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