After the ridiculously long and torturing drive up to Rexburg- we finally made it. Here I was so terrified to meet his family- and instantly I fell in love with them. They are the perfect in-law family. They immediately treated me like family. I went from only having Tanner as a brother in my life to having Jace, Blake, Austin, Zander, Davie, Brody, and Brandt! (Okay, so I only met Jace, Blake, Austin, and Zander during this first trip- but still!) Boys are so much fun. So much chaos and so much fun! Zander became our little shadow and I loved playing with him.
Mom and Dad Hill are the best people ever. The first night there, Zach and I stayed up watching a movie until we both fell asleep. I woke up around 1 am and went upstairs to go to bed and Mom was still up. We spent the whole night talking and getting to know each other better. It was such a special night and helped me to learn not only more about her, but also more about Zach and where he learned to be the incredible person he is. For as long as I had known Zach, he was always telling me how incredible his mom is and that night I really was able to see why! I also loved Dad Hill. Although he is playful and teases, he is one of the most tender-hearted people I know. He is so loving and cares so deeply. Zach has observed so many wonderful traits from him and emulates Dad Hill's deep love and concern for those around him.
During this trip we went with Aubrie and Dillon to the movie "Saratov Approach". It is such an incredible movie and brought back such great memories of our time serving. There is a part in the movie where the missionaries are led by the Spirit to not follow through with a plan that they had come up with on their own, and instead to trust in the Lord and trust in His plan that He had for them. Instantly I knew that although I was comfortable with waiting a year or so before getting married, that was not the plan that the Lord had in store for Zach and I. Right after the movie was over Zach said, "We need to talk!" We drove up and sat in the car outside of the Rexburg Temple. We talked about what we both learned from the experience of the missionaries in the movie, and decided that we would call the temple just to see what they had available- neither of us really knowing or understanding how that simple call would change our lives so quickly.
We tried calling the Temple in hopes that although it was closed for cleaning the office staff would be there. No such luck. We broke our news to Mom that night around midnight- instantly she did not hesitate and went to work. She started gathering addresses and when we told her of the Temple dilemma she said, "Oh well I know the scheduler, let me give her a call." The next day she called and her friend said that she was at the temple and could schedule it right now if she wanted. Two weeks into dating and we were going to have the Temple scheduled!! Then the real shock came. She said very casually, "We have the 18 and 25 of January available. How soon were you wanting?" See now, I was thinking more like May- and that would have been fast. Zach could tell I was in shock and said, "What do you think sweetheart?" I said, "Well I think Mom Washburn and I would be more comfortable waiting a few months....." And then to his eternal credit Zach turned to me and said, "How about we pray about it?" We prayed about the date and both felt right about the 25 of January.
Minutes later we left Rexburg so that Zach could drop me off in Pocatello to meet my parents- and so that together we could break the news to them.
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