65

Happy New Year!

2011....WOW! This past year went by sooooo quickly. All in all, it was a fabulous year. I have so much to be thankful for.

First and foremost, I'm thankful for my husband...love him! I'm thankful for him and his silliness :).

64

I'm 28! WOWSA!

Last night my wonderful husband had planned a surprise birthday party to celebrate my 28th birthday (which was Thursday....October 28...so actually my "golden" birthday). It was DEFINITELY golden...it was an amazing, amazing birthday. I am so blessed...and so thankful for so many amazing people in my life. Here's a picture, not the greatest one from the evening...but it shows at least everyone who was there last night (other than me, of course! ;))...

I'll start in the far left corner and work my way around the table...Jen and Matt, Danny and Meg, Jamie and Brooke, Jeremy, Jon (Jeremy's brother), Aaron and Katie, Dan and Laura, Chuck, Paul and Lisa, Jason and Ashley, Lynden and Jillian, and Steve and Jamie! WOW! There were 22 of us in all! The outpouring of love displayed by these people truly floored me. Jen and Matt traveled 3-ish hours, Meg and Danny traveled 2.5-ish hours, Aaron and Katie traveled about two hours, Dan traveled 2 hours from Purdue, Jamie and Brooke traveled two hours., Jason and Ashley traveled an hour from Peoria...

WOW! So, half of the guests had to make some sort of really large travel committment just to come to the party. Pretty incredible.

It was an amazingly fun night. I want to do it again once a month! ;) It was the best birthday present ever...having so many of my favorite people together in one room, all eating yummy pizza and talking/laughing/having a great time....fun, fun, fun :).

LOVE you all! :)

63

MARATHONS!

Less than 3 weeks to go til #3!

I am ever-so-thankful for my still-somewhat-"new" hobby.

I lovelovelove running...

62

Independence...Freedom...America!

Happy 4th of July! (2 days late ;))

Photo taken from Memorial Bridge over the Potomac River (crossing over from Arlington National Cemetery) on the 4th of July, 2010

61

My brother Dan just graduated from Marine Corps Officer Candidacy School at Quantico in Virginia.

Now he's off to enjoy the rest of his summer...before completing his senior year at Purdue University.

Next summer it's off to TBS (The Basic School) for six months. After that he will have 4.5 years of active duty serving our great nation in the Marine Corps.


Thanks, Dan! For being a great brother and a great American :). We are proud of you!

60

I am thankful for....date nights!

Sure...we're married and live together.

Sure...we have no kids.

BUT, we are still both pretty busy and tend to be rather busy lately with things/activities that don't necessarily involve each other.

SO, in the midst of the craziness that is our lives...it's awesome to have a chance to re-connect with a date night :).

Saturday...we went to Firehouse Pizza for dinner (DOUBLE YUM!) and went out to a movie...we saw Knight and Day. It was a pretty entertaining movie :).

It was a wonderful night! The stuff good memories are made of :).

And, I didn't even feel silly getting somewhat dressed up, even though Jer preferred to go the T-shirt and jeans route ;). It was a great, great night :).

59

On this Father's Day....I am thankful for all of the amazing fathers in my life. I am so blessed!

First....there's my dad...what a guy! He always challenged me...always encouraged me to be better. I know I inherited my drive and determination from him :). And, my weird enjoyment of math/numbers, thanks to many, many nights in junior high and high school fighting over my math homework. Ha! I'd be lying if I said we ALWAYS got along throughout my childhood ;). But, now, as an adult...I have a better appreciation of what a great man my dad truly is. I'll never be able to thank him enough for everything he's done for me and all of the sacrifices he made for me and our family.
So this past week I jumped out of my comfort zone considerably and applied for a new position at work...as "lead therapist." I have no idea what the future holds in that realm, and I am not going to go into that on my blog other than stating that I did apply and the position sounds really, really exciting to me....
I e-mailed my dad my application letter on Wednesday before I sent it off. Here's what I said:
"Hey dad! Hope you are doing well. Do you have time to help me out a bit? I’ve attached a letter of intent to apply for a new position here at Easter Seals….as a lead therapist. It would basically be a lower management-type position.
Can you glance over this and see how it looks?
Let me know :) ; I would appreciate it! I know you have a lot more experience than I do and would have good advice!
Have a great day!
Love you!
Rachel

His response...made me tear up in a major, major way:
"Sweetheart,
I have read your application. I am very impressed. I find that I cannot possibly add or take away anything that you have said. It is very well written. You have done an awesome job in composing this in which I find it a most compelling case why you should be considered. I am very proud of YOU ! My only thoughts are: my best wishes and prayers will be with you. Watch and pray to see how the Lord will work in this very important time in your life. It is in HIS hands ! With love and admiration, Dad"

What a great guy :). It's nice to know that I have a dad who believes in me...however lofty my goals may be :).

Here we are, dancing on my wedding day :)
I love you, Dad!


Next, my father-in-law (shown below with Jeremy's family right before our wedding ceremony).

I am so grateful to be able to call such an amazing man my father-in-law. He has been nothing but kind, helpful, and welcoming to me as I joined into their family :). I truly do love my in-laws :).


Then, there's my grandfather...my mom's dad. What a great man! He is one of the funniest guys you'll ever meet...we definitely have many silly "quotes" from him, especially from our growing-up years :). He and my grandmother have been married for 65+ years; talk about good role models for a long-lasting marriage! :)
Here Jer and I are with him on our wedding day :)


And...my other grandfather, my dad's dad! Here we are with him and my grandmother on our wedding day :).


And last....my better half :). Jeremy Christopher may not be a father yet....but I wouldn't have married the guy ;) if I didn't think he'd make a pretty fantastic father SOMEDAY! :) While we are definitely enjoying our "youth" and having time to spend as just "us"....I do look forward to "someday" when we will start our family. I know he'll make a fantastic daddy :). (of course, I told him this today...and he rolled his eyes ;). Last year I was a super nerd and actually got him a card on father's day and wrote in it something along those same lines about how I know he will be a great dad someday ;). HA!).
Love you, Jer!

Happy Father's day to these five amazing men...and to all of the fabulous fathers out there! :) I am so thankful to have so many morally strong, up-standing, hard-working men in my life :).