About Me

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Kirkland, Washington, United States
I am a child of God. I am a follower of Jesus. I am a wife, momma, daughter, sister and friend. I love good conversation and hearty laughter. A good cup of coffee is always appreciated. Most of all, I desire to bring others into an experience with Jesus. One that will shape their lives and rock their souls for Him. Geoff is my best friend and amazing husband. Parker is my handsome boy who lives in Heaven. Norah is my bright star and bringer of joy. Tori is my overcomer and peaceful warrior. I live to show Jesus' love to each person He places in my path. I pray this blog strengthens you, comforts you and encourages you and that it MOST OF ALL causes you to want to get to know Jesus in a deeper level.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

A Tribute to My Geoff






Today has been a good day. PRAISE THE LORD! Two good days in a row, that hasn't happened in a while.




***




I felt it was due time that I wrote a tribute to my Geoff. To let the world (or at least everyone who reads this blog) know just how much I love him.




Geoff and I met during our freshman year of college. We were part of the same worship band, had several mutual friends and were in the same freshman seminar class. After several days of flirting, chatting over AIM and just being around each other we started dating. I have several wonderful memories from those days. My favorite is when Geoff and I went on one of our first dates (before we become "official"...I love that term) .




Geoff asked if I wanted to go on a drive with him and, of course, I said yes. We jumped in his truck and left campus. We were headed toward Lake Lowell, but some how, he got lost. He began to panic, just a little. He kept asking me if I was scared and I said no. Even though I told him I wasn't scared, he did his best to sound like he knew where he was going. The number of houses on the road became less and less as the clock ticked closer and closer to midnight...curfew for NNU freshman. Eventually, I saw a highway sign that read Nampa - 5 miles. We followed the sign and made our way back into Nampa. It was on this drive that I learned how Geoff truly felt about me. He told me that he was intimdated by my beauty. I love that memory. I remind him of it as often as possible.




Another fun memory is of another one of our first dates. This was truly, the first date we ever went on together. I had been thinking about Geoff quite a lot leading up to this. I had been talking to my roommate Tauni about Geoff non-stop. Finally, she told me that I needed to call him, but I didn't have his number. It was then that I remembered that Geoff's roommate, Forets, had given his number to the entire 2nd floor. So I ran downstairs to the 2nd floor, and hollered that I needed Forest Fisks number. Several girls handed me the slip of paper that had his number on it. I grabbed one and ran back upstairs to my dorm room. I picked up the phone and dialed his number. Geoff answered and I stalled then blurted out that I had cabin fever and needed to get out of the dorm. He agreed to meet me outside Ford Hall in 10 minutes. After hanging up I quickly changed into a cute little outfit, spruced up my hair and makeup and ran downstairs to meet Geoff. We walked around campus and talked about everything, even the number of kids we wanted to have. It was great.




After about an hour of walking around campus, we decided that we were hungry and headed off to McDonald's. We shared a six piece chicken nuggets meal (that I ate most of) and talked some more. I remember him asking me if I liked to eat, and I said "OH yeah!" He asked me, excitedly, "Do you like steaks and buffets?!" and I responded, "Of course!" We then talked about what it was like being Pastor's kids. It was great. I didn't want to leave, but curfew was edging close and McDonald's was starting to close. We headed back to campus and decided that we didn't want the evening to end. So he ran into his dorm room, grabbed a back of crunchy M & M's that his mom had sent him and came back out to the truck. We sat, ate M & M's and talked so more all the way until 11:58. I ran to Ford and he ran into Culver. We got on our computers and talked on AIM into the wee hours of the morning. What a great date.




On September 26th we "became official" as the NNU community puts it. Almost a year later, on my 20th birthday we were engaged.




He took me out to dinner at Macaroni Grill and then took me to his parent's house. There we ate my favorite dessert, Peanut Butter Pie that he made for me and drank sparkling white grape juice on a blanket spread out in his parents side yard. It was then that he had me open my present from him. It was in a beautiful bag, with a white box that held a black velvet ring case. My heart was beating so hard that I thought it would jump right out of my chest. I don't remember what he said. All I remember was that he told me he loved me more than anything and wanted to spend the rest of his life with. He took my ring and slipped it on my finger. We cried and hugged and I just kept saying yes. It was one of the best days of my life!




On June 5th of 2004 Geoff and I got married at Yakima New Hope church of the Nazarene. Our dad's officiated, our siblings were our bridesmaids and groomsmen (except for my friend Amy and Geoff's old roommate Forest). It was a real family affair and a WONDERFUL day! My favorite memory from our wedding is when Geoff surprised me with a song. It's a Steven Curtis Chapman song I Will Be Here. I cried and so did Geoff. Then, when he was done, I looked at our dad's and whispered, "can I kiss him?" To which my dad replied, "we're trying to hold that off for as long as possible." Everyone laughed. That day was the best day of my life.




I love my Geoff. Through our 4 1/2, nearly 5 years of marriage, I have grown more and more in love with him. We have grown closer and closer as a couple should. He is my best friend. My only lover. My knight in shining armor. He is my prine.




These past few weeks since Parker's death, I have realized how much of a blessing Geoff is to me. He has been so incredibly strong, and yet, he has shown me his vulnerable side as well. I am forever thankful for him. He knows how to hold me when I need to be held. He knows how to make me laugh when I need to laugh. He knows how to love me when all I need is his love. He is my Bambino.




I love my Geoffrey




***




As I was working on this blog, I googled I Will Be Here and was blown away by how applicable the lyrics are to our life these days. Here are the lyrics...




Tomorrow mornin' if you wake up

And the sun does not appear

I...I will be here




If in the dark we lose sight of love

Hold my hand and have no fear

'Cause I...I will be here




I will be here...

When you feel like bein' quiet

When you need to speak your mindI will listen


And I will be here

When the laughter turns to cryin'

Through the winnin' and losin' and tryin'

We'll be together

'Cause I will be here




Tomorrow mornin' if you wake up

And the future is unclear

I...I'll be here




Just as sure as seasons are made for change

Our lifetimes are made for years

I...I will be here




I will be here....

You can cry on my shoulder

When the mirror tells us we're older

I will hold you




And I will be here

To watch you grow in beauty

And tell you all the things you are to me

I will be here




I will be true

To the promise I have made

To you and to the

One who gave you to me




I...I will be here




And just as sure as seasons are made for change

Our lifetimes are made for years

'Cause I...I will be here....

We'll be together




7 comments:

Jess said...

Rachel, that's a beautiful post. Thank you so much for sharing.

Anonymous said...

okay, so when are you going to stop making me tear up with your posts? *lol* Seriously, this was beautiful. Everyone needs a husband just that Geoff, through the bad and GOOD times. Your one lucky lady missy!

Curt said...

I have to say... seeing Geoff through your eyes CRACKS ME UP!! I'm reading this, Jill is wondering what I'm laughing at... I had to explain that I can hear (in my mind's ear) Geoff saying all of those quotes... "Do you like steaks and buffets?" Oh man... PRICELESS!!!

One of my favorite memories of Geoff? I'm gonna tell you later today. I have to take Luke to school right now, so I'll tell it later.

C

Curt said...

So, I lied... this story turned into a post of its own. Check my blog @ www.9ersfan.blogspot.com to read about my favorite memory of Geoff.

Jill said...

You two couldn't be more adorable! That was a great post and the picture at the end... makes MY heart all squishy!

You know, when you two had been together for a while but not yet engaged... I remember asking Geoff how you were. It was a holiday or something and you had gone home to be with your family. He smiled the biggest smile and just said "I'm going to marry her." :)

Curt said...

I remember that too... you guys are awesome

Amy said...

Rachel mi Rachel! Has it really been almost FIVE YEARS since you and Geoff got married??!! Man...we're getting old! I love reading about those first days when you two were getting to know each other...you'd come back to Ford in the wee hours of the morning all twitterpated. OH! And I love to tell the story of how I went on a Twix with Geoff the day after you two started dating...man was that awkward! haha. Anyway, I need to call you soon. Reading your blogs makes me miss you...I'm gonna call you soon. Love ya! :)
-Ahme mi Ahme-