Since I am doing a blog about friends I figured it would be appropriate to make the first post about my best friend ever. My wife.
How we met:
Rachel and I met at a Bible study at church. Oddly, we were in this study together for a couple months before we ever talked to each other. Once we started talking I asked my friend Ryan Caswell to ask Rachel if she liked anyone in Bible study more than a friend. Turned out she did.
Three things I appreciate about Rachel:
1. She is the most patient, kind, loving, consistent, understanding, supportive wife and I wouldn’t be who I am without her.
2. She is ambitious and will see things through to the end. Not only will she see them through but won’t be happy unless they come out perfect. I know that I can count on her and never need to worry when she takes on something.
3. She has an amazing heart for women and discipleship and I can’t wait to see what God does to honor that.
My favorite memory of Rachel:
Our first date, the night we got engaged, our wedding, our honeymoon, the birth of each of our three kids, the countless adventures that we’ve had. We’ve shared so much and there is no way I could come up with just one. I am so incredibly thankful for her being in my life.
July 12th, 2011 at 4:41 pm
Very sweet. I was hoping that you would have asked her via “check yes or no if you like me”, but your way was cute too.
July 12th, 2011 at 4:54 pm
OH – let me let me!!! You want to know what I think of your friend????
Rachel – you my dear are the answer to years and years of very specific prayers. I so loved just hangin with you last month… just relaxing and reading and watching you love your family.
Thank you for respecting, encouraging, enjoying, laughing with, crying with and loving my son…. you are a wonderful woman all the way around and I could not be more proud of you – only your first mama’s love can surpass mine!
July 12th, 2011 at 4:57 pm
HA Elizabeth – I thought the same thing…. about the check boxes… on a note passed during Bible Study….
July 12th, 2011 at 6:08 pm
I met Rachel at the CCPH Women’s Retreat in April 2005. I had just left my job at the Tampa Chamber to stay at home with my daughter Erin who was 1 year old at the time. Kari invited me to the retreat and I rode up with Rachel and Kasi in Nora Fretto’s car. Rachel was about 6 weeks pregnant with Johnny at the time and the biggest thing I remember is Ryan calling her several times on the trip up (2 hour car ride) to check and make sure that Rachel and the baby were doing ok. They were new married and it was their first baby and I remember thinking how sweet that was. It has been really neat to watch Rachel grow and develop both spiritually and as a mother.
July 12th, 2011 at 7:56 pm
All thanks to Modest Mouse. That should be child # 4. Modest Mouse Saul. Or Isaac Brock Saul.
July 12th, 2011 at 10:09 pm
Although we went to the same church for years I didn’t truly get to know Rachel until we had joined the same discipleship group. We became friends instead of acquaintances after that. I feel a little like we had grown up in our faith together because of that group and I am so glad that God gave us the opportunity to find each other so that we could be an encouragement to one another. I know she has been an inspiration to my walk and I am so thankful to have her in my life.
July 12th, 2011 at 11:03 pm
i love your Rachel!!! we have had many good times together…car rides to orlando for shopping extravaganzas, trip to nyc, pilates class, our gym days…it was all so much fun. i miss you guys!
oh, i also love all your kids…two of which filled my arms and heart until my own came along. thanks for sharing them with me all those years <3
July 12th, 2011 at 11:43 pm
Rachel has been such a blessing to me here in Canada. Her friendship and encouragement have seriously changed my life. I’m sad you’re leaving, but now I just have more reasons to visit Florida!
July 13th, 2011 at 1:22 am
She started out as this girl my brother was dating. Then they got married and she was the girl my brother married. And then she had a kid and became the mother of my nephew. But Rachel is so much more than that. She’s brave and smart and inspiring and filled with so much love. She’s my best friend. She’s my sister.
July 13th, 2011 at 10:06 am
Well my goodness….how would I even start to talk about one of greatest treasures of my life? Well…just a sweet memory will have to do. When I was pregnant they didn’t do regular ultrasounds and find out if the baby was boy or girl. Yes, hard for you young gals to imagine….back then our nurseries were primary colors so it would work for either! Well after spending 9 months carrying my baby around…up for 36 straight hours every third night as a doctor in training…to the point of complete exhaustion…followed by house breakin that dessimated our home…all leading to premature labor at 26 weeks…followed by TEN weeks laying on my duff in bed….well it was a long haul. Finally labor…but that lasted two days!! Big girl…high forceps delivery (they didn’t jump to csections back then)…yikes! All this culminating to the big moment when the baby finally arrived…
But erasing the memories of all those trials was the moment when Rachel arrived. A moment that will never leave me. As soon as she came, they laid her in a warmer right next to my head….and there she was. Dark hair, black eyes, and the rosiest cheeks in the world. Clean like she just had a bath. She was wide-eyed…staring straight at me for the longest time…gazing into my eyes…and I am sure I saw a smile…the same beautiful smile that we all enjoy today. I will take that moment to eternity…a gift of my Lord that will never be replaced.
July 13th, 2011 at 11:18 am
I first met Rachel briefly at my sister-in-law’s house in 2006, but didn’t get the chance to get to know her until we were in the same discipleship class together years later.
My favorite thing about Rachel is her calm quietness. Every time I think of the verse about having a gentle and quiet spirit I think of Rachel. It’s been such a blessing to watch her go from being busy busy career girl to a leader of women, a patient mom, and a student of God’s word. I can’t wait for her to be back in Florida again!
July 13th, 2011 at 12:30 pm
I have to say that I am deeply touched by each one of you. Makes a girl get teary eyed. I love all ya’ll. Thank you so much for your kind, kind words.