Hope...the Best of Things

     Although it's been a rough couple of weeks there have also been some great joys and memories made over the last couple of weeks.  As I've had more energy, I've been able to babysit for my friends and make precious memories with my friends and family and their precious little ones.  The Bible is replete with the theme of joy in the midst of sorrow and the familiar Psalm, "weeping may last for the night but joy comes with the morning."  Biblical joy does not mean you are happy sappy jumping up and down, but rather it is a settled confident hope in eternal life and better things to come because of Jesus' atoning work on the cross for your sins and mine.  In other words, we have hope for a future with no more sorrow or pain.  However, God still pours out many blessings here on this earth in the midst of the suffering.

     

God's magnificent creation and gorgeous artistry is just one of the many blessings He pours out on us!

     Today was one of those days filled with blessings and reminders of God's great provision and orchestration of our lives for our good and His glory.  It started out with receiving some results from a culture I had from my lungs several weeks ago.  Although I am not really feeling sick, it showed heavy growth of the bacteria I am colonized with.  This morning I could tell I was feeling a little "off" and my lungs were feeling a little more junky so I decided to go ahead and start the inhaled antibiotics that I have on hand.  Heavy growth is never good and can cause lung damage so I really need the round of antibiotics, regardless of how I'm feeling.  I was so thankful that God had provided a stockpile of the very expensive inhaled antibiotic for free last year that I ended up not needing every other month, but I kept getting for such a time as this.  I am able to start the medication as soon as I need it without having to wait on doctor's offices or insurance companies and ending up in the hospital like last year.  This is a tremendous blessing that I don't take lightly.  

     Jord and I spent the morning hanging out and talking and then had one of our neighbor's over to watch a couple episodes of Agents of Shield.  So fun.  I then went walking with my Grandma and the puppy dogs and then spent the evening coordinating travel plans for some friends.  Nicole and Alyssa went to college with one of our neighbors and we met last year right before they headed out to do a road trip through all 50 states, while serving and ministering along the way.  I was able to make some connections for them early in their trip and I saw a facebook post this afternoon looking for some connections in the south.  Well it just so happens that a lot of my PCD friends live or have connections there.  Over the next couple of hours we got a couple states covered and more are in process.  It's so fun when I can help make connections and see the body of Christ at work all across the country.  I'm not physically well enough to do a road trip to all 50 states, but I have been able to pray for them and help them find housing along the way.  

     It got me thinking about PCD and my PCD family.  Although PCD is an incredibly difficult journey at times, I am thankful for it in multiple ways.  First and foremost, I have gotten to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with so many people because a lot of people ask how I cope or get through a lot of the struggles and my answer is always Jesus and the hope of heaven.  God has given me a broken body, but by His grace, this body has been used to tell people about the hope I have for eternity--and that I would much rather have a broken body here for a short while and have an eternal heavenly body with Jesus rather than have a healthy body here and be eternally separated from God and everyone and everything in hell.  Secondly, my PCD family is awesome.  Through social media we truly have built treasured friendships all over the world--that is why we so keenly feel the loss of Jorgen and are all fervently praying and rooting for Rebecca to get her new lungs.  We are fighting the same battle together and all cheer each other on when others are down and celebrate victories--no matter how big or small.  This community truly is amazing and beautiful--and I wouldn't want to miss out on it for anything in the world! 

     I was reminded of a quote by missionary William Carey: "I will go down [into the pit], but remember that you must hold the rope."  I am not physically well enough to go on the mission field nor am I well enough to do a road trip to all 50 states.  However, I can pray for missionaries and I have been able to pray for Nicole and Alyssa and make connections for them so that they can complete their trip.  Their blog is here: The Road Trip if you'd like to check it out in more detail.  :) 

     It's fun to dream and plan for the future--I am super excited as well because we are going on vacation with Mom and Dad T. to Florida this year and I will get to go to the ocean and DisneyWorld which I have never been too.  Although I've learned over the years to hold MY plans loosely because God can and will change them and life never quite looks like you thought it was going to, but it's what He has for you--for your good and His glory!  So I continue to "pray and go" as Mom T. always says and see where God takes me on this crazy adventure called life.  

Starting Cayston this morning :) 

Enjoying Auntie time :) 

Selfie bloopers 

Tired out kiddos!

Silly faces!

Treasured time with treasured friends

Funny faces with Landon

Fun times in the snow! 

   

      

Please Pray for a Fellow PCD Warrior

     Here I am yet again delivering news that I wish wasn't happening.  God is driving me so far past the end of myself right now all I can do is cry out to Him as my "Abba Father" to rest in His everlasting arms and remember that "The secret things belong to the Lord" Deuteronomy 29:29.  On the way home from the funeral for my Uncle George yesterday, one of my PCD friends shared a blog post.  I knew last week she had gone to an appointment to see her transplant team and that it hadn't gone well as she didn't share what came of it....that is until yesterday.  She is my age and just went through surgery for Thyroid cancer and was told at her appointment that she needs to go active--meaning she will be on the transplant list waiting for new lungs.  You can read her Blog Post Here: Living. Not Just Surviving.  My heart breaks for her and her husband.  This hits so close to home because any of us with PCD could all be in this same place some day.

     Last night I was an emotional wreck.  So much has happened so fast and I've been busy and going from one memorial to the next and in between helping friends and my sister with kiddos and I hadn't really had time to really and truly think and process and cry and feel the emotions.  Jord held me as I sobbed on his shoulder--then I turned to some of my favorite "go to" songs when I'm really struggling and cried some more.  Alone yet Not Alone by Joni Earekson Tada and Out of the Depths by Sovereign Grace Ministries were the ones I played over and over last night.

     This morning I felt much better, did devotions, then headed out to watch my friend Jenn's kiddos for her so she could go to a court hearing for one of her foster kids.  It is an absolutely gorgeous day here in AZ and I'm thankful that God is God and I KNOW He knows what He is doing in and through all of these difficult situations I am in and surrounded by.  I'm planning on writing a tribute to Uncle George but I just don't have it in me right now.  Thank you for praying for Rebecca as she prepares to wait for new lungs and for all my family and friends that are walking through these difficulties with me.  I'm thankful for each and every one of you!

Clinging to Jesus with all that I have,
Rachelle

Just Be Held

     If you listen to Christian Radio at all you have probably heard Casting Crowns' latest song, "Just Be Held".  This song embodies the week I had.  Our family friend did pass away last week and his celebration of life was this Saturday.  On Thursday, I awoke to find out that one of my PCD friends passed away suddenly.  And on the way to the celebration of life Saturday, I found out another family member passed away and services are this Wednesday.  Jordan has been sick with one of those colds that is going around so I went to church by myself today.  I got in the car this morning and as soon as I got in, "Just Be Held" came on and I just started crying.  Here are the lyrics:

Hold it all together

Everybody needs you strong

But life hits you out of nowhere

And barely leaves you holding on

And when you're tired of fighting

Chained by your control

There's freedom in surrender

Lay it down and let it go

So when you're on your knees and answers seem so far away

You're not alone, stop holding on and just be held

Your world's not falling apart, it's falling into place

I'm on the throne, stop holding on and just be held

Just be held, just be held

If your eyes are on the storm

You'll wonder if I love you still

But if your eyes are on the cross

You'll know I always have and I always will

And not a tear is wasted

In time, you'll understand

I'm painting beauty with the ashes

Your life is in My hands

So when you're on your knees and answers seem so far away

You're not alone, stop holding on and just be held

Your world's not falling apart, it's falling into place

I'm on the throne, stop holding on and just be held

Just be held, just be held

Lift your hands, lift your eyes

In the storm is where you'll find Me

And where you are, I'll hold your heart

I'll hold your heart

Come to Me, find your rest

In the arms of the God who won't let go

So when you're on your knees and answers seem so far away

You're not alone, stop holding on and just be held

Your world's not falling apart, it's falling into place

I'm on the throne, stop holding on and just be held

(Stop holding on and just be held)

Just be held, just be held

Just be held, just be held

     It's times like today when I was weary and at the end of my rope that I needed to be reminded that God is there and "underneath are the everlasting arms."  He calls me to "Come unto Me all you who labor and are heavy-laden and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30  In the midst of the chaos of life it can be so easy to forget these truths.  I can go into automatic mode and "fixer" mode and run myself ragged trying to help everyone and be strong for family and friends until I break.  Then God brings me to the end of myself and reminds me that I cannot do anything on my own apart from Him or others--we are not designed to function in isolation, but to be in relationship--first and foremost with God through Jesus Christ--and secondly with all those He places in our lives.  Relationships make up life and when we lose people we love or people around us lose people they love our heart aches...aches for a Day when there will be no more pain or sorrow or suffering.  Where death will be swallowed up in victory finally and forever!  My heart cries out for Jesus to come quickly, yet knowing that His plans will prevail and He still has me on this earth for a plan and a purpose.  I feel my purpose right now is to honor those loved ones that were lost this week.  

     Tonight I'll share about my PCD pal Jorgen Ekstrom.  He was from Sweden (the O's in his name have two little dots above them but I don't know how to type those!) and in his 50's.  We never met in person, but in the age of social media and through our PCD facebook page we got to know each other quite well.  Like me, he also loved the outdoors, animals, and he loved to write.  His excitement was infectious....he always joked about "This is the silly swede again" as he wrote stories about two turtles named Colin and Cecelia that he created after another fellow PCD Pal coined the phrase "Turtle Days" for those days when PCD hits us hard and we simply crash and have to move slow.  The last picture he commented on that I shared was of Hunter trying out my vest because "he wanted to shake like Aunt Shel".  Jorgen thought it was so funny.

  He read a large part of my blog and my poetry and left encouraging comments on a number of posts.  Those comments will be forever treasured now.  On my post about Buddy and Me he wrote: "OHHHHHH!  Even though we always had dogs.  I sailed a lot.  I almost started to cry--reading this.  I truly understand that I have missed something!  You and Buddy at full speed or just lying on his back looking at the stars.  So blessed!"  After this, we talked about animals and he shared a story of how he used to swim in the sea with harbor seals:  "Good Morning America - again...I had a relative good period in my life - between 25 and 29 years. And I used to take our motorboat out. Then out to the harbor seals - colonies. Jump into the sea and swim around and with these so cute guys. Especially the "pups" wondered what "crazy" creature I was. Dressed head to toe in a wetsuit - I could be in the saltwater for hours that we have here on the Westcoast. Which of course was could for my heatlth!

To be one yard from a pups beautiful and curious eyes. Boy! I was so so so HAPPY! and amazed. Their eyes - so fabulous. Those were magic days.  I wish everybody in this beautiful group a wonderful - Wednesday. GOD BLESS YOU ALL!  Warm Greetings From - Gothenburg - Sweden."

The picture he had with the above story...so cute!    

     I think it's fitting to close with one of his stories about Colin and Cecelia--the turtles that he brought to life and whose stories brought smiles to all of us in the group.  The hard part about knowing someone only through social media is that they are just suddenly gone--no more posts or messages or interaction and no real closure.  His memory will live on through all of us as we share stories of how he encouraged us and most of all made us laugh when life with PCD was hard.  

    Hello again America! I hope you all feel as good as you can. I have had a very though day. But managed to get out anyway. Winter approaches here in Sweden. It´s 40 F and soon below 32 during the night. Dark and cold all the time. The sun will almost never go up. And everyone gets a cold. Not a good place for us swedish PCDers. When I was young I loved to ski in the winter. But now winter is just very annoying!

But now my day with Colin and Cecilia.

This morning Colin snuggled up into my bed and said to me:" Jörgen I want to go to the playground today. And go down the slide!" He absolutely loves it! The first time I told him that he might hurt himself. But he persisted! He laughed so wonderful as a child. And I had to pick him up again and again! "One more time." he said all the time.

I think he wanted to impress Cecilia today. For it is a steep slide. And then I heard Cecilia say:" Jörgen it is time to go and weigh yourself. And can you imagine I had lost 4! more pounds. (True). Cecilia was very happy and smiled sweetly to me and said:" You are really good and I am proud of you!" I lifted her up and gave her a kiss right on her cute nose!

So an hour later we were ready. It´s only a 100 yards to the playground. Colin looked at his beloved Cecilia and said:" Look, now you shall see how bold I am sweetheart." I lifted him up and put him at the top of the slide and gave little nudge. It does not makes sense when a turtle goes down a slide. It looks like a small saucer going down uncontrollably. Colin went down like a rocket and flew up in the air and landed in the soft sand on his back. 
I quickly went and turned him right - stomach down. Colin then looked at Cecilia and said:" Do you dare to ride with me, Cecilia?" He did not think she would dare. You don´t know you´re future wife I thought. She simply replied:" Sure Colin - let´s rock n roll!" He looked surprised. So I lifted them both up at the top of the slide. They looked so cute - side by side. I just hoped they would not land on each other. I gave them a little push. And down they went screaming of happiness all the way. This time they both landed on their stomachs. Cecilia laughed loudly and said:" Come on darling, let´s go down again!"

Well after 30 times I looked at them and said:" Sorry you two lovebirds. I cannot lift you up anymore. I am tired and hungry. Let´s go home. They looked at each other and nodded. Cecilia said:" Thank you Jörgen. I have had so much fun. You will get a really nice lunch. You deserve it."

I smiled happily at them both. And we went home. And I did get a very good lunch. That´s all for today dear readers. It´s 1:12 AM! Time to sleep!
So good night America. God bless everyone in this group and your loved ones. Thank you for existing(that sounds better in swedish smile emoticon What I mean is without you my life would be much harder. So thank you all from the bottom of my heart! Blessings from the Silly&Crazy Swedish Member - Jörgen.

     We love and miss you Jorgen!  

Resting in His Everlasting Arms,

Rachelle 

Some of Life's Greatest Joys

     This week has been a really good week.   I got to spend time with my sister and Hunter and help her plan her baby shower.  God has really helped my heart...the last several months I withdrew from her and my other friends that have kids, letting discontentment and the unfulfilled desire for children devour my hope and joy in Christ.  Infertility is the hardest part of PCD for me.  It's been a long 9 year journey and God is not done moulding me yet.  Every time I think I have this area conquered, someone says just the right thing, and I burst into tears, revealing that my heart has once again placed the desire for children above Christ, creating an idol in my heart.  Or it manifests in different ways and I don't recognize it right away and then its like it sneaks up on me.  Sin is so deceitful!  As I've intentionally re-engaged with friends and family with little ones over the last several weeks, those little ones have brought me so much joy!  When my friend Jenn and I were waking up her two year old son, Landon, from his nap, we opened his door and he got up from his bed and got this super excited smile and ran to me arms wide open and leapt into my arms and gave me the biggest hug ever.  It was so precious and sweet to see how excited he was to see Auntie Shel.  :)  Hunter is talking more and more and it's always, "Shel play!".  These memories are so sweet and I'm so excited to meet my newest nephew who is scheduled to be here February 3rd (unless he decides to come sooner...he's already giving Momma contractions.)

     It's been really sweet the last few weeks spending extra time with my sister.  I was living in Montana during this part of her pregnancy with Hunter and in Psychosis the first part of it so I didn't get to enjoy Hunter's pregnancy like I've gotten to enjoy Gunner's.  Over Christmas he was kicking like crazy and I got these really sweet pictures:

     It's so sweet to feel him moving around.  I also got to go to one of her ultrasounds and he was showing some personality and holding his foot up by his ear.  Such a sweet picture of new life!  I'm excited to be here for the birth and see him brand new as I didn't get to meet Hunter until he was 6 months old.  Thanks sister, for sharing your joy with me in a way that no one else can! 

     As she has approached the 8 month mark, I've been trying to hang out with her more and let her rest while I entertain Hunter, the rambunctious 2 year old that tells everyone he is 5.  We went for a ride on Buddy the other day and I got this precious video:

I'm so grateful to be blessed beyond measure with so many wonderful gifts from our gracious God!  Hunter was able to hold the reins the entire ride and I used my legs to guide Buddy...he will be 22 and I will be 32 this spring.  Crazy to remember back to bounding off the school bus to see the horse Mom and Dad brought home for me when I was 13.  Words cannot even begin to describe how grateful I am for Buddy (or Busted as my Dad will tell you....that debate will go on forever!).  He is definitely one of God's greatest gifts to me.

    Crash and Roxy are doing well.  I've started walking them more and they like to snuggle up while I do treatments and devotions in the mornings.  It's amazing how they know it's treatment time and even if I get up to get water or something they patiently lay on the couch waiting for me until the vest stops for the last time.  As soon as I unbuckle that vest, the game is on and they want attention.  :)

    Jordan is loving his job and he continues to be an incredible blessing to me.  We celebrated our 11th anniversary in December and our relationship continues to grow deeper and stronger through Christ.  The fiery trials truly do refine you and make you remember what truly matters--I'm so thankful to God for sending me the perfect husband for me and that I get to do life with him everyday.  

 Joyfully His,
Rachelle :) 

Dates You Will Never Forget

     Yesterday was a mixture of up and down emotions.  The morning started out with an inquiry about our house...we are preparing to sell to be closer to family, friends, and church for the times when I do get sick so it's easier for others to come alongside of us.  I've watched Mom and Dad T. sell two houses and it is A. LOT. OF. WORK.  We've been praying that God would sell it in His timing and give us wisdom on where He wants us and that we would be content with His plan and not get too set on our own plans because often our plans and His don't look the same.  We met with a long time family friend who is a realtor and made the long list of things that need to be done before we can list it.  I didn't "seriously" pray that God would sell it before we listed it, but it was kind of one of those prayers that's a desire and you REALLY hope it happens, but with the market and the type of house we have etc et al I have been preparing my heart to be on the market for months, that way if it sells sooner, it will be great, but I wouldn't be surprised or disappointed if it didn't sell right away.  A couple of days ago there was snow on the mountains and the light was shining just right and I got these awesome photos:

     I shared them on facebook and said that "I'm soaking in this view as we prepare to sell our house."  I know it will be so much easier to be connected and be closer to friends and family and church but I will miss this view so much.  Well, that post generated an inquiry about the house from someone I met in the neighborhood walking over the summer.  Just the thought that someone is interested before we have even organized and decluttered and rearranged furniture and spent money to do little things to help it show better is incredibly encouraging.  I was in Psalms during my devotions after that and texted these verses to some friends:

"May all who see You rejoice and be glad in You!  May those who love Your salvation say evermore, 'God is great!'  But I am poor and needy; hasten to help me, O God!  You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay!" ~Psalm 70:4-5~

I was so excited and praising God that there is the opportunity to potentially sell the house before it even goes on the market.  It would be so like God to do that...and talk about confirmation that we are doing His will!  I texted our realtor and didn't hear back...she then texted and said that she had a serious family emergency.  I called my Mom as they were college roommates and found out her brother had a brain aneurysm last night and he was on a ventilator and not expected to live.  She suddenly lost her sister just over a year ago.  My heart breaks for her and her family.  Shortly after learning that information, a lady Jordan worked with in Phoenix posted on facebook that her niece was in an accident the same night and has a traumatic brain injury and is in ICU and was asking for prayers.  It's the same injury my brother had from his motorcycle accident back in 2006.  Then facebook had memories for me to look back on and it's me asking for prayer for Jordan from when he had his heart attack on January 7th in 2012.  Apparently January 7th is not the best date!  Then I was talking with some other friends and both of their brothers are struggling severely...

      These circumstances have been a reminder of our mixed condition here on this earth.  I am saved through Jesus' death on the cross and thereby freed from the power and penalty of sin, but until I leave this earth I am still in the presence of sin and all its awful, sorrowful consequences.  I long for heaven where I will be finally and forever freed from the presence of sin and where there will be no more sorrow or suffering or pain or any of the horrible things that we have to deal with here on this earth because of sin.  However, in spite of sin, there is much joy to be had here on earth as well.  God calls believers to be the salt and light of the earth and He graciously gives us sweet foretastes of heavens unending delights.  My prayer is that I will steward the time God has given me wisely, loving all those around me with His love, and enjoying every minute with loved ones because tomorrow is promised to no one.  However, because of Jesus, we can know that if our loved ones know Him, it's not "good bye" but "see you later".  

     Suffering is all around us and God uses it to drive us to Himself.  Joni Earekson Tada wrote me a letter last year and reminded me that "our disabilities are like a sheepdog, snapping at our heels, driving us down the road to Calvary where, otherwise, we might not naturally go."  I believe the same can be said of suffering.  It's not easy and its never fun, but we can rest assured that not one nanosecond of our suffering is wasted and God is using it to form us and shape us into the person that He wants us to be.  

     Please be praying for my friends and family and their families and that Jord and I could be salt and light and extend Christ's great love to them in their dark moments and that God would get all the glory for these difficult times. 

In His Mighty Grip,

Rachelle 

One of life's greatest joys...riding my beloved horse Buddy with my sweet nephew Hunter in God's magnificent creation.  

   

Reflections on 2015 and Looking Forward to 2016

     I know it's been awhile since I've written, but the end of a year and the beginning of a new year always has me in that "musing/reflecting/need to write/journal" mode, so here I am once again saying hello to all of you.  Since I've last written at the end of June time has marched on as it always does and honestly, they've been some hard months mentally and spiritually.  People that know me best always know when I'm struggling with depression when I'm not writing, not very talkative, and not doing much and have to force myself to get out of bed in the mornings.  Living with PCD, it can be hard to strike a balance.  Last year about this time, we were living with our friends Tom and Candy and I started to get up earlier and back to my more "normal" self, but then in February I caught the cold that started the downswing and ended up with me in the hospital at the end of March and all the complications that came with it.  Since the end of June and finally getting over that last bad flare up, I've been stable, but I've also regularly been getting 10-13 hours of sleep and because I have been struggling with the depression, I haven't been running around and pushing my body to the limits and beyond.  Ideally, there should be a balance somewhere in between the two "extremes" but one of my biggest challenges is to know when to push (and have the energy and mental and spiritual strength to "do the next thing" even if I don't "feel" like it) and when I really need to rest and have what has been coined by a fellow PCD'er as a "Turtle day".  So for those of you who pray for me, as we move into 2016, that would be one of my prayer requests--that God would give me the grace for each day to know what HE wants me to do--what is worth pushing through and when I really need to rest--and to lean on my hubby's wisdom as I plan my days out.

     Reflecting on 2015, I would say overall it was a challenging year--physically, mentally, and spiritually.  I'm thankful I know nothing is outside of God's sovereign control and that each valley is meant to draw us closer to Him.  As I look forward to 2016, I'm encouraged that God seems to be working in my heart and lifting that cloud of depression I've been struggling with the last 5 months.  I'm excited to see what He has for us in 2016 as we seek to start out the New Year striving to walk in obedience to Him in all things.  I know we will fail--after all "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23) BUT "God demonstrates His own love towards us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)  I can strive to obey Christ in all things, knowing that God is at work in my heart and though I will battle my sin in this wretched flesh One Day He will come back or take me home to be with Him where I will forever be free from the presence of sin.  Friends, this is the rock solid truth we MUST cling to if we are to have hope in 2016 of any change at all.  God promises to "work all things together for good to those who love Christ, to be conformed to the image of His son" (Romans 8:28-29) and we can trust that "He will complete the work He began in you." (Philippians 1:6)  For those of us who trust Jesus as our Savior, we can confidently set goals for 2016, expecting God to help us, but at the same time, we must remember to hold OUR plans loosely for "Many are the plans in a mans heart, but the Lord directs his steps" (Proverbs 16:9).  Looking back on 2015, it doesn't really look anything like I thought it would at the end of 2014, but none of the twists and turns and surprises that caught ME off guard, caught God off guard.  We can only hope for what we think our days may look like in the coming year and take steps to try and bring our plans to fruition, but God KNOWS what 2016 will look like for you and for me.  I don't know about you, but that brings me great comfort knowing that no matter what happens, God promises to use everything to not only draw us closer to Himself but to make us more like Himself.  As Mom T. always says, "Pray and go".  We can pray, make plans, and step out in faith, trusting our awesome God to direct our steps and hold us close, especially in the valleys.  

I pray you all grow closer to Jesus in the coming year!  And Lord willing, I will be striving to write more once again.  ;) 

In the Love of the Lamb,

Rachelle :)

Thinking About Life in Memory of Elaine York

     It's been a pretty rough week.  My lungs and sinuses are still infected, although I did finally get the medications today, so hopefully those will help me get back on my feet.  I've felt pretty crummy all week and then lost a dear friend two nights ago.  I'm thankful she knew Jesus and Elaine is now in the presence of our great Savior, but my heart aches for her husband and sons and grandchildren left behind, along with all her family and friends and people she has impacted.  

     I first met Elaine when I was really young--I'm not sure exactly how old but would guess between 10-12 years old.  She did a Pampered Chef party one of my Mom's teacher friends hosted.  The "icebreaker" game was for everyone to introduce themselves and think of something that describes themselves in the kitchen that matched the first letter of their first name.  My Mom said, "My name is Denise and I dislike being in the kitchen." Elaine didn't lose a beat and replied with, "Well, we'll get you some tools to get you out of there faster!"  I don't know why that memory is emblazoned, but it is.  She became friends with our family and then later as facebook became more popular we got to know each other more through that.  

     She would always comment or like my posts asking for prayer and we messaged back and forth a lot as she battled cancer, especially over the last 5 years.  Our last messages were about praying for Jordan to get the job so I would have better health insurance.  She said it was going in her prayer journal right then and I know it did.  After she entered heavens gates the other night, it's amazing the connections and how many people and friends I have that knew her and they all say the same thing: She loved her Savior and proclaimed His truth to all those around her and was encouraging and always had the biggest smile in the room.  Thinking about all the lives she has impacted reminded me of a quote I shared during my high school graduation speech: "To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world."  Elaine left a legacy of a great woman of faith and she loved those around her with Jesus love.  Her death has reminded me that on those days when we don't think we are getting much accomplished for the Lord, it's truly the "little things" that matter and that God uses--to our family, friends, and neighbors, we mean the world to them.  

     There was one time in particular that Elaine really encouraged me.  I was discouraged and weary of my health trials and had some things coming up that I messaged her asking her to pray for.  She encouraged and exhorted me to share it publicly and reminded me that God loves to answer specific prayer and that He had taught her the importance of journaling those prayers and answers to prayers as we walk through the trials of life.  I will never forget that lesson.  

     Please keep her husband, Tom, and her two sons, Christian and Cameron and their family and friends in your prayers.  Jordan came home early from work yesterday and we went on a much needed date--I had been crying off and on all morning after her passing and Jord knew I needed him.  I'm so grateful for him and these are the things that remind us how important and special those relationships are.  We don't know the number of our days and this life is but a vapor.  Elaine is now receiving those eternal rewards that she gained from all those seeds she planted during her life and the love she poured into others around her.  She sees Jesus face to face...what glorious Days those will be!  It's immeasurably hard for those of us left behind, but I know Elaine would want you to hear of our Great Savior, Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for your sins and mine and hers, so that we can enjoy an eternity in heaven with Jesus instead of the hell we all deserve.  Hear the Gospel of Jesus today my friends, repent and turn and trust Him with your lives!  Your eternity is weighing in the balance.

       Hearing all the people share on facebook of the impact Elaine had on their lives has inspired me to continue to live for Jesus, love Him and those around me with my whole heart and soul, and keep running the race He has set before me.  Elaine has finished her race, she fought the good fight and is now receiving the crowns and her eternal inheritance.  May we all press on towards the prize, remembering to focus on the eternal and not the temporal and that life is made up of all those little things that truly are the most important things you can ever do.  "Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things that are seen, but at the things which are not seen.  For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Pressing on in your memory Elaine! 
Until we meet again,
Rachelle :)