Our Story
Some love lasts a lifetime. True love lasts forever.
~ Author Unknown ~
About a girl...
Hiya! My name is Athenais McKenzie Arndt, and I'm the bride to be. I was born on December 16, 1986 to Richard and Karen Arndt in Minot North Dakota. I have one younger sister, Alexandra. I was raised in Stanley, North Dakota, and attended Stanley High School. While in school, I was involved in volleyball, cheerleading, FCCLA, and was active clarinet-ist in the band, and a soprano in the choir. I earned a few spare dollars working the pizza station at the local Quik Stop. I graduated from Stanley High in 2005.
I currently attending Minot State University in the pursuit of a degree in History Education. I will complete my degree in spring of 2010. I am currently empolyed at Vanity, where I am a team lead and denim expert.
My intrests include Disney movies, fashion, reading Cosmo and Glamour, taking naps, and kicking butt in Guitar Hero!
About a boy...
Jon Casey Padgett, the groom to be, was born on January 5,1981 to Mike and Kelly Padgett in Valdosta, Georgia. Jon has one younger sister, Julie. Mike was in the Air Force, so the family moved often. When Jon was eight, the family moved from Georgia to Louisiana. They were stationed there until Jon was in the sixth grade. They then moved to Minot, North Dakota. Jon attended Minot High, where his passion, was and still is, bowling. He achieved many great feats, including his first 300, while a youth bowler. He graduated from Minot High in 1999.
Jon then attended college at Minot State University, where he earned a degree in criminal justice. He had been employed at Target and at the Roll N Pin Resturant. He graduated in December 2004. He continues to work at the Roll N Pin as a supervisor.
Jon's hobbies include bowling league, poker, and being a useless trivia junkie. His areas of useless knowledge include movies and sports. Ask him anything sports-related, and he knows the answer.
Boy Meets Girl...
Jon and I sort of met through a mutual friend, ironically that neither of us are friends with anymore. I had met Malenius at the North Dakota State Fair in Minot in summer of 2005, where I learned that he also attended MSU. We exchanged email addresses, and one night while talking on messenger, Malenius told me he had a friend that he wanted me to meet. I said okay, and Malenius gave Jon my email address.
Before we had a chance to talk online, Jon and I were both waiting at Wal*Mart to pay. (You know how Wal*Mart is, never enough cashiers) We got to talking, and discovered that we each knew Malenius and that this was the guy that Malenius wanted to set me up with! How totally random is that! Anywho, Jon and I called and talked to each other online. Later that week, Jon and I had our first date, on August 29th, 2005. Since that day, Jon and I were inseperatable.
We became best friends, and knew we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together.
Girl Says Yes!
March 2007. Jon and I had been dating for a year and a half. Jon knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with this girl. Over spring break of 2007, we went on a trip to meet the family in Georgia. On March 9, we flew into Atlanta. On Saturday, March 10 Jon and I went sightseeing at Lookout Mountain, in Chattnooga, TN. We toured through Ruby Falls, an underground waterfall 150ft below ground. I knew Jon was acting kind of funny, and thought that maybe this would be it. He didn't.
Then we toured through Rock City. Jon was nervous the entire time, and didn't seem to be having a good time. I suggested we leave, but Jon said no I want to finish touring the park. We walked around a little more, when they came to a cave called Magic Valley on the Enchanted Trail. Jon said, "I have something to ask you, Athenais." He knelt down on one knee, grabbed my hand and told me how much he loved me and wanted to spend the rest of his life with me. Then he said "Will you marry me?" I was speechless! I don't really remember what I said, but I think it was along the lines of "oh my gosh, are you kidding me?! Yes!! Of course I will!" Then I asked if there was a ring. He said "Oh, God, I left it in the car!"
