Sick

The bug has hit the RackRoom. Ashley is at the doctor as I type this, we think she has strep throat. She went to school to get her sub plans ready for today and Friday. Ashley getting sick is not a suprise to us, she gets Sick every year the end of January first of February. Ashley is in a wedding next weekend so we got to get her well quickly.

Rick on the other hand is never sick, he isn't feeling good this morning either very seldom has a headache , but he has one since early yesterday morning.

So I'm asking that ya"ll keep them in your prayers today.

Happy Birthday, Ashley

A daughter is a gift of love; given from God above

A daughter is a joy forever.

A daughter may outgrow your lap,

but she will never outgrow your heart.

All the dreams I prayed you'd be,

are all the things you are.

You are loved for the little girl you were;

and the precious daughter you will always be.

It's truly a gift to have a daughter like you,

who grows more precious with the years!

A daughter is: the happy memories of the past,

the joyful moments of the present,

the hope and promise of the future.

A daughter is a day brightener and a heart warmer!

Daughter, you're the young woman,

I dreamed you would one day be.

Author Unknown

Love Mama & Daddy

Happy Birthday

Tink!!

Now she will be a Volunteer

Good news for some and bad news for others. Kerrie and Jerry have moved to Bristol TN.

I am going to need ya'll to pray for me as I will adjust to this and pray that Kerrie adjust to being away from home and in a new place that she can learn her way around the town and that they find a new church home.

Jerry is from Bristol he has been here since he was in high school so he is going back home close to his parents and family.

I know she is a little over 3 hours away and I can go see them anytime I want if the weather isn't bad, must go over the mountains to get Bristol from here. It's just new not having my babygirl across town. This is a first for me the girls have always been just down the hall or across town, saw them a couple times a week, talked to them a couple times a day. A dear friend reminded me on Saturday that God in Tennessee too, and that He will be with them in Bristol.

Love Cindy

Happy Birthday Les

Happy Birthday Les,

Love Ya!!!

Snow Day

This is what we woke up to this morning. Of course the schools are closed, Ashley got the call around 5:30 this morning. She had to call the teachers on her list and pass the word.

It started snowing here around 9:30 last night, I love to sit and watch the snow fall, so I made a pot of coffee opened the blinds on the french doors and sat and watched till 2:30 this morning. It is raining now maybe it will turn back to snow (not cold enough ).

When it snows that I get in the cleaning mood so that's what my plans are this afternoon I'm going to clean house for awhile. Send me your snow pictures.

Love Cindy

A New Year

I recieved a date planner as a Christmas gift as I was adding birthday's and addresses, this poem was printed for January, so I am going to share it with you.

As the New Year starts and the old year ends, There's no better time to make amends For all the things we sincerely regret And wish in our hearts we could somehow forget--- We all make mistakes, for it's human to err, But no one need ever give up in despair, For God gives us all a brand new beginning, A chance to start over and repent of our sinning-- And when God forgives us, we, to must forgive And resolve to do better each day that we live By constantly trying to be like Him more nearly And to trust in His wisdom and love Him more dearly--- Assured that we've never out of His care, And we'er always welcome to see Him in prayer.

Helen Steiner Rice

The End And The Beginning

I have not blogged about Christmas, so I will start there. On Christmas Eve, Rick, Ashley, Kerrie, Jerry and myself met Mema & Papa for dinner. To celebrate their 52nd anniversary which is on Christmas day.

This is a tradition that we have had for many years.

Christmas was different this year for the Rack Room, Kerrie was at her home, making Christmas traditions of her own with Jerry. This was the first year in 24 years that both of the girls were not waking up together, since they were little they had always slept together on Christmas Eve. The plan was for Kerrie & Jerry to be at our house around 9:00, but they arrived early. Once they arrived we had breakfast, which is a new tradition for me. We opened our gifts and remembered past Christmas's which was both fun and sad at the same time. Then off to Mema & Pop's house we go, where we helped Mema finish lunch. Terry, Suzanne, Christopher & Andrew arrived with food and gifts. We always enjoy our meal before we open gifts, this is easier to do now that the kids are grown . Papa started a tradition about 11 years ago where all Christmas guest sign the red tablecloth before they leave, as we signed our names this year it was so much fun to look at all the names and what years friends and family had joined us to celebrate Christmas.

Then Rick, Ashley, Kerrie, Jerry and myself headed to,

The Spark's

Christmas celebration.

For more food and gifts. We decided we would not draw names this year instead we would each bring a gift card and play a swapping game after Travis explained the rules. The fun began each one of us drew a number, you then had to pick a card or chose to steal a card that someone else had. It was fun to try something different this year.

Then back to Mema & Papa's for a little snack then back home to wait on William. We had a great Christmas shared with family & Friends.

Love Cindy

Happy New Year

Happy Birthday Hannah Grace

Make a scrapbook - it's easy!

Love You, Aunt Cindy

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Mama celebrates her birthday today. Happy Birthday, Love You Sis

Ashley Graduates!!!!

Our day started early, we had to be at Southern Wesleyan at 10:00 A.M. for Ashley's Graduation. As we were waiting for the commencement exercises to begin, I was remembering her first day of school, walking her in to her class and thinking what will you be when you grow up. Never thinking she would still be in school 22 years later. She says she will start classes again in the spring, she going to be like her Aunt Cathy always in school.

We had a great time at Faith And Hannah Grace's birthday party last night.

Make a scrapbook - it's easy!

Love, Uncle Rick & Aunt Cindy

Happy Friday, Hope this brightens your day, or at least makes you giggle. http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1379830514 We have giggled and laughed for days. Cindy

Catching UP!!!!

I'm going to try to play catch up with all that has been going on here in the Rack-Room. First Ashley has finished her last research paper and will Graduate this coming Saturday with her Masters of Education from Southern Wesleyan. Second We had a great Thanksgiving Day, We celebrated at Mama & Daddy's we had 11 guest for lunch and at dinner we had 16 and still had a few leftovers to enjoy the next day.(This is a picture of Ashley holding Merr Merr and Eric, after the big meal.) Third Rick, Tommy, Cathy, Uncle Dick, Aunt Lou & myself were packed and headed to Charleston SC on Saturday after Thanksgiving to board a ship and off we went to Grand Cayman, Cozumel, & Key West, we were ready for a much needed seven days of nothing to do but rest, sight see and eat. There were not phones, faxes, computers, meals to prepare , no beds to be made, no floors to vacuum or mop, no demands on us just relaxing and doing what ever we wanted.

We celebrated Rick's birthday while on our trip, with a parasailing adventure and a birthday cake.

Fourth We got back home and hit the floor running, we had hanging of the Greens at church and choir practice on Sunday. Then back to work on Monday and I mean back to work, I didn't see the top of my desk for 9 days still trying to catch up with all the orders that came in while I was cruising around the deep blue sea. More Catching up later, taking for ever to upload the pictures.

Happy Thanksgiving

I can not believe it has been a month since I posted something on the blog. I guess with the changing of work hours the last few months I have been busier than I realized. But I'm thankful for my job even though I sometimes complain, about going from part time to full time. With working till 5:30 most days and then getting home and starting the wife & mama job the hours fly by.Hope all have great and restful Thanksgiving Day surrounded with love ones.

Happy Birthday

Times are changing........ Again

Well.....It's over......Sinora.......No more Monday Nights.......Finished.......OK...... I'll stop now.

I finished my course work for my Master's degree Monday night. I will be graduating from SWU on December 15, 2007!!! Yes, this was the program that I started the Monday after the house fire. I remember talking to Mom about dropping out of the program, like it was yesterday. I thought the time wasn't right, I would never be able to get organized and stay focused through all that had happened. I started my Master's at Converse College, and transferred to SWU last summer. Mom and Dad encouraged me to continue on with the plan I had made before the fire, so I did. I loved every minute of it! Well, not every minute of it, having to write a thesis and all, but most of it! I was definitely relieved after every paper and discussion was complete. Thank you all for the support and many prayers.

Another change that's taking place is just as equally as shocking. For many of our family members we remember "the nursery" where we spent many childhood days with Nanny, Aunt Brenda, and our Mama's. This was a place where we were safe, fed, and usually the favorites right Kerrie? After all where else on Earth can you be in time out with a RC Cola and Moon Pie!!! Thanks Nanny

I haven't been able to find any pictures of the nursery back then, but this is what it looks like now.

Kerrie, take a look at the yellow chair. Is that a time out chair? Where's the RC Cola and Moon Pie? No wait, maybe that's the chair that you and Katie decided to decorate and clean up after yourselves of course!!! And where's that monkey? Has any one seen a monkey last spotted swimming in potty! Aunt Cathy can explain this one. Those were some good times! I am thankful for the many laughs and memories. More to come, ~Ashley

Happy Birthday, Jerry

We hope you have a great day. Love You, You know you are MY FAVORITE Son-In-Law

Celebrating Uncle Dick's Birthday

Click to play Make your own Smilebox

That Li'l Bitty

I have had a new swimming partner this summer.

Lil' Bitty........

He loves water, and I was afraid he would fall in and not be able to get out. So I have tried to teach him how to swim back to the steps

so he can get out on his own.

Lexie is just the opposite she does not like the water. Give her a ball away from the water and she fine.

Last Friday night I was babysitting the Sparks Kiddo's and we were in the pool, SS was having a blast, HGS was doing okay as long as she was close to the steps, & FS she was holding on to me for dear life.... In jumps Li'l Bitty( if you go under water he tries to save you) I'm holding on to FS trying to get HGS back to the steps and Li'l Bitty is scratching the girls trying to get to me so I can aim him back to the steps so he can get out(HGS doesn't care for dogs to much anyway). In the back of my mind I'm thinking this isn't as easy as it was when my girls were this age. So when I get to church on Sunday SS has told his parents that I seem to have had a hard time with them last night. He just doesn't know how hard it was to keep 3 kids and 1 dog above the water with just 2 hands. I had the camera with me but no extra hand to take pictures with.

32 Wonderful Years

August 31, 1975

Cindy & Rick

August 31, 2000

25 th Anniversary Love You Aways