We’ve had some stormy weather recently in California, but we were so blessed to have a break in the rain and had a bit of sunshine one afternoon. What a great opportunity to head out to Starbuck’s for a Tall Non-Fat Sugar free Cinnamon Dolce Latte and decided this might be a good time to call Rachael. Rachael happily agreed to meet with me for what became a wonderful afternoon.
We sat at a small table nearest the door with the warm sunshine beaming through the pane on our faces. As I prepared myself with my pen and journal in hand, I knew this was going to be a good meeting of friends.
GGM: Hi Rachael, tell me a bit about your family.
R: Well, I’m the third born of four children and the only daughter. My parents are happily married and my mother has always been a keeper of the home. My dad is a deacon at our church and we serve in the ministry together in many ways. My oldest brother, David, is married and they have two children which I adore! My second brother is Joe and he is a fireman and my younger brother is Dan and he is a junior in high school. Growing up in a home with three brothers was different than many of my other friends and I was happy to get a sister-in-law.
GGM: In what ways does your family serve together in the ministry?
R: My dad is a bus driver for our church’s bus ministry and my brother, Daniel, and I volunteer together with him by bringing children to church every Sunday morning. My parents both volunteer together in the college Sunday school class which my brother, Joe, and I attend together. Our family all serves in the college ministry together with helping with all the activities. We also ‘adopted’ one of the sweet ‘Senior Saints’ of the church as a ‘grandma’ and include her in all our family gatherings.
GGM: Rachael, it sounds like you have a close family, but have you ever had rough times?
R: Oh yes, I think any family has it’s share of ups and downs, but our family is very close and no matter what kind of storm comes our way, we stand by each other’s side without wavering. I love my brothers very much, we’re best friends!
GGM: Rachael, you’re eighteen now and preparing for college correct? What are you hoping to achieve in college?
R: Yes, I have a strong desire to be a nurse.
GGM: Oh that’s wonderful Rachael, how old were you when you knew that was the direction in which you were heading?
R: Well, I volunteered as a candy striper at our local hospital for a few months one summer and while I was in the ninth grade I was going through some old boxes one day I found an old letter I had saved. It was a paper I wrote in the second grade to my teacher about being a nurse. When I found that letter, it was then that I knew. It was a confirmation to me that I was going to be a nurse. I have always been the kind of person that wanted to help people.
GGM: That’s great that you have a desire to help people, were there any people in your life that you feel greatly influenced you to help meet the needs of others?
R: (sigh) Yes, my parents love to help people. They often have families come to our home to minister to them and they have always had a heart to visit in the local nursing homes. My mother loves elderly people, and children, they tend to flock to her. She has a special way about her that touches their souls. My dad used to teach in Junior Church for the fourth through sixth graders and I enjoyed helping in his class. My parents have always volunteered for Junior Camp every summer as well. They have been a great example to me of reaching out to others that are in need. I don’t think I’ve ever heard my dad say, “No.” to someone.
GGM: How wonderful that your parents have been involved in your upbringing. Would you like to share with our readers about some special times you’ve had together with your parents?
R: (big smile) My mom and dad created a special event for me the night I was graduating from sixth grade. Part of this surprise was just as much for my dad as it was for me. My mom had planned a specific time for my dad and I just before we left the house. My mom and I had gone shopping to get a special dress for graduation and my dad had not yet seen it. It was so pretty. We got a long white dress with a sheer pinafore, which had rose petals in it. Mom had me get my hair done and she had my dad wait for me in the dining room. As I walked down the hallway to see him, his face lit up; and so did mine. My mom had arranged a white sheet around the back of the chair, draping from the ceiling down to the ground.
"I want to save my purity for marriage."
Dad asked me to sit down and he got down on one knee. He then told me how special I am to him and brought out a pretty ring and asked me if I would wear it as a symbol to the world that I want to save my purity for marriage.
Another time was when my mom took me on a special weekend getaway to a little hotel for girls. It was like a fairytale hotel and we had a wonderful time together. I’ll never forget that weekend.
GGM: Oh Rachael, it sounds like your parents love you very much. You said earlier that you want to be a nurse and I’m wondering what you think about having your own family one day. Your mom sounds like a wonderful example and I’ll bet you’ll be a good mom too.
R: I used to think that I wouldn’t have children, until I became an Auntie. I fell in love with my nephew and niece the days they were born. Now I do want to be a mom one day.
GGM: Have you had any experience with working with children?
R: Yes, I have volunteered in different children’s classes at church, tutored after school for younger children, and even helped in a daycare during the summer when I was younger. My employer taught me how to teach with a homeschool approach in that daycare. It was rewarding to see small children learn from me and see them understand what I was teaching. Each day we had times when we sat at the dining room table and taught workbook pages to keep their minds fresh over the summer. It was a lot of fun.
GGM: You mentioned that your mom has always been a keeper of the home; do you think you will follow in her footsteps when you have children?
R: Oh yes! I want to be able to be there for my children and I have no problem at all with being at home. I love being at home.
GGM: Well I’ll bet your parents have a great deal to do with that. What do you think inspires your family to reach out to others like they do?
R: It’s because of the Lord. His example to us in the Bible shows us that we should be reaching out to others.
GGM: Rachael, if you could talk to our readers and share something with them, what would you say?
R: I would let them know not to worry about boys until they’re older. The friends you have as a young girl may not always be there when you grow up. We think that our friends mean so much to us, but many people go in different directions when they get older and Jesus should be the most important relationship we have.
Don’t get me wrong, I love my friends, but Jesus and my family are the most important. Show your family how much you love them. While growing up we always supported our siblings when they were involved in sports and ministry events. Birthdays have always been a big deal to us too. One more thing, be sure that when you are ready to have a relationship, that your parents are involved with your decisions. They can see things in people that we may not see. It’s important that you keep focused on the standards that you have.
GGM: Rachael, you told me that you graduated from sixth grade, but what about high school. What kind of education have you had?
R: I grew up in the Christian school through our church ministry and my mom volunteered a lot. It has always been important to me that she wanted to be involved in my days. Then after graduation I attended a Bible college for a short time before registering for the nursing program. I also took an extra class at our local evening school of the Bible for a Spanish class. We were taught how to lead a soul to Christ in Spanish. I want to take more Spanish classes in college.
GGM: It’s important to get an education that is not coated in secularism, are you glad your parents gave you a Christian education?
R: Yes, I am very thankful.
GGM: You are blessed to have a family that worked hard to provide for you. Thank you for taking the time to meet with me today, Rachael. It has been a blessing to hear about your family and about your hopes for your future.
Rachael and I had a sweet time together that afternoon. It was evident to me that she genuinely loves her family and sincerely desires to help others. I hope that reading about Rachael has inspired you to make your Savior and your family more important in your lives. I have every confidence that she will be a wonderful wife and mother one day.
3 Comment(s)! Please Leave A Comment!:
Rachael, I have really enjoyed reading about your family. Thank you for sharing your life with us.
Oh Rachael, reading this gives me hope for the future. God bless you in all you do. I teared up when I read about that special moment at your 6th gr graduation. Precious!
Dear growing in grace, thank you for providing a good moral magazine for our young girls to glean from.Rachael thank you for your stand im very proud of you . God bless you always . Do right till the stars fall.
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