The Story of Us: First Date to I Love You



Alex and Tracie August 2011
The tree where he proposed.

 November 10, 2004 My Parents 25th Wedding Anniversary

I woke up that morning with the worst migraine in the world and the anxiety and anticipation of the upcoming night didn't help. I thought I might have to cancel the pain was so bad, but luckily for me I work at the best place in the world, with the best Doctors' in the world. And these great guys who were determined to marry me off (by trying several times to set me up on dates with guys in their wards) gave me shot in the bum for the migraine and the nausea and sent me on my way with threats (jokingly) of what would happen if I came to work the next day with out good stories of my date.

He picked me up and we drove through Ogden looking for a place to go bowling, he showed me his brother's house and I showed him where I worked. When we arrived at the bowling alley things go a little awkward, his accent was a very thick just being 6 months off his mission and I had a hard time understanding him, the first 2 games seemed so long but by the third we were talking about our likes and dislikes which eventually turned into how many children we wanted to have someday. We ended our night at Wingers enjoying each others company and learning more about each other. He drove me home and walked me to the door and said goodnight. My parents were waiting for me and after asking if I had a good time asked if I would consider going on another date with him. I told them I would if he asked.

That Saturday he called and asked me to go out with his friends. Unfortunately I already had plans with friends and I had promised myself that after ditching my friends with my other boyfriends I would never do that again, so I declined. Then believe it or not she ditched me. So my Dad and I went car shopping. I had a great job, was single, and not seriously dating anyone. I decided that I needed something newer and something with better traction for the Winter.  (Not to jump ahead but lets just say I was engaged before the first payment was due)

The next day we sat together in the singles ward, his sister and I whispered and giggled. Alex, well lets just say I have never seen someone so intent on a speaker in my whole life. In the end I couldn't resit poking him in the ribs a few times trying to distract him. He was nervous that I didn't want to go on another date with him that is why I turned him down the day before. So to make it up to him I invited him to my family home evening, we were going to a play at Northridge. He decided he was going to hold my hand that day and I unknowingly made it very hard on him. I have a habit of sitting on my hands when they are cold he finally just flat out asked if he could have that, and pointed to my hand. So to the point, so romantic. We held hands the rest of the night.

After that we saw each other at least twice a week he would cook for me and we would play games. He would stop by my work and bring donuts or pizza, would decorate my car, and leave me candy and roses. The girls at work were SO JEALOUS!

The week of Thanksgiving we decided that we would spend it with our separate families and then he had plans to go to Idaho to see a mission buddy. My Mom was urging me to date other people since it had been 2 years since I had dated anyone. She like Alex but wanted me to experience the fun of dating. My Aunt came down and I excitedly told her of all that had been happening. In the middle of this conversation my phone rang. It wasn't Alex, but to my surprise another boy from the singles ward asking me on a date for that Friday. My heart sank, technically Alex and I were exclusive and we hadn't even talked about becoming exclusive but deep in my heart I didn't want to date anyone else. I was so happy when I was around him. But like I said in my other post I told my self that I would never turn down a date so I agreed. My Mom was glad that I had agreed, my Aunt told me she could see a change in my personality after speaking with this other guy and could tell how much I must like Alex.

Thanksgiving dinner was amazing and in my family we stay up late playing games. I left my phone in my room to charge, the house phone rang and it was my Hunny. He had tried my cell phone about 2 dozen times but thought I was ignoring him. I invited him over to play games and told him I had something to tell him. We walked in the rain and I told him of my date. He was very supportive of my Mom and agreed that I should definitely date someone else so I would know if I was making the right decisions. We went inside to have pie and Alex being the ever helpful but jester that he is offered to take them back to the fridge for my Mom. He then pretended to trip to make her think the pie was going to fall on her. What he didn't realize was they tray wasn't sturdy and they came about six inches away from splattering in her face before he caught them. It was quite funny but he was a little embarrassed.

 That evening after going to a movie with my cousins he kissed me for the first time. Which surprised me because he had told me on our first date that he had never kissed a girl and didn't plan on it until he was engaged and we most definitely were not engaged. I wasn't complaining though it was wonderful.



I just love to kiss him.
Engagments Jan 2005

  The next day we spent the day at my parents house sitting on the floor of the living room going over his mission books before my other date and before he left for Idaho. We laughed at the pictures and he told me some great stories of his Mission. Like getting arrested and kicked out of the country.  Have I not told you that story? Well that is a different post for a different day. My Mom watched us together, she could see how happy we were and I think that is when she knew he was the one for me. Our time together was cut short by the sound of his pager going off, as he ran out the door to the fire station he yelled that he loved me. I yelled back that I loved him too, but it fell on deaf ears as the roar of his engine faded into the distance. My Mom raised her eyebrows and asked if that was the first time we had said that.

I just nodded and headed downstairs to get ready for my date.

The Story of Us: At the Begining

 The story of us actually starts long before there was an "Us"

I remember as a little girl probably six or seven asking my Mom how she met my Dad and how would I know when I found the one that was meant for me. I remember asking her "What if they man I am suppose to marry is in Russia? How am I going to find him?" I don't remember her answer. I just remember the question.

February 1995
I had just turned 12 and one of my Best Friends parents had just adopted two little boys from Russia. Curious I remember going to play over there and seeing Alex (or Alexey as he went by then) for the first time. He was smaller than I had expected and almost 12 year old to be and for the life of me I couldn't figure out why he was so disobedient. He kept sticking a stick into this machine that was spinning. And they would tell him no and he would look at them with a blank stare. ( I know now that he didn't understand a word they were speaking to him.)

For the next years until his mission he lived 4 houses away, his family sat two pews ahead of mine at church, we were in the same Sunday School classes, attended the same Youth conferences, and the same school. He was one of my Brother Adam's Best Friends and spent the night at our house on occasion. That being said, all I remember is he wore the same American flag tie each week, spoke with a funny accent, and we would try to get him to teach us naughty words in Russian ( he wouldn't).

 He remembers me dating "weird looking guys" and apparently one time he put burrs in my brother's hair while they were moving pipe and he says that when he came to apologize that I ripped him a new one about treating my brother like that and that it had taken me an hour to get them out of his hair (I don't remember this). Apparently he was afraid of me after that. (And my Dad, he caught Alex letting Derek ride on the hood of his car. My Dad let him have it!)

We never hung out. We never dated. To put it best were were acquaintances, nothing more.

So how did to strangers become Husband and Wife for Time and all` Eternity?

Summer 2004

The Day I got home from a very spiritual and life changing Pioneer Trek with the Young Single Adults (YSA) ward they had a special meeting for us, on the stand sat a very handsome yet somewhat familiar face. I turned to my Dad and asked "Is that Alexey Turner?" He confirmed it was and I was like "Wow, he has changed."

That Country Fair days he was selling lace temples and pictures. I spent at least a half of an hour talking with him about  the lace and how he started selling it before purchasing some for myself. He doesn't remember this at all. He had a calling in our home ward as a Sunday School teacher for the 16-18 year olds so he rarely came to the YSA ward.

October 31, 2004

I attended our home wards Halloween party. He opened the door and asked what I was suppose to be. He doesn't remember this either. He likes to say God wouldn't let him see me until it was time. Frankly I was wondering what I needed to do to get noticed. What did it take? The blue shirt in our engagement picture is what I was wearing when he finally noticed me.

November 7, 2004 My Mom's Birthday

I woke up with butterflies in my stomach, not sure why I got up and got dressed for church for some reason taking extra time that morning. My phone rang and the Bishop called wanting to meet with me. After receiving a new calling I was more relaxed and made my way to Sacrament meeting. I sat by myself because the young lady I usually sat with (who just happens to be his sister Jamie) wasn't there.

I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and feel someone watching me. I looked around just in time to see him quickly turn his attention back to the speaker. This happened several times during the meeting he would be staring at me but when I would turn to smile he would look the other way. As soon as the meeting got out I saw him in a chair in the foyer. Deciding to take matters into my own hands I walked up to him and started a conversation. It went like this.

Me: Hi you staying for classes?
Him: Why do you wanna know?
Me: I was just wondering....
Him: Why?
Me: I usually sit with your sister and she isn't here today.
Him (interrupting me): I will stay and sit with you if you really want me to.
Me: No, that's okay.

And I turned around and walked away. Wow, I thought I definitely don't need that. Then I here my name being called through the chaos in the hall. I turned around to see Alex.

Him: Would you like to go on a date Wednesday? Why a Wednesday? He told me later so that if the date was bad he wouldn't have wasted his weekend. .  Nice huh?
Me:  Um sure what time?

What did I just agree to? Oh well, it's just a date and I had promised my self never to turn one down and to give everyone a chance. I texted my brother Adam. He took awhile to respond with an Oh.

Adam was worried about me going on a date with one of his best friends. His wife's response.

"It's not like they are getting married."