Rachel Ray Photography Blog

Ok, I lied… I’m not going to LIST 100 things, although I’m sure there are at least 100 on the list. I’m going to give you my top ten favorite ones, starting with number 10 and finishing with my most favorite reason. It will also be paired with some lovely flashback photos of the last 5 years of my mom and I. Enjoy the hilarious hair styles I seem to have gone through during my post secondary “finding myself” phase.

Here is one for you to really laugh at before we get into the tear-jerker material.

I told you it would be funny.

Now let’s move on to the sentimental part of this post. Today is Mother’s Day. If you haven’t figured that out you should probably remedy the situation and go buy some flowers- or, if you live far away, bribe someone you know who lives nearby to bring flowers to your mom like you planned it all along. #1 child award right there. Maybe gift her the new J Biebs song on iTunes that he wrote for this very special day- Mom’s love that sentimental music stuff. [I personally just love the Biebs].

Today is my last mother’s day as a single woman. For every mother’s day from now on, I will be a wife… and I will also have the potential to be a mother myself. That seems really significant to me. The Bible talks about how a man and woman must leave their mother and father and cleave to their spouse…so this is my last chance to honor my mother before that whole ‘leave and cleave’ thing sets in on July 15- and I want to make it special. [Don't worry, Mom, you will still get loved on this day for many years to come- wife or not!].

My mom was just here in B.C., watching me graduate and helping me settle into my very first home as a home owner. Having that time with her really helped remind me of all the things I miss about her when she is gone. Mom- I love you dearly. Here are just a few of the reasons why:

10). Without you, I probably wouldn’t know how to put on make-up, tell the difference between designer jeans and fakes, or have any fashion sense at all. You’re my favorite shopping partner for life.

9). Even though people always ask if we’re sisters (and I always clarify that you’re *ahem* 49), I like the fact that I have some pretty hot genes to look forward to as I grow old.

8). I never get sick of people saying, “RACHEL! Your mom is a FOX”. Dang right, you are.

7). I’m pretty sure you social network better than any of my friends. I love constantly checking my phone for texts from you as we chat every single day. I never have those awkward social moments where I pretend to text so I can avoid eye contact with a random stranger- I genuinely HAVE to look at my phone.

6). This one time in high school, you told me, “You’re so FUNNY. We always thought your brother was going to be the funny one… and you just surprised us!”. [This was after the "Olga" incident, and I seriously still laugh every time I think about it].

5). You toughed out parenting the most horrendous, terrible, trouble-making child in the world. I mean, Luke was a real handful, hey? Ok, just kidding. I was the nutcase kid who would yell out the window to people passing by to call social services because my parents beat me (only because I was really mad you sent me to my room). Seriously- if you can survive raising me, I feel like you deserve a Nobel prize.

4). You didn’t just survive raising me, but you made me turn out pretty good, or so I think. I remember you telling me that you were reading something Dr. Dobson wrote when I was a young child about how 50% of strong-willed children reject their parents faith, and that you were determined to not let that be the case for me. I applaud the fact that not only did you make sure that didn’t happen- but you officially raised the first pastor that our family has ever seen. Seriously. Standing O.

3). You raised two young kids while your husband juggled boot camp, overseas deployment, residency, and life inside a rat-invested apartment. You fed us with money earned when dad took his Medicine textbooks to the Pawn Shop. That is just inspirational and I am so thankful.

2). You’re the most generous, loving, energetic, bubbly woman I have ever known and you are never found in a room without a friend or a person who deeply loves and admires you.

1). Whatever the role is that you are in- you give yourself to it in a way that honors God wholly and completely. You are one person in my life who I see take “nothing is impossible with God” to heart. I cherish your dedication, talents, and abilities, and I am so floored by the way that God is working in your life with the “Truth Unlocked” project. You found Jesus only 20-some years ago, yet you have lived a life worthy of at least 100 years serving our King. You have brought so many people to Christ, whether it be intentionally through a ministry, or just listening to the promptings of God in a clothing store, nail salon, or any other ordinary place. You place no boundaries on God’s works.

I love you and am honored to call you my mother. Happy Mother’s day to my best and most loyal friend,

Your daughter.

Last May I adopted a cat. If you don’t know this, you probably live under a rock- because since May this cat has been photographed, instagramed, tweeted, and status-updated a little TOO much (or so some people tell me).

Now, if you asked my fiance, Neil, he would tell you I’m a dog fanatic. Watching TLC’s Pick a Puppy is the most dangerous thing you could ever do with me. It typically ends with me frantically compiling a list of breeders in the BC area and emailing them ALL to adopt ALL the puppies.

So, why did I adopt a cat? Well, if you met Jasper, I think you would understand. But let me give you a handy-dandy list to help you out.

1. I live in a basement suite… by myself. It’s lonely and a cat is low maintenance. Basement suite + crazy life + low maintenance animal = temporarily appeased Rachel.

2. In a minute, you’re going to see some pictures of him-and he is the most beautiful thing you could ever lay your eyes on.

3. He was going to be homeless, and no one likes animals to be homeless. Sarah McLachlan made SURE of that one.

4. This is the best one. Jasper thinks he’s a dog.

Yes, you heard me correctly. Jasper thinks he’s a dog. He doesn’t have any of the annoying cat traits. To prove it, here’s another list:

-He likes to eat people food, and will normally knock over my garbage can and compost to find it.

-He has to be around you ALL the time.

-He waits by the door for me to come home.

-He likes to smell and chew my shoes.

-He hates cats. He even hates his own reflection, that’s how much he hates cats.

-When we play, he pants like a dog. TONGUE OUT AND ALL.

See? He thinks he’s a dog. Which is pretty perfect considering my affinity for canines. So this is why I adopted him. Every cat hater I know has fallen in love with him (ask my landlord, he has fallen victim to the cuteness of this critter).

But this wasn’t the point of this blog post. My pseudo-dog turned SEVEN on March 3! Which makes me sad, since I missed out on the first 6 years of his life and it means that I get to have him in my life for 6 years less… but birthdays are exciting nonetheless. I did a photoshoot with Jasper this morning to commemorate the occasion. He has gotten much more comfortable with the camera since I first introduced him to you. Enjoy the a-dorable images that follow.

I admit, every time I read this title I think of M.I.A and start singing, “Paper Planes”. Out loud. By myself.

But who hasn’t done that? Yeah, admit it.

But this story isn’t about paper planes. Obviously, it’s about paper cranes. A very special paper crane, in fact.

This paper crane is by no means extravagant, it was forged from the pages of one of my students’ exercise books, but the back story is what makes this crane the most beautiful one to have ever been made.

6 weeks ago I began my final practicum as a student teacher. This involves me full time teaching in a classroom for 10 weeks. When I began my practicum, I explained the process to my students, and the majority of them were overjoyed- except for one little boy. This little boy didn’t like me, and he made it very obvious. The next two weeks were some of the most painful and frustrating weeks of my entire practicum. He forget his agenda and his homework every day, he never listened to me, and he barely accomplished any of his work- and when he did, it was poor quality. He gave me overwhelming amounts of attitude, and when I spoke with him he would stare off into space and never respond.

Praying for this boy became a large part of my morning routine. I knew I needed to connect with him and just kept praying for God to reveal the perfect situation for this to occur. There was so big “THIS IS IT” moment where I jumped in and connected with the boy. It wasn’t right away. But I just started intentionally seeking him out every day. I began asking him about books he was reading, complimenting aspects of his work, and telling him a few jokes during break times. I took every opportunity I could to interact with him in a way that was outside of my perceived role.

And you know what?

He began to remember his agenda. He began to finish his work well. He began to speak, and I was eager to listen.

Yesterday, as the bell rung to signify the end of the last day before spring break, this little boy ran up to me and said, “Ms. Raymond, I made this for you.”

Inside his hand was a perfect, miniature, exercise book crane.

As he extended it towards me I couldn’t help but realize the journey this boy and I had been on together in the last six weeks.

It brought tears to my eyes.

It may be a simply folded piece of paper- but the story goes much deeper than that. As far as I am concerned, this is the most expertly crafted crane in the world-formed by the hands of a meaningful relationship.

This crane now sits on top of my fireplace, a cherished reminder to keep the goal of teaching at the center of my heart: relationship.