No worries--We can do it.

Do you have a personal motto? I'm not sure that I do, but Rachel certainly did. In her undergraduate history major at BYU, she focused on the World War II era. Her senior paper was about World War II propaganda posters. She scrolled through dozens of microfilms and looked at many many posters, but the one that really caught her eye was the one portraying "Rosie the Riveter" with the motto, "We Can Do It" across the top. She loved that particular poster and used the image of it as her inspiration.

Grandma Rose may have been part of the reason Rachel liked the image of Rosie. Rachel's Grandma Rose was a World War II bride who became very independent while her husband was flying his P-38 in Europe. Rose wasn't a factory worker, but she certainly fit the tough image portrayed by the artist. She traveled by bus all over the United States and also spent time in Panama while mothering her little Jimmy, Rachel's dad.

Rachel  liked the determined "We can do it" on the poster too. It fit her personality. Rachel was not one to give up easily or shirk hard work. She could often be found helping out various family members with tough projects. Nothing seemed too hard for her to tackle. She helped me redecorate her younger sister Julia's room when Julia wished for a room with a personalized, updated look. We sponged lime green paint on the walls, hung a snazzy shower curtain on the window and beads around the bed. Then Rachel, Julia and I created a one-of-a-kind quilted bedspread that reflected both Julia and Rachel's unique personalities and tastes.

Grandma Rose Stubbs

Rachel was the one who spearheaded the garden plowing and planting for her mother-in-law, helped her dad put in an irrigation system in his garden and wouldn't let a Christmas go by without lights outside and decorations inside. She balanced a life filled with activity, reading, crafting, mothering, studying and finally, filling the post of Alpine city planner with her usual sparkle and energy.

"No worries," Rachel's second motto, came from her year and one-half in Australia. She picked up many Aussie phrases there, but the one she never let go of was this one. It, too, fit her personality. She refused to worry. She  got hives or an upset stomach instead. So maybe she did worry herself. However, her answer to any favor asked or apology given was always the same, "No worries."  It became something our family said to each other through our tears after we lost her to the car accident. We knew that eventually it would all be okay again. No worries--we can do it!