Rachael Elizabeth

Rachael is the beautiful daughter of my sister Elaine. Like her mom, she has always tried harder and been the hardest on herself. When she got a "B" in school, her mom told her it was a good grade - Rae said she could have done better. When she play sports she wants to be the best - score the most goals - hit the furthest ball - sink the winning basket.
Rachael is short (as are both her parents' families) and if you never saw her play sports you may think her weak. She is a dynamo on the soccer field. She does her best and is able to ref the younger kids because she doesn't just play the game...she knows the game.
Rachael is a good Christian, saving money as I write this to go on a working missions trip with her church. I know that most people see what she is doing as a vacation,but these mission trips really expose the students to different culture and do not let them fool around. When they say working mission...they put the WORKING in bold leters. And Rachael knows how to work.
Rachael is 15, with a birthday in the middle of October. Because of this and her birthstone being the same as mine and my mother's, I gave her my mother's opal ring for her birthday. Although it has no monetary value, I know she will treasure it. She never knew my mom and it is sad because my mom would have loved her.
And she is so gracious and a good friend. When she turned 10, her mom had a huge party for her at a public place. In the party area, Rachael opened her gifts...including a crazy, weird Braatz doll. Three presents later, she opened an identical doll. One of the little girls said "you already got one!" to which Rachael replied, "Yes and it's so cool that now I have two. I can play with them together." The girl who gave the first doll was thanked, the girl who gave the second one was honored.
Rachael is the kind of girl that I wish was my own daughter and am so glad she is not. As much as seeing her successes is rewarding, keeping up with her would be exhausting. I am not athletic nor am I competitive. I believe that what I earn will come to me with the effort I put in. Rachael believes that the more effort she puts in, the better the reward. The reward she receives is not just the love of her friends and family...it isn't just the awards and good report cards... it's the way people walk away from her feeling like they have been part of something perfect and that success has come their way by being part of Rachael's life.