I'll save you the trouble of wanting to poke your eye out, there's a short version, and a long version. Choose your poison!
SHORT VERSION:
We met the fall of 2006 while country dancing at club Strata in Rexburg, Idaho. We were both students at BYU-I, although I wasn't planning on being there that fall, and Jeff was supposed to graduate in December. Somehow the stars aligned, and we met that fall. January rolled around, and Jeff decided to stay an extra semester to take a class he didn't need but felt he should take. I somehow lucked out and got the fall/winter track, which had me there that semester as well. We both ended up at the same country club in early January, where Jeff asked me out. Although we didn't really start dating until March, it didn't take long to realize we were perfect for each other. We got married in Houston later that year in August. True story.
SUPER LONG VERSION:
The summer of 2006 was straight out of a dream. I had transferred to BYU-Hawaii to pursue a degree in Kineseology. Aside from a Christmas visit home, I was planning on never moving away. I had started filling out mission papers. That's when somehow my class schedule got messed up. That's when the housing contract I had signed previously got forgotten and they rented my room to someone else. That's when my Mom called and said, "BYU-Idaho has been calling and want to know why you haven't registered for classes yet."
I never remember reapplying to BYU-I, not after my first semester there where I learned what a curfew was. I was never going back. But, they finally got my cell phone number and informed me that yes, I was supposed to be on the Fall/Winter track, and there wasn't any housing available, did I have a relative I could live with? I didn't, but I called my friend Jessica and asked for help. Not only did she find me a job, which was impossible because there were more students that semester than EVER, but her roommate needed to sell her housing contract and offered to sell it to me. My counselor at school called, and even though every class I needed was full, pulled a few strings and got me 16 credits. Suddenly I was going from the beautiful beaches of Hawaii to the mountains of Idaho.
My roommates were really fun girls, I loved them from the beginning. They were cute, friendly, and very accepting. It was the first Sunday of the semester, and we were already late for church. Probably due to the fact that they had just woken up. Tanya and Nikki decided to go to the mall instead. I've never been a Sunday shopper-but I didn't want to pass up a chance to hang out with them so we all jumped in the car and took off. I really, really needed a pair of jeans because all I seemed to own were shorts. I found a cute pair at American Eagle. We went home and made cookies.
Later that night I was wearing them while washing the dishes and talking to my boyfriend at home in Texas. I decided to wear the jeans to make sure I liked them, so I left all the tags on. A few boys from the Ward came by to say hello to my roommates, and one of them commented to me, "So are you just taking those jeans for a test drive?" I laughed, even though I was slightly embarrassed. Right away I went to my room to change and to continue the conversation with my boyfriend in private. When we hung up, the guys had already left. I'm not going to lie, I was slightly disappointed. But, I was incredibly busy with school and work, so I didn't really think about much else.
Even though I'm not a great dancer, I love country dancing. I never missed a Wednesday or Thursday night at the school or little dance club. Since I was "taken," I always went with my best friend Jessica and our group of friends we'd known for years. None of us liked to be wallflowers, so we'd dance with each other or pick out people for the others to dance with. One night my friend Jared and I were finding each other dance partners. Across the room stood Jeff and his two friends. He pointed to Jeff's roommate. I could tell with one look that guy and I wouldn't get along, so I said, "Hmmm no. How about his friend?" Jared could have cared less and sent me off to ask whoever. I walked up to the group, looked Jeff straight in the eyes and said, "Do you want to dance?" Apparently the room was so noisy that none of the guys knew who I was asking-so to save face I just grabbed Jeff's hand and led him on the dance floor.
(Jeff is somewhere in this picture up here... I just know it! He has to be...)
Jeff fell in love right away from that first dance, but he was too cool to actually ask me out. So, he sent his roommates over to ask my roommates what the deal was on me. They said I had a long distance boyfriend, and Jeff's interest dropped. I went home for Christmas, so did Jeff, and neither one of us thought of the other. I gave my boyfriend his ring back, made plans for an internship in Japan, and decided to do as many things as I could in life before I settled down. Then I went back to school... and my friends and I discovered our darling little dance club had been purchased by some stupid alarm company. The last night they were open I saw Jeff again, and for some reason, remembered his name from two months back. I think it surprised him that I knew his name when I asked him to dance. We had fun talking, and he asked me to save the last dance for him. Midnight rolled around, the last song was announced, and he came and found me on the dance floor. And to quote from Jeff, "I looked in those blue eyes and I could have cared less if you had a boyfriend, I was going to ask you out..." So he asked me out. That's Jeff for you-he knows what he wants and how to get it. Thankfully, I didn't have a boyfriend so I said yes. Later that night he sent me a couple cute text messages, and then asked me out a couple day later. I almost didn't say yes because he texted me and asked me out. I remember turning to my roommate and saying, "What kind of guy texts a girl to ask her out!" However, Jeff was fun so we set up a for the following week. Jeff found me on Facebook later that week as well, and saw a couple pictures from Hawaii. He said he'd been there too, so he came over that weekend to check out my pictures. We talked about how much we loved it in Hawaii, talked about how much we loved the West, and just laughed and joked for a long time.
One morning as I was walking to school I got a text from him saying he thought I looked pretty that day. Of course, I looked around and there he was. We hadn't realized it before, but we had the same route to our morning classes. We walked to school every morning with each other. I'd wait for him if he was late, even if it made me late. We really enjoyed each others company.
Of course, I was done having a serious relationship. I'd just come out of one and was excited at the thought of getting to go out with other guys! There were way too many cute boys to tie myself to just one. I was tired of having a boyfriend. That, and I was moving to Japan in the summer so why even bother? And I liked my weekends filled with boys.
I didn't know it at the time, but Jeff had decided I was the girl for him. So he just kind of nudged his way into my life. I honestly thought he was sweet, and I loved to hang out with him, but I was not interested in dating anyone more than once or twice. Of course, I didn't mind Jeff coming over all the time, either. And, he took me out quite a bit. He even managed to kiss me on one of those nights.
One night I was lamenting that I was missing the Houston Rodeo, and that I'd wanted to see Rascall Flatt's pretty bad. They were playing in Salt Lake a few weeks away.. and then a few days later I got a message from Jeff telling me to get the entire weekend off. When I found out he'd gotten tickets to see them I almost died. I wanted to go so bad, but I'd told Jeff I just wanted to be friends so I wasn't going to let him spoil me that much. Jeff is very pursuasive, and I ended up going. We had so much fun. Every moment of the whole trip we were laughing, giggling, kissing, laughing, laughing some more and talking. I had a blast. When we pulled into Rexburg a couple days later, I didn't wanna get out of his truck. So we talked for three more hours.
We also had the dreaded "DTR" talk that night. I told him I still didn't want to be serious, and I was planning on going on several dates the coming weekend. Jeff, being the smart man he is, said that was fine, but he wasn't dating me if I was going to go out with anyone else. I was mad he'd give me an ultimatum when I felt that I'd been honest with him the entire time. We ended up not talking for a couple days. At first I acted like I didn't care, but within a day or so I missed him. I stopped by his house, but he wasn't home. I called, but he wouldn't answer. I was bummed, but if he was going to be like that it was his loss. My roommate Tanya knew Jeff pretty well, and she knew he was just giving me space. I still laugh when I think about the night I called Jeff and told him I was going to put some item he'd left at my house in the garbage disposal if he didn't call me back. Which, he didn't. So I left another message, flipping the disposal on to show him I was serious. He STILL didn't call! I was too prideful to really tell Jeff that after not having him around a couple days, I really missed him. I was trying to play it cool. Unbeknowst to me, Jeff was thrilled I was calling, but he wasn't going to let me know. In fact, he was ignoring me on purpose. While I was whining to my roommates about how I missed him and wanted him back, Tanya was texting him everything I was saying, but telling him not answer me yet. Finally, somewhere around 2am I was about to give up when there was a knock at the door. My roommates who were dying as they played match maker ran into their rooms. My face went red, my heart stopped, and I don't think I have ever, ever been so embarrassed as I realized who was at the door and what was really happening. I thought I was going to die when I let Jeff in. I tried to act cool, but I think Jeff saw right through it judging by his smile. We ended up making up, and I had to cancel my dates for the coming weekend. I didn't want to get serious with Jeff but I didn't wanna lose him again either.
Within two weeks, Jeff had stolen my heart completely and I couldn't imagine being with anyone but him. He is smart, strong, sexy, and can hold his own. I was wondering how I hadn't seen all this before. I knew I loved him and that he was the man I wanted to marry. I just knew it. Of course, I was the one who made fun of people who just up and married someone they barely knew, as evident by my previous relationships that lasted for years. That, and I didn't know if Jeff felt the same. I mean, I knew he was head over heels for me but wasn't sure if he was that in love with me. I mean, I was pretty sure he was, but still, just wanted to make sure. The upcoming weekend we were both going to ride steers in the school's rodeo. Before each rider goes out, they introduce them or say something about the rider. I wanted to have them announce when I came out, "Here is Anna Davis, she's from Texas, is madly in love with Jeff Tew and is planning on spending her summer stateside with him." Wouldn't that have been so cute?
So, I pretended I was still going to Japan and asked him if he'd wait til I came back in the fall to keep things going. And then, if he was supportive of that I'd really know he wanted the best for me. If he said, "Meh" then I'd know he wasn't that interested. That was the plan.
Like usual, I stopped by his apartment before class. I reaffirmed to him that yes, I was going to Japan. He looked heartbroken, but he told me he'd do whatever I wanted to be happy. My heart melted, I couldn't keep anything a secret. I jumped on his lap, kissed his cheek and whispered in his ear, "I'm not going to Japan. I'm staying here. I love you."
It was cute. We kind of started to talk to each other about where this was going. I remember asking, "So now that I am staying, what are our plans?" He said we'd date through the summer and then if things were going good... maybe the fall would be our forever? A couple days later I was calling my sister and telling her, "I love this guy. We're getting married... I want my colors to be pink and brown and I'm pretty sure we'll have the wedding over the school break. So, we have six months to plan. Oh, don't tell anyone. He hasn't officially asked." But, I knew he would.
The next few weeks flew by. Jeff and I were inseperable. When we got engaged there were quite a few broken hearts. Jeff had a few girls who always thought they had a chance, and I had a few boys who thought they had a chance. No one expected us to get engaged so quick.
I know it wasn't just a coincedence Jeff and I met when we did. There were too many little details that can't be explained except by saying this was meant to be. He was everything I'd ever dreamed of. Everything.
I always wanted to have a cute story about how we met. We met dancing, that's pretty cute.
I always wanted my Dad to harrass a boyfriend. Before we were dating my Dad came to visit. I originally wanted him to meet this other guy I had a crush on, but that guy was so shy and so quiet that he paniced last minute and wouldn't even answer my phone calls. My Dad was sitting at my apartment with my roommates and brother. Things were boring, so I said, "oh! We should invite Jeff over!" Jeff was always fun to have around. So I called him up, he was a building over and said he'd come by in just a minute. I mentioned my Dad was there. It took him forty minutes to come over. While we were waiting, I told my Dad, "Dad, this kid has the biggest crush on me. You should take him in the spare room, sit him down and give him a hard time." My Dad is NOT that mean, but after encouragement from my roommates he said he would. Jeff finally showed up, we introduced the boys, and then before Jeff even sat down my Dad said, "Jeff, come here." Jeff thought he was going to help move furniture, instead they disappeared and were gone. At first we were all dying laughing, trying to be quiet so we wouldn't ruin the joke. I could hear my Dad asking him all sorts of questions. After 20 minutes, we were like, "Oh, man poor Jeff..." When he finally emerged he was a little sweaty and redfaced. We waited almost an hour before we told him it was supposed to be a joke. He took it well. Turns out, the reason it took him forty minutes to walk three hundred yards was because he had his friends do practice questions for when he met my Dad. How cute was that?
I always wanted my husband to be from the South. He and I both agree that we couldn't have ever been with someone from Utah. Not that we don't love them with all our hearts... but we just both wanted to be with someone from outside Utah. And I love southeren boys.
I love boys who are into hunting, camping, fishing and aren't afraid to get dirty. Guys that know how to fix things are a plus.
I love big guys-tall guys that make you feel like they can take care of you. It's super attractive.
I wanted someone who would make me laugh, was charming, my family loved right away, was hot, and active in church. Done, done, and done.
Jeff was more simple. He just met me and I "wasn't like any girl he'd ever met." That's all it took for him. Of course, he adds, it doesn't hurt if she is blonde, blue eyed, tan, and has an amazing smile. He has a thing for blondes.
So that is that. That is the super long version of how we met.
