May Newsletter
Hello Barre Beauties,
  It’s time! It’s time we move on. Before we do move on, let me tell you about this amazing young lady, Rachel. Rachel and I met her freshman year at barre class for her sorority. She was poised, beautiful, a good listener and eager to learn. She was hired as a summer intern and quickly moved onto instructor training. She was a perfect contribution to our team. She taught the early 5:00 am classes and the late 7pm classes. She taught a killer core class and subbed whenever needed. She worked front desk and uploaded all the schedules. She contributed to our share our barre initiative as well as choreographed and danced in Dancing Like the Stars. She did our inventory too. When the pandemic hit, Rachel helped with the transition to a virtual studio; transitioning not once but twice to new software systems. She answered all of your questions and helped resolve all glitches. She did all the marketing and social media. She inputted the schedule and even ran payroll. At 22-23, Rachel ran a business, an experience that will be with her forever. I also ran a business at that young age and it definitely shaped me. But what I did not have, was, what I would consider, the most rewarding part of the year; building a bond with our two amazing girls. I can remember the first hospital stay. Liza had her first surgery, first chemo, started losing her hair and Chad and I realized we could not get through this year alone. Our family is not local and we needed someone to step in and help. I remember it was late at night. Liza had finally fallen asleep and I called Rachel. She answered right way. When I asked her to move in with us, she didn’t hesitate at all. She sacrificed a whole year to be with us instead of her family and boyfriend. She wore masks the whole time in the house, until vaccinated, to protect all of us and mostly Liza. She was there for all of us. She was with Lana most of the time, as a big sister or cool mother. She braided her hair and curled it. They worked on projects and studied for tests. They shopped and got Starbucks. They ate mac n’ cheese and talked about life. They bonded and was there for Lana when I couldn’t be. Rachel was also there for Liza, making her year as normal as possible. She made she she got on every zoom class and helped her with My View Literacy. She made Liza her favorite smoothies and kept her nourished. She took her for walks with “mousey” and played nerf guns. Rachel made sure Liza had the fun any first grader should have to forget about the hard days. Rachel was there for Chad and me, keeping up with the house. She helped with everything; from maintenance guys fixing the fridge to routine laundry and dishes. She took care of me and lana when we got Covid. She helped with making every “come back from the hospital” a special one. She made everyone’s birthday this year one to remember. Rachel was always easy going, always positive, always there and now forever a part of the family. Rachel, you will be missed, but we are excited for you and your next venture. Although 2.5 hours is not that far, just know, not having you here, will be hard. Change is hard but we want you to know we are forever grateful for truly being there every step of the way this past year. We wish you all the best and again, you will always be a part of this family. Sharing Barre Love, Orlee  Smiles, Strength and Love! Lana and Liza are joining “Lemonade Days” to help Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation move one step closer to finding a cure for children fighting cancer. It has been quite a year, but today, after this journey of a year, we are grateful that we can give back. You can join us in this fight by attending a lemonade stand, hold your own lemonade stands to raise funds, or make a donation right to this page. The money you donate will pay for research to find better treatments and cures for Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare, underfunded solid tumor cancer. Please help kids and their families by providing desperately needed hope! Thanks for your support! Truly, thank you to everyone for always being there for us this past year and now to all the other families going through this! |
