Trip Home to Illinois and Tennessee

Jess and I were able to go to Tennessee to visit his family the week before Christmas for a few days, then off to Illinois to see my family for a few days. It was such a great time - We miss everyone so much already. Here are a few pics from the trips.


Trip to Illinois
Here is Uncle Jess with our niece Emma Grace.

Jess, my parents, my sister, brother in law, niece, and I all went out to a nice Italian restaurant on The Hill in St. Louis. The food was delicious and the company was even better. These are just a few pictures with my mom and dad after we got home from eating.

My mom and dad got Emma a new wagon for Christmas. She didn't know what to think of it at first, but then loved it. We didn't think she would ever get out.

Precious Emma! She was so sweet the whole time. She loves to kiss, hug, and tickle you. She is so perfect and I love her to pieces. She was much more interactive than the last time we saw her and has a lot of personality. She is going to be a handful that is for sure. :)

Sarah, Bryan, and Emma Grace

Our Trip to Nashville
My wonderful in-laws.

Jess and I hanging out after opening up all of our wonderful gifts.

All the Rainer kids. It was so great to see everyone since we don't see each other all together very often.

Jess and I are so blessed to have the most wonderful families ever. They spoil us and make us feel special every time we come visit. We are thankful for the time we had at home even though it was way too short.

The Year 2008

1. Jess and I celebrated our 1 Year Anniversary in FL where we went to Disney World and Cape San Blas. It was wonderful!

2. My family celebrated my Grandma's 100th Birthday with a party in IL at my parent's house. It was so great to celebrate with her and my family

3. Jess ran his first 1/2 Marathon! He did such a great job and met his goal to run it in less than 2 hours. I was and am so proud of him!!!

4. Jess was able to attend 2 Alabama games, both times being able to go on the field before the game. I was able to go to 1 with Jess and his family. The games are always a great experience. Jess has turned me into a Bama fan! 

5. I completed life guard training (for my job). It was two horrible weeks, but I got through it! I was the oldest in the class and the only one that never was a part of a swimming team. Definantly  the minority. 

6. Jess got promoted at work a few times and also finished 2 semesters of Seminary. 

7. Jess and I were able to celebrate Christmas with our families and able to be with family on the actual day of Christmas this year! 

Jess and I are truly thankful for all of the blessings of the year. The Lord has been faithful and continues to give us more than we could ever ask for. We have had a fun year full of laughter and tears. We have said good-bye to dear friends, made new friends, taken a lot of trips to see family, seen friends get married, seen a lot of precious babies born, worked hard, decided to serve in our church, and the list goes on and on. Jess and I have had a big year of growing in our relationship with one another and in the Lord and I am so thankful for the lessons we have learned and the lessons the Lord has taught us. I am grateful the Lord is in control. I am so glad I have a God that forgives, is patient, and loves me no matter what.  Jess and I are stronger than we have ever been and I fall in love with my husband more and more everyday. 

I hope everyone has a great year!

Love,

The Rainers

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