Rachel Lorraine Merrell

Rachel, our dear beloved sweet baby girl. Every breath without you is painful, but with each breath I am one step closer to you. I long for understanding of why you have left us? We know with certainty that you have walked through heavens gates and are in the wonderful presence of our Heavenly Father. Many have seen your angelic presence and saw you in their dreams.
Rest well our angel. You are the light that will keep us alive until the day we are reunited with you in Paradise. Love of our hearts, our baby girl.... For just a moment I'm sure I saw a flicker of light ahead. Perhaps it was your smile. Though past now, remembered, in our hearts... like the small sound of a butterfly passing by. No night is so dark that can not be brightened with memories of you. Raindrops carry along your blessings from heaven to wash away my tears and bring me hope anew.
Here it comes again, I can only escape it for awhile. How can I go on without you there beside me? Pain go away!!
Here it comes again. The searing in my heart and soul. How can I face another day when I dont know where you are? Pain go away! Here it comes again. The sun is rising on its own. How can this be when our world has crumbled all around us. Pain go away! When I can feel warmer.
I know you miss us. We miss you too. And when I think I can no longer stand, We know you are up there in heaven with God. There is no pain, no heartache, theres no despair. And I have peace in knowing that God is taking hold of your hand. Your with the Lord and you are free. Feel the kiss of all our love, echoing with profoundness inside my head. We sob with great heartache, cry out with such pain. The hole in my heart is too big to bear alone, so fill it with your heart that beats with mine as one. Come to me and let me see for myself God's home and you his angel shining brightly to welcome me there!
Rachel was born on the morning of Oct. 16th, 1990 at Long Beach Memorial Hospital in California to Mark & Debra Merrell. She completed our family circle of love as being the baby of 4 children; older brother Mark II, Amber, and Travis. She was such a sweet miracle sent by GOD above to fill our world with goodness and the blessing of His love. With her mass of dark hair and dark skin, you would have thought she was a little indian papoose. But what she really was...an ANGEL! Her gentle sweet nature, her little upturned nose with a sprinkle of freckles, and the darkest biggest brown eyes that seemed to draw you in from the moment you looked into them. She was GODS masterpiece! This world and all within it HE created here for man. Even if we knew we would only have her for 17 short wonderful years, leading us to this sad, sad day, we would gladly accept and cherish each and every second. We wonder? Did Rachel volunteer to be here to make a difference in the world? The love we found with her was a complete circle that made our family more beautiful. Rachel kept her eyes on rainbows and believed in dreams come true. Our family moved from Souther California to Roseburg Oregon when she was barely one. She attended many different schools, playing t-ball, basketball, volleyball, soccer. Always on the run! Her love of people was shown by the multitude of friends she always had to surround herself with. She was very popular, and most boys who knew her fell in love. In her teenage years, Rachel broke many boys hearts. Every friend she called her "Best Friend". You who truly knew you were "nearest and dearest" to her heart, you know who you are!! Rachel loved to sing, and our home was always filled with the choruses of her gift of song. Music is a special part of our lives, and Rachel made Songs richer. She sang in the school choir at Jolane and never hesitated to stand in a room filled with people, and do a special song that touched her Heart and left people gasping in awe at the special sound that came from her through GOD. She sang often at our church home "New Beginnings Christian Assembly", and I know brought many to the LORD through her special gift. Rachel loved to dance, never could sit still. From age 3 to 11 she danced with Celebration Street, then took a short shift to try gymnastics, to eventually blend her skills and become a Varsity Cheerleader at Roseburg High School where she was a junior. Rachel would have graduated in 2009, but sadly it was not to be. GOD needed her to graduate from earth and receive her diploma in HEAVEN!! We now long for comfort and understanding. We move through this consuming emptiness longing to hear you call our name, smile at us....wave goodbye as you drive down the street in your Toyota Camry with the new "shiny wheels" which made you so proud. You make us PROUD! Your social world and your relationships with your friends were so important to you. Many times we had a long discussion about the overage and large dollar amounts with usage on your cell phone that was attached to your ear. You were our precious "Bubble". Our Ray, Ray (ray of sunshine..you touched many lives while here, but with your passing we have been in awe at the multitude of so many filling our home with their tears and sorrows. Teenagers, babies, young and old; we all became wiser when you left us. There have been so many wonders and nuggets of your spiritual presence since you left. We now search daily for these signs. We feel you baby girl. Your presence is strong. We long for the day when we can hold you again, kiss your sweet lips, and smell your exquisite fragrance. You made our Word a Better Place. And now it is up to us to live each day,hour, moment more beautiful as we prepare for our reunion. We are net letting you go..only sayin' "See Ya Later". Our hearts will go on...you have seen to that. Love you always and forever.