Rachel 16

Your Firstborn takes over your heart and the spotlight in the family.  I fell so completely in love with our baby that now and then I had to resist the temptation to wake her up from her nap because I couldn’t wait to see her.

I remember her little one-year-old self, entering the room after a bath and not yet in pj’s.  She'd found a ribbon and draped it unevenly around her shoulders.  She knew she was glamorous, looking to see if we noticed.

Rachel was a joy--optimistic and happy, like Dad when he was the happiest. She loved learning and remembered things.  At the same time, she had a strong and sensitive streak that could hone in on the good and the bad--a person, a situation.  Her alert spirituality was always there.

Because she was funny and smart and fun she had funny friends.  (Smurf burning? When she was grounded, boys brought bread and water and a file.)
 

She came home from school full of stories and drama.  From the beginning she was a romantic.  If I have a favorite photo of her it’s this one, because she looks so full of idealism and hope and happiness.

Our first trip to Lake Powell as we loaded into the speed boat she was fixing her teenage hair just so, and she kept it up as the boat moved out at wakeless speed.  When we finally sped up, I could see her relax, forget her hair, and just love the boat and the lake.  

 A strong swimmer, she especially loved diving. I loved that she could sing and carry a tune and could lead music.  She was talented in theater at DHS and at Dixie College.  In all of this she didn't take herself too seriously.  That is, she seemed more interested in people.


We admired her for being brave and unafraid.  For example, when she produced her newspaper, even though we supported her she was alone on the front lines at the high school.  Later, when it was time for the first issue of our own little newspaper we were afraid, but we had to be as brave as our daughter, at least.

 We missed her when she went to live in CA with Mark and Robin.  It was too far away. 

Then, the night she got married we grieved. We couldn't go to sleep but held each other and cried.  We weren't ready.  She wasn't supposed to leave.  "She's supposed to be here with us," Dad said.

I love you, Rachel.