The Temple

These past few weeks have been absolutely insane for Geoff.  Work has been super, super busy and too many nights he's been sweating in his office (where the A/C is turned off at 5:00 PM) because he's pulling 14-16 hour days knocking out all the needed reports and deadlines for this quarter.  His mornings have been just as crazy with the early wake-up calls he's had due to church calling obligations and travel.  Alarm clocks shouldn't be allowed to go off before 5:00 AM, but Geoff's unfortunately has these past few days.

Yesterday Geoff took a break from all of this and received his Endowment in the Denver Colorado Temple.  He took the afternoon "off" from work and was quite energetic from having had a 6:00 meeting earlier that morning.  His Elder's Quorum President, Paul Schramm was kind to come and be his escort and everyone in the temple was ready for Geoff when he came through those doors.  I was so grateful to be there during his session and it felt so wonderful and peaceful to be in the temple with this amazing man.  Some friends were able to join us and we all enjoyed sharing one another's company in the Celestial Room.  What a blessing it is to have Temples on Earth and the Priesthood Power to make covenants and better understand our Heavenly Father's Plan.

Thank You, Taylors

Recently Geoff and I were going through the pictures we have from our dating adventures, ahh the memories that were made!  Going through these photos also reminded me how suave Geoff can be when he wants to get a picture of his date, even when things are still pretty new and neither know where things will lead...well, at least I didn't know what was to come.  Here's a letter Geoff wrote to the dear Taylor family.  The photos were taken at his home the first time he invited me over for dinner.  He is one gutsy guy, if you ask me!

Hello Taylors!

                I hope all is going well for you since I left.  I lovingly carried your present through security and all the way home.   

             

               

While it was sitting here, I was working on the right time to open it up.  I knew the opportunity would present itself, so I waited patiently for it.

Well well well, last week opportunity knocked.  I invited Dianne over for dinner and a movie.  We ate some rotisserie chicken and broccoli with cheese sauce (steamed in the bag!  What innovation!)  We watched the movie “In the Shadow of the Moon”.  Now, that is a lesson for all of those young Taylors out there, if the gal you invite over likes a documentary about the Apollo missions, she must be pretty cool. 

                With a woman’s touch, I decorated my Charlie Brown Christmas tree and she took some pictures.  Needless to say, when you ate a great meal, watched a good movie, and are gabbing until way to late, decorating and take pictures at 1am on Saturday sounds like a great idea.

                Thanks for the sweater and the gift cards.  Totally unexpected!  Taco Bell and BK are as good as eaten!  Applebee’s will soon be used on a date I’m sure.  The Wal-Mart one is also perfect!  I am going to give my sister a present, and I could definitely put to toward that.  She needs supplies to cook, and I have my eye one some kitchen essentials. 

               

Oh my!  A present from the Taylors under a sweet tree!

Could it be the superman underoos I had my eye on?

How fabulous!  It is cold here in Denver, and a sweater is perfect!

I tried it on, and the effect was immediate. 

I couldn’t believe how good looking I felt!

Clearly Dianne, being a woman, couldn’t control herself.

After hours and hours with the Woodhouse experience, Dianne’s smile says it all!

I think she had fun, or she could just have her eye on that Applebee’s gift card.

Only one question… I’m sure Wal-Mart had many different Christmas themed cards, from Santa to trees, but you didn’t choose one of these obvious ones.  Instead, this one has two wedding rings on it.  Dianne was the one that noticed that.  Because of the wedding rings, you really are my second Mom.  :)

Thanks again Taylor for the great present!  It made my holidays.

I hope all is going well with you and you are somehow able to keep it all together.

You are in my prayers!

Geoff Woodhouse