Dear Mom and Dad,
Thank you.
Two words I don’t say enough. I’m sitting here in the mountains of the Dominican Republic and I can’t help but be convinced that I wouldn’t be here without you. I remember sitting at the dinner table for hours that first night we talked seriously about the race. You told me it would be hard to send me across the world, you warned me that fundraising would be a long journey, you cautioned me about all the ups and downs about living overseas, and you still stood by my side every step of the way. So this blog is for you, mom and dad. Here’s nine things I want to thank you for, moments I hope we both always remember with a smile:
- I don’t really remember this day, but I’ve heard the story enough times that I can tell it as if I do 🙂 and I know you remember – that day you dropped me off at dance class for the first time, and you warned me, saying “Rachel, you might not have any friends in this class” and before you could finish the sentence with a phrase like “but don’t worry, you’ll make some in no time!” I cut you off, assuring you that I do in fact have friends at dance, and I confidently told you, “They’re just friends I haven’t met yet!” Instead of informing me that’s not really what the word “friend” means, you encouraged me, and you’ve reminded me of that sentence so many times since then, at the times I needed it most. Thanks for encouraging me to live with the friendship of Jesus, it’s one of the greatest things.
- Sometimes I think about the Saturday mornings, dad, when you and I (mainly you) would load up the car with trash and recycling, we’d take my favorite windy drive to the dump, call it the roller coaster road, and stop for donuts on the way home. When I tell my friends that story, a lot of them laugh at the fact that I’d choose the dump as my ideal day, but I hope you know that even though throwing the glass bottles into the big dumpster is really fun, I really just loved our daddy-daughter dates, because I got to spend them with my dad.
- I remember the days in fourth grade when I would get carsick on the way home from school, and I was too shy to say something to the mom who we carpooled with. My nausea would hit its peak after the 12 minute drive home and I’d stumble out of that gold minivan and throw up in the yard. I know it happened more than once, probably more like once a month, and every single time, Mom, you would gently pull my hair into a pony tail, lay me down, and set a cup of water and some saltines right by my bed. I know those weren’t your favorite afternoons, but you loved me still. I hope you know the Father cares for you the same way you cared for your shy fourth grade daughter.
- Dad, I think of you every time I hear the song “Nothing but the Blood.” I remember playing Polly Pockets with my sisters upstairs and every time we heard your voice sing from downstairs “what can wash away my sin?” We knew to answer with “nothing but the blood of Jesus!” I don’t remember a day where I didn’t know that song, and I want to say thank you for teaching us that nothing can wash away my sin, and nothing can make me whole again, nothing but the blood of Jesus.
- I’ll never forget the countless times I cried to you guys because I was upset about a grade I had gotten, or an assignment that seemed too hard to complete. I complained about things a teacher said that felt wrong or unfair, and you always sat to hear me out. You were quick to defend me, but you also made sure you had the story straight. You listened as I cried about it, but you didn’t let feelings rule my heart. Thank you for teaching me integrity.
- Dad, one of my favorite ways to spend time with you is on the volleyball court. You’ve coached me through eight years of hitting lines and passing drills, and every single season, you’ve critiqued and encouraged with a heart for unity. Your desire has always been to see the team glorify the Lord as we play, and you faithfully remind us that no one player is more important than another, just like making biscuits 😉 thank you for sharing your middle-hitter wisdom with me, thank you for not letting me give up when it got hard, and thanks for celebrating with me in the state championship. Thank you for being a role model in bringing Jesus onto the volleyball court.
- Something else I’ll value forever, Mom, is the way you chose to come to my games, even when you didn’t necessarily want to. Ten seasons of basketball meant ten years of committing to support your daughter in a sport that isn’t your favorite to watch. and trust me, I know middle school girls basketball games are not the most thrilling events, yet you still came. You didn’t let me see the side of you that wished you had a book in your hand instead of a gatorade, but you came and cheered, every chance that you got, and I think maybe by senior year you even started to enjoy it a little 🙂 You showed me that love really is sacrificial, and it really is kind.
- Some of my favorite moments of the entire year are those winter afternoons, where I find you, Mom, curled up under a blanket, cup of tea in your hand, and tears in your eyes as you watch a hallmark movie. Almost every single time, I decide to make my own cup of tea and snuggle up on the couch with you. Thank you for not being ashamed of your tears, even though it is basically the same plot every single time 😉 because it’s taught me that emotions are good and I shouldn’t be ashamed of mine either.
- You guys have answered the phone every single time I’ve called during the past eight months. You’ve stopped what you’re doing so many times, just to hear my voice. You let me cry on the phone because I’m tired of eating the same thing every day, you celebrate with me when I’m excited about the littlest things, you give me new perspective when I struggle to see past myself, and you remind me of scripture every single time.
Thank you mom, thank you dad, for saying yes to loving me on that rainy Sunday during the 2001 World Series, and thanks for continuing to say yes every single day. Thank you for doing the hard things, thank you for allowing me to fall and standing by my side as I figure out how to get back up, for teaching me to celebrate when good things happen, and for still giving me a reason to smile when they don’t. You’ve surrendered your own comfort, desires, and dreams for my sake, probably more than I know. You’ve loved me with the kind of love that makes me excited for the day where we’ll get to meet our Heavenly Father, and you give me glimpses of that day here on earth. Jesus lives in you Mom and Dad, and I don’t think a simple ‘thank you’ is quite enough. It’s an honor to be loved by you.
I’ll see ya in 36 days, love you lots <3
Love, Rachel
