Happy Birthday to Rachel!

Saturday my Rachel will turn 27. It's a good thing that she is planning a week-long trip here starting on the 18th. If not, I would be extremely tearful right now just thinking about her.

I don't really know why this photo appealed to me over the other million that I have of her, but that toothless grin stole the hearts of many way back when and now she still does that but with her heart instead.

It's hard to put into words what a mother feels for a daughter, especially one like Rachel. She arrived in the world with a frantic drive to Memphis from Wynne that night so long ago. We weren't even out of town before her dad hit a pothole and got a flat tire. This was, of course, before the days of cell phones. We managed to find a pay phone and called my parents. My Dad likely broke the sound barrier to catch up with us and trade cars, sending us on our way. He even called his state trooper buddy to clear the way for us. This was also in the days before parents knew ahead of time what they were having. I knew that if it was a girl that I wanted her to be named Rachel, like my favorite doll when I was growing up. She was just over six pounds with a headful of black hair. After all I had been through losing a baby and numerous miscarriages, it was hard to believe she was even here. But she was.

Everywhere we took her people always commented on what a pretty baby she was. She was so good too, sleeping easily and eating most anything we fed her...loving peaches just like she does today. It was fun dressing her because she looked so pretty in any color...rather like dressing up a doll when I was a child. My Rachel doll.

As she turned three we made the move to Fort Smith for a hope of a better life. I can never have regrets about the move. When she turned four, her baby sister arrived. She was not happy about this and even sat out in the hall at the hospital. Eventually the idea grew on her. They have shared so much from Barbies to that favorite green jacket that each claimed as their own.
Three more years and her baby brother arrived. Rachel loved making him laugh and watching over him. She even saved us from a house fire when I was sterilizing baby bottle nipples and forgot about them. I laid down with him to take a nap and she came to the bed to tell me that there were little black things floating in the air. I shudder to think what might have happened!

It wasn't long before her dad and I separated and then got a divorce. Rachel has always been loyal to both parents, which is tricky I imagine in this situation. Even when she didn't feel like it, she loved us both....and even made room in her heart for step-parents.

Rachel always finds a way to remember little things and works so hard to make gifts and remembrances special. She enjoys the holidays almost as much as I do.

She surprised everyone when she decided to go out of state for graduate school. Shy, quiet Rachel who hated speaking in front of class wanting to move so far away???? But move she did. The move itself is memorable and should be a separate post someday. Waltham, Massachusetts. About 28 hours driving time. What can a parent say about the pride you have when your child has pushed aside all that they know and are familiar with to move forward with a plan. And she had a plan for sure. She got her MBA, met a fantastic guy and landed a job to support herself. Now she even has a puppy.

Strong, loving, kind hearted, becoming sarcastic (not sure where she got that), loves Mexican food, loves cooking and gardening, loves her friends dearly, loves her family, cries like I do when we have to part, an early bird, early to bed at night, creative, loves to read, loves little old cute men like her grandpa, thoughtful, and most of all....she is mine.

I'm so grateful that she was born twenty seven years ago. My life would not be the same and I just can't imagine our family without Rachel in it. How lucky we are!

Happy Birthday you cute toothless baby girl!