RACHEL BLAZER (Children - Nursery) 

Name:  Rachel Blazer (rachel@riversidestl.org)

Role at Riverside:  I facilitate the nursery program to ensure a safe and loving environment for the youngest children at our church.

Family:  I have been married to my favorite person, Matt Blazer, for almost 4 years.  Our beautiful daughter Caroline was born in March 2006, much to the dismay of our dog Ron and our cat Batman.

Education:  BSE in Exercise Science and Nutrition from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama.

Dream for Riverside:  That our love for Christ would result in our ability to really love each other and reach out to our community.

Favorite Quote:  “Tonight I rose up with the moon, and looking down from high above I saw a world carved and confused into valleys deep in need of love.  And falling down all thick with grace, Heaven’s cloud of mystery was filling every empty space down to the depth of human need. This Love that heals, it’s deeper still.” 

-Bebo Norman  “Deeper Still”

Favorite Big Screen Moment:  I’m not really a movie person (I know, how can I be married to Matt Blazer?), but if I had to pick… it would be the end of A Bug’s Life when Heimlich (the German caterpillar) turns into a butterfly.  “I am a BEAUTIFUL butterfly!  And from way up here you all look like little bitty ants!”  <sigh> What a great movie!

Favorite Music:  Basically, anything with one or two people and an acoustic guitar… Jennifer Knapp, Shane Barnard, Waterdeep, Derek Webb, Caedmon’s Call… I’m not really current on my music, but I know what I like.

Heroes and mentors:  Matt Blazer is my superhero (ask him about his super powers).  My dad teaches me how to think, and my mom shows me discipline and hunger for Christ.

What I’m Learning These Days:  It’s okay, even good, for my life to look radically different than I always thought it would.  In other words, God knows what I need better than I do.

Favorite Things:  Running in early autumn, rainy days in springtime, reading books to Caroline, sitting with my husband after Caroline goes to bed, long walks with friends, re-reading my favorite books every year, home-made ice cream with fresh berries, vanilla dr. pepper from Sonic… best of all worlds:  running with Matt and Caroline to get ice cream on a nice Fall day and then walking to the park to eat it!