Memories

You know, so many times me and Sissy heard "dont mess with the Nack girls" lol. Just in a teasing sorta way. In a family that is mostly sons, we had each other. We didn't always have an easy relationship, and for so long I thought she didn't even like me. Looking back now, I see a lot of that was just normal sister drama. Lol. We all know she always said she didn't like hugs or anything. You'd say "I love you" and she'd reply with "yeah". I think one time she did actually say it back. Lol. I look back at our photos and anytime I am hugging her, or kissing her head or we are just together she has the biggest smile. Growing up, she was my shadow. And like any big sis, she got on my nerves lol. Teasing me for having mainly guy friends, stealing my clothes... I would do just about anything to have that back. When my son was born, I was so weak. Her and mom had to sponge bathe me and then literally feed me bc I couldn't even lift my arms. I didn't have the strength. And she spent the night in the hospital with me that night too. The first night she was at Dads after I had my son, he was so fussy that night. He finally settled down, I laid him in his bassinet and then he started fussing again. <morning time> well she came in my room, I started to apologize and she didn't say anything. Picked him up, took him to her room then came back and wheeled the bassinet out. Growing up and always hearing that she didn't want kids or even like them, you can imagine how shocked I was when my 15 year old lil sis came and decided she'd take her nephew all on her own lol. From the moment he was born, Max had her wrapped around his finger lol. She adored him and loved him so much. As he always has her. When I was pregnant, we started doing our lil photo shoots. Bc I wanted pregnancy photos but I am so weird about the camera. So we decided to do that. We had just decided to do amother one soon a week before she passed. Watching her achieve her dreams. Seeing how she created magic to get anything done, inspired me. I told her she had to teach me. Life has always been a struggle for me, but for my baby sis, she made it look easy. She was a force all on her own. Nothing ever seemed to scare her. She was short and little for most of her life and as they say, great things come in small packages. She didn't let anything stop her. As a sister, as her older sister, I don't know how to deal with this. I am trying my best and trying to honor her memory by being as amazing as her tho I doubt I'll ever be that amazing. I am now the shortest. <she was only like an inch and a half shorter, but still> and I am now the sister without her sister. That pain is a pain I never thought I'd feel and I don't understand how to accept it. And based on my friends, who have also lost their siblings, it may not be something I ever can accept. Sibling loss is a club no one should ever have to be a part of. Parents leave too early, partners come too late and friends can come and go. But through out your whole life, you're supposed to have your sibling(s). And our brains, our souls, our hearts know this. Weve not really known a life without our sibling typically. So facing it without her is one of the hardest things I have ever dealt with. I will say that tho we have this pain, I am thankful. Thankful that tho she was the baby of our family, she never knew a life without us in it, she never knew a life without us loving her throughout it. I love you forever Sissy, I will miss you for always.

A video of Rachel's life — the photos and memories everyone has shared, gathered together. 💛

I've been trying to put something down here, and I admit I'm having trouble because I have so much I want to share. Rachel was the sweetest little girl and grew into the kindest adult. I love her so much. I miss her more than I can express and more than anyone knows as I do my other 2 children. Rachel was always looking out for me and Debbie. Little did I know she set up my medical information including any medical appointments so SHE was alerted. I never knew why she would know my labs, appointments, etc before I even knew. I do not know how she fit all that she did into her 34 years. No grass grew under her feet. I'm proud of her and her accomplishments, but mostly I'm proud and thankful for the person she was; kind, loving, sweet, empathetic, loyal, and present. Just a beautiful spirit and person. Rachel loved her life and was perfectly content being home outside with Wayne doing all the required work it took to keep everything running smoothly. I think she accomplished most of her dreams. She graduated college. She completed all the courses for Vet Tech, she had every animal under the sun, she bought a trailer for $3,000, and sold it for 36,000, bought a house and with Wayne made a little farm, she got her porch built, she bought and learned how to drive her motorcycle. She saved so many animals and reptiles. She married her perfect match, loved David and Jordyn. She loved her family. She loved Max (Nicholas) and Parker. She always had a smile on her face. She was definitely a good and responsible adult, but she was also the baby of our family. She had " resting smile face "😀. I've cried everyday since that tragic day. I don't know how to accept this. I miss her. I try to remember she will no longer have to deal with the stresses of life on earth. She'll never have to deal with old age issues. She'll never have to worry about everyone's troubles and health. She'll never be sick again. The spirit world is pure bliss and she deserves that. She was an earth angel and now she is our beautiful heavenly guardian angel. I selfishly want her back, but I'm trying and doing my best. I'll love, miss and wish her to be with us for the rest of my life on earth. I'm sadder than I ever knew was possible, but I'm grateful she was our Rachel.

Rachel ALWAYS had animals she saves from somewhere. When she lived in the trailer park in Laurel, she saw someone drop off a box on the side of the road by the woods at the edge of the trailer park and drive off. Of course she investigated and inherited a litter of guinea pigs. She once got a new ball python I believe it was & stopped by my house with it. She tried to convince me to hold it. No success. 😂 She convinced my son who was 17 or 18 at the time to hold it & I captured it in video. It’s my most cherished video.

My angel

Rachel had the biggest heart, I will forever miss you .

I remember how she was always such a sweet, beautiful & well behaved child that grew up into all those things as well as kind, helpful and caring. I feel so blessed to have been a small part of her life while she was here with us on earth.

You are the best little sister anyone could ever ask for. You definitely fulfilled what it means to be the youngest lol. Made us watch stuff so many times over and over, back to back <I still can't watch Selena even almost 25 years later lol>, stealing my clothes, teasing me for being a teenager and doing teenager things, lol. To growing up, you being there the first night I gave birth, taking him in the morning when he had been fussy all night and being the best aunt ever. Our photo shoots. Our discussions on animals and whats best for keeping them. You are such a fierce, a beast at anything you put your mind to. You didn't use magic to make a way, you created magic to make a way. And I will always be in awe of that. I will miss you and love you with every part of my soul. I love you so much and I miss you even more.

So beautiful

Back when I was little, she would sometimes take me on a ride on her motorcycle. I doubt she went that fast but it was always fun.

Rachel

Rachel

Rachel

Sometimes the most meaningful friendships begin in the most unexpected ways. Twelve years ago, Rachel posted a rabbit for rehoming. She had been told Bam was a female, but after he surprised her by breeding with her other rabbits she needed to find him a new home. I reached out to adopt him, never imagining that one little rabbit would introduce me to one of my best friends. What started as a conversation about Bam never ended. Over the next twelve years, we talked about everything. The ordinary moments, the exciting milestones, the challenges, the dreams, the animals we loved, and all the little things in between. She became so much more than someone I had met through a rabbit. She became one of my closest friends. Even though miles separated us our friendship never felt distant. We shared laughter, advice, encouragement, and countless conversations that became part of my daily life. Losing Rachel has left a space that can't be filled. Grief has a way of reminding us just how deeply someone became woven into our lives. I will always be grateful that one message about a rabbit led to many years of friendship I will treasure forever. Thank you Rachel for your friendship. You are deeply missed and you will never be forgotten.

Rachel was such a kind hearted person. Always putting others before her self . I know she was always willing to help Suzanne and Alfred in any way she could . My personal memory of Rachel was she never hugged anyone when she around us years ago . But I always made a point to make her hug me . It was our little joke to each other . And her love for all animals was undeniable. She will forever be in our hearts . Gone but never never forgotten.❤️❤️

I love you and miss you so much Sissy. More than I could ever express.

So beautiful

Best day of my life.love you Rachel

Caring for animals , loving David and Jordyn, Wayne was a bonus.