The Love Story

 For those of you who want the long story...

Last May 15th, 2010ish Michael McConkie invited me, my roommate Anna Carnel and her twin, Crystal, to go on a big double date with his three friends- plus a bunch of other people- to Austin Story's dream cabin.

It was a great day! We went four-wheeling, played baseball in the barn, played with the baby chickens and horses, ate and played sardines. Us three girls got there like an hour before the boys got there. I think we went on the four-wheelers without the boys there yet. I went on the four-wheeler with Parley Vernon, which was fun, then with Michael and Anna. Michael tipped the four-wheeler and I fell off! (This picture is of the day I met Bobby Rampton)

I remember when Bobby Rampton finally arrived. How could you miss it?! He was so tall! And soo handsome. That was my first thought. He was dressed up- if I remember right he was wearing a white and blue stripped long polo. I honestly remember trying not to look at him so much, or else he was going to think I was weird. Although I wouldn't have felt out of place because every girl was drooling. I think Anna or Crystal made some sort of "Hello!!" comment.

Finally the date night began, since all our dates had finally arrived. We went into the barn to play wiffleball. I remember asking Anna or Crystal which of us three were paired with who. I wanted to know if I had been paired with this stud! She said it didn't matter since it was such a big group date, that we didn't know who we were paired with. So I dropped it. We played wiffleball and it was fun!

After that, we played sardines. Here we had to pair off into couples because we were playing couples. Unfortunately, Crystal was paired with Bobby. I remember they were "it" and they hid under a bed. I was so jealous! They were cuddling under that bed- I even remember Crystal bringing it up later. So I tried to forget about that ladies man.

Austin and I dated for a little while that summer. Once he took me out to the batting range. And who should double with us but Bobby Rampton and his date. Bobby payed no attention to me whatsoever. He was completely consumed with his girlfriend. I ached for a little attention, but I was ok with Austin. The couples had a competition together, who could hit it farthest and with the most accurately. I had never hit a golf ball before in my life, besides mini-golfing. His date was on the golfing team in high school. But we still won! Bobby still owes my date and I desert!

From then until October(ish), all I remember is running into him now and then on campus. We would say hi, but I didn't even know if he remembered my name. Somehow we got each others numbers, but I don't remember him asking for it. And I certainly did not ask for his. In about October I had a missed call from "Bobby Rampton!!!" That is what his name was under in my phone- three exclamation points. He didn't leave a message so I didn't know if he called me on accident or if he wanted me to call him back or what. So I tected him, "Hey! Do you want me to call you back?" He never responded. Rude. Yet it still made my day that he called me. I hoped it would happen again.

Then this leaves me at winter break 2010. My family made predictions on when I was going to get married. I said something like 2014. I don't think anyone guessed this summer, but if they had I would have rolled my eyes at them. I accepted the fact that I would be graduating without finding someone to be with.

January 10, 2010- Bobby Rampton's Birthday. I read it on facebook. I considered writing happy birthday on his wall, but there were too many girls, I would have been forgotten in a second. So I nervously wrote, and re-wrote a draft of a text message to him. It was a happy birthday poem. Pretty cheesy. I was so scared to send it. But I figured, what is the worst that can happen?

He texted me back that it was the best happy birthday he'd received all day. Then he sarcastically asked if I'd marry him. We were being pretty brave considering how little we knew of each other. I responded that he was asking for a pretty big birthday present. He told me I had until midnight to decide. I never responded! I know, I feel bad. But what could I say? I already did want to marry him! But I couldn't tell him that! So I chickened out and didn't say anything. Luckily for me, he texted me a couple of times more until our class. I remember this because the day before I dropped my sister off at the MTC she asked me who I was texting. I asked if she wanted to meet him, but she asked me "Why would she?" And I couldn't think of a legitimate answer besides that I had a huge crush on him. (This is an extract from Bobby's facebook page on his birthday. Notice all the ladies! Of course I would have been lost in this!)

Two days later, we had a class together. The previous week, my two guy friends had tried to add the class with me. However, the teacher (my future brother-in-law) wouldn't add them because the class was too full. What a blessing that turned out to be. Had he added them, I would have obviously sat by them all semester. On Wednesday the 12th, I instead sat with Derek Spitzer, but during break I talked to Bobby Rampton. He asked me to come sit with him, I left and sat with Bobby and his friends. I was a little timid because his friend Luke asked me to do a creativity project and roll around the classroom in saran wrap, I didn't know how to respond. I began wishing I had continued to sit with Derek (just kidding). After class Derek still drive me home. He asked me out for that weekend. But I hoped that maybe I'd do something with Bobby. 
(Our class together)

That Thursday, Bobby called me and asked me to go to the hot pots with his friends. He made it really casual saying that a lot of people were going and that I could bring any of my girlfriends. I pleaded with my roommates to go with me, but they all had plans already. That also proved to be a blessing. Normally I would never consider going in a situation like this. They were staying for two days. I knew no one in the group besides Bobby, who was extremely social. Against my better judgment, I told him I'd go. When I called to tell him that, I asked him what he was doing right then. He said he was playing BINGO at the local nursing home. At that moment, it changed from a teenage crush to someone I could consider actually being with. I remember thinking-wow. This guy has got it together. I was so very impressed. I was still so nervous to go, but I was so excited. I wanted more time with this Bobby Rampton kid.

Bobby totally made that trip for me. He could have messed around with his friends all day, but he made sure that I was taken care of. If he hadn't of, that trip would have been miserable. The first stop was at Helaman Halls, where a dance was taking place. First of all, he blatantly ran a red light. I was scared for my life. Then him and his friends dressed up crazy and danced like crazy people. I was the only rational one there. They even made me dress up, but instead I talked to some freshman. I began to think up excuses to go home. But I made up for my lack of spontaneity by closing Bobby's eye as he drove and steering for him.

But the long ride to Idaho made up for it. I didn't even know we were driving all the way to Idaho until I was in the car. Bobby and I were the only ones awake. We talked and laughed and played games. I really started falling for him. I remember him saying we were getting closer and I prayed that we would get lost or something, because I didn't want our drive to end! I kept thinking to myself, "Oh my gosh. I am on a roadtrip with Bobby Rampton. Keep cool, Jessica."

We got there late, but we still wanted to go see the hot pots. We hiked through the snow and finally found them. Correction- Bobby hiked and carried me through the snow. Bless his heart. People came and went but Bobby, Ryan Griffiths and I were there the longest. We had fun talking. When we started the way back, Bobby was carrying me close to the river. We didn't realize we were walking on a snow ledge. We fell through and into the river! It was so cold we could have really been in trouble. Poor Bobby! He did his best to get me out of there as soon as possible. He dropped me off at the girls room. The beds were packed already, so I had to sleep on the floor. Bobby ran down his pillow and blankets and Ryan let me use his heated blanket. I was totally smitten. He was so selfless. (Bobby and I on the left)

That day was fun too. We went to the legitimate hot pots, the ones you had to pay to get into. Bobby paid for me. In there he put his arm around me. We headed back and had more good car talks. Then he grabbed my hand!! We held hands the entire way back.

When he dropped me off, he asked if we could hang out that night. I wanted to SO badly, but I told him how I had Chemistry homework that was due that night at midnight. He told me that he could come help. I was on cloud nine. He really did come help me. And he kissed my hand as we continued to hold hands. It was like a dream. I don't ever remember being happier. I had to pinch myself because he was so attractive I couldn't believe he was kissing me.

We saw each other everyday for that next week. We couldn't get enough of each other. We met in between classes. We invited each other to everything we had going on. His kissing was teasing me like crazy. He would kiss me on my cheek all the time, but never the lips. Finally, one day while trying to get out of a tight parking spot, we found ourselves stuck between cars, and he finalllllly kissed me. I was so happy! Right after he said, "I just kissed Jessica Ellsworth!" :) I was thinking the same thing about him!

Six days later, on January 25th, I heard a snowball hit my window during the day, and it was Bobby running to my house between classes. We were cuddling/talking on the couch and he told me of a recent conversation he had with a friend. His friend asked where he was going to live when he moved to Phoenix, and Bobby told me that his first thought was "With Jessica, in married housing." He told me he would "be surprised if he didn't marry [me] this summer." And then he told me that he loved me! I didn't tell him it back. It was so fast and I had certainly not been planning on this step. As soon as he left though, I was planning on when I would say it back to him. Because I definitely did love him by then. But I got nervous. I cried to my roommate that things were moving so fast. I didn't complain, I was just a little overwhelmed. But not in a bad way. I was so happy that he had said those things.

Later that night, at my intertube waterpolo game, I told him that I loved him too. And that I don't know why I had waited because I really really loved him too.

That month was pure bliss. We never went a day without seeing each other. We never went more than a couple of hours without seeing each other. My roommates called him our fifth roommate. He quickly became my best friend. My mom was shocked at how quickly I had fallen in love. Little did she know that it actually happened much quicker than she even knew. I normally tried to keep my options open, not closing any doors. But I didn't feel that way at all. I had complete tunnel vision towards Bobby Rampton. Got the worst grades of my life that semester.

We quickly talked of getting married. He wanted to ask me to marry him much sooner, but I dragged my feet a little bit. The first time I knew I was going to marry him was when I was writing my sister in the MTC. Rereading my letter, I found that I had written, "Chels, this may make it less-romantic, since it's not going to be this huge surprise or what not...but I know I am going to marry him. This trip really solidified my feelings for him. He is more then I have ever asked for in my future husband. He goes above and beyond my expectations. And I have never loved a boy 1/100ths of how much I love him. I just get so happy thinking about our future together... You will like him so much Che." I considered deleting it. It was the first time I had actually made record of my feelings. But it felt so right. And I knew it was true.

On February 18th we went down to Colorado. Two weeks earlier I said to my roommate, "You don't think Bobby is going to ask my dad for permission to marry me, do you?" But I TOTALLY didn't think he would. Until the trip got closer, then I thought he might. We were trying to take a nap on Sunday and he said, "I just have to do this." Bless his heart. He was so nervous. My parents heads were spinning I think. But my sisters sure liked playing "Just Dance 2" with him. 

By mid-February, he had emailed me a list of when his family was available for a wedding. He strategically got me into a ring store. He wanted me to choose one quickly so that he could propose on our trip to Las Vegas, but I couldn't decide, plus I was nervous to get engaged. I found a ring I loved, but didn't imagine wearing it in 1000 years.

A couple of days later, I was looking at his phone and I saw that he had sent a picture of my dream ring to his dad. He had bought it! I knew it was coming! On Saint Patrick's day (March 17th, 2011), Bobby came over to drive me to work at 6:00 AM. He came over early though, and made me a delicious breakfast, and gave me roses. I thought, "Maybe he is going to propose!" But we packed up out things and left so I thought, I guess not. Maybe later today. As I stopped for Bobby to open the car door, he got down on one knee in an empty parking lot and said a lot of nice things that I can't remember. I remember him saying that he had imagined doing this on top of a mountain, but that he couldn't wait that long. And he opened a ring box, in which I could hardly see because it was too dark. It was the most magical moment of my life. I was late to work because we had to call our parents. I texted a few lucky people, and went to work. They were the first to know, but OIT analysts that had been working since 4:00 AM weren't as excited as I was. I couldn't help but act really excited and stare at my ring. The analysts complained that it was lighting up the room :)

I started my countdown that day for June 4th. Everyday that I have with him has been immense joy. I can't wait to get married. I can't wait to start a family with him. I still have the same feelings that I had that day at the cabin with him- that he is wayyy to good looking for me! Almost every time I see him, I am shocked that he is waiting for me. It's like a dream. I feel so blessed that it sometimes hurts. I feel like someone has slapped me across the face, I am so blessed. I am just in constant awe. Bobby Rampton is the best person I know. He is thoughtful, generous, caring, service-oriented, family-focused, extremely smart, ridiculously good-looking, capable, reliable, friendly, funny, and just very very good. I feel like he is a special gift from Heavenly Father, and that I will owe him for the rest of my life. I have a lot to live up to. I can't wait to start my new life as Mrs. Robert Rampton.