One Year Ago...

I'm usually not in the habit of doing two posts in one day, but this is an anniversary that cannot be neglected.  

It was one year ago yesterday that I met some of the best friends I have. 

It will be one year tomorrow that my sister Rachel left for China.  

To be perfectly honest, I'm feeling somewhat sentimental tonight.  Thinking about all that  happened one year ago.

Jumping catfish!  A lot has happened in the past year.  But I'll focus on what happened a year ago rather than on everything that happened in the past year. :)

Here goes...

I knew all my Southern friends before they came.  We'd talked on the phone and emailed and chatted and the whole works.  But it just so happens that they live in Georgia and we live in Wisconsin, which made meeting each other pretty difficult.

Ok.  So, I'll try to start at the beginning here.  We set up a party for Rachel before she left for China so she could see all her friends before she left.  What I didn't know was just how many friends were going to be there.  It was already very exciting because Britt and Hannah Otterson came down as well as Deborah Martinez from Ohio. 

This was the weird thing.  My mom was like constantly on the phone for about a week or two before Rachel's party and she kept asking questions about our friends from GA.  The weird part was that every time Rachel or I would ask her who she was talking about she got embarrassed and changed the subject.  Rae and I started to wonder if our friends from GA were going to be coming up to her party - and maybe it was supposed to be a surprise.  I decided to ask Anna about it.  When I asked she said, "Oh, yeah, I think I heard something about some friends from out West coming".  Then I was super confused.  We really don't have any friends from out West. So we decided to dismiss the whole thing as wishful thinking.  

I completely forgot about it on the day of Rachel's party.  

People started arriving at the park and I was busy setting up food and greeting people and lo and behold I see some people standing by the women's bathroom.  They looked just like my friends from Ga.  But I must be dreaming.  Of course they couldn't be there.  But yes!  It looked like they were really there.  

I went running over there giving out hugs in totally shock.  I don't think I've ever felt more surprised in my whole life before.  I was like almost crying I was so happy and shocked.

But the classic moment came when Rae came out of the bathroom.  Seriously.  This picture says it all...

Needless to say, we had an absolutely wonderful time with them - talking, laughing, taking pictures, and (ahem) eating.

We spent the day at the park...

And the evening at our house...

Before I close this post I want to pay a tribute to two different people.

To Rachel

Wow.  I really miss you!  It's been a long year since you've been gone.  I didn't realize just how close we were and what a wonderful sister you are still you left.  I can't wait to see you again.

I have to mention that I totally feel like a prophetess right now though.  I recall saying you were going to marry the Chinese guy - Bill, and it was only a couple months that you were there before you told me you loved him.  Ha!  *Sorry, I had to do just a tad bit of little sister gloating*

Thank you for your bold witness for Jesus, and your willingness to "give what you cannot keep to gain what you cannot loose"!  You're an amazing example for me!  I love you!

I just wanted to say an absolutely huge, categorical THANK YOU for being such a wonderful friend and sister.  I miss you more than you know! <3>

Tribute number two.

To Caiti

I don't think we really got that close till after we met.  I mean, we were fun chums and everything.  But we didn't really spend hours talking and stuff like we do now.

Honestly, that day we met I just knew we were going to be great friends.  I think a big part of the reason is because I found someone who could be as brutally honestly, and sarcastic as me. ( Besides that fact that you're a super good example for me of a Christian girl who loves Jesus.)

Here's just one example of that - thus quoth Caiti, "Rebecca! Rebecca! wherefore art thou, my sweet, fair, lovely (sharp tongued) Rebecca?!

I miss thee! 

I miss thy carefree laughter. I miss thy sarcastic scorn.:D"  

You've become one of the best friends I have, Caiti!  Thank you for being such a wonderful friend!  I love and miss you so much!  I can't wait to see you again at Rae's wedding! ;)

Happy 19th Bithday...

... To the best sister in the whole world! (No, you can't even beg to disagree!)

Since we were little (I should say "littler", cuz we're both still short!) we've played, worked, argued, (she is MY sister, you know) read, and basically everything we did we did together.

She's was my hero. I always wanted to be just like her, ('till she decided to marry a Chinese man! :D) even though I never did become like her, she still is and always will be my hero!

I truly have never know a girl as wonderful as her. To put it simply, she's amazing!

If she's your friend you have an amazing precious friend. She'll believe in you, and always think the best. If you do something wrong "there must be some mistake", and if you do something right, she "knew you could do it"!

Some of my favorite memories with her are telling her about books I just read or am reading. I remember telling her stories from Robin Hood while we both almost died laughing - to Pride and Prejudice, as I wondered if somehow Jane Austen knew her - she just HAS to be Jane! Or explaining the Ivanhoe plot once more just for the fun of it. Having her roll her eyes at me as I quoted a section from Macbeth.

The witnessing we did together Halloween night, and at fairs. Like the time she dared me to go up and witness to a group of about 20 teenage boys - wow, that was scary! :D

And then the day came when her life dream looked like it was coming true. She was getting on a plane and heading to China as a missionary - because she loved Jesus, and as she would have said it "so that the Lamb would receive the reward of His suffering."

I knew I would miss her, what I didn't know was how much. I told her when she left she wouldn't come how single. She didn't believe me. But I was right. She left May 20th, and in September she became engaged to a Chinese man. (that I had never met :'/) I couldn't be more happy for her. But neither can I help but feel said at the same time. I will miss my sister.

She's Rachel!

I Love you so extremly much! I know you have no choice but to be my sister, thanks for bearing it as best you can! ;)

I Love You, Rachel!

A very Happy Birthday to my dear friend and sister Rachel! I thank God that He gave me a sister like you!!! Thanks for being who you are, I know we're very different, but I think God did that on purpose so we would balance each other out! :D Most of all, Thank you for your love for Jesus, it's a constant inspiration to me! Keep giving Jesus all you've got!

I Love You

Oh, and by the way I just had to post this lovely picture of you especially since I know it's your favorite! :D
I think you look great in it any way! :P :D

Pray for her...

My sister Rachel just had her wisdom teeth removed the day before yesterday. Her mouth hurts way more than she expected it would, and she's in excruciating pain right now. She could really use all your prayers!
I woke up in the middle of the night last night to see her pacing up and down our room floor, with loud music on, and in her day clothes... I was like "what is going on?" When I asked her she said she just got dressed because she couldn't sleep anymore. she barely slept at all last night, and is very (understandably) tired!

Please pray that her full recovery would be as quick as possible!

Thanks!!!

Take A Look...

My sister Rachel did an awesome job on a post about our last trip to the Monroe County Fair.
I don't have the time to do my own, so, please go over to her blog and check it out!

Dad and Bruce Frye

Rachel is "Yoyoish"!

Well, here you are...

"Yoyoish" pictures of Rachel! :-D

Just like Rachel!

I found this card today... and it's just like Rachel!

She's just like the green guy!(yoyo)

It's like I've always said "She used to be indecisive, but now she's not sure!"

If you know Rachel, I'm sure you'll agree with me...!