Single folks, don’t spend your time wishing you were married. Make a bucket list and go out and achieve it.  Take YOU on a date, frequently. Work on yourself. Ask yourself if you would want to be married to you. Pray for your future spouse. But by all means be grateful for where you are on your journey, at this very moment.

Figure out what would make you fall again.

As for me, I’ll fall the same way I did last time. I’ll fall for the way someone treats me, not the way they look, or what they can do for me. I’ll fall for his honor (most importantly to GOD) and the fact that’s he true to his word (about all we really have in this world anyhow).

Good luck, now get to living!

Rachel Baribeau

I think it’s important to remember in these times that God gave us the gift of free will and, we live in a very  broken world.

We don’t have to choose Him; HE wants us to come to him of our own free will!

Its our choice to choose to know HIM, and it’s pretty radical if you think of it. We were made in His image, but we were also given the choice to NOT choose Him.

And we most certainly  do live in a broken world. We can’t turn around without hearing something AWFUL in the news, and what we saw today was horrifying.

I believe that  these things break His heart as much as they break ours. I believe He weeps for the all those affected in Boston, and around the world.

Going to sleep tonight praying the victims. Will you join me?

GOD hears the prayers of our wounded hearts.

Rachel Baribeau

I’ve been reminded of mistakes lately–in my life–and mistakes in lives of others.

There was a highly publicized mistake in the golf world the other day. Rory McIlroy, the world’s number one player QUIT (gasp), he literally walked off the course. When asked why, he replied it had something to do with a toothache.  Later, he came back and admitted that he was less than truthful, that he actually quit because he wasn’t playing as well as he wanted, and the pressure from being the top player just got to him. He admitted his mistake, asked for forgiveness, and asked to move on.

All of this got me to thinking about mistakes–they are inevitable–I just think too many folks let mistakes define them in a largely negative way.

I know when I fall flat on my face, as painful as it might be, I ask, “Lord, what do you want me to learn from this (often times with a mouth full of gravel/dirt)?”

You see, there is a lesson in every fall, but the greater lesson in how you rise, when you rise, and what direction you go in when you get up!

Kay Yow coached the Wolfpack women’s basketball team at North Carolina State University  from 1975-2009. She also battled breast cancer valiantly for over a decade. She lost her hair, she even lost her fingernails, but she never lost her determination and perspective on life.

One of the most beautiful lines from her speech was, “when life kicks you, let it kick you forward.”

So, cheers to your mistakes!!! AND the lesson you have learned from them!

I hope they make you stronger than you think you are, and braver than you think you could be.

Rachel Baribeau

But you see, I am already. I am enriched that I got to walk and talk with her for 33 years. I am a better person for all the times she comforted me by letting me lay my head on her chest. I am smarter in my dating life because she taught me a lot about men and how to spot the good ones. She and my grandfather also gave me a beautiful model of what true love looks like. He adored her, doted on her, spoiled her and affirmed her. She in turn loved him, covered him, made him want to be a better man with her love, defended him and made his day brighter by her beautiful smile and warm ways.

She taught me that all people matter, but none too much (Rudyard Kipling). She taught me that hard work and determination were keys to life. She also never let me quit, ever. I cannot remember a time where she stayed angry with me. She was practically incapable of that, unless you messed with her family. When she loved, she loved with every fiber of her being. She was a woman of few regrets. When she laughed and smiled, you couldn’t help but do the same. You just wanted to be in her presence. And most of all, she lived her life to help others. She took people in. She gave her last dime. She was even stolen from and taken for a ride a time or two; but guess what, she still gave, over and  over again.

When I look back at her life, I realize she was the most Christ-like person I have ever encountered. She showed the world that is doesn’t matter what “religion” you claim, as long as you have Jesus Christ in your heart, and a relationship with Him.

Even though the grief will grip me in the oddest of times and brings me to my knees, literally. Something else ALWAYS prevails and THAT is joy, unspeakable joy.

That is her, THAT is GOD.

I have seen joy in all of the people that have reached out and lent support. I saw it last Saturday when the sun peeked out for a few precious hours. I see it in the faces of my pups (she called them ponies). I saw it all around the father in my neighborhood and  his daughter that was taking her first ride on a bike without training wheels. I felt her when I broke out dancing last week on my daily walk (she would’ve been SO proud–she taught me to dance to Michael Jackson). I see joy and I feel it everywhere I go. I consider that a gift beyond comprehension.  (I guess my Uncle was right to name me Rachel Joy).

Her life and the the way she lived continues to inspire me every day, every moment.

My wish it that she might inspire you too.

P.S.-Go pay it forward to someone today.

Rachel Joy Baribeau

I, like most of you, have gone through a myriad of emotions: outrage, anger, sadness, disillusionment, confusion and fear (for our society).

After all of those emotions I find myself clinging, clinging to my faith, and clinging to our GOD.

I have heard many people lash out and ask, “why would GOD allow this to happen?” I cannot answer that emphatically, but I can only tell you what I know to be true in my heart, and HE  is the very cornerstone of my being.

What transpired on December 14th at 9:30 AM EST broke Jesus’ heart, just as it break yours now.

(In John 11:35 it says Jesus wept.)

Even before that fateful morning I believe His heart was breaking…for Adam Lanza. Because, in my opinion, while Adam Lanza was most likely disturbed–he was also afflicted–with pure evil.

The kind of evil that can cause you to shoot your own mother in the face at point-blank range, drive to a school to murder 26 beautiful souls, then turn the gun on yourself.

The kind of evil that only comes from one source–Satan.

We live in a fallen world, one only needs to look around for the evidence–shootings at malls, movie theaters and schools. That’s Satan at work.

BUT, in the midst of all of this, there is beauty, there is grace, there  is love, and that is GOD.

You see GOD gave us a lot of gifts; but one of the most radical ones he gave us was free will. Imagine how hard that was for Him. “Hmm…let’s see, I’ll give this one the extraordinary gift of song; I love her so!! I created her in my own image, but I want her to love me and choose me, therefore I will give her free will.”

And so it was the same with Adam Lanza. I believe that GOD was ever-present in this young man’s life but I don’t believe Adam Lanza CHOSE God. This much is very clear to me.

I relay all of this to remind you that every day we have a choice–to serve ourselves–or serve someone greater.

Every day we can choose to do for ourselves, or do for others (agape love).

Every day we can make a conscious effort to be that lifeline for someone, anyone. It may be a stranger, or your cube-mate at work, or it may be a family member or friend. All I know is we’ve got to start taking better care of one another. That could simply mean saying you are sorry, or doing a favor for someone that cannot possibly repay you. Or it may mean more, MUCH more. ”60 Minutes” has reported that in almost all school shootings, the victim told someone of his intent to commit the attack. This fact shakes me to my core, but in a weird way it also inspires me..to do more, to be more. I want to love with reckless abandon; I want to give until it hurts; I want to be someone’s lifeline. You can be, too. Just open your eyes. The opportunity to “leak Jesus” is all around you.

And if you are reading this, and you don’t believe, well selfishly I want you to, because I want you to have the same peace I have  in crazy times like these. I want you to have the same UNSPEAKBLE and UNQUENCHABLE joy I have; but regardless of what you do with your free will, I urge you to LOVE ON, my friend.

Throw off the chains that may bind you, keep your eyes open, your mind vigilant, and look for the people in this world that DESPERATELY need YOUR touch.

GOD BLESS YOU!

Rachel Baribeau

Flight 750 Rachel Baribeau 11-7-12

Rachel Baribeau 750 10-31-12

I must rest; but before I do, I need you to know this-hard work DOES pay off. Dreams DO come true. Things fall apart so better things can fall together. If you dedicate your life to looking out for others, people will do the same for you, eventually.  I PROMISE! This day you’ve lived, it was a gift, a treasure. If you greet each morning with this in mind, I guarantee your life will be better. Will there be cruddy/crappy days? Oh HECK yes. But this life is not a dress rehearsal..live it, folks. I know this-when it’s my time, I want arrive in front of my PRECIOUS Maker used up, beat up, worn out and road tested from the journey. I want to use every ounce of talent He gave me to further His name and help others. If I do that, even in the smallest way, well that’s a life worth living in my book.

Good night and GOD bless.

Rachel