Uncle Geoff's Funeral

My uncle Geoff unexpectedly passed away on Sunday, July 7th peacefully in his sleep.  I was so in shock that he was gone at such a young age.  I rode the train south to meet up with my brother and then hoped on a plane and flew to Las Vegas to attend his funeral.  It was so great to see cousins that I hadn't seen in years but so sad to be saying goodbye so early to such a great man.  

His funeral was so inspiring and touching.  All of my cousins told amazing memories of their father but the greatest thing was each of their testimonies of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  They were truly inspirational and the greatest tribute to their dad.   I felt the spirit speak to my soul and reconfirm the knowledge of eternal families.  They will be reunited with their Dad again.   

Some of my greatest memories of my uncle Geoff were how special he always made us feel when we came into town.  We lived outside of Chicago and his family lived in Las Vegas.  My family would try to make it out about one time a year to visit.  He would show us all the cool and hidden treasure of Las Vegas and always take the family to an amazing new restaurant that he found.  These were fun times and were always filled with so much laughter.  He could really make anyone laugh especially my brothers.  They would both get laughing so hard that they would cry.  Another very special memory of him was a letter that I received from him on my mission.  I was new in a foreign country couldn't speak the language, had a companion who wasn't very nice to me, and was having a very hard time to say the least.  I remember receiving a letter from him and being filled with peace as I read his words.  In the letter he talked about the importance of missionary work and if the only person converted the entire time in service was one's self then the mission was profoundly successful.  I remember when reading that letter thinking that my uncle had a great testimony of Jesus Christ.  He knew that true conversion of oneself was the greatest miracle.  That letter helped me immensely then but I have also thought about it many times since then.  A personal conversion to the gospel of Jesus Christ is what anchors us at all times in our lives.  If we truly believe that it is true then we will live it.  It is like what Elder David A. Bednar says "The essence of the gospel of Jesus Christ entails a fundamental and permanent change in our very nature made possible through the Savior’s Atonement. True conversion brings a change in one’s beliefs, heart, and life to accept and conform to the will of God (see Acts 3:19; 3 Nephi 9:20) and includes a conscious commitment to become a disciple of Christ."  (October 2012 General Conference)

Here are some pictures of the weekend.  Uncle Geoff you will be missed . . . Till we meet again!

 My aunt and all of her children