Car accident, car rides, and cookies = 9 happy yrs!

It all started on December 1, 1998, when Leslie got a calling to be a Stake Missionary. She was getting ready to go to church to get a blessing. As she got in her car she thought to herself, "I want to sing some church songs to get in the right frame of mind for getting set apart." The car is started, seatbelt on, and on the road. 1. "I am a child of God, and he has sent me here has given me an earthly home, with parents kind and dear. Lead me, guide me, walk beside me, help me find the way, teach me all that I must do to live with him some day"2. "I am a child of God..." crash! I hit the car in front of me and knock out my head lights. It was winter time in Idaho Falls, and the sun woke up late and went to bed early. I needed rides to work since I got off late. I passed papers around in Relief Society and then in Priesthood. After church I went into the Priesthood room and as I walked into the room I felt something very different. I walked up to the Elders Quorum President and asked for my paper. Two men were looking over it. One I knew, Darren Wright, and the other I didn't. He held out his hand to shake mine. "Hello, my name is Robert Hagen." I smiled and shook his hand introducing myself back...something again felt different. Darren was signing up to give me rides when he realized that his schedule would not work. So Robert spoke up and said, "I will do it. I am off the next two weeks and can give you a ride if you need it."
I thanked him for his kindness and headed home. I could not stop thinking about him. My paper still had some vacant spots on it. I had hoped to fill them up, but by Friday that week they still had not been filled, so I called Robert Hagen for a ride and he said he would be up in a little bit. He picked me up at work and I was starving so I asked him if he didn't mind if we got a bite to eat. So he took me to Pizza Hut and I let him order. He ordered pepperoni and olives (that was my favorite pizza too!) Then we sat down and Santa Clause came to our table wishing us a Merry Christmas. He asked if we were boyfriend/girlfriend we both blushed and said we were just friend, even though we barely knew each other! Robert could not eat, he just gazed at me. I tried to keep conversation and so I talked and talked and talked. Well that was our first date. After that I was still determined that I was headed home to Missouri to go on a mission, but that was not the Lord's plan. Once my car was "Severely Jimmy Rigged" Robert secretly would clean of the snow and ice off my windshield and windows so that I could make it to work on time. He bought me flowers and other things. I was still avoiding him, but then one day I looked at myself in the mirror and I said to myself, "Leslie, if you don't let anyone love you then you are not going to have anyone to love!" So immediately I went to my kitchen and I gathered some cookies I had just made and I walked over to his door and I wished him a Merry Christmas. We have been together everyday since then. Robert began taking the Missionary discussions with the Sister Missionaries because he had been to church for about 8 yrs, after he finished his discussions with the missionaries we started dating (end of January.) TEN days later we were engaged on Feb. 5th,1999. Three months later we were married in the Bountiful Temple in Bountiful, Utah. It's been a wonderful journey. Some good days, some uncertain days, but most of all days spent with the one I love. We have a plaque on our wall it says, It doesn't matter where you go in life... it's who you have beside you. I am glad to be walking side by side with you, honey!

He proposed...she said Yes! Feb. 5, 1999

Leslie forgot white shoes! May 5th, 1999

Robert and Leslie....very much in love...still!

Happy 9th Anniversary to Robert and Leslie! These past nine years have been full of joy, uncertainty, happiness, love, up's and down's, adventure, struggles, laughter, life, enjoyment and many miracles! I love you, honey! Here are some of the things we have done since we met:

*Moved 3 times
*Had 4 kids
*6+ years of College and still going!!!
*5 car accidents (and a few other dents) Only one was our fault (that is how we met-best car accident I've been in)
*6 cars
*pets (dog, cat, and used to have fish)
*started childcare business