First of all, let's start with July of last year. When I went to Newfoundland for my first journalism job, I was able to meet two of the missionaries from church who were serving in Grand Falls-Windsor. One of them was Elder Gibb.
Fast forward to April of this year when Keaton was home after his mission. I learned that he really liked the new Star Wars, which I really like as well. We started chatting on Facebook a little bit. That led to texting and ultimately Skype.
Our first skype call was pretty easy going,but our second Skype call was the best. We decided to share the screen to watch Star Wars but the sound wouldn't work for me. We ended up turning the volume off and improvised the lines for a while. Keaton stopped the movie to ask me something. It was along the lines of liking each other. It was pretty big and happened fast but we decided to try "online dating"
It didn't take long to decide I would come visit him. It took a lot of sacrifice, but here is the story of my time in Edmonton, Alberta.
I flew out of Charlottetown on June 30 at 4:35, first to Montreal then a stop in Ottawa. We left there for Edmonton, all the while I felt so much excitement.
We landed in Edmonton around 10:30, but there was lightning so we couldn't get off right away. After about 20 minutes, I was walking off the plane, legs shaking and so many thoughts going through my head. While everyone else took the escalator, I bolted down the stairs instead. I saw Keaton, standing behind some people. All I said was hi and ran right in for the first hug.
[We have remember here that Keaton and I hadn't seen each other in person in a year, and he was on a mission the last time I saw him, so there would have been no hugs anyway, so this was a pretty big deal]
Anyways, after our first hug, I was out of breath and pretty flustered. He took my bag for me and we walked to the car. We made a stop at the Edmonton Alberta Temple to see it, which was great. We drove to Sherwood Park and we went to McDonald's which had been our plan to get dollar drinks. However, the car started acting up so we had to call his parents. While waiting for them, a nice drunk fellow came to look at the car and tried to give some advice. Once Keaton's parents came, we had to leave the car there and take the van to Keaton's grandparents to get their car, since neither of them were home.
We went to Keaton's house and I was able to get settled in. We watched an episode of The Office, then Keaton's twin brother Austen and cousin Jeremy came home.
I was sent to bed from travelling all day.
Day One
We got up Friday morning and got ready for Canada Day festivities. We started at the pancake breakfast, then Keaton and I walked around to see different things going on in a nearby park.
His mom picked us up and we went with her to the hospital to visit her mother, who had knee surgery. After visiting her, she took us to a popular bakery called Duchess Bake Shop.
She got us some delicious treats and dropped us off at the legislature grounds. Keaton and I ate and walked around to see a lot of what was going on for Canada day.
Keaton's mom came back for us and took us home for a bit. The three of us went to a BBQ for a bit to see some of their family friends.
Around 10, we went back the park we went to in the morning to watch the fireworks and they were so good!
Day Two
Saturday was great. Before heading to the mall, Keaton drove me to see the Edmonton Alberta Temple again. And it was so nice to walk on the grounds and see it!
We then headed for the West Edmonton Mall. We started with the amusement park called Galaxyland. We did a lot of the good rides, like the Mind Bender roller coaster. So much fun!
We got one free game with our day pass bracelets so we played one and Keaton ended up winning a stuffed Pikachu. We felt bad and were going to give it to a kid who played but they all were gone. Now it's in Keaton's room since I couldn't bring it back!
Our post roller coaster faces
With our Pikachu Carl
We went to a few stores like Hot Topic where I got a Star Wars phone case and we went to Rockport and I got my employee discount on new shoes and for socks for Keaton!
We didn't go to the water park, but we did go look at it (it's huge by the way), and we also saw the giant pirate ship.
We left the mall and went back to Keaton's house. His brother Theo and sister in law Kenzie decided to come up from Calgary to meet me which was great! We had family dinner, then played Apples to Apples and Charades.
We also went to a place called Escape City, and for anyone who doesn't know, it's basically being put in a room and you're given puzzles or clues to find something.
Keaton and I went into a room with his parents and Theo and Kenzie. We didn't finish in time and a worker came in at the end and told us all the steps it would have taken us.
Day Three
Sunday morning meant church time. Keaton and Austen and I all got ready to go pick some people up to attend the singles ward. It was fast and testimony meeting and it was really amazing. We heard so many good testimonies.
We then had Sunday school, then Keaton and Austen stayed for priesthood and I met with Rebekah Mahoney for relief society. Rebekah is from Nova Scotia and I know her from youth when we were teenagers. She served her mission on Temple Square in Salt Lake City and moved to Edmonton when we was off her mission. It was so great to see her!! After church, we stayed for choir practice and then took someone home.
Rebekah and I
We had to run to Keaton's family ward to see his parents quickly, then we went to visit his nana again because he and Austen were going to give her a priesthood blessing. It was incredible to be there for that. We went home after visiting her and Keaton and I called my mom to chat with her and tell her what we had been up to.
When all of the family was home from church, we started preparing dinner because we were having the new mission president and his wife and daughter over for dinner. Their names are the Pattison's and the reason we invited them is because they are from New Brunswick in my stake. Keaton also met President Pattison while on his mission. It was really awesome to see them!
Sister Pattison, President Pattison, Keaton, Kayla, Chaya Pattison
After cleaning up, Keaton and Austen and I went to their friends apartment to visit him and his girlfriend. We stayed for a little bit to play a couple games.
Keaton and I Skyped with his sister Courtney and her husband Tom when we got back to the house. That was pretty funny and good to meet them, even over Skype.
Then, the moment had finally come - we finally watched Star Wars: The Force Awakens in real life with sound on a big screen. We were so excited! After it was over, we stayed up talking, which was pretty great.
Keaton woke me up at 8 and asked when we should go to the airport. I told him we could go once I was ready.
The flight was at 11:40, but we left after 9 to drive there together and chill before hand. Eventually, I had to get in line for security and he had to leave and get back to go to work. I won't go into too much detail, but it was pretty emotional and one of the hardest things we've had to do in the relationship. Although it was sad to leave, the trip was such a blessing on our lives and we're very grateful for the opportunity. People thought I was crazy to go to Alberta for three days to visit a guy I met once, but it was so worth it.
