Engagement Announcement!

Laura Cathleen Boland and Benjamin Chak Lum Lok

July 31st, 2004

In my apartment in Gainesville, FL.  July 31st, 2004

On July 31st, 2004 I proposed to my smart and beautiful best friend, Laura Boland. 

Thankfully, she said yes!

The Families

Melissa's graduation, University of Tulsa, May 12th, 2004.

I was born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to Oi Chee and Hoi Wai Lok.  We moved to Tulsa when I was 5.  I have a younger brother, Jonathan, and sister, Melissa.

Me at age 4, Jakarta, Indonesia, 1979.

Laura was born in Ft. Lauderdale, FL to Carol and Robert Boland.  They moved to Griffith, IN when she was 3.  She moved to Tulsa when she was 12.  She has a younger half-brother, Matt, and sister, Mary.  Her mom passed away in 1997.

Laura at age 3 with her mom in Tampa, 1978.

Our History

In my dorm room at the University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK.  March 1994.

I first met Laura in March of 1994 playing basketball during our freshman year at the University of Tulsa.  We quickly became best friends and spent many years heading to parties, playing racquetball, and just 'hanging out'.  She majored in Communications and I in Computer Science.

Great Smoky Mountains.  September 1997.

Although I moved to North Carolina for school, we tried our best to visit each other as much as possible.

My apartment in Charlotte, NC.  July 5th, 2003.

On July 4th, 2003, Laura visited me in Charlotte, NC (where I was living at the time).  We reconnected and remembered all the great experiences we've shared over the past nine years.  We celebrated her golden birthday (she turned 28 on June 28th).

Laura's apartment, September 12th, 2003.

On September 12th, 2003, while my mom opined away at the need for grandkids, we adopted two cute kittens, (left) Sam (my cat) and (right) Mr. Bigglesworth (Biggs for short, Laura's).  They are brothers from the same litter.

At Lance Watson's old house.  May 1997.

She asked me out on our first date in May of 1997, during our senior year .  We saw Austin Powers, International Man of Mystery.  I knew I found a good one if that was her movie choice!

Japanese Steak House in Tulsa.  December 31st, 1999.

Along the way, we have traveled different paths.  Laura entered the work force and I tried my best to avoid it.  Over the years we grew apart, then back together, then apart, then together (repeat what seems like a million times :).  In the end, we grew up and discovered what we were looking for in life.

Laura's apartment in Tampa, FL. August 28th, 2003.

I moved to Florida in August of 2003 to be closer to Laura.  I now work at the University of Florida.  Laura works as a marketing coordinator at MP TotalCare, a mail-order pharmaceutical company.

My apartment, July 31st, 2004.

Finally, we made everything official on July 31st, 2004.  I did a surprise proposal in the parking lot of a local restaurant.  It doesn't sound romantic, but it was :).