Nativity Scene

Every year for the past 4 years Jess can not wait to give me my birthday present. My birthday is 2 days before Christmas and he just gets so excited to give me a present that he ends up giving me at least one present before my actual birthday. He was studying last night and he kept asking me if I wanted my present. I told him to wait, but he just couldn't, so he talked me into it and gave it to me. For a couple years now I have been wanting the Willow Tree Nativity Scene. About a month ago when my parents were here I decided to buy one of the sets with my Christmas money from last year (I know - crazy -I still have money left over from last year). I was hoping that I would get more sets to add to the scene, so sure enough that is what I opened, the Three Wisemen!! I was so excited! I love Nativity Scenes! (Brook yours is up in our house too that you gave me last year! I love it as well!)

I have the greatest, thoughtful, loving husband who spoils me beyond measures! My birthday is still a few weeks away and he can't quit talking about what we are going to do and how excited he is that is my birthday! I am so blessed to be his wife! I am so proud of all his hard work. Even with working full time, going to school, and studying he finds the time to make me feel special, be a great example, and help out as much as he can! Love you Jess!

Love,
Rachel

Oh Christmas Tree Oh Christmas Tree

Thought I would post a few pictures of our house decorated for Christmas. Kari, hopefully this will help you get in the Christmas spirit and Libby you have inspired me to post my pictures of my decor that I have had uploaded and ready to post for 2 weeks now.

Jess and I decorated for Christmas the weekend before Thanksgiving. He begged me and begged me for weeks to decorate and I kept telling him "no" because we had to do it after Thanksgiving. After much thought I gave in because 1. I am trying to be more laid back and not care about "rules" and 2. I like seeing Jess's eyes light up when we put up the Christmas tree. So, we put Christmas music on, drank hot chocolate, and had special one on one time.



















Jess had been wanting a train set for weeks and he and my dad finally found one. Let me just tell you - He was so excited to put it under the tree!!! I will have to admit it looks really good and it is fun to play with!

We are so excited that we will actually be able to be with both families before and during Christmas this year. We have a little over a week before we go to Jess's parents and then on Christmas Eve flying to see my family! We can't wait to be with Jess's parents and all of his brothers and wives all at the same time!!! We can't wait to see our niece and my family!!! It is going to be such a great time!

I am almost done with all the Christmas shopping and have sent out a few Christmas cards, so when the time comes to leave I will be all ready without any stress!!!
Hope everyone has a wonderful Holiday Season!

Love,

Jess and Rachel

Thanksgiving

Thankful

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I have been sad this whole week knowing that I will not be with family over this special Holiday! It's hard when the rest of your immediate family is getting together and get to be with grandparents, aunts, uncles, ect... Even though I am sad and at times feel left out, I have SO many things to be thankful for. At least I will be spending Thanksgiving with dear friends - Laurie and Wes. Today at work many of the kids were sad that they weren't with family and some won't be with family AT ALL and they are 13-17 years old. I couldn't have imagined not being with my family at the age, it's hard for me to grasp not being with my family at 25 years of age. I am truly humbled how the Lord continues to bless Jess and I and take care of us. This past year and a half has been a whirlwind, but the one thing that has been constant is the blessings of the Lord. I have really learned a lot this last year and a half and I am very thankful for those lessons.
For one of my lessons at work I had the kids make Thanksgiving Wreaths with leaves and on those leaves they wrote what they were Thankful for and I did one as well!
I am thankful for: the Lord, My husband, My family, My health, Chocolate, Good Friends (Old and New), My church, Sheep, Transportation, A nice place to live, Technology, My job, Snow, The 4 Seasons, and I could go on and on....

So, as I was in the middle of writing this Kari, Paul, Jess and I were able to skype for the first time since they left for Africa. Jess and I are so thankful for the Akins!

Well I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Love,
Rachel

Bored

I am really bored at work today. I have been busy most of the day, but bored as I was/am doing everything. I like what I do and love the patients, but I really don't like some aspects of the job. I knew taking the job, I would have to plan some events, but I really don't enjoy planning Halloween parties for teenagers. It just seems pointless to me. I don't know why, but it just does. I don't enjoy charting on patients. I wish I could just speak into a tape recorder and say what I need to say. I don't like doing assessments on pts because they have just come into the hospital or into a different part of the hospital and they really don't want to tell you personal things. I mean the assessments don't really bother me, but if I was a pt I would get angry and people asking me question after question. What else don't I enjoy.... I don't enjoy the smell of the hospital when it is muggy inside like it is now. I don't enjoy all the people I work with, but where are you ever going to work where you like everyone? There many other things I don't enjoy, but I think I am going to stop being negative and think of some positives... Sorry if I have totally bored YOU now. ;)

I am really bored at work, but there are some things I do enjoy about my job. I enjoy hearing Ms. Rainer!!! HI!!! as soon as I walk onto the unit. I enjoy hearing about how excited a pt is that they got the level they wanted (we are on a level system and that determines their priviledges) or how they found out they get to see their family over the weekend. I enjoy when a pt tells me they want to change. I enjoy having really good groups where I feel my pts actually learned something and a light bulb went off in their head. I enjoy having an office to myself, so I can shut the door and have alone time. I enjoy talking with some of the great women (staff) I have met here. I enjoy when a pt draws me a picture or makes me a sign to put on my office door. I enjoy when a pt is polite to me and says "Thank You for group". There are many others, but I will stop for now.

I feel a little better now. I was having a blah day, a productive day, but a blah day (I am getting a cold)- but now I feel a little refreshed and actually feel like teaching a fitness class now. Well I better go round everyone up. Thanks for listening to my thoughts.

Love,

Rachel

What Have the Rainer's Been up to Lately?

Jess and I have been extremely busy lately. Here are a few things we have been up to.

• Jess and I have been to Nashville, TN twice this month to visit Jess's parents and Jess was able to attend two Alabama games. Has Jess been in heaven or what?! When Bama played UK, I was able to go, but when they played Ole Miss Jess went alone with his dad. We were able to go on the field when the players practiced before the game. That was really neat, Jess was like a little kid in a candy store. I will have to say that I am becoming quite an Alabama fan! I have really been getting into the games lately. There is a couple that moved in a few places down that are Bama fans and when we are in town we watch the games with them, I actually like game days now. Anyway, it was so nice to see Jess's family. When Jess went to the game with his dad, Nellie Jo and I had a great day shopping and going to see a movie. Good mother in law and daugher in law time!

• Jess was asked to be a leader for a Disciple Now Weekend at Christ Baptist Church a few weeks ago. He had the 9th and 10th graders, Jess had a great time! I was able to come to one of the big sessions at the church. The weekend was focused on family and it was good to be reminded of how important family is and how we should be treating our family members and how our relationship with the Lord really reflects in our home.

• Jess has been playing flag football and walleyball intramurals. Jess and I have been Sunday School teachers for the one years olds at our church for about two months now. We are enjoying the kids and trying to prepare ourselves for having our own one day. We are still seeking God's direction for our lives and wish that we had more clarification, but working on being content where he has us right now. If you think of it, pray that Jess and I seek the Lord in every decision we make and help us be patient in the Lord's timing.

We were blessed to be able to see Paul, Kari, and Micah right before they headed to Africa for 2 years. We are so proud of them and can't wait to hear how God is using them in their ministry. We love and miss them so much! We are so thankful for their friendship and don't know what we would have done without them this past year.

Love,

Jess and Rachel

New Pictures of my Niece

She is the most precious child. I am so lucky to be her Aunt Rachy

Fall Time

I absolutely love the Fall. It is my favorite season, with winter a close second.

Here is a list of my favorite things about the Fall season 

• The weather
• The colors of the trees
• Wearing jeans and a sweatshirt 
• Football season
• Pumpkins
• The memories of hayrides and bonfires at the McNeil house
• Smores
• Cooking soups
• Apples
• Memories of growing up on a livestock farm and all the beautiful surroundings I was blessed to grow up with
• Taking walks with Jess and holding hands cause it is chilly out
• Decorating my house with Fall colors

Jess's favorite things about Fall

• Football
• Snuggling when its cold outside with my wife
• Cooking Smores 
• The bugs start going away. ha!
• Cooler weather
• It means that Christmas and snow is coming
• The turning of the leaves

I am going to get all of my Fall decorations out next weekend. I am excited to put them up. Each year I am slowly getting more decorations for the seasons. My mom decorating for every season and holiday and I want to as well. It is really important for Jess as well. When we first got married he said he would like me to decorate for the seasons. He likes when I come home with new decorations (if they aren't too expensive). I am lucky to have a husband that likes having the house decorated and looking nice. 

Well I hope everyone that reads this has a great Fall Season and will take time to see God's beauty in the intricate details. 

Love, 

Rachel

Thanks Mom and Dad

I never thought I would be teaching kids how to play the piano. For my Communication Skills class for my kids at the hospital, we are putting on a talent show. We have a piano in our arts and crafts room, that has papers stacked on top and dust everywhere. Well I am busting that piano out and teaching a pt how to play Mary Had a Little Lamb and possibly Amazing Grace (I will have to play the bass clef) on the piano. I have spent some of my morning writing the notes on the piano music and which finger she will be playing it with.

Thanks mom and dad for putting me in piano lessons and making me stick with it for a few years. Sorry if I whined and cried when you made me practice. ;) Never thought I would use my basic skills, but I guess I was wrong.

Love,

Rachel

Jess's Half Marathon

Jess ran a half marathon Labor Day weekend. He did such a great job! I was so proud! It was such a great experience for him and for me! He ran it in 1 hrs 59 minutes and 48 seconds!

Here are some pictures of his race

He is about to start the race...

This is at mile 11, the second time I got to see him and cheer him on...

Right after he crossed the finish line!!

He is thinking about doing another one in Nashville, Tn in Apirl 2009

Visit Home and Chalise's Wedding

It's been a while since I went home, so I thought it was time to blog about it.

Chalise's Wedding
Chalise's wedding was great. I was so thankful that I was able to make it for her big day. She looked gorgeous and the Lord was glorified throughout the wedding ceremony. It was so good to see her; I had not seen her since my wedding. It was also great to see a lot of my great friends from Murray State. I got to see so many sorority sisters and my roommate from my last semester from college. It was the boost I needed since I have been missing friends so much lately. Almost everyone is married, a lot of them already have children and pregnant again. It is so refreshing to see friends you haven't seen in so long and be able to pick right back up where you left off. I am so thankful God has blessed me with great friends.

Home
I had a very short visit with my family, but it was so wonderful! Saturday night we had a family dinner. It was like old times, minus Jess. After my sister, brother in law, and niece left and my grandma went to bed I sat on the bed with my dad (he can't be out of bed much because he is very uncomfortable out of bed, he has to put his leg in a machine to exercise it) and read all of his get well cards and laughed about the funny things people say to help you feel better. I am so thankful everyone has been so helpful and gracious through my dad's accident. After a while my mom joined my dad and I and we all just talked for a long time. I really did cherish that time with them. My dad is doing better, he still has a long recovery with his leg, but he was in good spirits when I was at home.

Sunday, my mom fixed one of her delicious meals and my sister, brother in law, niece, and my grandparents came. It was nice to catch up with my grandparents and my grandma. I of course throughout the visit wouldn't put my niece down. She just gets cuter and cuter everytime I see her. She is crawling, talking a little, waving, eating table food, laughs all the time, and she does these little "love" pats. I can't get enough of her. I got to put her to sleep for one of her naps and I loved her falling asleep on my chest, I cherish those moments since I don't see her very often. I was sad to leave, but it was better to see them than not see them at all. Thanks family for a great weekend! Miss you all! Come visit us!! :)
Blessings,
Rachel

Marathon Weekend

We are off to Virginia Beach tomorrow morning for Jess's 1/2 marathon he has been training very hard for. The actual race is Sunday morning at 7 a.m. I am so proud of him and can't wait to cheer him on. I will post pics when we get back. 

Going Home this Weekend!

I am going home this weekend for Chalise's wedding (one of my dear friends from college). I am so excited to see the beautiful bride and see some of my college friends I haven't seen since my wedding or since I graduated. I get sad sometimes thinking about not being able to be with my dearest friends, but very grateful that even if I don't talk to my

bestfriends everyday, we can pick up right where we left off. That is when you know you are truly dear friends. I am very thankful for new friends though, but miss my friends from home and college. 

I am also very excited to see my family, even though it will be a very short visit. I was supposed to see my family a few weeks ago here in NC, but my dad had an accident and my mom and dad weren't able to come. I am so thankful my dad is okay, even though he is still in pain. I haven't seen my family since June and I am very very anxious to see my parents, sister, brother in law, and my precious beautiful niece!!!!! It is always so precious to see my family. I cherish every second I am with them. I pray that the Lord will bring Jess and I closer to them, but want to follow God's plan for Jess and I. 

I will miss my sweet husband while I am gone. It is so painful to leave him and I feel so empty inside. I always get so scared something is going to happen and I won't be there for him or he won't be there if I need him. I am trying to not worry and trust in the Lord. If anyone thinks about it, please pray the Lord will bring me home safely to my husband. 

I will post how my weekend with my friends and my family went. 

Blessings, 

Rachel 

Finding Humor in Frustrating Times

Lately I have been faced with frustrating times. These frustrating times have been very minor and trivial, but still very irritating. 

It is becoming very regular that I am running late for work. I am usually running around trying to make my lunch, pick out my clothes, and get myself ready. Last week all I had left to do was brush my teeth. As I was putting a bottle of hairspray up in the medicine cabinet and ready to grab my toothbrush, the hairspray comes tumbling down, knocking over a cup of red gatorade. It was like someone had taken a spray can of juice and sprayed it all over the bathroom. All I could do was stand there with my mouth open, not knowing where to start. I could not decide what to clean first: the wall, toilet, floor, shower curtain, or bath mat? As I was cleaning up, all I could do was laugh out loud. I remember thinking of this incident all day at work and it brought humor to my day.

Most of you know that I work with adolescents at a psychiatric hospital. Everyday brings its own frustrations , but here is an example. There is this 16 year old girl that has no impulse control. I don't know how many times I asked her to do a simple task (walk on the treadmill). After literally 15 times of asking her to do the same thing all I could do was laugh. Normally I would get so irritated I would be in a bad mood for the rest of the day. I sometimes wonder why the Lord has placed me in this job, but I am learning life lessons due to this job. 

Again today, I was running late for work and not feeling well. I came downstairs to make my lunch, opened the refridgerator door, and the shelf that holds all the condiments comes off and everything falls on the floor. As I go to pick up all the condiments I notice that the syrup is ALL over the floor. The syrup bottle had busted and syrup was EVERYWHERE. It took me so long to get all up, because it is so thick. I finally got it up using a wet cloth, hoping that all the stickiness was gone. I get up to shut the door and slip on the wet floor. My feet were going everywhere, but I was able to catch myself with the refridgerator door. I then pour myself something to drink and go upstairs to grab my cell phone so I can get out the door. I trip going up the stairs and almost get drenched in gatorade just like the other day. 

I am finally in my car on my way to work. I just start smiling about all that happened this morning.  I started wondering why I have been so accident prone lately and why I am working at a psychiatric hospital with adolescents. The Lord has been revealing to me in the last year that I need to lighten up a little and find humor in life. As most of you know I am high strung and desire consistency and structure. Over a year now, I have not had consistency or structure in my life.  I am thankful the Lord is teaching me lessons while on the job, it is what keeps me going. I am also thankful He is in control of my life and teaching me to lighten up and find humor in my frustrations. I am also blessed to have a patient husband that is a great example to me. I am slowly becoming more patient and laid back, but still have much more room for improvement.  

Why have a blog?

Well, I thought I would start a blog, so my family and friends that I don't get to see or talk to very often can keep track of Jess and I. I don't know how often I will post, but I am going to give it a try. So, I hope you enjoy my posts every once in a while.

Relaxing Saturday

Jess and I are having such a relaxing Saturday. We slept in and I made a delicious breakfast. It is very far and between when breakfast is made in this house. While eating breakfast we turned the Olympics on and have been watching it since. We are doing some tasks here and there, so we don't feel too bad for watching t.v. all day. I am also baking an apple pie right now. This is my 2nd attempt to bake an apple pie. I few months ago when I made one, the top crust looked awful, but tasted great. So, this time I was determined to make it look pretty. I forgot I didn't have a rolling pin, so I had to roll out the top crust with a can of tomato soup. Don't worry I put wax paper over the dough, so germs didn't get all over it. ha! I think it turned out great though! We feel very blessed to have a relaxing Saturday, so we can be rested for Sunday and the following work week. Hopefully we'll get outside sometime today.