And At Last: Your Answers

Sorry for the holdup, we just got too busy before leaving for Hawaii and so with no further ado:

Jeremy's answers:

1. What do you like most about being married? ("Hallie" is not allowed as an answer.)
That's a deep question for me. I've always been an independent person in many ways, but when it comes to most things in life, I love to be surrounded by people I love and care about. Growing up (and still) I was/am really close to my parents with me being an only child and because of that my close friends were like family too. So I would say that the companionship of someone I love and care about deeply would be the thing I like most about being married to Hallie. Plus I have a best friend with me all the time to share in the good times and help in the not-so-good times!

2. What specifically made you realize you wanted to marry Hallie?
Lots of things. Things that made me initially like her and intrigued me were that she was fun, not sissy-girly, she liked good food and wasn't picky about almost anything, she was a convert to the church, as far as I could tell she liked some alright music and she had some cool friends.
What sealed the deal was the way I felt with her when we were alone. There was one night particularly when I had an overwhelming feeling come over my entire body and mind that she was the one, so that made a big decision pretty easy for me!

3. At what age are you going to allow your kid to go to his or her first concert?
Ah, great one Jesse. I've pondered this one throughout the years. I went to my first non-parent attended concert at about 13 or 14 and I think I would do the same for my kids. Of course we would drop them, pick them up and know what kind of show it is they would be attending and with what friend(s).

4. Top 3 favorite things to do in Logan.
In no particular order (sorry, I couldn't just do 3!):
-Bridgeboarding
-Foursquare
-Betos sessions (always epic)
-Rollerskating
-Disc Golf
-Pretend like life is still as simple as it was when I lived there
-All of the above with good friends

5. Are you still pro-scooter after the minor accident?
Oh yes. I feel like laying it down with that crash has made me more careful in my scooter-ing and made me more of a seasoned rider if you will.

6. What would be the ultimate achievement in photography or journalism? In life?
To make a living off of either as your sole income. If you're successful enough to do that in either of those fields, then that is an achievement in itself, I think. I wish I could do photo full time, but there's so much risk in working off of straight commission like that. Too many risks right now when I've got a mortgage, car payment, a baby on the way, etc. If I could have done things different, I would have jumped into professional photo headfirst earlier on and built up a clientele of sorts and a name at a time in my life when there weren't so many things to "tie," me down.
In life-to be happy, successful, remain and have all my family remain active in the church and be able to provide the necessities of life for my family and some perks as well.

7. Has it really hit you that you are going to be a parent soon?
Not even close. It doesn't matter how many times I hear the heartbeat, none of this seems close to real yet. Maybe that will change after our ultrasound on Monday...but we'll have to see, maybe it won't feel real till we are holding the baby. The only thing that seems real is how much our combined income is going to drop when Hallie quits working. For someone who has such strong faith in religion, I sure have a hard time believing some things till they are tangible. Funny.

8. If skulls and skeletons actually looked cute and cuddly like teddy bears, would you still like them?
(Even if all other connotations associated with said skulls and skeletons remained the same.)
Neil, I am impressed, but not surprised at the magnitude of your question. This is a real mind-bender, but I think I'd have to say: No, I wouldn't like them the same. As it is, I'm very picky about the skulls and skeletons that I like/choose to endorse by wearing them on a t-shirt or whatnot. If it/they don't look right in my eyes, then I'm not into it/them. That would be a sick and sad alternate world though where cute and cuddly skeletons were the norm...

9. How many times a week do you do it?
Do what? The dishes? The cat litter? Well, just about everyday I guess.

10. What is your ideal beard length?
In between short/trimmed-up and long, unless it's winter time and then I'm into a long beard-it just fits certain times of the year better than others.

11. What is your most embarrassing moment?
Wow. There's too many embarrassing moments for me to keep track of, but how about this embarrassing/nightmare night:
I finally got the guts up to ask a girl to hang out (in college). It was a pretty simple, casual hangout: a bunch of friends' soccer game. Anyway, I went to pick her up with some friends that were going with me. When we got to my car I opened the door for her and slipped on the ice and landed flat on my back. While driving to the indoor place for the game, I slid through a stop sign on the ice and my good friend proceeded to tell her how me and him took a nap together earlier that day (he was on one couch and me on a completely different couch-but in the same room-though he did not mention that, so I had to clarify how weird that sounded) and I can't figure out why he even brought it up to begin with. When we arrived at the indoor arena, I saw a girl sitting on the benches who, earlier that night, I had decided I wasn't going to be hanging out with/dating anymore and who said she was not going to be at the game. Awkward. You see I just wasn't going to call her to hang out again-I was planning on doing the "Fade Out," and I hadn't kissed her or anything, so I didn't feel bad really. Anyway, me and the girl I brought sat down and not five minutes later the other girl walked up to us and started yelling at me-that was when I realized she was nuts (other indications followed, but I will not go into that)-while the girl I brought sat in shock and disbelief like myself. After the game, I had to go listen to a band I was thinking about putting on a show that I had booked. They were very loud and screamy and I knew the girl I brought was a very LDS girl and she looked terrified. Needless to say I never hung out with her again after that night.

12. What is your most proud moment in life?
Hmm...there's a lot of different things that have made me feel proud, but I don't know that I have an ultimate one-at least not one that stands out as the proudest moment.
-Going on a mission, working harder than I ever thought possible (especially in the most un-ideal situations at times) and coming home w/o any regrets.
-The day Hallie and I were married.
-Each time I attend a show I have booked or had a part in booking here in Salt Lake (or elsewhere) that is packed. Those nights it really hits me and I am in disbelief that I am the one responsible for the show that is happening. A position that I never thought I would be in when I was going to shows as a young kid. Kind of like living a dream in a way.

13. What would you do if you only had 1 week to live?
Pray a lot, go to the temple and make sure that my family were going to be taken care of well. Not very exciting, but those are the first things that came to mind!

Hallie's answers:

Jeremy's
The thing I love most about being married is that I have my best friend as my companion and that we get to share this wonderful life together,wither it be good or bad times we always have each other and Jeremy makes my life really interesting, never a dull moment!

Jesse's
1. Our first child has already attended at least 3 concerts/ shows. We will be going with them to appropriate shows until they reach 15/16, that's the idea at least unless they really like rap then we'll probably change our stance!
2. See all our family and friends, go roller skating with friends, and I love going to the Logan Temple.
3. Yes, I'm just a little bit more worried for "Epic Scooter Rides". I also feel that really no matter what Jeremy is doing there is always a possibility that he might get hurt! It's just a fact of life!
4. The one thing that always makes me laugh is how Jeremy pushes his glasses on, he looks like such a nerd with the one finger sliding them back on to his nose when they fall down. I seriously laugh and make fun of him each time!

Leslie's
So many times it's hard to keep track!

Jason's
I love Jeremy having a beard, but I like it short and well kept. When he goes through the mountain man phases it drives me nuts!

I think that what makes some converts so amazing is that they had to find this... I mean it was a truly life changing experience that happened at just the right moment and when you finally find that thing you've been searching for or wondering about your whole life and it just clicks you become who you were meant to be. I know I am a totally different person since I found the Church and that it has completely changed my outlook on life. Along with that I think what else sets us apart is that whenever we come into this church we are starting fresh, much like a child we don't know or fully understand alot of the Doctrine or BOM stories or just basics of the church and we hunger for that knowledge and that light. What else also amazes me is that I know how strongly the spirit touched me and the exact moment when I knew the church was true, it was a humbling and wonderful experience that I want to keep with me forever. I assume that most converts have that same experience and that's one thing that if you were raised with this feeling you might not recognize how very special it is to feel for the first time.

1-what is your most embarrassing moment?
When my Sister told my boyfriend in High School I had a mustache and/or the time I snorted like a pig in front of the whole 9th grade.
2-What is your most proud moment in life?
The day I got Married, someone once told me it would take me a really long time to find someone to marry me...three months later he proposed.
3-What would you do if you only had 1 week to live?
Take Jeremy to Greece & Disneyland.

Meg's
1. What names do you have in mind? Fart Wilkins, boy or girl!
2. Would you rather have a boy or girl? Boy, but you know we'll love whatever! we find out on the 12th
3. Which is a more important characteristic for your child to have: a good ear for music or strong hands for back rubbing? good ear for music!

Also, I've always been interested in your conversion story, Hallie, but never really talked to you about it (not sure why). I'd love to hear what made you interested in the church and what led to your decision to join.

Basically there comes a point when you wonder; why you're here, what life is really all about, and where your going. I hit that point at 15. I don't know that you want to know all of the events that I feel lead me to this point because there are many so I'll make it short. I was dating Paul Saunders and we had many discussions about church one of which lead me to really question what I did believe religiously, I had no idea. So that night I decided to pray, I had no idea to who I was praying I didn't even know if I believed in a God, but I said a small prayer that I would be able to figure out what I did believe. I read a few books that my mom had about religion and they were okay, but didn't really seem to answer the questions I had.
A few months later on my 16th birthday I went to meet Nicole White at founders day, and as we walked to her car she mentioned she had something to give me but that she was scared to and she didn't want to offend me. She gave me a copy of the Book of Mormon with her testimony inside. The missionaries had been walking around at the square and asked her if she knew anyone who they could share the gospel with and she told them about me and how it was my birthday they gave her a book and told her this would be the best gift she could give me. It has been the best gift I have ever received. She then told me that if I was interested I could take the discussions and learn more about the church. To be honest I agreed to take the discussions so that I could prove that this was the wrong church, it didn't really work out for me that way. Three months later as I was waiting for some amazing answer to my prayers of wither I should be baptized it came to me in a small and simple way, I felt the spirit and knew in an instant what I needed to do. I was baptized a few weeks later on December 22, 1999.
And I remember you and your family being there, thank you Meg!