray fixed his truck like a week later.
Christmas
I was so worried about what to get Raymond for Christmas. I shopped and shopped and shopped. Finally I ended up buying him a BIG, huge tired, Red Ford remote control truck. It reminded me of him so much that I had to get it. (It's still sitting in my room because I like to play with it *hehehe*) And I made him a tape with some songs that remind me of him, even though I should make another because our relationship has changed alot since then. *smiles* and a box of candies. I have a picture of him right after he opened them one day before he went to work, I think it was the day before Christmas Eve. I'll have to scan it when I get my scanner hooked back up. He bought me a pager, because he knew I wanted one really bad. I was so happy! *grinZ*
Our First Dance
The first dance that we ever went to was the Sweethearts Dance. It was a girls choice dance, and I was so afraid to ask him because he was always saying that he didn't like to go to dances. I asked him anyway. I was planning on asking him in a really cute way, but I didn't have the time. I knew I had to ask him ASAP so that he could get the time off of work. He said yes. We doubled with Shelly and Cameron. It was hard work getting ready for the dance. School got out at 3:03 PM I didn't get home until 3:30 PM. I had to clean the house because we were going to have dinner at around 6:00ish, I think. Shelly didn't show up at my house until 4:45 PM because she was washing her brothers car. (It was the only way he would let her take it out for that night) My Mom had already started the steaks simmering on her lunch break, and I had set the table the night before. (pretty pathetic, eh? *teeheehee*) I had to do Shelly's hair, and then still my own. I had even bought an entirely new outfit for that night. *S* Ray drove himself to my house, and I was glad because I would never have gotten to his house on time. (He lives quite a ways away from me) Shelly went to pick up Cameron. Then when everyone was finally at my house, we had dinner and then went downstairs to watch a movie. We watched City of Angels. After the depressing movie, we all needed something to get us going again. *L* We went to the dance. We didn't stay very long, but long enough to get a group picture and have a couple of dances. I remember the first time I danced with Ray. I felt as if we were in our own little world and no one could come between us. Then we socialized with some friends, and left. After the dance we all went for a ride. I let Ray drive my dad's truck. Then we went to the grocery store for something to drink. We talked to some people that we knew there and then went back to my house for dessert. We had home made brownies with Ice-cream and hot fudge over them. We all kind of made ourselves sick with that one. *laffZ* Then we sat around the table and visited for a while then Shelly and Cameron went home. Soon after, Ray left to go home.
The Day Before Prom
On friday, the day before Prom, we didn't have any school. So Ray and Kris decided to do a pre-date date. *smile* It was another double date. Ray and I with Kris and Elizabeth. They came over and picked us up in the morning. Then we headed over to a local town, Vernal, for lunch. We went out for chinese food. Then we went to go miniature golfing but it was closed. So we went over to Maurices and Liz and I made the boys try on the outfits that WE picked out. *SmileZ* AND GEEPERZ! Did they ever look good! *growl-pur* After that we headed back to our town, and went bowling. We saw another group of our friends bowling there for a pre-date date as well. We had a blast bowling. It was Ray and I against Kris and Liz. Losers had to take the winners out for ice-cream. Needless to say that Ray and I lost. *laffZ* So we went to the ice-cream shop and ordered our food. As Ray was getting ready to pay for the order, he realized that he didn't have any checks left in his checkbook. *giggles* So, the winners ended up having to pay for it anyhow! *grinZ* Does that sound planned to you? *teeheehee*
Prom
I can still remember how bad I wanted to go to Prom, and I would remind Ray of it almost EVERY day! He just kept telling me that he didn't want to go. I felt so bad. I would actually bring myself into tears some nights just thinking about how I wasn't going to be able to go to Prom. (I guess I could have gone with someone else, but what would be the point of that?) Finally, one night after he was off of work, he asked me to prom. I was extactic. We doubled with Ray's best friend, Kris; and one of my best friends, Elizabeth. I remember all of the preperations of trying to find a dress and thinking about what to do with my hair. I finally had my dress. It was baby blue. Then my mother and I realized that we couldn't find shoes to match it ANYWHERE!!! *shreak* I was devastated. After shopping for two weeks we finally ended up just having some dyed to match. It worked out just fine. It took four hours just to do my hair. Every single piece of hair was perfectly curled and up in a french twist. Ray picked me up at around 5:30 PM. My mom took pictures of Ray, Kris, and I. Then we went over to Liz's house to pick her up. Finally, at 6:00 PM we headed over to the school for pictures. We stood in line for two hours waiting to get our pictures taken. BRAND NEW SHOES!!! I was in so much pain! *laffZ* Then we went to dinner. Dinner took a little while so we didn't have time to go to the Promenade. Then we went to the dance. It was great!!! We stayed there for quite a while. Then Ray and I saw my friend, Danyiel. She came over to us crying, because her date ditched her to go get drunk. (great date, eh? *rhe*) So, I gave the last dance to her and Ray. I was kind of sad that I didn't get to dance my last dance at prom with him, but I knew that there would be other times to dance. She hadn't been able to dance all night long. I ended up dancing with another friend, named Joel. We gave Danyiel a ride home and invited her to come play games with us that night. (We decided it was a good sceme since we knew she had a crush on Kris, and Kris had to take his date home anyway) So, Ray, Kris, Danyiel and I went to my house. We got comfy, and sat down to play games and have Rootbeer floats. We played games until 2:00 AM and finally, Kris and Ray left. *pout* Danyiel stayed the night at my house. That was the best date I have ever gone on in my entire life!
Sadie Hawkin's Dance
Okay, another dance that we went to together was the Sadie Hawkins Dance. (which also happened to be our sixth month anniversary, according to our first date.) It was a girls choice dance so therefore I planned the whole night through. Being that it had been exactly six months since we went to The Stockman's for dinner I decided to take him there. I was going to pick him up at 5:00 PM Because dinner reservations were for 6:00 PM. Of course, being the unorganized person that I am, I didn't get to his house until 5:45 PM. I didn't think we were going to make our reservations because it takes 15 minutes to get to my house from his, and another 15 to get to stockmans. I let him drive us to dinner because I knew that he could get us there fast. We made it right in time. We had our dinner and then we drove back into town. We just cruised around town and bought some drinks (We both ended up with chocolate milk. *smileZ*), then we headed to the dance. It was fun. We went and got our pictures taken and visited with some friends. Then we left a little early and drove around a little bit more. Then went to my house. My sister was there and we talked to her for a minute and then left again. I finally took him home around 12:30 AM.
Graduation Day
On the day of his graduation he had to go to practice at 8:30 AM. I had to go to the school to get my deposit back, then I went home. We had planned that after he was done with practice we would go to the lake with some friends. He called me around 10:00 and asked if I was ready, of course I was. *smileZ* They came to pick me up in Ray's truck. It was Ray, me, Karry, Kris, and Quincy. Once again, I was the only girl there. *hehe* We went up to the lake and went over to cliff side. I didn't do much because the only way to get into the water is to jump off of the cliff, and I am WAY to afraid of heights. So, I just watched the boys jump off of the cliff. After we were there for a little while, a bunch of people from school started showing up. It was way cool. TONZ of our friends were coming over to cliff side, too. Dusty was there with his girlfriend, Shandon came, Lacie, Crystal, the other Dusty, Kim, and alot more. After the boys were tired of jumping, we decided that we would go to lunch. So, we all climbed back up the cliff, which was really difficult to do since I was in my sandals, and piled back into Ray's truck. We headed to the Grill for lunch. I think I ordered the fruit bowl, but I don't really remember now. I had a blast that day.
Graduation Night
That night was even funner! At our school they have a "Senior Lock In" where all of the seniors get to hang out all night long for the last time. A person who is not a senior is able to go with a formal date, which for me was Ray. Anyway, I went to his graduation and after that I came home, got into my street clothes and the Ray and some of our friends came and picked me up. We went to the Senior dance, then to the senior movie. The movie had things of all of the seniors clear back from Junior High! It was so funny! That got over around midnight. Then we all headed down to Movie Theater. They called roll and anyone who was there got their name in a drawing to win prizes at the end of the thing. We watched the movie "The Mummy" and they had a small drawing. Didn't win anything. *sigh* We didn't care though. They were only giving away things like free movie tickets and candy bars. After the movie we headed over to the bowling alley at 2:00 AM. I was getting tired. Ray and I didn't bowl, we just visited with friends. Then we went over to Circle K and bought something to drink. A little before 4:00 AM the teachers left the room and the school officers told all of us that we were going to go toilet paper the vice principal's house. So, we went outside and they had a truck FULL of toilet paper. Everyone grabbed a roll. We went over to Mr. Fieldsted's house and started throwing toilet paper around. Can you imagine? 250 students all trying to "quietly" toilet paper one house!? *laffZ* It was so funny. Then his wife came out on the porch right as Raymond threw a roll of TP at the door. It hit her dead centered in the face and we all laughted histerically! *hehe* After that we went to the swimming pool to go swimming at 4:00 AM. I was so tired I was getting sick. I just lied down in Ray's arms on the cement and watched people swim. At 5:00 AM we went to the church house for breakfast. I was too sick to eat anything so Quincy (I think) just got me a glass of milk. They had the big drawing and Raymond ended up winning a candy bar. *whoopty doo* *hehe* I fell asleep on the table. At 7:00 AM it was time for clean up. I got up and Ray was standing next to me. I must have dozed up while standing there because I remember waking up, and asking Ray about Opie. I put my arm around his waist and said, "Maybe he's waiting for us outside." I then looked up and it wasn't Ray at all!! It was some other guy who just gave me a funny look and I walked off. I was too tired to be embarrassed. I found Ray helping the others clean up, and then we left. We took opie to his car, and then he took me home. I got home around 7:30 AM. I was too tired to even put my PJ's on and I just crashed on my bed and fell asleep. I didn't wake up until approximately 3:00 PM the next day, and I was still tired. Ray came over and visited me for a while before he went home. He said that he woke up about as late as I did. None the less, I had a blast!
Summer School
During the summer I had to go to summer school to make up some classes that I ditched a little too often. It got over at 2:00 PM everyday. Ray would always come over and pick me up from school, and we would just go hand out on the days that he had to go to work, and we would go to the lake on the days that he didn't. Either way, it was a blast. I had such a fun summer. I didn't even mind summer school. The people in there with me were so funny that they always kept me entertained! I loved it!
My Birthday
For my birthday I asked Ray to go to dinner with me and my family up to my grandma's house. My mom made homemade pizza, because that's what I asked for. After dinner we had cake and ice-cream and I opened presents. He bought me a cordless phone to go with my new phone number in my room, and a CD. Both of which I had wanted forever! *smileZ* After dinner he took me to a movie. We watched Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me. It was so hillarious! I loved it. Then we went back over to my house and visited for a while before he had to go home.
Summer of 1999
Summer of 1999 kicked butt! I had so much fun. Ray would come down to my house everyday. Sometimes I'd be awake, sometimes he'd have to wake me up. We'd hang out for a while and sometimes we'd call friends up and go to the lake. On the days he didn't work, anyway. I loved going to the lake! It's like tradition to always go to the lake in the summertime, and this was the first summer that Ray and I were able to spend together. But it's definately not going to be the last.
Long Vacations
The summer did have to come to an end, as all good things do. And the days that we had been worriedly anticipating had come. As a graduation gift, Ray's grandma was taking him on a cruise through Canada and into Alaska, then back down to Seattle to visit his uncle. He was to be gone for three weeks. I remember the day he left, I was so sad. I cried and cried and cried. This was to be the longest that we'd ever spent apart. I waited every night for the phone call that never came. A week went by and I was so sad because he never called. I decided to go to Salt Lake City to stay with my sister there. The second night I was there, my mom called and said that Ray wanted me to call him in his hotel because he couldn't find a phone card and that was why he hadn't called. She gave me the number and I called. This was about midnight, Utah time. I called the number and it wouldn't go through. It kept saying that the number was no longer in service, or something like that. I knew the name of his Hotel, so I called the operator and asked her to look up the number to the Captain Hook Hotel. She couldn't find it. I tried and tried and tried. I was so upset, I just sat and cried because I couldn't get to him. The next morning I got on the internet and checked on the Hotels in the area he was staying for that one night (most of his nights were spent on the Princess Cruis ship) and I found out what I had done. He was staying at Hotel Captain Hook, not Captain Hook Hotel. And the operator couldn't figure that out! I was so infuriated! Finally, a few days later, Ray was able to call me from a phone card. I remember listening to him talk on the phone and hearing him shiver because he was standing out in the rain. We talked for over an hour as he sat, getting soaked. He called me practically every night after that, until he got home. It was so great to see him again! I remember running to the door to greet him and giving him the BIGGEST hug in the world.
About a week after Ray got home from his cruise, I took my vacation to Mexico. I was going to be gone for eleven days. I bought a phone card while still in the states so that I would have a way to call him, cuz I knew I wouldn't last without talking to him for eleven days! We got into Mexico and I noticed that my phone card wouldn't work on ANY of the pay phones in the town we were staying. The phone card said right on it that it was usable in Mexico, but it wasn't. I was going crazy! I was so worried that he would be mad or that something had happened. Finally, about 8 or 9 days later, we returned to the states. I remember making my family stop at a Wal-mart so that I could call him. I called his house first, but he wasn't home, so I called his work. I was so excited to talk to him! I called him the next day, again, and he was on his way to class, but he sat and talked to me on his cell phone forever! Then the next day I was home. I never want to have to spend that much time away from him again.
Back to School
My senior year started back up in May, and I really didn't want to go back. I knew that I would have to be away from him all day long, while I was in classes, and he went to work at 3:00 p.m. which was the time that school got out. So there were some times that I didn't see him all week. It was hard. I would call him at work, and go over and visit him there once in a while. And he would come over to my house after work, but we couldn't do that too much because he didn't get off work until around midnight and I had to get up and go to school in the morning. This lasted for about four months of pure hell. Then he stopped working at that job.
Christmas 1999
This was our second Christmas together. Alot of people were surprised that we were still even together. For Christmas I bought him a four man tent because he likes to go camping and he bought me a personalized mousepad (with a cute lil pink butterfly on it), a new keyboard, and a couple of CD's. It was a fun year. :)
Spring of 2000
In the spring of the year 2000 Ray got a new job at Secrest Consulting as an Automation Technician. I was just trying to get things ready for graduation. Pictures taken, robes ordered, invite misc., etc. It was pretty hectic and we really didn't have time to do anything exciting.
My Graduation Night
My graduation night wasn't quite as fun as his. My friend, Jill, wanted to hang out with us and so I wasn't able to go to my senior activites because the only person you can bring that isn't in the class is a formal date, so Jill, Ray and I went and hung out together. It was fun, though. Jill and Ray both came to my graduation and watched me get my diploma. Then we cruised around and went over to Dane's house and hung out with him. Then next day we went to the lake.
My 18th Birthday
For my birthday Ray came and hung out with me and my family. We all went up to my grandma's house, my mom and dad made me homemade pizza (one of my very faves) and cake and ice-cream. Ray bought me the Orgy CD and a new Cordless Phone, because I was needing one for my room number. The pizza that my mom and dad made me made me sick, but he stuck around. Eventually, I did get better and he took me out to see Austin Powers. It was a fun night.
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Another thing that is just way cool about Ray is my family LOVES him! *laffZ* My parents never really have liked anyone that I've brought home. Ray's just a really good guy. He's the kind of guy that you DO dare bring home to Mom and Dad. *laffZ*
Someday, I hope to marry this man. To be able to live with him for the rest of my life, and all eternity seems like the best thing that could ever happen to me. I've cared for men before, but never as much as I do Ray. He has become a part of my entire heart, mind, body and soul and I want it to always be that way. There's just something special about him that seperates him from all of the other men in the world, to me. I actually believe that I would never be able to live without him, in fact I know I couldn't. I could NEVER love another with as much strength as I do him. I love him with all the power inside of me, and I hope that he never forgets that.
