This is what Rachel's momma wrote in tribute to her precious daughter. We celebrated her life on Friday afternoon, she was WELL LOVED! The over 500 people at her funeral are proof of that! It was a privilege for Paul and I to sing at the service. I did ok too! I got all the way to the very last line of the last song before I started crying. I hope that Chris and Georgia (Rachel's parents) were pleased with the service. Anyway...I can think of no better way to pay tribute to Rachel than through her momma's words. If you would like to see some BEAUTIFUL pictures of Rachel click on the "fellow blogger", Georgia. Truly a beautiful girl. We will always love her.
Rachel, remember...
To all the lives Rachel touched We as a family would like to say thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the outpouring of love you have shown this week. We know that you are hurting just as we are and trying to make some sense of it. I am not sure we will ever make sense of it… Even we have to keep reminding ourselves to quit trying to make sense of it; it is not going to happen. We sometimes have to remind ourselves every minute. We may not ever know why… Just try to remember… Remember… Rachel as the vibrant young girl blossoming quickly into a young woman who loved everything about life. Remember not how she took her life but how she chose to live it. She was vibrant, always smiling, bubbly, funny, and goofy, laughing, remember how she lit up a room when she walked in. Remember her fierce protection of her friends and her loyalty to them. Remember her love of life- she loved so much and so hard that she lived full steam and when she finally ran out of gas she crashed for hours and nothing could wake her. She was even passionate about her sleep, the girl LOVED her sleep. You should have seen her bed when she got up, it had to be completely remade, and you might even find her sideways or at the foot of the bed. It was a mess. Remember… how she loved you as friends. She loved each and every one of you (guys & girls) in a very special way; and yes, even when you got on each other's nerves. She loved you intensely and with every ounce of her being. She loved being goofy and hanging out, being mischievous, sleep over's, going to the movies, she loved to lay out and attempt to get a tan even though she rarely turned more than one shade darker and she loved "TP-ing" houses. She loved IM-ing, talking on the phone (sort of), singing, playing on her dance pad and listening to her Walkman MP3. She loved SIMS and both Father of the Bride movies. She loved shoppi
ng trips, Wal-Mart scavenger hunts and dares and of course mani-pedi's. No matter the circumstance she loved you!!! Remember… She loved life She loved her family and pets She loved her friends fiercely, intensely and passionately She loved her school and everything about it She loved her teachers and her coaches- she was furious that many of you were leaving; however she was beginning to understand that is the life of a coach but she did say that if even one more chose to leave she said she was going to Tom Bean She loved learning, reading and yes even homework She loved to travel and was able to go many places this past year… Richmond, Virginia, Williamsburg, Washington DC, Missouri, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina She loved UT and OU, can I even write that in the same sentence??? Yes she loved life, but most of all she loved Jesus! Remember… the good times spent laughing and cutting up in the halls and in the lunch room at "your" lunch table, on the bus for whatever occasion, slumber parties, football games, movies (sitting on the front the row at the Odeum), track meets, volleyball games, softball games, classes together, youth group activities, shopping, working in the concession stand, getting your nails done together. Remember her witty sense of humor, she loved to laugh and be goofy. Remember her passionate and intense love of life, family and friends. Remember… To thank Him for the blessing of 15 awesome years with her. Thank Him for the gift of her precious life and how she touched each and every one of us in some very special way. Remember… Most of all remember her love of Jesus! We know beyond a shadow of a doubt that she loved Jesus & that her last breathe on earth was her first breathe in heaven. Now she is rejoicing in heaven with Jesus and probably making him laugh too! Remember… written by her momma
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
When God doesn't make sense...to us...
I am reeling with this question right now. Last night we learned that one of our former youth shot herself in the face with a shotgun. Excuse the graphic nature of my sentence, but God is not making sense to alot of people in that community right now. We are pretty close to the family, their son lived with us for about 6-8weeks. We have been through "it" with this family and now this. I, from the outside looking in, am trying to see the big picture from God, His greater glory, for this tragedy. There are so many unanswered questions that only He has the answer to. I am praying for the family. Their son is bravely serving our country and is stationed in North Carolina trying to get home. I am praying that the ARMY will have compassion on him and let him leave in enough time to make the funeral. I am fully confident that God knows what he's doing....that being said...God isn't making a whole lot of sense to lots of people right now. Pray that God will give Paul and I wisdom in ministering to this family.
Monday, April 21, 2008
You know your kids play too much Halo when...
Yesterday at church the most hilarious thing came from Caleb's mouth! In AWANA's the preschool kids are going through the Bible according to the alphabet...A is for Angel, B is for Babel, C is for Christ...etc...you get the picture...
So yesterday was X. Yep, the lovely letter X. Nothing starts with X, it rarely makes it's own sound, what in the Bible starts with X...that preschoolers can handle. So the book suggests "Crucifixion". Yes, students, Crucifixion does start with "C" not "X". But alas, there is an "X" in the word AND (bonus) a cross can look like an "X". So we began telling the story of Jesus and the crucifixion....
Parallel back story:
In Halo, the XBOX game, when you die or get killed (figuratively of course) you have to wait for your character to respawn. Caleb has just taken up playing this game with Jacob and they have a great time...
Back to the main story:
So my co-teacher and I are telling the story about Jesus dying on the cross and she asks the class, "What happened after Jesus died on the cross?" To which Caleb emphatically replied, without skipping a beat, "He respawned!"
We died laughing. It was so funny! I immediately had to call Paul and tell him. So, you know your kids play to much Halo when they start thinking the Jesus "respawned".
So yesterday was X. Yep, the lovely letter X. Nothing starts with X, it rarely makes it's own sound, what in the Bible starts with X...that preschoolers can handle. So the book suggests "Crucifixion". Yes, students, Crucifixion does start with "C" not "X". But alas, there is an "X" in the word AND (bonus) a cross can look like an "X". So we began telling the story of Jesus and the crucifixion....
Parallel back story:
In Halo, the XBOX game, when you die or get killed (figuratively of course) you have to wait for your character to respawn. Caleb has just taken up playing this game with Jacob and they have a great time...
Back to the main story:
So my co-teacher and I are telling the story about Jesus dying on the cross and she asks the class, "What happened after Jesus died on the cross?" To which Caleb emphatically replied, without skipping a beat, "He respawned!"
We died laughing. It was so funny! I immediately had to call Paul and tell him. So, you know your kids play to much Halo when they start thinking the Jesus "respawned".
Sunday, April 20, 2008
A Bikini and Guitar Hero
A while ago I blogged about my strong fondness for the video game "Guitar Hero". We just had an XBOX not an XBOX 360 so we did not have the game. We just shamelessly borrowed it from time to time from youth so I could play. Paul has been looking into purchasing a 360 but we just couldn't bring ourselves to spend the money on a "game"...until the other day...
Paul was out with the kids on a daddy day and he texted me and asked if he could get a 360. He gave me all the details and Game Stop was running a sale (he knows I can't resist a sale!) so I said sure why not...we have the money...and then I asked..."What do I get?" He texted back that he had bought me something and not to worry.
When we all arrived back home we started to look at what all the daddy day had involved...including the 360. So like a child I ask, "What did you bring me?" He leads me on a scavenger hunt to find my treasure. I follow the clues and I was getting kind of excited because He had gone to all this trouble...my present must be awesome!
I finally arrive at my last clue and there was a small bag...(that usually means the gift is for "him" and not me!) It was a....bikini! What! Now those of you who know me well need to pick yourself up off of the floor at the visual of me in a bikini and finish reading! Seriously...stop laughing...stop...seriously...ok keep going because it is hilarious. I just held up this teeny tiny swimsuit...in my size, mind you...and I died laughing! I could not help myself. To even think of wearing a bikini...it's bringing me to laughing tears as we speak/type. So anyway, I told Paul that I truly appreciated his thought, but this "swimsuit" was not appropriate. He wasn't going to let me wear it in front of anyone...if I even put it on.
So then I went into the living room and there it was...GUITAR HERO! He bought me Guitar Hero...I know what you are thinking, the bikini was a joke and Guitar Hero was my real present...nope. The bikini was real too. I really didn't care though...I now own Guitar Hero. So yes, I have been playing...and having a great time.
Thanks to Paul for making me so happy, and laugh so hard!
So, needless to say, I will be returning
Paul was out with the kids on a daddy day and he texted me and asked if he could get a 360. He gave me all the details and Game Stop was running a sale (he knows I can't resist a sale!) so I said sure why not...we have the money...and then I asked..."What do I get?" He texted back that he had bought me something and not to worry.
When we all arrived back home we started to look at what all the daddy day had involved...including the 360. So like a child I ask, "What did you bring me?" He leads me on a scavenger hunt to find my treasure. I follow the clues and I was getting kind of excited because He had gone to all this trouble...my present must be awesome!
I finally arrive at my last clue and there was a small bag...(that usually means the gift is for "him" and not me!) It was a....bikini! What! Now those of you who know me well need to pick yourself up off of the floor at the visual of me in a bikini and finish reading! Seriously...stop laughing...stop...seriously...ok keep going because it is hilarious. I just held up this teeny tiny swimsuit...in my size, mind you...and I died laughing! I could not help myself. To even think of wearing a bikini...it's bringing me to laughing tears as we speak/type. So anyway, I told Paul that I truly appreciated his thought, but this "swimsuit" was not appropriate. He wasn't going to let me wear it in front of anyone...if I even put it on.
So then I went into the living room and there it was...GUITAR HERO! He bought me Guitar Hero...I know what you are thinking, the bikini was a joke and Guitar Hero was my real present...nope. The bikini was real too. I really didn't care though...I now own Guitar Hero. So yes, I have been playing...and having a great time.
Thanks to Paul for making me so happy, and laugh so hard!
So, needless to say, I will be returning
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Lots of Things...and this is funny!
I have so many things that I want to blog about, but alas, D-Now is tomorrow and I am out of time. I will tell all my stories next week. My mom sent this to me though and I thought it was blog worthy...so cut...paste...done. Til next week!
Things I learned living in Texas ~
1. A possum is a flat animal that sleeps in the middle of the road.
2. There are 5,000 types of snakes and 4,998 of them live in Texas .
3. There are 10,000 types of spiders. All 10,000 of them live in Texas , plus a couple no one's seen before.
4. If it grows, it'll stick ya. If it crawls, it'll bite cha.
5. 'Onced' and 'Twiced' are words.
6. It is not a shopping cart, it is a buggy.
7. 'Jaw-P?' means 'Did ya'll go to the bathroom?'
8. People actually grow and eat okra.
9. 'fixinto' is one word.
10. There is no such thing as 'lunch'. There is only dinner and then there is supper.
11. Iced tea is appropriate for all meals and you start drinking it when you're two. We do like a little tea with our sugar.
12. Backwards and forwards means 'I know everything about you.'
13. The word 'jeet' is actually a phrase meaning 'Did you eat?'.
14. You don't have to wear a watch, because it doesn't matter what time it is, you work until you're done or it's too dark to see.
15. You don't PUSH buttons, you MASH EM.
16. 'No. Jew?' is a common response to the question 'Did you bring any beer?'.
17. You measure distance in minutes.
18. You switch from heat to A/C in the same day.
19. All the festivals across the state are named after a fruit, vegetable, grain, insect or animal.
20. You know what a 'DAWG' is.
21. You carry jumper cables in your car --- for your OWN car.
22. You only own five spices: salt, pepper, Texas Pete, Tabasco and Ketchup.
23. The local papers cover national and international news on one page, but require 6 pages for local gossip and motorsports.
24. You think that the first day of deer season is a national holiday.
25. You find 100 degrees Fahrenheit 'a bit warm'.
26. You know all four seasons: Almost summer, summer, still summer, and Christmas.
27. Going to Wal-Mart is a favorite past time know as 'goin' Wal-Martin' or 'off to Wally World'.
28. You describe the first cool snap (below 70 degrees) as good chicken stew weather.
29. Fried catfish is the other white meat.
30. We don't need no dang driver's ed. If our mama says we can drive, we can drive, dag-nabbit.
Things I learned living in Texas ~
1. A possum is a flat animal that sleeps in the middle of the road.
2. There are 5,000 types of snakes and 4,998 of them live in Texas .
3. There are 10,000 types of spiders. All 10,000 of them live in Texas , plus a couple no one's seen before.
4. If it grows, it'll stick ya. If it crawls, it'll bite cha.
5. 'Onced' and 'Twiced' are words.
6. It is not a shopping cart, it is a buggy.
7. 'Jaw-P?' means 'Did ya'll go to the bathroom?'
8. People actually grow and eat okra.
9. 'fixinto' is one word.
10. There is no such thing as 'lunch'. There is only dinner and then there is supper.
11. Iced tea is appropriate for all meals and you start drinking it when you're two. We do like a little tea with our sugar.
12. Backwards and forwards means 'I know everything about you.'
13. The word 'jeet' is actually a phrase meaning 'Did you eat?'.
14. You don't have to wear a watch, because it doesn't matter what time it is, you work until you're done or it's too dark to see.
15. You don't PUSH buttons, you MASH EM.
16. 'No. Jew?' is a common response to the question 'Did you bring any beer?'.
17. You measure distance in minutes.
18. You switch from heat to A/C in the same day.
19. All the festivals across the state are named after a fruit, vegetable, grain, insect or animal.
20. You know what a 'DAWG' is.
21. You carry jumper cables in your car --- for your OWN car.
22. You only own five spices: salt, pepper, Texas Pete, Tabasco and Ketchup.
23. The local papers cover national and international news on one page, but require 6 pages for local gossip and motorsports.
24. You think that the first day of deer season is a national holiday.
25. You find 100 degrees Fahrenheit 'a bit warm'.
26. You know all four seasons: Almost summer, summer, still summer, and Christmas.
27. Going to Wal-Mart is a favorite past time know as 'goin' Wal-Martin' or 'off to Wally World'.
28. You describe the first cool snap (below 70 degrees) as good chicken stew weather.
29. Fried catfish is the other white meat.
30. We don't need no dang driver's ed. If our mama says we can drive, we can drive, dag-nabbit.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Thank you God for Washing Machines
I title this blog "Thank you God for Washing Machines" because
1. I do NOT care to go back to the days of washing boards, wooden barrels, bar soap, and clothes lines
and
2. They still haven't invented clothes that wash themselves
so...a little back story...When we moved here (to San Antonio) about a year and a half ago, our washer would occasionally leak water when I would run several loads of wash in a row. (No I don't keep up...so I end up running several..or all...the loads in a row!) ANYWAY...it would leak a little water, nothing to squawk at we would just wipe it up and go on about our business. Then we noticed that the water was leaking more often. We still did nothing about it because we are on a well and don't have a water bill...so who cares about a little water leak. Then it really started to get serious...in the words of the WonderPets, "This...is...serious." The leak was getting worse and worse. I was having to keep 3 towels around the washer just to keep the water from going all over the floor. Then we decided, maybe we should try and get someone to come look at it and see if we can get it fixed.
So began the "Repair Man Saga" I called the first place that had a catchy ad in the phone book, and told them what kind of washer I had...I got all the way to the fact that I had a front loading washer...to which he immediately replied, "I don't work on front loaders, and good luck finding someone who does."
Oh great! So I call 3 more people...same verse, same song...noone will come work on my front loader! I finally get someone who will at least come out to my house. I made an appointment for this morning between 9am and Noon (ugh for the 3 hour wait period) and he shows up at 11:30. Paul was home so he greeted the man at the door. He walks all the way in my house to my laundry took one look at my washer and said, "Oh sorry, I forgot to ask...I don't work on front loaders." ARE YOU SERIOUS? So he gives us his reasons and leaves...I still have noone to fix my leaking washer!
Finally, I get on the web, look up my brand of washer on the web found some repairers who WOULD work on my front loader and they all are from in San Antonio, so I have to pay milage...75 cents a mile! Thank you gas prices! And to boot, all the parts are going to be "very expensive" according to the companies I spoke to...
Meanwhile Paul is searching CraigsList for a set. He finds one, calls the guy and sets up a time to go take a look tonight. To make a long story even longer...He goes out there with a friend and takes a look at a 1 year old washer/dryer set that has only been used about 20 times. He buys and comes home with it! Wait til I tell you how much he paid for it! Wait...wait...wait... He only paid $300! That's right...$300! For a 1 year old washer AND dryer! Praise the Lord! So I go back to where I started from...
Thank you God for Washing Machines!
1. I do NOT care to go back to the days of washing boards, wooden barrels, bar soap, and clothes lines
and
2. They still haven't invented clothes that wash themselves
so...a little back story...When we moved here (to San Antonio) about a year and a half ago, our washer would occasionally leak water when I would run several loads of wash in a row. (No I don't keep up...so I end up running several..or all...the loads in a row!) ANYWAY...it would leak a little water, nothing to squawk at we would just wipe it up and go on about our business. Then we noticed that the water was leaking more often. We still did nothing about it because we are on a well and don't have a water bill...so who cares about a little water leak. Then it really started to get serious...in the words of the WonderPets, "This...is...serious." The leak was getting worse and worse. I was having to keep 3 towels around the washer just to keep the water from going all over the floor. Then we decided, maybe we should try and get someone to come look at it and see if we can get it fixed.
So began the "Repair Man Saga" I called the first place that had a catchy ad in the phone book, and told them what kind of washer I had...I got all the way to the fact that I had a front loading washer...to which he immediately replied, "I don't work on front loaders, and good luck finding someone who does."
Oh great! So I call 3 more people...same verse, same song...noone will come work on my front loader! I finally get someone who will at least come out to my house. I made an appointment for this morning between 9am and Noon (ugh for the 3 hour wait period) and he shows up at 11:30. Paul was home so he greeted the man at the door. He walks all the way in my house to my laundry took one look at my washer and said, "Oh sorry, I forgot to ask...I don't work on front loaders." ARE YOU SERIOUS? So he gives us his reasons and leaves...I still have noone to fix my leaking washer!
Finally, I get on the web, look up my brand of washer on the web found some repairers who WOULD work on my front loader and they all are from in San Antonio, so I have to pay milage...75 cents a mile! Thank you gas prices! And to boot, all the parts are going to be "very expensive" according to the companies I spoke to...
Meanwhile Paul is searching CraigsList for a set. He finds one, calls the guy and sets up a time to go take a look tonight. To make a long story even longer...He goes out there with a friend and takes a look at a 1 year old washer/dryer set that has only been used about 20 times. He buys and comes home with it! Wait til I tell you how much he paid for it! Wait...wait...wait... He only paid $300! That's right...$300! For a 1 year old washer AND dryer! Praise the Lord! So I go back to where I started from...
Thank you God for Washing Machines!
So I got a new layout...
I got a new layout and I lost all my links. If you read my blog and you have one too, please let me know! Comment me so I can add you to my page...I want my Fellow Bloggers back!
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