Excerpt from Rob's Journal

Saturday, February 10, 2001

Dear! Dear! Dear! Dear! Dear! ... I am such a slacker when it comes to writing in my journal lately--I am going to sum up.
Met Tamra--didn't know how I felt about Tamra. Held her hand, began relationship--went back, started again--relationship reinstated. Confusion! AO or Tamra--Pray...Pray...Think...Pray...Think...Pray and think simultaneously---I like Tamra...I want to marry Tamra. Fire from Heaven enters my heart and attacks my appendages! All thoughts and feelings considering AO for future wife are dismissed and knowledge begins to grow of Tamra...and this vision grows and is strengthened. Two weeks later she asks me what she sees in my eyes--I was giving her a look I guess--It was October 14th. I told her I wanted to ask her a question but didn't feel ready to ask yet...but if I were to ask how would you respond, I queired. She had to think and pray about it. The next night she proposed to me. I was surprised but was reminded of my answer. I said yes.
The nesxt two months were busy. Behind in school work, stress, getting to know more about one another. Working through differences and emotions, but having a great time together and growing in love. (One quick note...I fell in love w/her to begin with while mopping the floor. Cleaning is a celestial duty! It just came to me and love for her filled my heart. This was before the engagement...Where was I...) Plans came together and family made it out. I got to take her through the veil in the temple, and the love I had for her grew. As I knelt across from her the next morning and saw her in her beautiful dress and the temple clothing my heart soared. Our eyes were filled w/love and excitement for one another.
Honeymoon went great--don't really need too many details. Spent it in a number of places. Three receptions later we finally ended the wedding ride and began "real life" and now we have been at it about 1 1/2 months. Growing so much. Loving, laughing, learning and living (or at least trying to live). Differences have been discovered, changes have been made. In learning about her I have learned about myself. A lot of self reflection. Priorities. Marriage is hard, but I am grateful I married Tamra. I continue to know it is right.
Just today I was playing football w/B and some other guys. Tamra came about 1:00 to pick me up. She climbed out of the car. It was a beautiful day and the sunlight hit her beauitful face. She shone. Her eyes sparkled. She was so gorgeous, and it is a picture that I hope will forever be implanted in my brain. I fell in love w/her again. ... I had missed her. I hugged and kissed her.
Life is busy but we are going to make it. Life is hard at times but we are happy and are going to be happy for forever. ... I know it. She is the love of my life and creates within me a vision of eternity.
RIT

December 21, 2000 – We Finally Got Married!!

December 21, 2000 – We Finally Got Married!!

Okay, so 2 months doesn’t seem like a long engagement, but it had been a long time for me. A very stressful, long time at that. I was tired and worn out, but happy to be getting married to Rob!

The sealing ceremony was at 10 a.m. or somewhere around that time. Rob and I got to drive down to the temple together, which was fun. We had to do some paperwork and then we met for a minute with the sealer. He was a nice man. He worked making glass eyes and I remember him saying that it would be hard to make a glass eye to replace mine because my eyes were so pretty. It was cute for him to say.

Then we were in the sealing room surrounded by family and love. I had been waiting for this moment for a long time and there was nothing anti-climactic about it. It was everything I hoped it would be. The sealer told lots of insights about the endowment ceremony, most of which was over my head because I had just received mine the day before and it’s a lot of information to take in at once (or even twice or ten times). He gave us some good advice about not going into debt and being patient with money. And then he sealed us for time and all eternity. Rob’s dad and my dad were the witnesses and they got to sign their names very officially on the marriage license.

I had been praying ever since we got engaged that Ruben would be at the sealing ceremony. I think I probably expected to physically see him there. And I didn’t physically see him, but I felt his presence and I felt how pleased he was with me. There is a line said in the sealing ceremony that indicates that angels are watching the ceremony. I knew that Ruben was one of those angels. This brought me happiness and peace.

We walked out of the temple that day companions for eternity. I couldn’t have been happier. I thought back on the revelation I’d had about my wedding day. About the happiness I’d felt in that vision that I couldn’t duplicate for all I tried. I felt that happiness and joy on my wedding day. It was cold as cold can get that day, but my heart was full of gladness and warmth. I knew it was the Spirit testifying to me that I had done the right thing and married a good man.

Rob: I knew I had married my best friend. I was excited for our life together. I would do it again. She is the love of my life for all eternity.


Well, that’s the story. The rest of the details fall under our marriage, not our courting and engagement. Being married to Rob is everything I hoped it would be and more.

written Spring 2006