Erica Saunders is our June 2017
Spotlight. Erica just received a new
calling and is now serving as the 1st counselor in the Relief Society
presidency. She is most grateful for her family. She has three children and two
grandchildren and loves being a grandma. She is currently working as a
competitive gymnastics coach but has many years’ experience as a preschool
gymnastics director. Her youngest child was a competitive gymnast for 12 years
and was a level 10 gymnast for three years. She started coaching at The Little
Gym to get her free gymnastics. Her favorite flower is Hydrangea and her
favorite song is "Where Can I Turn for Peace".
Erica and Marv Saunders just
celebrated their 3rd Anniversary.
Below she shares her proposal story in her own words:
“When we dated and knew we would
marry, I told him I would want a real proposal with a ring and done in a romantic
way that took some thought (In my first marriage it I was proposed to in a
rather tacky way and with no ring-I wasn't even really sure I was being
proposed to).
Marvin and I looked at rings so that
he knew what I liked but we decided that he would choose a ring for me, one
that he liked too and that it would be a surprise.
I knew he ordered a ring. I was
anxious and nosy and kept asking questions. He told me one day at dinner that
he wanted to take me out to breakfast the next day but said the ring hadn't
come in yet so it wouldn't be this weekend that he would be proposing. I
believed him even though it was suspicious that he wouldn't tell me where we
were going and it was a place that took reservations… for breakfast!!!
We were planning to attend the
temple after breakfast. As we were driving I had a feeling that we were going
to Salish Lodge. I was right. Also unbeknownst to him, as he was driving I
noticed a square bulge in his right pants pocket that was unmistakingly a ring
box! I can't tell you how excited I was. I didn't say a thing and just waited…wondering
when, where, and how he would do it. He reserved the largest private table with
the best view of the falls. The weather was beautiful and the falls were
breathtaking (there would be a snow storm later that evening!).
He was so nervous. There were times
he started to say something but didn't. Later he told me he never knew when the
waitress would come in and didn't want to ruin the moment. He finally slid his
chair from the table and got on one knee and pulled out the box and said some
beautiful words to me. It was the best day ever!
He kicks himself to this day that it
wasn't a complete surprise. But I loved that I knew it was coming. I would not of
had it any other way!”
(We're so glad she said yes and moved into our ward!)
