The Story Of Us

The Beginning...

In 8th grade, I remember going to a boys basketball game at Gunnison High School. Obviously I was still in middle school at the time, but I remember watching a very good looking senior dribble down the court with an opposing player on his butt trying to knock the ball from his hands. He abruptly stopped at the 3 point line, opponent flying past, he shot, and... swish. Nothing but net. After that game, I never really thought much about Whit Higham. But for some reason, that memory has stuck with me all through high school and these past 2 and ½ years of marriage.

I was in a high school music choir called Cantus with Whit’s younger sister Kira. We didn’t exactly “hang out” but we were friendly towards one another. I’m 2 years younger than her. I vividly remember the day Whit got his mission call. We were all standing around the piano warming up and Kira told everyone he was going to the Philippines. I remember the day before he left for his mission, Kira cried in class. She was dreading saying goodbye the next day.

In June 2007, I remember looking in the Gunnison Gazette for an article that was written on me and a couple other girls that were attending girls state. While reading I noticed Whit’s picture and a little article saying he had returned home from his mission. I guess you could say that was the first “spark”. I’d forgotten how good looking he was.

Those are the memories I have of Whit before the beginning of us. They aren’t really special, but they’re there.

As most people know, at this time in my life I was very involved in pageants. I was Miss Gunnison and 1st Attendant to Miss Sanpete. I wasn’t dating anyone, but I was VERY flirtatious. The Sanpete County Fair is held in August every year. The Miss Sanpete Royalty always oversees a lot of the activities held. That year at the Derby, the royalty did a lot for entertainment. One thing we did was throw out prizes to the crowd. I remember I was throwing mugs and I saw Ian Harward sitting over on the fence. ( I really really liked Ian...) As I passed I yelled “Hey Ian” and we exchanged words briefly. One thing that was later brought to my attention was Whit was sitting right next to Ian and I didn’t even notice!haha (oops)

Later that December, Whit spoke in my wards sacrament meeting. I was 17. I walked in a tiny bit late and saw he was sitting on the stand. My mom elbowed me and whispered “he’s really cute.” When he got up to speak, he asked for one of the bishopric’s shoe. (Honestly I don’t remember what the point of the shoe was, but it got everyone’s attention... including mine.) While he spoke, he kept looking at me. The first few times he did, I didn’t think anything of it... But as his talk went on, he looked at me more and more. That was the first time he gave me butterflies.

I got a call from my friend Tilly on New Years. She asked if I wanted to go to the single’s ward that next Sunday. I was a little skeptical. I wasn’t 18 till the end of January and I didn’t want to feel out of place. After a few minutes of telling her I didn’t really want to go, she very casually mentioned that Ian would probably be there... Needless to say, I went out to the single’s ward that week. When we walked in I was a little nervous. I guess it was because I didn’t really know what to expect. I saw Ian over in the corner talking to the 3 other people that were there. He saw me walk in, but didn’t really seem to care. So instead of walking over to him like I normally would have done, I shook the branch presidents hand and walked into the chapel. Then I saw Whit. He walked over to us and talked to us for a minute. Sacrament started and church went on like regular church. During testimony meeting, Whit got up and bore his testimony. I was blown away. The spirit he carried and the way he used his words was amazing. That was one of the pivotal moments in our story. It was the first time I ever really wanted to be with Whit. I had only talked to him a few times but just somehow knew we were going to eventually date. (I’m a very driven and goal oriented person. I’m also a little bit of an over achiever. When I decide I want something to happen... It usually does.) On fast Sundays, they always do a “Meet and Greet” or “Break the Fast”. Tilly and I had no intention of staying to eat. But, Whit made sure we stayed. I grabbed my food and sat down at a table... Whit sat across from me.

I didn’t go back out to the single’s ward till my birthday. Tilly didn’t want to go back but I didn’t let that stop me. I really enjoyed it out there. With or with out Whit, I LOVED the single’s ward. The months that followed were very quick. I saw Whit every Sunday at church, Monday at FHE, and Tuesday at institute. We usually sat by each other and were always flirting. In this amount of time, he and his girlfriend broke up (not because of me) and I had gotten a scholarship to snow. It was the end of my senior year and I was SO busy. In April, I handed down the crown for Miss Gunnison Valley. The pageant was held on a Friday. The Sunday before I told him he should come watch. He said he would have to see but to look for him. The night of the pageant he wasn’t there. I searched the audience and didn’t see his face. It was a really good night and I handed down the crown to my best friend, Ashley. That following Sunday I didn’t sit by Whit. I was mad he didn’t come. Maybe it was childish of me... But my way of thinking was that if he was into me he would have. So I walked in and sat by Levi Christensen. I liked Levi. He was a nice guy and I’d been around him for a while helping his little sister Hannah prepare for Miss Gunnison and his mom wanted us to date. (I love Levi’s mother still to this day! Alice, you are one of my favorite people! I Love You!) I saw Whit’s face when I sat down next to Levi... It was a look of confusion, frustration, and panic. I felt his eyes on me for the first few minutes. Finally I couldn’t help but look at him. When I did, he mouthed “You did really good Friday night.” I mouthed back, “You weren’t even there.” After, church he told me he really was there. I didn’t believe him so I asked him who won. To my surprise he knew the whole royalty. He said he had sat by his Dad and Wendy. So I wasn’t mad anymore.

May came fast that year. And I was asked out on a date. By none other than Jake Childs. Jake was nice and it felt good to be asked out. We went up the mountain and had a bon fire with a few other people. I couldn’t help but notice that the whole way home, Jake kept trying to hold my hand. He held his hand open on the middle console the whole way home. I liked Jake but I guess not enough to hold his hand. I liked Whit a whole lot more. The next Sunday he asked me over to watch a movie. I went and had fun... But the whole time I was with Jake I really wanted to be with Whit. Jake told me he’d call me on Thursday to go play tennis and I was excited because I love tennis! Thursday came... and no call. So I set up my new cell phone instead.

My present for graduation was a cell phone. My parent’s had a rule growing up that we couldn’t have a cell phone till graduation. I was SO excited to finally have one. I got my phone on Thursday June 5th. The first person I texted was Ashley Wegener... Who is now Ashley Sanderson. I told her I had my phone or whatever and that was it. Then I sent my number to Whit around 10pm. I didn’t really expect a reply right away because it was a little later... But a couple minutes went by and he texted back. After an hour or so of talking he invited me over. Before I knew it I was in my car driving to Mayfield.