Rach's Journal

**Friday's Update from Rachel's Website http://rachel.redtoenail.org**

Well, I wrote this all out once, and then managed to delete the entire thing by mistake. No doubt Rachel is shaking her head and giggling at me from Above. But anyway, here we go, second time 'round...

Firstly I want to extend a huge thanks to everyone who wore purple or displayed purple in some way yesterday, in honour of Rachel. We never expected it to take off the way it did!

We are putting together a slide reel of all the pictures we have been sent, to post on the site, but if you have any objections to your picture appearing, just let us know and we will leave it out. If you haven't sent a picture yet, and wish to do so, we would love to see it! linda-marie_scully@hotmail.com

Yesterday was one of the saddest, yet one of the most beautiful days of our lives. Rachel's service was so moving - they ended up having to move some speakers outside, because there were so many people they could not all fit inside the church! We were overwhelmed by the number of people our daughter touched...and we know there were many more with us in spirit.

There was not a dry eye the entire service - especially during the tributes made, and again when one of Rachel's close friends, Marisa, sang the two songs which have been playing on the site since her death - Gone Too Soon, and No-one but You (Only the Good Die Young). Marisa has a beautiful voice, and did a wonderful job - we know Rachel would have been proudly applauding from Heaven. Rachel made poor Marisa promise she would sing at her funeral before she died, cheeky thing! John and I made sure she knew she didn't have to feel obliged, but she was determined to fulfill her promise to Rach.

After the service, we released 38 balloons - two for each year of her life - and watched as they danced towards Heaven. We then progressed to the cemetery, where Rachel was laid to rest right beside her beloved Poppy, as hundreds of beautiful, colourful butterflies were released (another request made by rachel before she died).

A few of you have asked about the tributes read at the funeral, so we will be posting them one at a time over the next week or so.

This was the first, read by Rachel's best friend, Carla:

***

"I'll never forget that day, back in year 7 D&T, when Mrs Bateman decided that the back table was too crowded, and that one of us had to move.

No one budged, and I sat there thinking 'please don't make me be the one to move - these girls are the only friends I have in this class!'

So of course, I was the one that was forced to move. I ended up next to this pretty girl, with long dark hair tied back neatly, and the most friendly smile I had ever seen.

I didn't know much about her - just that her name was Rachel, and Mrs Bateman was forcing me to sit near her!

Turns out I am forever in the debt of our year 7 D&T teacher, because Rachel - or 'Shorty' as I like call her, just for the sheer irony of it - turned out to be the best friend I have ever had.

From that day on, we were inseperable - our teacher's worst nightmare, because we had to do EVERYTHING together! I will never forget Mrs McIndald's exhasperated sigh and dramatic eye roll, as she would ask 'are you girls joined at the hip?' and the way Rach and I would catch each others eye, and reply 'yeah, pretty much!'

Rachel was everything anyone could ever want in a friend - she was kind, compassionate, smart, loving...but most of all she was FUN! She had the most infectious giggle, and a sense of humor to boot! She always knew how to make me laugh, and it was usually over the smallest things! Everyone knew that if they needed a cheer-up, Rachel was always there to take the job. Even when she was going through the darkest of times - the harshest of harsh cancer treatments, she always battled to keep that beautiful smile on her face, and a hint of laughter in the air.

Rach, I will miss you so much - that's a given. I will miss laughing with you, I will miss crying with you. I will miss joking with you, and I will miss having D&M's with you. I will miss your positive, never-say-die attitude. I will miss your crazy dances, and the way you would break into song at any time. I will miss our marathon phone calls, and our 'girl on a mission' shopping trips (I'll never think of 'bargain hunting' in the same way again!). But most of all, I will miss you just being you - the beautiful person everyone loved.

They say that time heals all wounds, but there will always be a part of me that aches to hear you laugh, see you smile, or hear you say 'Carla, you're lucky I love ya so much, coz I could really slap you one right now! So SUCK IT UP PRINCESS!' just one more time.

I am honoured that you let me in as a part of your life, and I was honoured to let you into mine.

I will never forget you, Rach. You fought long and hard, with grace and dignity. It's time to rest now - you have earned it."

***

Missing my girl,

Linda

(PS I have changed the mood icon on here to suit Rachel - she is feeling no pain, flying free with the angels)