I first met Rob when I was 14. I was playing volleyball on the Aubrey JV team. I was our setter. Well, Rob was sitting at the top of the bleachers in the old Prosper gym. He was there with Justin Gamel, who was there to see his girlfriend play. I remember being beside Tamra, my friend at the time, on the court trying to figure out which one was Rob. That's when I spotted him...I have to admit, I wished he was there to see me. He was a doll! Everything I had always dreamed of dating! Tall, really cute, and VERY good at baseball. You see, I was really good at softball, and in my 14 year old mind, the only thing that could go with a good softball player...was a good baseball player! It was only logical, of course. Anyway, this was in the Fall of 1995, so Rob was a Junior and my friend and I were freshman. Rob had a tall baseball cap on, like the kind baseball players used to wear before the 'low profile' kind they wear now.
Well, Rob and Tamra started dating and I believe they dated for 3 years and I really didn't care for Rob! Yeah, I thought he was really cute and he did some really adorable things. One thing I remember distinctly was that he would turn his hat around backwards, very cocky like, and say, "When I turn my hat around backwards, it's like a switch that comes on!" It was so cute! Even though I didn't like him that much then, I still just about melted everytime he would do it!
As I got to know more of Rob...well first let me tell you that I didn't date much in high school. I had a few boyfriends, but they always grossed me out, so I would usually dump them. I know...I was very picky...but I couldn't help it if they grossed me out! I got to know Rob so much because I didn't have a boyfriend, and Tamra was my best friend, so we were always together, and since she wanted to spend time with her boyfriend and me, we would always do things together.
Anyway, as I got to know Rob, he was one of the best guys you could ever meet. He came from a Christian home; his dad was a pastor at a Baptist church and I was baptist and a christian. He had good values, he was a baseball player (which was important) and he was hot...he just had a flat butt. :-) Which was also important to a 14 year old...nice cowboy butts were always important! I remember thinking, I want to marry someone like Rob, only someone like Rob who wasn't a jerk...because Tamra made me believe he was a jerk!
Well, they broke up shortly after graduation. Tamra and I stopped being friends in January of 2000. I just felt that we were going our seperate ways in life and I didn't feel like we were life long friends. I do still cherish the times we had in high school to this day because she was just about my only friend my Senior year. I was friends with all of the older kids and they had all graduated 2 years before me!
Fastforward one year, to Summer 2000.
Summer 2000 was a tremendously hard summer for me. I had decided to give up my scholarship and dream of playing softball at a Big 12 school. My cousin, Roby, had also been diagnosed with cancer and died that summer. It was really devistating to me. Although he was my cousin, we both really felt like we were brother and sister...so this is for another post because now I'm crying! So, then my grandmother was really sick from lung cancer and was about to die.
I forgot to mention that I dated one of Rob's friends, Justin Gamel, for about 2 weeks one year. He was really nice, but we were really meant to be friends and had stayed pretty good friends! When Roby died, Justin was supposed to come down for the funeral, however, he never showed up...which was Justin. So I called Rob to find out if he'd heard from him...he hadn't. Well, Rob was about to go on a mission trip to Tennessee and asked if he could call me when he got back so we could "catch up." I had seen him around Grayson a few times and had even gone out with him and Justin one time that previous year, but we hadn't talked about what had been going on in our lives.
I told him that it would be okay if he called me and I gave him my cell #. Apparently he had been thinking about me the entire time he was on his mission trip! He called me as soon as he got home that following Friday...he said he almost called me from Tennessee, but he didn't want to appear too anxious...I guess that's a guy thing. Personally, I would have loved it! Well, we made plans to go out the following night, Saturday, July 15. Which was actually my niece, Rylee's, 1st birthday. I left early to go home and get ready.
I was excited to see him and catch up, but I didn't expect anything at all after this 'catch up' date. I remember telling my my mom that I was going out with Rob Jordan that night and she said "Rob Jordan. I thought he was a jerk." I assured her that it wasn't a real date and that we were just getting together to catch up on old times. Well, when he picked me up and he was wearing a polo shirt and some wranglers, and I have to say, his butt didn't matter at all anymore! He was a knockout! He had matured a little since I had last seen him. I think he was wearing a ball cap, as well...As he knocked on the door, I got nervous. Girls always do around hot guys!!!
We got in his truck and went to Chilis in Denton. I had a ceasar salad and I have no idea what he had...all I remember was the amazing conversation we had. We mostly talked about how God was working in our lives at the time and about us both deciding to end our dreams of becoming great ball players. We then went to the movies and I don't know what we saw because I was so nervous hoping he would hold my hand...and he did. I could tell he was nervous too, because his hands were really sweaty!
After the movie, we went back to my friend, Kristi Sutton's house. I had learned on our date that Rob was a really good ping-pong player...so Kristi had a ping pong table. I bragged to one of my friends, Ryan, that Rob could beat him...and he pulled through. He stomped Ryan...Rob knew just how to impress a girl on their first date!
Well, I know you shouldn't kiss on a first date, but this was no ordinary first date. Sitting here writing this, I have realized that this date was ordained by God because Rob was going to be my husband. Well, I had the BEST kiss I had ever had in my life. It was the perfect way to end our first date!
Rob left and I spent the night with Kristi, and all we did was talk about Rob and how much I liked him. The next morning, I told my mom that I was going to marry him...she probably didn't think anything of it...but I was right!
That date was beyond my wildest expectations and so has this past 7 years! Yes, we've had our ups and downs, but through it all, we've loved each other unconditionally! I can't possibly imagine the next 7, or 70, being this incredible, but I know it will! It has only gotten better as time has passed and my love for him continues to grow everyday! Even though I can basically tell his "growing up" stories like I was there...I still learn new stories and new things about him!
Rob-I love you with all my heart and I'm so thankful that we're going through life together. Thank you!!!
Then...
And Now...
2 adorable girls later...
