Thursday, September 24, 2009

Goodbye Sweet Rachel

When I started writing this post, we had just dropped Rachel off at the airport. It's always hard to say goodbye to her. She is a remarkable girl. She's bright, funny, loving, kind and insightful; in fact, she's pretty perfect, and so we very much miss her spirit here when she's gone.


In this shot, she and Jaime are goofing around at the botanical gardens. These two like to goof around!
Rachel's perseverance with us, and her loyalty to Joey's memory are very meaningful to us. This still takes us by surprise because we aren't the happiest people to be around now. We are always deeply touched that she continues to be with us, grieve with us and make the effort to fly cross-country to see us.
Did I say that she's remarkable?
Here she zooms in on a preying mantis. She's saying, "He's cute".

This is one of Rachel's gifts. She's an excellent photographer and took most of the pictures of my son that I put up here on the blog. She spent more time with him than anyone else the last few years, and she loved to photograph him in all the interesting places they visited. So that is just another great treasure she has given us.

Here they are again, trying to be the same height.

She's become a sister and an auntie and a daughter to our family. When Joey went to Heaven, she lost her future and her dreams. We pray that she will be blessed with the love of a good man again, and that in every way, her future will be bright and full of joy and blessing. Of course, he's going to have to be a man with a brave heart who can pass the gauntlet of all of us, and also not be intimidated by the memory of my son. A tall order for sure, but I believe that he's out there somewhere and we will celebrate when it happens.


And then there's this. Her tattoo of the nickname she called Joey-"Cuy".
Mr. Wonderful is going to have to understand this as well. So that's another reason to pray.

Proverbs 31:10
Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

9 comments:

A Maui Blog said...

I agree, Rachel is pretty much perfect. I love the way you talked about Mr. Wonderful. He is out there. God has a plan for Rachel, a good plan. Her Cuy will always have a special place in her heart and God will send someone who will understand that well.

Nice photos of these 2 goofy gurls :)

A Maui Blog said...

I agree, Rachel is pretty much perfect. I love the way you talked about Mr. Wonderful. He is out there. God has a plan for Rachel, a good plan. Her Cuy will always have a special place in her heart and God will send someone who will understand that well.

Nice photos of these 2 goofy gurls :)

a Maui Blog said...

opps, sorry for the double comments. I don't know why or how it happend.

Gberger said...

Oh, what a blessing...to know that your son knew the love of a GOOD woman in his life, before he went to heaven. I wish, sometimes, that Katie had been old enough to experience this blessing, but I must accept that this was not her life's path. The joy that Rachel & Joey's love gives to you, makes me happy indeed for them, and for you. You have truly gained a daughter through their love.
I join you in prayer that she will find the one meant for her when the time is right - and I pray that my son will find such love in his life, as Joey and Rachel knew. Thank you for sharing this joy with us.

Anonymous said...

Oh by the way I love the new picture at the start of your blog.
I am sure it is hard, to know that all the plans you must have seen in the future of those kids! I will keep her in my prayers for time to heal and her life to go forward. It will be hard.
Love Sharon

Maisha Bonnie said...

such a sweet blog about Joey's and your Rachel :)
I love reading the wonderful comments that everyone made...
love you guys

Jaimers said...

Rachel rules! I am so glad to have her as one of my best friends. Through this awful experience we have become very close and she has helped me process my grief on many occassions and has made me laugh until we are crying. I know we will be close forever. Love you sister.

Anonymous said...

What would really be bizarre is if she married someone named Cuy ;). My son's name is Chris, is that close enough? Finding the right person is not so easy and especially when she has Joey still in her heart.

My perfect DIL is coming over to spend time with me tonight. I am so looking forward to it. She's little like Rachel---did you ever wonder how a baby would fit in Rachel? I wonder about these tiny little beings. Mr D's secretary is wee little and she just had a big old 9lb'er.

I promise not to talk about babies all night cause they aren't ready to have a baby yet.

Oh Karen----jumping up and down here--my son found a vehicle to replace the one from the wreck. What a blessing! Thank you for the prayers for us about that.

Hugs and love ya ton bunches.

Van Down By The River said...

karen! you give me waaay too much credit!

it's such a blessing for me to be able to come and visit all of you. you guys may have gained one little hapa girl in addition to your family, but think of all i have gained - a second set of loving parents, big sisters, burly brother in laws, and pretty much the best group of kids i've ever met. i love you guys so much, and will never ever get over the love i've been given freely by your family, it poured out in waves when joey was alive, and continues to flow- deep, wide, and strong. thank you.