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The Robinsons: (Left to right) Naomi, Margaret, Bethany Conrad and Conrad II

The Promise

After the first year of Jeremy's passing, I decided to learn web design. My life was beginning to move forward and I had designed a simple website through trial and error (mostly error) for Jeremy. I enjoyed it so much, I took some computer classes. During September of 2001 I took an evening course in Web design. I was on strong footing in my Christian walk and felt a renewed strength although I missed Jeremy so very much. I was alone much of the time, but it gave me wonderful time with God and time to learn new computer skills.

During the class, I met a gentleman whose wife worked at Roadway Express, where I had worked prior to Jeremy's homecoming. I knew his wife and I mentioned Jeremy and my testimony, as I was often inclined to do when meeting new people. He remembered hearing about Jeremy and I shared a picture of Jeremy that I had in my wallet. To my surprise, he told me at the next class session that he had talked to his wife and she said that Roadway had taken up a collection for me when Jeremy passed away. Amazingly, the envelope with the card and money sat in a desk for a year! Apparently, no one knew how to get a hold of me. I remember wondering about the significance of that and wondered about how God works in mysterious ways. I knew there was a reason for that envelope to sit there for a year.

The gentleman brought the envelope to me the following class session, and there was over a $100 in there which I used to pay towards an outstanding mortuary bill. I had resigned from Roadway six months prior to Jeremy's homecoming, and I was moved by the compassion and generosity of my ex-coworkers. I was now working for the California Farm Bureau in a position I enjoyed and I wrote a thank you card to Roadway enclosing the website address that contained my testimony about Jeremy that I just recently completed.

A friend from Roadway, Ana, saw the thank you card and viewed the website and printed it. The website had a simple testimony of what happened with pictures of Jeremy. Ana showed the website to Conrad Robinson, who worked on the dock with me. He was moved to tears by the testimony. We were friendly with each other at Roadway and he was a budding Christian at the time. Through Ana, Conrad intitiated contact by email around Christmas-time. Ana would pass messages on from Conrad and she would tell me what a great guy Conrad was, but I was not very interested. I did not want to lose what God had given me with my new strength in Him, and I was afraid of any relationship outside of God's will. Well, in February I believe, after being convinced he was truly serving God and after much prayer, we finally went on a "date". We went with Ana, and I can tell you, we were both scared to bits. The first date went lovely, and all my reservations were put to rest as I discovered what a wonderful person he was.

Conrad proposed to me at Folsom Lake with a beautiful diamond ring that dazzled and shone in the setting sun. I had never in my life experienced such a beautiful expression of love by any man. Conrad lovingly washed my feet in the lake as an expression of love and humility, which also was the example Christ left us here on earth. I felt God's love and approval around us as we embraced and I cried. The lake was blue and the sun was just setting and there was a warm breeze -- it could not have been more perfect.

I remember picking up the wedding band from the jewelers and looking at in when I got in the car. The band had seven diamonds on it, plus the engagement ring had six diamonds on either side of a huge diamond in the middle. The set was absolutely beautiful together, and tears came to my eyes as I remembered my dream of finding the diamonds in the desert. It reminded me of how much God valued me and loved me and I cried in thankfulness. I could not believe that God had given me a beautiful Christian man, with not the usual effort on my part. God orchestrated the whole thing, and I realized painfully how much hurt I caused in my own life and those close to me by chosing my own paths instead of God's. I oftentimes thought about the whole timing of this. If I hadn't completed the website and taken that class, I would have never met the man who eventually would connect me to Conrad. It's not coincidence that the envelope sat in that desk a whole year. If Roadway would have given me that envelope a year prior, I would not have had the website completed therefore no contact with Conrad.

We married in a beautiful, simple ceremony at Pyramid Lake, Nevada, with my brother officiating. Immediately afterwards, we were both baptized in the lake to signify our new life together in Christ, washing our pasts behind us.

God has blessed us with three beautiful children! Our first, Naomi Grace, was born February 20, 2003. Our second daughter, Bethany Faith, was born October 7, 2004, and our son, Conrad Joseph was born June 27, 2006. Not only did God bless me with a godly husband, but with two beautiful daughters and a son. Praise be to God who comforts and strengthens broken hearts, and heals their wounds. God indeed has restored all that has been lost and His Word is true, praise be to God.

As a side note, when our final child, Conrad, was to be born, I was already 40 years old. We had a special 3D ultrasound through the genetics department because of my age. With this ultrasound, the sex can be clearly identified. After a few moments to examine the ultrasound results, the doctor returned the room to give us the news. We were to have a healthy son due in the month of June. I wept as I realized that God restored to me not only two beautiful girls, but a son. This boy was to be born the same month that my precious Jeremiah went home to heaven. It was truly an amazing recognition of God's grace and mercy.

Never did I realize or dream I would have a family after Jeremy, and living the life I live today. God is still continuing a great work in me and I am growing as a Christian. I am a stay-at-home mom and loving every minute of it. When my children hug and kiss me, I know that I am indeed blessed by God. When I see the handsome pictures of my son, I know that I was especially blessed by God to have my beautiful son in my life for the season He entrusted me to care for him. I have learned to thank God for the time he gave Jeremy to me, the precious years I had with him. I once heard that our loved ones that have passed on are not in our past, but our future. I envision and dream so many times of the first meeting in heaven when we meet again. It's been several years now, and sometimes the pain crops up fresh, but with it comes tears and smiles of the most beautiful memories and dreams of my son, Jeremiah.