How We Met
September 3, 2014 is a day I will never forget. I just said goodbye to my friends, family and life back home in Utah and was moving to the Philippines to speak a language I had never heard of before for the next year and a half. I volunteered to serve a mission for my church and was assigned to Cebu, Philippines. I was at a training center full of other missionaries going to different places all over the world, speaking different languages. Shortly after I arrived I was put into a group of other missionaries who were also going to the Philippines. This is when I saw Austin for the first time. I first noticed his blue eyes. I had always loved blue eyes but I had never seen this color of blue. It wasn’t until he smiled that I knew I wanted to meet this guy! If you ask anyone who knows me they will tell you I have an obsession for teeth, and let me tell you… his were perfect!
It was from that moment on that I tried to think of a way to talk to him and introduce myself. Finally I mustered up the courage and reached my hand out, introduced myself, and asked where he was from. “Santaquin.” was his answer. I remember thinking to myself “I wonder what state that’s in? Sounds like California! He must be a Cali guy!” After asking where Santaquin was he said it’s a really small town in Utah. I was so embarrassed because I was a Utah native myself and didn’t know where that was! It was safe to say after that I just admired him from a distance. Three weeks came and went and before I knew it he was off to the Philippines! I still had three more weeks and it was bittersweet that he left the training center in Utah.
Bitter because he was the best looking thing I had ever seen, and sweet because I could sleep in 30 minutes longer instead of getting ready now that he was gone! We didn’t keep in touch while on our missions but two years came and went and we were both back home to Utah. I saw his name pop up on Facebook and decided to welcome him home. I was actually taking a hiatus from dating at the tine but something just kept bringing me back to him. After some small talk I asked him out on our first date (yes that’s right… it was the scariest/best decision of my life. Girl power!) …and he said yes! We went to a Filipino party and talked all night long. After our first date he kept asking me out and we’ve been inseparable ever since!
how they asked
Austin and I had been talking about marriage for awhile and I knew he was going to propose but had no idea when. He had been saving for my ring while going to school full time and working two jobs so I knew I had to be patient. In the mean time I planned a weekend getaway at my family cabin for us and my best friend from college (Priscilla) and her boyfriend (Kyle). Austin had never been to my family’s cabin and had never met Priscilla and Kyle so I thought it would be a fun weekend. We started the night out by going to dinner in downtown Salt Lake City. After a nice meal Priscilla and Kyle mentioned that they needed to pick up Kyle’s younger sister from the airport and would just meet us up at the cabin later that night.
I didn’t think too much of it and continued to enjoy my time with Austin. We walked around outside holding hands and later decided to leave for the cabin. We drove through the canyons and into the mountains. There were Christmas lights on some of the cabins and I mentioned how much I love the lights and the seclusion the mountains bring. It was just then that we pulled up to my cabin when I saw the cutest little area decorated in lights with a fire pit in the middle. I was confused at first but then when we were walking towards it and Austin grabbed my hand I instantly knew and started to cry.
He took me by the fire and held me. Taking me by the hands he told me how much he loved me and why he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me. H then got on one knee, called me by my full name and said, “Madison Sue Hayes, will you marry me?” Of course I said, “YES!” I can’t wait to start my life with you, babe! I promise to love you forever!!
