Airport Pickup

The next day Wednesday Chad and I went to the airport to pick up his Mom. She had been gone in California working at her Curves there and had missed this whole momentous week. I had met Leslie only once for a little bit on our first date, so I was nervous to see her again with all of this stuff happening when she was gone. When we picked her up from the airport she was not in a good mood. She had had a rough week and a really rough day. Now I was scared! She got in the car and asked how things were and Chad said, “Mom, this is the woman I’m going to marry” (I could have died- he could have been a little more tactful). She turns around and said, “You want to marry him” and I choked out a “Yes” and then she turned to Chad and said, “You want to marry her” I felt like I had just been stabbed in the heart. And Chad said “Yep”. She kept asking questions all the way home, and I wanted to be anywhere else except in that car! I got to know Leslie better and soon we were talking about me working for Curves.

First Camping Trip

On Tuesday the 22nd we went with the Thompson’s to Ensign Ranch to go camping. I wanted to see Chad in all kinds of different circumstance- babysitting, camping etc. We had a fun time, I got to see Chad chop some wood- which was pretty much a prerequisite for the Thompson’s. Later that night Chad and I went for a walk around the lake and it was really cold with snow still on the ground. As we were holding hands I was really thinking, “Could I really marry this guy, even though he is older than me.” “Am I ready to be married?” I didn’t have any angelic visitations to tell me an answer just a peaceful feeling that yeah- he was a great choice and it would work out. That night Chad and I had our first GREAT kiss in the moonlight. When we got back from our walk it was time for bed, Chad slept in a cabin with the boys, and I slept in a cabin with Jon and Cori. The next morning I was still sleeping and Jon asked “Kate are you decent?” I replied, “Yes” thinking that Jon needed to get something from the loft where I was sleeping, but to my surprise it was Chad who came up the stairs to say “Good Morning”. It was fun for him to see me half asleep with no make up and messy hair. After this trip is when I knew 100% that I was going to marry Chad.

Meet Chad Steven Dahle

So much had happened in this week, I went from just going on one date with Chad to planning to marry him. There was a lot to catch my roommates back in Rexburg up on, so I wrote them the following email.

“Meet Chad Steven Dahle: This is Chad. Girls he is amazing! He is a man and he knows what he wants and he is wonderful! I'll have to talk to you girls each in person and tell you about him. But a little 411 is: He is 6'4'', he plays basketball of course but all of our time together (excluding our first date) has just been talking and having like heart to hearts, so we haven't even got to play our favorite things together yet-good times are yet to come. He is 26, he'll be 27 on June 19th. He is graduating from BYU-Idaho in April but he is home now doing his internship!! He served his mission in the Czech Republic.He totally understands my family situation and me!! He comes from a GREAT family. I know this is fast but it feels so right. There is a total peace and comfort like we've known each other for years! Everything has just fallen into place. We have talked a lot about marriage but there has not been an official engagement yet. But he told his dad, ‘I'm marrying this girl’ And I corrected him- woman!! Since I am now 20. Tell me what you think. What questions do you have?? I am so glad this is happening at home!! Love you all. Have a great week!! Love, Kate (Dahle-in a few months!!)” Some of my roommates couldn’t believe it and others thought I was crazy!! But after this they made a list of who was going to get married next.

My 20th Birthday

Sunday was my 20th Birthday. So Chad had some pressure on him because he wanted to get me a card that described our relationship and what it was going to be. We had yet to say “I love you” to each other. He also didn’t have very much time to really get to know me and know what to get me for a gift. But he did a wonderful job, he got me new socks- one of my most favorite things. The card he got me was great- I didn’t read what the card actually said at the time he gave it to me, I only read what he wrote because I was feeling rushed to read it. I reread it later and this is what it said:
“A Promise of Love for Your Birthday. I wish I could buy you a thousand beautiful gifts for your birthday- fancy things, luxuries, surprises to delight you- but I know the things that make life happy can’t be bought…
…like love, and the closeness two people share…
time—days spent together when we’re happy no matter what we’re doing…
kindnesses—the little things we do for one another…
These things can’t be bought, and yet they’re the best gifts of all…
And so, for your birthday, I’m giving you this promise as part of my gift—to love you even more and make you even happier, to make all our days together days to remember always. Happy Birthday All My Love Always.”
And then he wrote at the bottom, “Even though I have only known you for just a little while it feels like I’ve known you my entire life. You are special and I feel so grateful and blessed to be apart of your life. I hope you have a great birthday. Love, Chad”

That night we had another great talk. I told him of some of my concerns and he was very understanding and patient with me. It was probably one of the best birthdays I ever had. I remember that for some reason we danced in the living room. Chad was showing me some of his swing dancing moves. I was totally head-over-heels.

Whirl Wind Week

Monday was Valentine’s Day, and Chad told me on our date that he would be participating in the “Mr. South King County” talent show that day. He called and asked if he could pick me up and take me to it. I said sure, and invited him for some cake and ice cream afterwards because it was Ammon’s 3rd birthday. When we got to the talent show, there were 4 girls waiting for Chad. I was a little confused because I didn’t know if he had invited all these girls, or if we were really on a date or what. Chad was very good about paying a lot of attention to me and setting me apart from the other girls. During the talent show the boys had to tell something about themselves and then do a talent. Chad’s talent was hula hooping. It was really funny. And then I found out that he was 26 years old. I was only 19 at the time (my20th birthday was 6 days away.) I was a little nervous that there was 6 ½ years difference between us. After the show, Chad came right up to me and said “Let’s go”. That made me feel great, because I knew he didn’t want to hang out with those other girls. We went back to my house and had cake and ice cream. This was the first time Jon and Cori got to meet Chad. (Find out their thoughts about him) We stayed up talking about spiritual things until 1:35 in the morning.

On Tuesday we talked on the phone just for a few minutes. I called Chad to see how an interview went. I really just wanting to talk to him and try to “hook” him!! That night Cori and I went to Enrichment, and I talked with some of my old young women’s leaders about Chad. Little did I know what was soon to happen!!

Wednesday was Institute and I was nervous all day because I wanted Chad to call me so that we could go together. I didn’t want there to be any awkwardness between us from our long talk that we had on Monday night, and then seeing each other in a public setting. He didn’t call me before Institute, so I wanted to be there early so HE would be the one to sit by me!! But I was late that night, and thankfully there was a seat open by him. I went and sat next to him and when he said “Hi” I knew everything was going to be fun fine. After Institute Chad asked me “When do you want to do something again” I promptly said, “Now…or this weekend”. He thought that was great! We decided to go back to my house again. I called Cori on my way home to give her a heads ups and she was so excited that she headed to the store real quick to get some ice cream for us to eat. We ended up talking about family until 12:45. I told him about my family situation and how I was living with the Thompson’s. I was afraid that it would scare him away. But he was so great about it. With my siblings that are inactive, he thought it was a great opportunity to help teach them and bring them back. He had a few splinters in his hands from helping his dad work around the house, and I helped him get them out.

Thursday we talked on the phone for an hour and a half. On Friday, he came over to help me baby-sit my little brothers. He was so great with them. After then kids were in bed we started talking. I noticed that Chad had splinters again (this time he purposely worked without gloves to make sure he had splinters!!) After I got the splinters out of his hand was started holding hands for the first time. We talked until 2 in the morning. During that conversation I asked him what his parents thought about us, our crazy week of spending so much time together. I had been telling Jon and Cori about everything, and He hadn’t really been saying anything to his parents, especially because his mom was out of town all week. When I asked that question Chad took it as a clue that I was serious about our relationship, and that night we ended up talking about MARRIAGE! We weren’t planning a date or anything, we were talking about the idea of us maybe getting married. Just before he left he gave me a quick kiss, he was thinking “If I’m talking about marrying this girl I’d better give her a kiss!” After Chad left (at 2am) I ran up to Cori and Jon’s room, and said, “We just talked about Marriage!” Jon sat bolt upright and said “What?!” We then talked until 4am while I retold everything Chad and I had talked about.

Saturday Chad and I went with the Thompson’s on a hike to Rattlesnake Ledge. It was “Perm-a-grin” day. I had a permanent grin on my face from being so happy. While Chad and I hiked we held hands and talked some more about marriage. That night he met my Mom for the first time. Mom remembers that he was very polite and very good looking, so tall and gentlemanly he put her at ease. Mom came over to Cori and Jon’s for dinner, and asked Cori & Jon what they thought about him, they said that he was a good young man, and that I was “in-like” with him.

First Date

The next morning was my date with Chad, and I was feeling like I had cheated on him or been unfaithful because I had a date with Dustin the night before. (I didn’t tell Chad for a while that I had had a date with someone else.) My Date with Chad was completely opposite than my date with Dustin. Chad was so prompt and everything was planned out. We went on a double date to North West Trek. We doubled with Chad’s brother Jesse and his date Liz. When we got to NW Trek it was kind of cold and Chad was such a gentlemen and offered me his coat. We looked at animals for a while and then we had a picnic lunch that the boys packed for us. We had French bread that we would tare off from the loaf and then put some lunchmeat on it, and they brought water bottle for us. I was so impressed by Chad because he had everything planned out and was so creative. After lunch we went for a tram ride around the NW park to see lots of different animals, it was so fun. On our drive home Chad and I had a great talk. He told me about his mission in the Czech Republic, and I was so jealous because I had always wanted to go to Europe. I had him speak in Czech to me. When Chad dropped me off, he walked me to the front door. It was one of the best dates I had ever been on.

Two Dates in One Weekend

The day I finished Nanning (Tuesday) Chad called and asked me out on a date for that Saturday. I of course accepted. On Thursday, I was babysiting and I got a call from another boy named Dustin. A mutual friend of ours, Melissa Rodarte, suggested to Dustin to take me on a date. So Dustin was calling to see if I was free that weekend. I told him I had something on Saturday but I was free on Friday. I had never before had TWO dates in one weekend. The date with Dustin didn’t go so well. He wanted to take me bowling, so we headed to a bowling alley, but he hadn’t called before and when we got there, we found out that we couldn’t bowl because it was League night. As we were leaving the bowling alley, Dustin backed into something and then drove off. It was really awkward because I thought he had hit a car and then ran, but he actually hit a big cement pole. He was worried about his car because he had put it up for sale that day. That was the start of the down hill slope of our date. When we got to another bowling alley, we had to wait a half hour before we could bowl, and because it was so smoky in the bowling alley we decided to wait across the street at an Office Max. When we did finally start to bowl it wasn’t a very good experience for two reasons. The first reason was because we had a bunch of drunk teenagers next to us who kept swearing, and the second reason was because I was beating Dustin at bowling and he wasn’t happy about it. The rest of the date didn’t get any better, nothing was really planned, and by the time I got home I was feeling awful.