Happy Birthday RACHEL!

Rachel is 22 today. She is an incredible young woman and we are so proud of her! She loves God with all of her heart and she has a desire to lead children to a life changing experience with Jesus Christ. She is a junior at Central Bible College in Springfield MO, majoring in Children's Ministry. This is the last birthday we'll celebrate with her as a single girl. She'll be getting married next May to her sweetheart, Michael.

From birth Rachel has been so independent. There were times I just wanted to sit and cuddle or rock her. She was not interested in that at all. She did not want to sit still at all. When she started kindergarten, she didn't need any help from me. When she left for college, it was a bit sad for her, but within weeks she was in her element and had her routine down.

The things I admire most about her is her organization and her ability to make good use of small chunks of time. She usually always carried a book to read as we drove across town. No use to sit in the car for 20 minutes doing nothing. There were times in elementary school that she would do her homework on the way home from school. There were very few times in her life that I had to insist that she clean her room. There was a place for everything and most of the time everything was in its place. (The exceptions are the summers that she has been home since going to college. It was temporary, I just shut the door :o)

She is definitely her father's child. She may look a bit like me, but she has Lackey blood running through her veins! She has his personality 100%. She is driven like him, always moving, thinking. She has always been a leader among her peers.

Here's how I would describe her:

R - rambunctious

A - active

C - cares for children

H - happy

E - excitable

L - loves . . . to talk, the Iowa State Fair, chocolate, & shopping!

We are in Springfield to spend her special day with her. We can't enjoy the Fair today, but we can shop, listen to you talk and share some chocolate! We love you Rachel, we're proud of you and thanks to that shopping trip that Dad promised we know you will have a fabulous birthday!