Daron turns 31 today and I can't give him a hard time about it because I've been 31 for five months already.
As a tribute to him, I thought I'd briefly share the story of how I met this man who would change my life forever.
Daron had already known my sister as they were in the same ward (congregation) the semester before I returned from my mission. (In fact, he was contemplating asking her on a date, but hadn't done it yet.) I returned at the end of November and in December, our family was in Utah for my brother's wedding. As a family, we were walking around the campus of BYU, trying to get some errands done before I was to head back to school there in January. As we crossed the quad near the bookstore, Angelyn stopped this young man and introduced him to me as Daron Janis. "He's in our ward," she explained to me, as she and I were going to be living together. According to Daron, he immediately changed his mind about asking her out and decided to ask me out instead. Unlike my dear husband, I quickly forgot the whole incident.
Daron spent the next semester in Syria with other BYU students studying Arabic. Then he spent the Spring in Chicago with his aunt and uncle. Hence, it was quite some time before we actually got to know each other. His interest still there, he called me up in August to ask me out on a date. I hesitated as I didn't think he was my type, but I accepted and we spent the evening at an accapella concert. Neither of us really listened to the music - we were too busy talking about our missions and former "others." Yet even after the few hours of deep discussion, I did not even bother to record the event in my journal.
A second date of sorts was arranged - my sister and I were invited to watch a movie at his parents' house just down the road. I was sort of seeing someone else at the time and felt uncomfortable about going out with him. I tried calling to cancel the date and foolishly blurted out everything to my wonderful mother-in-law on the phone (whom I had never met), but she wisely told me that he would be picking us up straight from work and I would just have to "face the music" myself. Gulp. So when Daron arrived, I gave him some lame excuse about needing to pack for our trip home the following day. He went home in rather sorry spirits and you can only imagine that I was not the most popular person of discussion at his house that night.
Over the next few weeks, I gave Daron a headache. Things didn't work out with the other guy. In fact, come to find out, they had known each other in high school! Daron invited himself to Angelyn's birthday party, which I'm glad he did, because it gave me the opportunity to see a side of him that I didn't know existed. He was really funny! Thus my interest slowly began to grow, though I kept insisting that it wasn't.
Daron was so patient and so quietly persistent and even though I could see through it, I still fell for it. He would pick me up after classes and walk me home. He'd sit next to me at church. He had a way of getting me to talk to him about nearly everything. In fact, a few times after I had met an ex-boyfriend on campus (the breakup had been an especially difficult one), I had needed someone to talk to and had gone to Daron! He was more than willing to offer a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on.
By October (only a couple of months, though it seemed to be much longer), I had realized that I liked him, enough to try a relationship with him. Though I had my doubts as to where it would lead, Daron did not. A month later, I knew I was in love! I wish I could share that romantic evening with you, but it's too special. Let's just say that I will always have a tender spot in my heart for evening walks in gently falling snow.
Our courtship continued and our relationship grew and developed. It was an interesting time as we got to know each other better - both the good and the bad. We made a lot of wonderful memories during that time and before we knew it, we were planning a wedding. Together we graduated from BYU in the summer of 2002 and at the end of November of that year, we were sealed together in the Boston Temple.
Daron is my best friend. He is extremely intelligent and has an opinion on just about everything. He adores our children and has passed on the most interesting quirks to them. He listens to me cry, he listens to me ramble, he listens to my stories, he listens to my problems, he listens to my rants, and he only gives advice when I ask for it. He honestly loves almost every meal I've made for him and that makes me happy. We have been through some trials in our nearly seven years together and it has only made us stronger. When I'm with him, I desire to be a better wife, a better mother, and a better person. He treats me with love and respect, and as a friend and companion. Who could ask for more than that?
Happy Birthday, Daron. I love you!
