ONE MONTH

 Dear Rachel,

August 31,marking one month since you left us, I find myself enveloped in a deep ache.  

A month of yearning to hear your laughter,

A month of missing our heartfelt conversations,

A month of longing for your presence.

Losing you has been the most agonizing experience of my life. It shattered me into countless fragments, yet I sense that you wouldn’t want me to remain in that place of darkness and despair. I’ve resolved to honor your memory by living as you did—with fervor and purpose, embodying the kindness that defined you. Though every day brings its share of sorrow, your impact has made me a better person, teaching me lessons I never imagined.

Because of you, I understand that becoming a sister and having a sister is an unparalleled joy.

Because of you, I’ve come to see life as a precious gift, despite its challenges. I know now that I can either embrace it fully or let it slip away, and I choose to cherish every moment.

Because of you, I’ve learned that love is a rare treasure. I strive to love with the same depth and sincerity that you did.

Because of you, I hold on to our cherished memories, carrying them with me always.

Because of you, I’ve realized that nothing in life is permanent. I commit to loving deeply and fiercely.

Because of you, I’ve discovered the value of patience and gentleness.

Because of you, I’m learning to release pain to make space for peace.

Because of you, I know that love endures beyond death.

Because of you, I actively seek the good in every situation. If I can’t find it, I try to create it.

Because of you, I live from a place of greater depth.

Because of you, I strive to be fully present in my life.

Because of you, I take countless pictures and videos to capture moments that matter.

Because of you, I cherish every blessing.

Because of you, I’ve discovered strength I never knew I had.

Because of you, I embrace life with gusto, laughter, and passion.

Because of you, our family has grown closer and stronger.

Because of you, I see that grief is love yearning for a place to go.

Because of you, I understand that living and loving are choices that infuse life with meaning.

Because of you, I believe in the possibility of joy and laughter beyond loss.

It is both an honor and a privilege to be your sister. I eagerly await the day we will be reunited. Thank you for the countless lessons you’ve imparted.

With all my love,

Your sister

Terri G

Tribute to my sister

 

Today, as we gather to honor and remember the world's best sister, our hearts are heavy with a profound sense of loss and gratitude. Rachel was more than just a sister; she was a guiding light, a pillar of strength, and a wellspring of love in our lives. Her presence was a source of comfort and joy, and her absence leaves a void that cannot be filled.

From the earliest days of our lives, Rachel was my constant companion, always there with a listening ear and a heart full of understanding. Her laughter was a melody that brightened even the darkest days, and her smile had the power to make everything feel just a little bit better. She had a rare gift for making everyone around her feel valued and cherished, a testament to the depth of her compassion and kindness

Some of my earliest memories was when we lived in Middle Arm, we had three bedrooms so her and I shared a room, we would fight like siblings do, many nights I'd pay her to scratch my back, she loved having money and i got my back scratched.

As a little girl Rachel couldnt prounouce her S. So any occassion that we would get a new dress, she always asked for a pair of red "twos" shoes, Rachel I hope when you entered heaven you were handed a pair of the prettiest red shoes to walk on streets of gold. I could see Pop waiting for ya, saying come on in my doll

She loved to help mom with laundry- hanging clothes on the line ( i have a pic of her in her night gown barely able to reach), she always wanted to help cook no wonder she was better then me.  we only got 38 years of being sisters on earth but my sister is now my angel.  She was Brookes first baby sitter and they had a special bond, one day while I was vacumming and the phone rang... On the other end was David introducing himself and asking if he could come and meet my sister after meeting on a chat site, i was scared but he came, the first date it took her hours to get ready, she had clothes every year, she tried on multiple shoes, should i curl my hair or what should I do...she was smitten and it wasn't long before a wedding was happening,  they were leaving to go to Colorado two days after the wedding so they didnt go far for the honeymoon... The night of her wedding she text me and said... You wont believe this.... I was scared to ask what..she said Bishop Johnson is in the next room beside us... She got laughing, they both got laughing, the johnsons were laughing, needless to say there was a lot of laughter going on. 

Rachel moved to Colorado 18 years ago and she never once regretted her decision, never ever heard her say " David, lets move back home", she found joy and happiness with her new husband and then when she told us she was expecting a baby, we were all so delighted, and it was a boy- Curtis was born in October and he was a mommas boy, she was such a good momma to him... Then Rae came 4 years later, born with some health issues, but Rachel always told me she is going to be okay, she has gone thru 8 surgeries and every one Rachel was with her for the many hospital stays and one thing was sure she Always prayed over her before every surgery, she had faith that she was going to be okay and now she is perfect and loves shoes and clothes like me and im proud of it.

4 years later along came Ms Norah Rose- the last baby, she was everyones baby until 2 years ago when Sadie came aling then Norah said she was the big girl. 

Rachel came home for Christmas with new born baby Norah that year and when my plane touched down in DL, the phone rang and said get here fast Rachel had an infection thru her body, we got to the hospital and we prayed for her, within hours she had completetly turned around, she walked out of there and enjoyed the rest of her trip. 

Norah became a diabetic, the rest of us ( mainly mom and I- the worryers) were sick with worry, Rachel telling me to calm down and have faith, she said u know Pop Budgell is with us, norah now has a diabetic pump and it is a lot of work but Rachel was always calm over it. 

Curtis graduates this coming June she was already making plans for everyone to be there, so yes sis I promise you, we will be there, giving him the graduation he deserves..

She was always the best sister.. no matter if it was a birthday, anniversary, or any day that ended in Y- she would be sure to reach out to me. 

In moments of joy and in times of sorrow, Rachel stood by us with unwavering support. Her advice was never just words; it was wisdom born of love and a genuine desire to see us happy and fulfilled. She had a way of knowing just what to say, just when we needed it most, and her presence was a balm to our souls.

The morning of my surgery on July 31 she text me, told me she loved me and talk to me after. I text her on my way home and she was still waiting for surgery, but a couple hours later they were taking her down she told me she loved me, and she would talk to me in 2 hours. Well that night Jesus took her home, we have so many questions and no answers, but all we can do is trust it was for a reason and his timing. 

As we reflect on the time we had with her, we are overwhelmed by both the beauty of her spirit and the pain of her departure. Rachel faced life's challenges with grace and courage, teaching us all the true meaning of resilience. 

Though she is no longer with us, her legacy lives on in the countless memories we hold dear. We will forever cherish the moments we shared, from the everyday routines to the extraordinary experiences that defined our time together. Her love and her light have left an indelible mark on our hearts, and we find solace in knowing that her spirit remains with us, guiding us through the days ahead.

Today, we celebrate her life well lived  but we do so with hearts full of love and gratitude for the incredible person she was. Her life was a gift, and we are better for having known her. We will carry her memory with us, honoring her by living our lives with the same love, kindness, and courage that she exemplified every day.

Rest in peace, dear Sister. i love you and  You will be deeply missed, but your spirit will forever shine brightly in our hearts.

Celebration of Life.

 

 This past Friday I flew to NL for my sister’s memorial and celebration of life. My brother got me at the airport, and I stayed at his house for the night. Early the next morning we drove to my parent’s house which was just over 1.5 hrs. away.  
my mom had brunch ready for us when we arrived, then Dad and I had to get things picked up that we needed for the service and make sure the flowers were here etc.

The service was beautiful, and I hope it made her proud, I had her fav singer friends there, I had her teacher speak, I did her tribute, and my brother was my support. The meal after was delicious home-made cold plates with turkey etc., it was so so good.

When we got home that evening my best friend came over who also came to the memorial with me and she is my rock, we hung out, played with my niece, and laughed, my aunt and uncle also came over to visit.

My brother and I went to visit my step nan, she is 90 years young now 

The little street I grew up on 

Entering the town where my parents live 

The OCEAN

My little bestie 

She is the sunshine in our storm 

Flying over Moncton 

We went for a early morning walk and she was just posing for me 

Hubby must have missed me as he took me on a date when my plane landed 

The weather was perfect, I was surrounded by my family celebrating the worlds best sister.

in loving memory of my sister

Rachel Walsh- Stassen 

January 07,1986- July 31,2024

Wednesday's will forever be hard days.  Last Monday my sister went by ambulance to the ER as she had a lot of pain in her leg and couldn't walk. The Dr told her she had a huge blood clot in her leg and they would do surgery right away it got delayed til Wednesday.  

While doing scans to find out where exactly the clot was they discovered 3 in her lungs, the dr was not concerned with the lungs as he gave her a medication that could help that.  The surgery did not happen until the next day"  she says around 3 I'm heading to surgery, love you" my response - text when you can, praying for you love you"  That was the last words ever SPOKEN with her. We waited and waited for recovery but nothing, finally I hear from my brother in law via text he said I just heard- it's not good, she's dying, pray now.  ( A blood clot went into her heart and she coded twice on the table )

I called everyone to pray and we did, within an hour the dr came out and said the blood clot moved from her heart... She was stable, told David to go home and rest, she was going to ICU sedated to rest so he went home, when he woke in the morning, he was relieved over night no calls came in so she was still stable we thought. 

David gets to the hospital and finds out she had to go on life support as her body was failing, organs were failing and they had to make decisions.  David called me to update me, I got people all over the world to pray. Her kids and Family got there to see her except my parents to say good bye. I had her mother in law put the phone to her ear so I could say my good byes, I told her It was okay to go, I loved her, her kids would be taken care of and some other words.  She died within moments after, my parents flying from Canada arrived in the morning but it was already to late, my sister had gone to heaven.  I didn't get to go because I had surgery myself and couldn't travel.

I was asked to write her eulogy which I'm sharing below.  I miss her so so much and I cannot wait to see her again..

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Eulogy 

my baby sister, my best friend, the one I ran to tell everything to even the last week I've found myself picking up my phone to text you

There are no words to express my shock, my heart break, all the why questions. The thoughts never crossed mymind that we would be here doing this,  a truly extraordinary individual whose life has left an indelible mark on all who had the privilege of knowing her. 

My sister was an extraordinary person. She was a loving daughter, A loving wife, she adored her Husband, her three babies and her two fur babies, a cherished friend, and a remarkable sister, an aunt,a neice, and a cousin. But to me, she was not just my sibling, but my confidant, my role model, and my best friend. Her presence brought joy, laughter, and warmth into my life, and her memory will continue to do so. 

She loved God. She knew what it was to have a personal relationship with Him.  Her walk with God was evident to all who knew her: her love for others, her compassion, her grace and courage.  She inspired all who knew her. She led by example.  As a little girl she got very sick (very prone to infection) and spent time in hospital. When she got out, she wanted to go to church so papa could pray for her, he did, she was healed, she got the holy ghost and baptised that night and she has never looked back.

I remember growing up we shared a bedroom. Mom would come in so many times and tell us to quit talking and go to sleep, we would pretend to be quiet for a couple minutes then we would start talking again.   

As little girls on Christmas eve we would take turns going to the rest room to see if we could see anything. Who ever woke first Christmas morning would wake the other...then we found out about our Brother Michael arriving, we were so excited to be little mommies to our baby bro. 

Years later when I got married and had my daughter Brooke, my sister moved in with me to help me out, after my one year leave was up, she babysat Brooke and they had a very special bond. 

Then I remember one Sat morning I was vacumming the floor and a call came in with a Colorado number, I thought that is strange but I answered and it was David telling me he would like to come meet my sister, I had no idea this guy existed so she had some explaining to do.  David came to visit and the day arrived to get him at airport- she took HOURS to get ready, i knew when I saw them they were smitten, it wasnt long and they were planning their wedding, I am sorry you only got 18 years married but David she truly loved you and today she is looking down saying " babe, you can do this, i believe in you". 

Curtis,RaeAnna and Norah-  you were her babies, the lights of her life. There was nothing she wouldn't do for you.  Auntie is so deeply sorry for your loss. Losing your mom is an unimaginable pain, and my heart aches for you. I know that no words can truly ease the grief you’re feeling, but I want you to know that I am here for you, and you are not alone in this journey.

Auntie is here always.  You call me anytime of the day or night, we can tell stories, or online shopping ( wink) 

My sister was a beacon of light and warmth in our lives. Her kindness was boundless, extending to friends, family, and even strangers. She had a remarkable ability to make each person she encountered feel valued and understood. Her smile, which could brighten even the darkest of days, was a reflection of her generous spirit and compassionate heart.

Throughout her life, Rachel demonstrated an incredible strength and resilience. Whether facing personal challenges or supporting others through their own struggles, she faced everything with grace and courage. Her unwavering optimism and positive outlook were a source of inspiration to all of us. She taught us the true meaning of perseverance and the importance of embracing every moment with a hopeful heart.

Though we mourn the loss of our sister we also celebrate the incredible life she lived. The memories we shared with her will forever be a source of comfort and joy. Her legacy is one of love, kindness, and unyielding strength, and it will continue to inspire us in the years to come.

In our hearts, Rachel will always be with us, a guiding light and a source of love. Her spirit will continue to live on through the countless lives she touched and the love she so generously gave. We find solace in knowing that her memory will forever be a part of us.

Last wednesday Rachel changed her address to her heavenly home.  Hand picked  as the brand new angel in the heavenly choir. 

Rest in peace, dear sister You were a gift to all who knew you, and your presence will be deeply missed but never forgotten. I love you, I miss you and I will make sure your babies and David are always taken care of. 

Eczema: What Causes It – And How Do You Treat It?'

 

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Eczema is a condition that results in dry and itchy skin. Around 1 in 5 children experience eczema, while 1 in 10 people experience it in adulthood. 

Although it is such a common condition, many people do not know much about it. What causes it? And how should you treat it? This post takes a closer examination of eczema, along with its causes and treatments.

What causes eczema?

Eczema can have many causes. For some people, it is a genetic condition (xerotic eczema) that results in the skin not producing enough oils or retaining enough moisture.

For others, it is an immunological disorder. In this case, eczema may be triggered by irritants or allergens that may not affect others the same way. These could include:

• Certain fabrics

• Certain make-up or cosmetics

• Certain soaps or detergents

• Pollen

• Pet dander

• Eating certain foods

Certain environmental factors may cause anyone to develop eczema. For example, you are likely to develop eczema if:

• You are exposed to cold dry air for long periods

• Wash your hands/body too often or use harsh soaps

• Use certain cleaning chemicals without gloves

• Work or live in areas that are very smoky

Eczema flare-ups can also commonly be caused by stress. Cortisol, the stress hormone, can cause inflammation around the body, making patches of dry skin red and more sensitive. 

What are the best ways to treat eczema?

There are several ways in which you may be able to treat or manage eczema: 

Avoid triggers

If flare-ups are caused by certain triggers like eating certain foods or wearing certain fabrics, you may be able to avoid these triggers to help relieve your eczema. It’s important to record your flare-ups in order to identify exactly what your triggers are. Identifying certain chemicals in products or certain materials in clothing could be important so that you can avoid other products containing these chemicals and materials.

Moisturize daily

Moisturizers help to lock water in your skin to help combat dryness. Every adult should ideally be moisturizing daily, but it is particularly important for those with eczema. You can explore different types of moisturizers online.

Change your washing habits

Washing your skin daily is recommended if you have eczema as it can prevent skin infections and soothe inflammation. However, you should try to use lukewarm water and avoid scrubbing in order to not irritate skin further. Avoid fragranced soaps as these can be a trigger. Do not wash your hands or body too often, as this can strip away oils and cause more eczema. 

Use gloves when handling chemicals

To avoid contact dermatitis when handling chemicals, always wear protective gloves. This includes cleaning products, solvents and fabric softeners. 

Explore medications

There are many medications you can use to help heal areas of dry skin affected by eczema. Steroid-based creams are very popular, but should be used in moderation. Taking antihistamines can meanwhile help treat allergic reactions. Other eczema treatments like Adbry could also work. 

Try light therapy

Light therapy for eczema involves using ultraviolet light on areas of dry skin to reduce inflammation and itching. You can use a handheld ultraviolet device or get this treatment done by a professional.