A good friend...

“A good friend is a connection to life―a tie to the past, a road to the future, the key to sanity in a totally insane world.”

―Lois Wyse

Thankful for all my friends-of all ages, from various parts of the world, of various relationships I have with them...everything :).

Rachel

The 2 Sides of 'Good' News...

The Not-so-Good
-I caught a bad cold from the baby that I watch one day a week (he had snot everywhere the other day and I kept using the hand sanitizer every 2 minutes...guess it didn't work...)
-I still have tons to do before spring break (1 take home exam, 2 exams with tons of material, some art stuff, a group presentation, etc.)


The Good and Better
-My friend's dad got moved to a hospital back here where we live (he was out of state at a renowned facility) and is improving a little each day!
-Spring break IS near...
-Afrin is a good friend when I'm sick :)...
-I got a paper done early (for psychology class-history of anorexia)-feels awesome!
-I finished a painting for tomorrow (used up all my energy today)...hopefully I'll get some pics up on the site soon of what I've been doing in painting class
-I have 2 new jobs!
-and best of all...I have an AMAZING friend coming to visit over my spring break-she just booked her flight (I met her at a cancer survivors' retreat a few years ago and haven't gotten to see her in a long time) -I can't wait! ;)
-I'm going to bed NOW (early!)

Today, I am grateful for all of the above in the good and better section, family, friends, hubby and God!

R

Family and Friends

My parents, brother and of course, Gabe and his family too are truly some of my closest friends in life. I feel so fortunate to have this and feel like there is always someone to turn to when needed. I cannot imagine going through everything without them. I know I will be heartbroken when/if I lose these people in my life. People always ask me, "How did you make it through everything-and so positively?" Simply-friends, family and God. And doing art, writing, and helping others was bonus therapy.

I am SO amazed by the spirits of people I know and hear about that overcome major obstacles in life without a strong, caring family. A lot of times they find the support in friends that become family, which is truly a gift too. I wonder if I could be that strong? Reach out to those around you-you never know what they are going through.

Today, I am grateful for family, friends and God.

R

I Miss My Friends

This weekend I have been thinking heavily of my friends-especially those who have passed away. I just can't get them off my mind and think of all the amazing things that they did with or for me sometime before they died. It just hurts-a lot. I have lost probably over 20 friends-I've lost count (over the past 10 years) and my beloved grandfather when I was younger.

It was triggered by going to the Friends of Kids with Cancer fashion show. Then, I ran into my friend, A's mom there. She asked how I was doing and was teary-eyed. I told her how I thought of A often and she said-I know, you were really special to him. A was a very close friend who died last August. He had a bone marrow transplant the same summer I did and had to take college off that fall. We both were in the fashion show as models and that is where we met. We hung out some that fall and then he went back to college in the spring and played soccer-how? I am not quite sure to this day!

We stayed close-talking often on the phone, seeing each other when he was in town, I tried visiting him at school once but the weather didn't allow for it. Anyways, he went on and was healthy-living life-graduated college, got some 'real jobs', even got married and had 2 kids. Meanwhile, I was fighting for my life and he was one of my main cheerleaders. He, along with my family, doctor, and a few friends were the ONLY people who I know truly saw hope for me. Some people took the news that I was going to die very soon and treated me as such. 'A' told me he knew I was going to make it and live and I believed him. He gave me some great advice on some guys from my past, was there for me when other friends died and always invited me to stuff he was doing-Relay for Life walks, parties his family had, going out with his friends or going to his sons' t-ball games. Truly just a huge heart.

The irony in this story is, of course, just as I was becoming a living miracle, 'A' (after 5 amazing years of remission) relapsed-badly. The tables had turned horribly. As he was getting worse, he encouraged me to come to one of his son's t-ball games, that he was coaching. I was so thankful that me and a friend made it out that day to see the game. Then we got to see his house for the first time and hang out with his family. It was incredibly special. It also happened to be that later that day Gabe proposed to me and we got engaged.

It was also the last day I saw A alive. Soon after he died and it still stings.

The pain of all my friends and family that have died is very strong some times. Other times it somehow goes into the background of life-but never very far. It only takes driving by my one friend's former high schools or seeing Pokeman figures to remind me of them. And I'll admit, there are many, many times when I am struggling with something-pain, stress, etc. and I ask God and them for help.

Today, I am grateful that the weekend was filled with friends, great food, laughter, noise, a wonderful fall break, love, family, hubs and God.

Rach

New Friends

Lately, I've made some new friends-some of them under the age of 7 or so! I really think it's wonderful to make friends of all ages...there's never really a group of people that I do not feel like I fit into to as far as age goes. When I am on adult committees or when I used to review clinical trials on an IRB, people always worried that I felt 'young' or whatever. Nope.

I truly think there is much to be learned from people of all ages, cultures, types, etc. I/We can learn to see the world from others' perspectives and see what we do and don't want to incorporate into our own lives.

That's about it for now...posts may be a bit scarce the next couple weeks-I have time-consuming babysitting jobs (more than usual) lined up, a speaking engagement (in town) and a quick out of town trip Saturday and Sunday and full-time school, etc. Should be interesting...

Today, I am grateful for: many lovely things!

Rach

Plaque in the Grade School Library

View of Life Copyright: Rachel 2008

(Still stumped by the Glamour magazine thing...)

But, I was excited to hear tonight that people were fighting over the painting (above) that I donated to a charity's silent auction. It was for a new children's hospital that is being built at the hospital where I was treated.

Anyways, the family that ended up with it, goes to the church I went to growing up and their kids go to the grade school. So, they donated it to my former grade school (where we still know a lot of the teachers, etc.). They are going to put it up in the library with a plaque for all time. How cool! I have a lot of great friends from grade school (case in point: one came in town today and we hung out at the condo for awhile, a few were at the wedding or in the wedding or were invited) and a lot of great memories were made there. This will be pretty neat. I look forward to going and seeing it at some point!


Today, I am grateful for kind people, seeing old friends ;), getting a new SUV!, family, friends and of course, God.

Rach

Statements About My Life...

Rachel's Photography-from an airplane window April 07

Isn't life crazy? Things I thought were so concrete at one time...friendships, plans, whatever. Then they change and sometimes do a 180. People that I thought would always be there for me are not and yet other people step up to the challenge and love me for who I am and life goes on. It always amazes me. Plans when I was younger-being a doctor, living here or there, finishing college on schedule...none of them happened and it really turned out beautifully. And the other great thing is that there's always a chance that those people will come back into my life and I'm open to that too. I do not believe in shutting doors and locking them up with thousands of locks. See where life takes me...ride the journey.

Yet, at least in my life, after everything, things actually turned out better than I ever thought...after some hardships and trials and errors.

And for all of those last fall who helped with honeymoon ideas-we got a great deal to Mexico :). Thanks again!

Things are really coming together-we have a condo to live in, a honeymoon, most of the wedding stuff is set and life is good. I have to say I'm pleasantly surprised how un-stressed I am right now. Thank God for that!

Today, I am grateful for: life experiences, each new day, friends, family and God.

R

RIP Curtis

My family found out Saturday night that my dad's college roommate died of a sudden heart attack. Because he lived out of town, I only met him once but I have very fond memories of spending time with him and his wife. My parents have always had very wonderful stories about Curtis and talked of him fairly frequently. A very sad part was Curtis was really excited about traveling in for my wedding...which is only a month away. I am really sad for my dad who has now lost 2 close friends to heart attacks.

My dad had a great idea-he made a voice recording of Curtis memories for his wife.

Cheers for Curtis' place in my parents life!

Today, I am grateful for life, friends, family and God.

Rach

Valentine's Day Week Quote

What greater thing is there for two human souls than to feel that they are joined for life, to strengthen each other in all labor, to rest on each other in all sorrow, to minister to each other in all pain...

- George Eliot

I like this: it really can apply to family, friends, boyfriends, girlfriends, whomever.

Today, I am grateful for: so much!! :D

Rach

Things Found out After the Fact

The other day I was recalling a conversation I had with a friend a few months ago. It went something like this:

Friend: "Do you remember that one guy who hung out with my group of friends from that other school?"

Me: "Yeah, I think so."

Friends: "Well, somehow I was saying something about you recently and he remembered meeting you a couple times...maybe when you were sick or something...anyways, he thought you had died!"

At this point, I think I actually laughed. I knew people I did not know that well or people I went to high school with that I never talked to again may had assumed this over the years if they never heard about or saw me again. It was strangely funny to me. I was supposed to die and well, I did not-it is funny and wonderful at the same time.

Today, I am grateful for: a massage!, friends, family, going out with old friends from the 'cancer world' tonight

Love,

Rach

Missing

Isn't it interesting how sometimes you do not realize how much you miss someone until you see them? It's like you are going through your days and you know you miss them but not realizing the extent of it. Then, you finally see them and spend time with them and have an Aha! moment. Or sometimes you just have to keep going until you can see them again and sometimes you do not even know when that will be.



There is also the kind of missing where you miss people who have passed away and that you cannot do anything about. That is a different kind of missing because you know, in this life, you will not see them ever again, no matter what you do, and that hurts like nothing else. You can trust in heaven.



Such is life...


Can miles truly separate you from friends....

If you want to be with someone you love,

aren't you already there?

~Richard Bach

Today, I am grateful: for a wonderful birthday for a dear friend and holiday party tonight with one of my 2nd families growing up, running in Crate and Barrel, friends, family and God.

Rachel

Quelf

Do you like board games? I'm not really that huge of a board game person but this is sure to be different than any other you've ever played and it is TONS of fun!

One word: Quelf

The game's makers describe the game as: Ages 12 & up / 3-8 players / 60 minutes to play

Quelf is insanity in a box! With this hilariously silly party game, you will have outrageous fun with your family and friends. Quelf will inspire you to use your creativity, wit and sense of humor in ways you've never imagined.

As move around the game board, as one of eight quirky characters, crazy things start to happen. Your friends start talking strangely. Your mom's face is wrapped in toilet paper. Your dad is acting like Dracula. And you are reciting a poem about your armpits.

Each game of Quelf is a new journey into wackiness. When the dust settles and someone crawls away the winner, you realize...you've never had this much fun playing a board game in your life!

Perfect for: family get-togethers, rainy day entertainment, teen parties, youth groups, ice breakers and curing cabin fever.

I was playing today...and thought I'd share a little-known game that is QUITE fun! It also can be played in medium size groups with teams!

Today, I am grateful for: the police at school for letting me in when it was locked, for family and friends and little fun in the midst of homework

Love,
Rachel

The Ultimate Gift

Over the weekend, I saw a splendid movie-The Ultimate Gift (although, without ruining it I just have to say something happened in it towards the end that DID make me mad...because it happens all the time in movies, but that's all I'm going to say).

Besides that, I thought it was a great movie despite a bit of I guess you would say, cheesiness or predictability. It was thought provoking which I like and all tied together nicely with a little suspense!

These are the gifts in the movie:

The Gift of Work
The Gift of Problems
The Gift of Friends
The Gift of Giving
The Gift of Gratitude
The Gift of Family
The Gift of Learning
The Gift of Money
The Gift of Laughter
The Gift of a Day
The Gift of Dreams
The Gift of Love (which leads to the Ultimate Gift)

Today, I am grateful: that my tapestries presentation is over, for family and friends, and love!

Love,

Rachel

Adventures & Congratulations!

Congratulations Cameron and Katie!!

Have fun on your honeymoon!

Where to begin? What an adventure! I was actually on a road-trip the last couple of days with family and visiting with friends-old and new!

The main purpose of the trip was to attend the wedding of a guy friend from college. It was crazy because I realized somehow 4 years had passed since our last get-together. I had not even met his (now) wife in person but felt like I knew her. How great it was to introduce my fiance to them too...more amazing people in my life finally meeting. They are gearing up to come our way for our wedding too. It reminded me of this book my cousin and I would read, highlight and tease about when we were little-they described friends as being like "old sweaters". We didn't know anyone when we came to the ceremony but left feeling like a part of the family-talking extensively with Cameron's brother and getting to know some aunts and his mom. Truly a treat all around and to learn of the prayers these people that I had never met had said for me!

The trip was even extended and turned into my whole family going with Gabe (fiance) and I and staying with relatives, which added MANY belly-aching laughs, extreme comfort levels and a much-needed getaway from school, work for some of us, doctors and everything else. I also got to explore a new, awesome art museum which is always renewing for me. I even found some gifts in the gift shop there!

I also have not written about it yet but have stopped taking one of my intestinal medicines and it has been going very well! I am down 2 pills now-down to 18 maybe? It's still a lot but it's something.

Exhausted but still smiling.

Today, I am grateful for: friends, family, laughter, vacations, weddings and home!

Love,
Rachel