How Stephen and Cher became "Stephen & Cher"

Cher's account:

It was the summer of 2001 and I was about to go into Grade 12. My parents resigned from the Church they pastored in Swift Current, SK and didn't really have a plan as to what to do next. So we did what any other pastoral family does - my dad decided to go back to school. So we moved to Moose Jaw, SK the weekend before school started. I started attending Cornerstone Christian School. The first few days were hard, but didn't take long to meet people, as my class was only 20 or so people. Stephen had graduated the year before from CCS and a lot of his good friends were still in my class. He was also working for his dad, who was doing a huge expansion onto the school. So I saw Stephen pretty much every day at the school. It didn't take long for me to develop a crush. He was so dreamy, in his red bunny hug and white construction hat. I still get giggly thinking about it. Some how, Stephen and myself, and our one other friend, Derek, started hanging out all the time together. We nicknamed ourselves the 3 Musketeers. I didn't know at the time, but both Derek and Stephen liked me.

When I had moved to Moose Jaw I had decided that if I found a guy that I liked, I would be open to dating him. I hadn't dated anyone before that but thought with the fresh meat of Moose Jaw I might find a worthy suitor. I crushed on Stephen for quite a while until one day, the unthinkable happened. He actually liked me back! This was quite hard for to come to terms with, because it had never happened before! I was terrified to say the least; I didn’t know what happens when 2 people like each other at the same time. (I believe my best friend Ashley has quite the memory of me throwing myself on my living room floor unable to handle the drama of it all!) I don't remember all the details but a few that stick out in my head are:

1. Before we were dating, taking Stephen out to Caronport to meet one of my best friends, Becki. Only to realize in the middle of my introduction, that they already know each other. Becki and I went to school together in Swift Current from grade 8 - grade 10. In grade 10, she had come up to visit a friend in Caronport, and had met Stephen. Well Becki is a bomb shell, to say the least, so Stephen had given her his school picture, with some chummy "if you ever in town we should hang out" note on the back. Well she brought it back to Swift and we sat and drooled over it for days after that! The funny part is, fast forward 2 years, and she still has the picture! So we ran to her dorm room and looked at it and couldn't stop laughing.

2. Before we were dating, and I was unsure if Stephen liked me or not, a mutual friend came up to me at school and asked me if I liked Stephen. Well in classic high school fashion I stammered then said “No.” I wasn’t about to admit to a crush with out full knowledge the feeling was mutual. Being the girl that I am, my mind starts going, and I can’t stop thinking and analyzing. “What if Stephen got his friend to ask me, because he wants to know” Well I absolutely freaked out, I remember it was a Friday afternoon. I was 100% certain I had just blown any chance that I had had with Stephen. For some reason Ashley was visiting me, and this is where the throwing myself on the floor comes into play. Looking back, it was hilarious, but then it was anything but! I kept waiting for him to call, as we were supposed to do something. And he finally did and life went back to normal. I later asked him if he had asked our friend to ask me if I liked him. He had no idea what I was talking about. Of course not, he’s a boy!

3. Talking to Stephen on the phone one night and telling him that I had never kissed or even dated anyone before. I remember I said it confidently, with pride (because I was proud) but being terrified on the inside of the possible humiliation. Stephen told me later that when I told him that, it was one of the most attractive things about me.

4. Watching 'The Thin Red Line' (which the line may be thing but it is looooonnnnggg!) and Stephen holding my hand for the first time. We weren't dating. It was one of the most unreal nights of my life. When he drove me home - it was awkward, but good.

5. Talking to Stephen on MSN just a few days after the hand holding situation and making it very clear that he would not, under any circumstance, be asking me out over the computer. (He insists he never had the intention of doing that!)

6. When Stephen did ask me out, it was after we watched a movie, and in classic Cher style, I had fallen asleep. (I can guarantee there was drool) and we were sitting there with the TV blue after, and he asked " So do you want to be my girlfriend?" (or something awkward along those lines) I said "Yes" but Stephen didn't hear me! So I am sitting there like, ok now what. And he is sitting there like Holy crap, didn't expect her not to answer! So after a minute he asks quietly "So will you?" and I am like "Yes, I already said yes!" Boy was he relieved!

So that is how we met, started dating, and some funny things that happened during it all.

This photo was 5 days before we were married

Welcome to my life as of Feb. 20th 2008

I am now 25 years old, single... oh no wait.... actually I got hitched 4 years ago on Jan. 3rd. I gotta try to remember that! She's quite the hotty! Love her to death! I live in Winnipeg (the coldest place on earth next to Siberia) and I’m going to be a papa in about 7 weeks! I can hardly wait. That’s about all that matters. Well no, let’s see what else there is... I’m in University studying History at the U of W. Its good. My main goal there is pretty much just to gain a better understanding of the way the world works. I have ONE dog. Its a Boxer, and she's a brat, but awesome too. She farts and barks, jumps and snores, knocks her food and water over daily, and costs me money, but she's still worth it! Cher has a dog too, but I will let her tell you about him. I bought it as an engagement present for her. I wish I could go back in time and change one decision I made that day! (kinda kidding) I work at Siloam Mission at the moment, doing all the maintenance on the building. I’ve learned lots, and look forward to new challenges. I am in the midst of renovating our home too. I enjoy doing that, and the financial benefits are nice too. In my spare time, I play with the dogs, hang out with Cher or friends, play poker, read or draw, or workout. (not enough!) I have a wonderful family and extended family, and I am thankful to God for all these blessings. Life is pretty good.

The Mighty Hercules and Boxy Roxy

We have 2 dogs - Hercules and Roxy. Hercules is mine and pretty much the bomb. Roxy is Stephen's and well let's just say we are working on it.

Herc's story: Shortly after Stephen and I got engaged I came home one day from work and Stephen had a surprise for me. The cutest little puppy I had ever seen was sitting in my living room! A few days before that Stephen and I had gone to the local pet shop to just look at the animals. Apparently I looked too cute with my face up against the glass talking to the cute little puppy, that Stephen decided I needed to have that dog! So there we are, in my Grandparent's living room (where I was living at the time) (Oh, note to the kids, always ask the owner of the home you are living in before you bring a pet home) with this amazing little rolly polly, all hair puppy that I can fit into the palm of my hand and it hits me: I am a dog owner. Let's just say I started freaking out. I can't take care of this dog! This little thing is going to be solely dependent on me for existence! I don't know anything about dogs! Then Stephen proceeds to tell me that he got there just in time, just after he told the pet store lady that he would buy our little puppy, a younger lady came in to pick out the exact same puppy, but not for herself, oh no, get this, for her elderly uncle who is lonely! (and of course, Stephen also includes the tiny detail that the young lady started crying when the store lady told her the puppy was sold. Thanks hun.) I decide that maybe we could take the puppy back, and the pet store could contact the other people and let the poor old man have the puppy. But apparently you can't just return puppies. So I slept on it (not Herc, but the idea of being a dog owner) and well 4.5 years later, I couldn't imagine my life without my little Hercules.

Hercules is a Pomeranian x Chihuahua. Oh yes, the 2 best breeds in the world made into one furious, needy 10lb guard dog. It took us a few days to come up with Herc's name. We wanted something original, something cool. We actually opened up the encyclopedia and looked under 'Hawaii' to try and find a cool name. Then one day Stephen looked at me and said "Hercules!" It was perfect.

Some of my nicknames for my baby are: Hercy, Herc Jerk, Jerky Herc, Little One, and Hercubees.

Despite what Stephen would say surprisingly about 90% of the people that meet Hercules fall in love. It takes a little time sometimes but he does have a way of winning over peoples hearts.

Roxy is Stephen's Boxer that he just HAD to have this summer. It was the first time Stephen actually put his foot down and said "I am doing this whether you like it or not" So I washed my hands of the decision, and have been able to rub it in his face ever since! During the whole buying a 2nd dog, a much bigger dog process I could never figure out why in the world Stephen would want to complicate our lives like that for the next 10+ years. Then it hit me one day. Stephen has only had farm dogs. The longest Stephen ever had a dog last on the farm was 4 years. Stephen honestly thought Hercules would be dead by now (as he is 4.5). He didn't realize that city dog's have a much longer life expectancy that farm dogs, longer as in 10 years longer. Unfortunately I didn’t' figure that out until after we had gotten Roxy. So kids, don't be surprised if mommy says No when you ask for a dog. But you may want to try Daddy. We will see if he has learned from his mistake, I mean, from Roxy.

It again took a while to come up with a name for Roxy. I did all sorts of research. I wanted to name her Phoebe, who was Hercules first wife, in the greek myth of Hercules. I am glad we didn't though, we have enough problems reminding them that Herc and Roxy are not boy friend and girlfriend. A common phrase heard around our house is "Remember puppies you are brother and sister NOT boyfriend and girlfriend". Nicknames I have for Roxy: the Beast, Boxy Roxy, Roxy the Boxer, Sweet Pea, Baby girl, ROXANNE (thats when she is in trouble, which is a lot), and Boxy. Stephen's nicknames: Pooker. (don't ask there is just no reason)

So here we are, the owners of 2 dogs and with a real life baby on the way. We are so weird. I have no idea how it got to this point. But I kind of like it.

Why

After receiving a link to our friends family blog, Stephen and I thought it would be a great idea to create one of our own. (Our friends Alexandra and Ryan are seriously the best parents ever!).

It's not so much for other people to be kept updated with the fabulous life of Stephen and Cher. (But, if you honestly have nothing better to do, feel free to read away). It's more for us - like a joint journal. So we can remember all the good, bad, firsts, and day to day stuff that happens. Oh, also all of Cher's funny jokes.

But most of all, we thought we would create it for our children. Having children does strange, scary things to a person and how you think. We want them to be able to look back and remember the big memories, but also the little ones. Sometimes the little memories are more important. To be able to peak back into the minds of their mom and dad and see, or try and see, what in the world they were thinking. To leave a family history book of sorts. (that’s for you Stephen!) But I think in the end they will mostly roll their eyes. Oh well.