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