December 27th 2013 was a very sad day...

My friend Rachel is like a sister to me.  We share everything.  Then she went and moved 2 hours away from me.  We still share everything.  We just don't get to see each other nearly enough.  When we start to play phone tag every so often it's kinda funny.  One of us will call the other, miss or ignore the call because we are busy and try to call back when we have a minimum of an hour and a half, cause we don't end phone conversations quickly.  We usually tag back a forth a few times before we actually get to talk but when we do it's like no time has passed at all.  

My kids call Rachel and her husband (who I met first, we worked together and he kept telling me I had to meet his wife cause we'd get along great...who knew, men can be right ;) ), anyway, my kids call them Aunt and Uncle and her kids call me and Jerry Aunt and Uncle.  My mom even adopted their kids as her grand-kids.

Rachel and I had a grand idea a few years ago.  We were going to take our then 4 kids total (Kara was 5, Zac wasn't 4 quite yet, Kaleb just turned 2 and Timothy was about 9 months old) to California so they could go to Disneyland.  And we drove.  The whole way in 2 days.  4 car seats.  3 kids in diapers.  3 kids could barely if at all feed themselves.  Medical paraphernalia abound.  3 stroller kids (and a 4th if Zac could con his way into one). And we stopped at the Grand Canyon on the way too.  There is a tad bit of crazy in our friendship :)  I think it was Rachel's mother in law who said if were were still talking at the end of that trip we would be friends forever.  I agree.  We were still talking and not even bitchy with each other.  We even had a great time.

Rachel watched Zac for me when I worked nights/evenings while I was pregnant with Kaleb.  There were some interesting times with this too.  Like they had to move the crib bottom down so Zac didn't climb out but they didn't realize he would be able to until he was almost out since Kara never tried to climb out.  I heard Zac nearly gave John an heart attack when he cried out at night, Kara never did so it was new.  Rachel told me Zac would come in and just talk and talk with Kara.

In December 2007 we had a bad ice storm and the boys and I went to stay with Rachel and John for a couple of days because we lost power for over a week and it was cold and I had 2 babies.  While we were all trying to sleep, Kara was on the floor in the living room and Kaleb in a pack n play in the dinning area and they just talked and talked all night.

A lot of people said Kara couldn't communicate.  Boy are they wrong.  She knew what she wanted and let you know in no uncertain terms if you were getting it right or not.  Just because she didn't use words didn't mean she wasn't quite aware and determined.  And I still swear she said Mama more than once that I heard.

Kara Beth Mitchell

April 9, 2004 - December 27, 2013

Kara Beth Mitchell, 9, was suddenly called into the arms of the Lord on December 27, 2013 at her home in Blackwell, OK surrounded by her family.

Kara was born on April 9th, 2004 in Stillwater, OK to John and Rachel Mitchell (Guilfoyle). Throughout Kara’s short time on this earth she made a lasting impact on the lives of many. She showed us all about hope, fighting to overcome obstacles with all of your might and most importantly unconditional love.

She is survived by her parents John And Rachel and two brothers, Timothy and Jackson of the home, grandmother Helen Mitchell of Blackwell, OK and step grandfather Gary Pierson of Perry, OK and her great grandmothers Kathleen Guilfoyle of Garnett, KS and Dolores Hunter of Altus, OK. She also leaves behind her aunts and uncles Megan and A.J. Gillinger of Grapevine, TX, Harla Enzenauer of Lawton, OK, Benjamin and Cheril Guilfoyle of Perry, OK, Chris Pierson of Ft. Lewis, WA and many great-aunts, great-uncles, cousins and dear friends.

She was preceded in death by her grandfathers Johnnie Mitchell and Timothy Guilfoyle.

There will be a celebration of Kara's life at 10 a.m. Saturday, January 11, 2014 at the First Christian Church, 306 East Coolidge, Blackwell, Oklahoma. 

This is Zac and Kara in February 2007.  Kara was his first girlfriend.

Kara 9 years old (2013)

Yesterday was Kara's celebration of life.  OMG I cried. I tried not to for some reason, but I did.  When we were paying our respect to John and Rachel after the services Rachel and I just attached to each other and couldn't let go for a good while.  (I backed up the line...but hey, they could wait cause my -for all intents and purposes- sister and I needed each other).  

Kara will be greatly missed.  I know my life is richer for knowing her.  My boys lives are too.  

And my great accomplishment yesterday was that I got John AND Rachel to eat a full meal.