Rachel

Bret

Our Story

The Proposal

Rachel Robinson now Rachel Gensburg

Born January of 1981, to Art and Lin Robinson, Rachel has mostly been a Newton Falls, Ohio native.  She attended all the Newton Falls Schools (K-12).  Graduating in 1999 from Newton Falls High School, Rachel left Ohio to begin her undergraduate degree at Anderson University (Indiana).  She started out as a Biology Major, but in the middle of her first semester, she realized that she would rather be the teacher than the student.  So she slightly changed directions to become a secondary science teacher.  Graduating in December of 2003, Rachel returned to Lordstown (where her parents now live) to substitute teach.  In 2004, Rachel received a job at the Trumbull Career and Technical Center as a science instructor where she continues teaching Biology, Zoology, and Veterinary Terminology.  2007 has been the year of change for Rachel as well.  In February, Rachel stepped-out on faith and obtained her own apartment in Newton Falls.  Now during her fourth year at TCTC, Rachel has decided to return back to school to obtain her Masters degree.  Looking at all of her options, she decided to give Youngstown State University a try and is currently enrolled in the Masters Degree in Technology Education: Instructional Design.  With teaching full time, going to YSU, and now planning a wedding, there does not seem to be a lot of free time, but she still finds little moments to share with Bret.  Eagerly anticipating December, Rachel cannot wait to spend every moment with Bret except for the times she is shopping.    

Bret Gensburg

Born June of 1981, to Bart and Judi Gensburg, Bret has been a Lordstown, Ohio native all his life.  He attended Lordstown Elementary (K-6) and in seventh grade transferred to Newton Falls Junior/Senior High School.  Graduating in 1999 from Newton Falls High School, Bret began his undergraduate degree at Youngstown State University as a secondary mathematics major.  Graduating at YSU in 2003, Bret received a job at Alliance High School as a high school math teacher.  In 2004, Bret returned to YSU to complete a Masters Degree in Technology Education: Instructional Design.  Still working at Alliance High, Bret finished his Masters degree in 2005.  2007 has been the year of change.  Bret concluded his time at Alliance High School to take on a position at the University of Akron.  This move was made at the beginning of his second year at UA for his PhD in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus of Technology Integration.   He also started his own company, Eagle Technology Integrations, LLC, where he has the opportunity to work with teachers across the country in integrating technology into the classroom.  Now he looks forward to spending the rest of his life with the love of his life, and cannot wait for December. 

Our Story

If there ever was a story of Love at First sight, Rachel and Bret take the prize.  It would even seem as though fate had these two pegged for marriage before they did.  The first time Rachel and Bret met was before Junior High.  Bret’s sister, Bobbi Jo, was a student of Mrs. Robinson, Rachel’s mom.  Bobbi Jo was sadly in an accident her eighth grade year and when Mrs. Robinson came to visit, Rachel and Bret met.  Not to really see each other again for about two more years, Bret transferred schools from Lordstown to Newton Falls in the seventh grade where he and Rachel reconnected.  The young “love-bug” bit Bret, but they were both too young to get it.  The competitive nature of their class kept Rachel and Bret at the just fine distance of “Friends”.  Fast forward a few school dances, and both Rachel and Bret started to have a little interest for each other; so much so that they decided to give the title of Boyfriend and Girlfriend a try.  This title was sealed with the passing of Bret’s class ring to Rachel (who to this day is the only woman who has ever worn his ring).  Alas, even then the young love could not out weigh their competitive nature and returned to being just friends by the time of graduation.  So Graduation came and went, but left lasting memories in both their minds and hearts of each other; memories of School Dances, Class Float, Class Trip, NHS, Trig/Calc, etc. 

Graduation was the last time both Rachel and Bret ever thought they would see each other, until their 10yr class reunion (which is not until 2009).  Bret stayed in Ohio, and Rachel went off to Indiana.  But fate was not done with them.  During his junior year, Bret received a strange email request from a past connection.  It was Rachel requesting information for a Native American report she was to give.  She contacted Bret because she remembered one day when she went to a Boy Scout Summer Camp to watch Bret perform in a Native American Pow-Wow.  She also remembered that she wore a porcupine hair roach that day which did not match her outfit.  Bret complied with her request, but that would be the end of their communication.  Graduation came for Bret, and so came the job searching.  He received a position at Alliance High School, and in December Rachel Graduated.  Even then neither Rachel nor Bret knew where the other was.  The first school year completed and Bret was asked to teach a SMART Board workshop for the Trumbull County Educational Service Center.  Overly excited, the day before the training, he tripped off a trailer and sprained his ankle.  Not to be swayed, he hobbled into the workshop to find guess who?  Not Rachel, but her mom Mrs. Robinson.   

Fate had intervened once again.  At lunch, which he spent with Mrs. Robinson, Bret discovered Rachel had returned home and was in the job searching phase.  He was young teacher, she was going to start teaching at TCTC, it seemed natural that they could simply get together to discuss the classroom.  And that is just what happened.  Being friends, teachers, and loving technology, they went out (friends only) and had a good time discussing the classroom and developing techno-lessons.  They vowed to each other that friends are what they were and what they would be.  For almost three years they kept to that relationship.  Until one day fate, who they both know now, is the Lord, showed to them his plan for them.  Neither could deny what they were feeling anymore.  That their lives were intertwined and they were destined to be together.  Since then, the Lord has helped them grow together in their love, life, faith, and relationship.   

At the end of June 2007, Bret popped the big question.  The dilemma was how he could ask in the unique way that matches their lives.  Having the ring for almost two months, Bret was selected to speak at the National Educating Computing Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.  His topic: SMART Board!  Speaking on a Tuesday, at the end of his session, in front of a full room of international educators, Bret got down on one knee and asked Rachel to be his wife.  She of course said yes and then wrote yes using the Airliner Wireless Slate to project her answer.  She had no clue, especially since they were booked to see a jeweler just two days later while in Atlanta.   

Now they are both home and school has started.  Rachel is at TCTC and going to YSU and Bret is working at the University of Akron and continuing his doctorate.  Planning the wedding is taking any free time they both have, but help is not too far away with family.  All the pieces are starting to fit into place and now starts the count down to the big day in December.  December 22, 2007 became the big day for them since they both follow a teachers schedule.  One would suspect a day in the summer then would work, but with those months are the busy months for Bret’s business.  All put together, it just seemed natural then to pick December. 

“We both are so happy and cannot wait for December.  We could not be happier nor feel more blessed by the Lord in joining us together.  We Love you all and hope to see everyone on our day, even through the snow!”  ~Bret and Rachel 

The Proposal