The Two of Us

 The Courtship

For those of you new to the blog, I am Sarah and above is my husband Blake.  I am going to proceed to tell you our crazy fun love story!  Let me begin by saying that the Lord loves to throw curve balls into our lives, changing the paths that we find ourselves on almost a continuous basis.  I was a new freshman at BYU-Idaho, just finished with my first semester and living out the seven week break with my roommates.  I had decided to stay there in lue of returning to Nebraska because I wanted to find a job that would linger through the fall semester.  I was faithfully writing a missionary and had every intention on waiting for him.  I had dealt with a few whirlwind romances since attending the school and was absolutely tired of the insincerity of the boys (particularly in my ward); I had basically sworn off dating until my missionary had returned.  

The Bestest Roommate EVER. Miss Lisa Kay Spencer

Then, one fateful summer day on August 2nd, I was asked by a new boy to go to a movie.  He essentially 'tracked' right up to my doorstep and introduced himself as Blake Rawls.  He was a new student beginning in the fall and had moved in early in order to find a job before school began.  He was looking for some people to go the movies with him, and he asked if I wanted to go.  We walked to the movie together, along with another guy Brian, and viewed The Mummy 3.  It was like instant chemistry.  We talked all throughout the film (even though we weren't supposed too lol) and then went back to my place and chatted for several more hours.  (Brain left early, I think he got the hint).  We really did discuss so many wonderful and deep things for two people who had just met.  I admit that by the end of the night, I was quite smitten.  He called me after our "date" and asked me out officially for a date on Tuesday.  Then, he asked if I would sit next to him in church the next day.  I agreed to both.

Engagement shoot at Mesa Falls

We spent all of church talking, when we could and we mutually decided that we wanted to go to stadium singing together.  He had never been and I thought that it would be fun to introduce him to some of the local activities.  He never failed to treat me like a respected individual-I hadn't been with a guy like that for a long time.  He was attentive and so fun to be around.  After the singing, we didn't want to go home, so we laid out on the stadium soccer field and watched the stars.  It was here that he confessed to really liking me and feeling attracted to me.  He told me that he had not be able to be so relaxed or comfortable with a girl for a very long time (if ever).  I wasn't quite sure what to say to that and left my feelings pretty vague to him.  But, I did feel pretty much the same way.

Monday, I had to work my early morning custodial position.  Blake dropped by around 3:30 and we watched a movie.  He let on that he wanted to hold my hand and so about halfway through the film, he proceed to try a read my fortune (his idea)!  Slick, right?  And the funny part was that he got me pretty much spot on-my likes, personality traits, and future desires.    We went with our ward to Mesa Falls for FHE that night and dealt with all the single's ward teasing that took place.

Our official date, like I said, was on Tuesday.  He planned a picnic in the gardens on campus.  We spent that evening discussing our chemistry and how weird yet wonderful everything was.  We finished up the night with The Phantom of the Opera.  I became his "Christine".  On Wednesday, we mostly stayed in because I had a mosquito bite that had gotten infected-it was pretty hard for me to walk anywhere.  He made spaghetti for dinner.  It seemed like a fairly normal night, until he expressed to me his growing feelings-feeling that he believed were of love in nature.  He did make it clear that I did not have to say anything, but that he just had to let me know how he felt.  He had a photography project and wanted me to be his subject (hence the picture to the right; I love this picture because it was taken the day he declare his love for me!.tee hee). While taking the photos up at the temple, the word marriage did nearly slip from my mouth-Oops :0)  

Photo Blake took while at the Temple that night.

Over the next weekend we had several outings.  I agreed to go to Utah with him over Labor Day and meet his mother, who was flying in to see off a friend's son at the MTC.  He talked to his parents about me over the phone.  We had several talks about marriage and kids over the weekend-all in general, but still...fairly significant.  I could feel the Lord physically pushing me in Blake's direction.  We also shared our first kiss and Blake let me know that he intended to wait as long as it took to be with me!  Crazy fast, right?

The very next day, Monday the 10th, Blake popped the question!  I was not expecting it at all.   We were on the porch swing at a friend's house just watching the sun set and he popped the question.  At first he was being hypothetical-in the future-but, no, it was for real.  I'm not going to lie; I made him wait a minute or two whilst me and the Lord had an on the spot chat.  I obviously did say yes and the ring and the man was mine!  

The Engagement

We were engaged for 8 months.  Some, well a lot, would call us crazy- but, we felt like we needed that time to solidify our feelings and get financially prepared for the marriage commitment.  We set the date for April 10th, 2009 and began slowly making plans.  We chose the Rexburg Idaho Temple because of the sentimental value behind the structure- it was where we met and all.  We made up invites, bought my dress, and secured vendors all while in Rexburg over the fall.  Then, we said adue for the winter, both returning to our families.

      

The Wedding Invitation

Engagement Shoot in Salt Lake (Labor Day Weekend 2008)

Christmas and New Years passed dreadfully slow and then we faced the long cold winter without one another.  Blake did strive to visit for Valentine's Day and for the engagement party that ladies from my home ward put together.  I also took out my endowments at the Winter Quarters Temple that week.   We put together wedding plans constantly.  We talked on the phone incessantly.  I finally switched to his parents phone plan so that it would be free to talk to one another anytime instead of waiting til after nine to talk.  Although this time was extremely difficult, we were given the chance to talk and develop an connection.  The removal of the physical connection made room for the mental and spiritual one to grow every stronger.  But we still couldn't wait until we were in each others arms once again.


Wedding Day did arrive and it was the most special day of my life.  Since then, many wonderful and difficult things have happened and you have shared in most of those experiences with us. I am so grateful for the eternal love I share with Blake and how that love will transcend into the lives of our children.  May God continue to bless your lives as we know that he is blessing ours. 

Wedding Day-Rexburg Idaho Temple-April 10th, 2009