She Said He Said

Inbound!

I like that Dean is coming to see us. I have dearly missed being a part of the relationship that is blooming between him and Emma (but for being a noisy spectator). Having an in-person hands-shaking (possibly awkward-hugging, be warned) relationship with him will make us a part of what is happening to her.

And now I have someplace cool to show him if we go by my office (instead of, you know, driving by a prison or something).

Seeing stars.

He knows what I like and what makes me happy.

He gives me the best birthdays!

He sneaked into my room and puts glow-in-the-dark stars all over!

It helps me go to sleep knowing that he loves me.

He gets me flowers!

He sends me pictures when he is away and when I miss him.

He talks with me and sends me texts- even when he is busy.

He goes on dates with me!

One of my favorites this semester: we went down to Provo Lake to skip rocks.

Then got our favorite shakes at Stan's - a blackberry cheesecake.

It was simple and fun.

Good to enjoy nature and a nice day.

I had an amazing time in California!

Explored the aquarium in Monterey.

Saw sea otters, penguins, the octopus move!, jellyfish, seahorses, an albatross!, sharks, and so many cool fish! Awesome touch pool.

Went to the tide pools in Santa Cruz!

I found my own star fish!

And was then promptly swallowed by a sea wave!

Best sushi I've ever had.

Hid easter eggs for the primary kids.

Went to Big Basin with Dean's two best friends from kindergarten.

Saw lots of amazing Red Wood trees!

Had a wonderful Easter dinner.

Looked through baby pictures!

Saw lots of CA poppies.

Saw some stars w/o light pollution.

Very hard to leave and come back to Provo.

We took pictures on Dean's camera- I still have to get them from him.

But will try to post when I have them!

Trains

photo credit

I learned that Dean really likes Thomas the Train, the way Emmalyn really likes elephants. And there just happens to be a red train named "James" #5 engine, friend of Thomas.

It is good to have an icon theme/collection.

Fasting

I like that Dean fasted with me for Emma's headaches to go away.

One thing I have considered an important virtue my entire life is to find commonality with others. Where I work, where I worship, in the neighborhood. There is always *something* we can have in common, something to build on.

I am glad to have that thing in common with Dean. I hope we can build on it, come to see one another as allies in pursuit of the common good of Emma's health and happiness.

Photos Collected, Part 1

I'm a Shortest Distance Between Two Points Kind of Guy

What I like about Dean is mostly future tense stuff. I know Emma likes him (which I like). I know he cares very much about Emma's happiness and stability (which I also like).

I like that someday, I am going to get to meet him.

I like that he makes food with and for Emma. I like that there exists the good likelihood that someday he will share that talent in my home with the rest of us.

I like that being happy matters to him. I sincerely believe happiness is one of the key indicators of a truly gospel-centered life. I like that I will come to understand what makes him happy, and what his goals for happiness are.

I like that he wants to have Family Home Evening. I like thinking about how that might happen when he visits our family. At home. In the Evening, perhaps.

I like that he plays games. I like playing Lord of the Rings Online (what's that, you didn't know it won PC Gamer's Massive Multi-player Online Game of the year for 2010?) with him, and look forward to other play-times.

I get the impression from Emma that he has a gift for being whimsical. I like that, there is not enough whimsy in today's youth. I know, he's an adult, and in that sense he's my peer, but he's on the youth-ish side of that...

I like that he's kind to his sister. One of my most memorable conversations was the one where my Mom told me the way I treated my sisters is a good forecast of how I would treat my wife.

I like that there are more somedays with Dean than there are yesterdays.

15 Reasons we BOTH like Dean

1. Dean knows the notes to: the trumpet, the piano, and the guitar. He has started DJ'ing in the past two semesters: weddings, blacklight dance parties, ward activities, birthdays, etc. He is an avid fan of a variety of different types and kinds of music. He has expanded my music knowledge and appreciation.
2. Dean is the funniest person I have ever met. He always knows how to make me laugh. He can make me smile/laugh at any moment, any mood. He loves humor and loves to laugh. He knows the importance of being happy and finding what makes you happy.
3. Dean is super smart. He picks up facts about all kinds of current events. He listens to NPR. He is constantly expanding his knowledge on a variety of topics. He loves science and appreciates it when I come home excited about a new project or demonstration. He is studying Molecular Biology right now. This semester he was been taken an immunology class. I've learned more about worms than I ever thought was possible. No barefoot runs in the grass for me.
4. Dean served in the New Jersey Mission-Spanish-speaking. He took several Spanish classes with his sister since his mission. He learned to appreciate a variety of cultures on his mission, to appreciate and love people who come from a variety of backgrounds. He has several Hispanic nation's flags that he got on his mission and a list of countries he would like to visit someday. He also learned about the wonders of east coast philly cheese-stakes. And the annoyances of humidity. He misses the trains on the East Coast.
5. Dean has a great love for where he grew up. He appreciates nature and its beauty. We have recently been enjoying BBC's series "The Human Planet" and learning about how people live in different environments. Dean knows how to surf and scuba dive. He loves the ocean and animals like the octopus. He's helped me throw a Frisbee and skip rocks better.
6. Dean appreciates good media. He enjoys movies, books, and video games. He likes learning about things and being exposed to new thoughts. He likes to discuss the deeper meaning and applications of books he reads and films he sees. One of our first dates that first month was watching Serenity together. We just re-watched Dr. Horrible's sing-along blog the other night. We also played Lord of the Rings together this week while watching the Lord of the Rings. We are cultured and nerds all in the same sentence.
7. While Dean has some food allergies and aversions that I regret (shellfish, limes, fruit in any form other than juice and jam) Dean has astonishing food sense. He cooks dinner more than I do. He loves Thai and spice. (After trying 4 different Thai restaurants in the Provo area, we found a favorite!) He picked up how to make tortillas and fried plantains on his mission, as well as egg-steaks. He likes confetti cake and makes delicious muddy buddies. He shares his phish food and half-baked ben and jerry's with me - even though he's allergic to the whey in milk. Going to Stan's for blackberry cheesecake milkshake is one of our favorites treats.
8. Dean understands germs and bacteria to a scary level. Cleanliness is a good thing.
9. When we do DJ gigs- Dean will always play at least one song that he can slow dance with me. He likes doing the cha-cha and triple step swing when we go do dances.
10. Dean is very physically attractive to me. His eyes and smile were the first things that initially caught my eye when we met. He knows my pressure points on my neck and back that help with my headaches. He holds my hand when we walk together.
11. Dean appreciates beauty. Dean decorated my room with glow-in-the-dark stars for my birthday this year. He snuck in and with my room-mates help covered the ceiling and walls with stars. He brought up a black-light to make them glow even brighter.
12. Last semester Dean looked up a recipe for teriyaki sauce. It is now the best thing we ever eat. Way better and cheaper than buying it from a bottle or going out to get it. So delicious. We make it now with ground turkey (healthier than beef) and add green onions. Yummy!
13. Dean is very generous. Generous with his time, with his talents. He helps me study and with my projects and papers. He lets me use his car to visit family. He takes care of me when I am sick. He gets cough drops for me in the middle of the night when I can't sleep. He feeds me. He gets me cold water. He makes sure I drink enough water. He makes me go to the doctor. He makes me get help with my headaches. Dean goes to church with me. Dean walks to school with me. Dean picks me up from school when I am tired from a long day. Dean helps me grade. Dean takes me shopping. Dean plays ice-hockey with me. Dean is supportive, kind, gentle, kind, and always loving.
14. I am certainly very glad that Dean is at BYU! We would never have met otherwise.
15. I am still very impressed of the relationship Dean has with his sister Sydnie. I really like Sydnie. He tries to be a good influence and example for his sister Sydnie and I have become very good friends. (I am actually her visiting teacher this semester!) We get Popsicles and chocolate together. We high-lighted our hair together this semester. We watch chick-flicks together. . He likes playing and talking with his parents and siblings. He cares about and for their well-being. They are all very good friends. He is looking forward to his brother Nick coming home from his mission and coming to school with him and Sydnie this fall.

Common Ground

11. Dean comes from a painting-mom home. I think this is one of my favorite things I first learned about him. He grew up knowing what it is like to come home after school to different colored walls than he left in the morning. (LOVE this black and white design on bathroom walls. Must try it someday.)

12. Dean knows how to make tortillas, from scratch. I like tortillas! I want to politely ask if he will cook for us, and teach me his mad tortilla making skills when he visits.

13. Dean is generous. He let me drive his car during Thanksgiving break. He gave our kids incredible video games for Christmas, wrapping them super nicely.

14. Dean chose to go to BYU, Provo. It is the only school Emma's dad applied to. The only one I wanted to go to. The one my parents met at. We love BYU, not in a watch-all-the-games kind of way. I loved how I felt on campus. Loved the devotionals and Tuesday lectures. Loved the teachers. Loved the library. Loved International Cinema. Loved the fencing team. Loved the geeky science fiction club. Love, still, the guy I met there...

15. Dean is nice to his sister. They have fun together. They still play together. They talk. They are friends. I admire that. I think it speaks well of him.

10 Things I Don't Hate About You

...to Show We are Earnestly Receptive, Accepting, Hopeful, Etc

D is musically talented. (I don't know if he plays any instruments, or even if he sings?) It was his humming recognizable popular tunes that first caught E's interest.

D is amusing. His sense of humor made E laugh. His music talent and selection of tunes made her laugh. This is good. He appreciates Joss Wedon work.

D is scientific. He met E in the chemistry lab. His area of study choices reflect this scientific leaning/talent/interest. Micro-biology major?

D is a RM.

D is a Californian. I almost was. Several of my siblings are. My dad & Grandpa & Grandma & Great Grandpa/Great Grandma, Great Great G-pa & ma all are/were. Pure acceptance.

D is a reader. Esoteric tastes. I don't know the last book he has read. This is a safe topic of potential discussion, comparing favorite classics. What books would he read more than once, just for the joy of it, if homework didn't get in the way?

D is a cook. He feeds E. He knows how to survive nutritionally.

D is a clean-fiend. He hates clutter, disorder, messes, grubbiness, unsanitary floors & counter tops. This is slightly intimidating, but I respect him for it.

D is a dancer. Ballroom. Love it! "Strictly Ballroom" is on my top 20 favorite films.

D is male. Tall, dark, with boyish good looks. He is attractive to our E. Physical attraction matters. Aesthetics. Chemistry. Bonds. (Does James Bond?) There are obvious physical feelings between them, and I am happy for their happiness.