Alicia and Cody

Alica's Story-

Cody and I met at the University of Maryland Institute of Religion during the summer of 1996. He was fresh off of a mission and I was working downtown (Washington D.C.) between semesters. We started talking while at a fourth of July activity--we went with the young single adults to go hear the symphony concert and watch the fireworks downtown. I guess you could say we started out with a "bang!"
During one of our conversations that night, we somehow got on the subject of my sister and I expressed how great of a mother she was and how I hoped to be like her. That really struck him because he had a great desire to be a good father and even chose a different career path than the one he originally wanted because it was more suited for family life.
We started dating seriously a couple months later, but it took him awhile to figure out I was "the one". We had both been praying to know if we should get married and while my answer was calm and reassuring, his came through an experience while picking me up at the airport after a trip out west over the holidays. My plane was experiencing technical problems before we were to land. Cody was waiting at the gate and because of his experience as an EMT and as a beginning pilot, he recognized that the emercency crews and vehicles on the tarmac were for MY plane and he stood alone watching through the window as the plane landed. At that moment it was confirmed to him that his future wife was on that plane. Everything was fine and it landed without any difficulties.
Cody spent some time training in Holland for a job that would ultimately take us to Arizona. While he was there, I visited him and he proposed to me in the picturesque chapel of a castle. Following our fairy tale-like engagement, there were six hard months apart as he trained and I served a four-month mission in Nauvoo as a Young Performing Missionary.
After we were married, It was anything but a fairy tale.We had both grown up in very different households. We both were still young and selfish in many ways. But, we had made sacrifices to get married and while times were tough,we knew that the Lord wanted us to be married and would help us make it work. Even though there were difficult times, there were also some awesome times, as well! We both felt that our courtship should not end even after marriage and we made it a point to do kind things for each other and make memories. Each year, our marriage has gotten stronger and stronger as has our relationship with the Lord and our own desire to serve each other and serve our children. We are now to the point (after 14 years) that I can't remember the last time we argued. He is my best friend and I can't think of a better person to spend the rest of my life and eternity with!
It is so much fun and it is such a comfort to be married. We have five beautiful children and most of the time life is crazy, but I can't imagine what it would be like to be old or ready to die and not be able to look back at the memories, the love and the relationships formed with eternal bonds. How lonely it would feel! I'm so grateful to know that those relationships will continue for me as I live my life in a worthy way!

Amy and Jim

Amy's Story....We met in the middle singles ward (Church for singles) for 31 to 45 in Tempe. Our first date was over Labor Day weekend about a year before we got engaged. We were both serving on the activities committee (this is a calling/job she performed for the singles group at her church). He said he first started wanting to become reacquainted with me because the Suns were in the playoffs and I was talking about watching them and that got his attention as he is a big sports and Suns fan.

We started dating regularly in 1996 and got engaged 7 months later. He said at Christmas 1996 that Alex, her niece, asked him at my parent's house, so Jim do you love Amy? She was almost 4 years old. I prayed in Feb. 1997 about if he was the one I should marry even before he proposed to me and I got an answer yes, that he was one of the Noble Elders of Israel. I remember meeting his parents in Feb. 1997 for the first time and I was a nervous wreck due to my shyness. They quickly put me at ease and were very nice. We were sealed (LDS marriage ceremony) in the Mesa Temple on Sept. 13, 1997. We were able to go on a honeymoon to Orlando and visit the Magic Kingdom and Epcot Center. It was a fairy tale honeymoon.

Shortly after we lived in Tempe in an apartment for 8 months and then purchased a townhouse in Chandler. I started having health issues with my Crohns disease less than two years after our marriage. Jim had never seen me really sick but he was there by my side through it all even though it was difficult. I was so thankful not to have to go through the problems alone.

We were able to adopt our wonderful son and be sealed to him in July 17, 2004. We have had our ups and downs over the last 14 years but we are committed and share one anothers burdens. He has learned to enjoy Country Music and I have learned to enjoy various concerts and sports together. We also share a love of travel and political issue and current events. We also love to travel and spend time with family and friends. You have heard the saying that the family that prays together stays together and that is true.

We both have our weaknesses and strengths and we realize that we are not perfect and that's okay. I thought I would never get married or have a child and I have been blessed to have both a wonderful husband and a son who is the light of my life. Our marriage is a two way street. We never hold grudges and say sorry when we need too. We are each others best friend. Communication is important and listening too and we try to do both daily. We have made each other a better person. I have learned to be more patient, kind and a better listener and friend from Jim. He is the answer to my prayers and my knight in shining armor. He has been there for me through thick and thin . He is trustworthy and honest. If he says he will do something you can bet he will follow through get it done.

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Thank you, Amy, for writing your love story. Today Amy and Jim celebrate their 14th wedding anniversary. Happy Anniversary! May you have many more years of 'true love and continue in your happily ever after'.

Frankie and Lucy

Francisco (Frankie) and Lucia (Lucy) married on this day. It would have been their 50th wedding anniversary if Frankie had lived. On his death bed, you could see they had a love, dedication and commitment to each other. They met when Lucy was just a girl of 16 and married when she was 17. They had 8 children. Frankie was much older than she was, but he was ever true in his devotion for her. Times and their culture was different then it was today. However, the love that could be shared between a man and a woman was the same. Theirs is a story of dedication until the end. Lucy said she would never marry again. Her heart only belongs to Frankie.



(This blog is dedicated to them and to all of you out there would think there's no such thing as TRUE LOVE and HAPPILY EVER AFTERS.