Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Wishing Kerrie & Jerry A Happy Anniversary!!!

Love You,

Mama

Mother's Day

Well, I always say that I am going to do better about updating the blog, but this time I'm not going to say it. No way, I'm not promising that that this blog is ever going to be up to date. In fact I'm going to say the extreme opposite......I'm going to venture out and say that it might be a couple of months before mom or myself actually upload another post. I guess what really happens is we get too busy! So, for the moment enjoy the new post and pictures and check back with us once in a while to see if we have actually updated the blog or not! This picture was taken on Mother's Day. I thought it was a pretty good picture. I tried really hard to find something that matched mama's outfit. By the way that's hard to do sometimes considering my mother is a size 2 and I'm just now back in a size 12. I'm returning from the size 14-16 world for the past few years! That's the good part, but the bad part has been that for the last few weeks every time I plan on an outfit, it falls off my body. Yes, this is a good problem, actually great for a girl who loves to shop and still lives at home with mom & dad! (Ha ha) Then it happened..........I was uploading the Mother's Day picture to the blog and I realized that I myself had committed a fashion faux pas. I wore the the same outfit on Mother's Day 2007 & 2008! How could this have happened? After all I'm a very fashion conscious person. What was I thinking? I guess I wasn't, so for pure proof and laughter here's the picture from Mother's Day 2007 . I do enjoy the hat!!! It was a nice addition, and this way you can tell the skirt and shirt combo was a little more snug in 07 than 08. I even matched the same shoes with the outfit! Now readers I have so many shoes it's unbelievable. Now, why would I wear the same pair with the same outfit on two consecutative Mother's Days? Oh well, I guess the point of this post has been I'll talk to you around Father's Day and I'm signing off to go make sure I don't wear the same outfit for that occasion! Oh My:o

Yours in fashion crisis,

~Ashley On a seperate but equal note.......... I have included a picture of Kerrie on this post. I did so because she came down for a wedding over the Memorial Day weekend and we grabed a few pictures with her and Mom because we knew that she wouldn't make it back down for a little while anyway. I can say that sense her move to Bristol TN things have been different to say the least. We have both done pretty good about calling and staying in touch. It seems that every couple of months we go up or they come down to vist for a weekend. We took off and visited her at the end of March, then they came down for the wedding a few weekends ago, and if I were a betting woman I'd say mom, mema, and I will be visiting sometime in July before our beach trip. Anyway, Kerrie if your reading and laughing at this rambling "WE LOVE YA" Here is the yearly visit with Mema on Mother's Day! This is one of my all time favorite pictures of us. We always take her a gift, usually a flower or something for the yard, and just sit a chat for a while. Mother's Day was a great day again this year! Love Ya Mema.

Time To Catch Up

I know I said I would update the blog a couple weeks ago but what I didn't know was the sniffles and coughing would hit the RackRoom. Ashley and I started coughing and feeling yucky the week before Easter. Ashley went to the Doctor, she had a sinus infection and her blood pressure was way to high. So she is on a the dreaded diet, to see if she can help control the high blood pressure with a little weight loss. The Doctor said the over the counter meds she had taken could cause the blood pressure to elevated some. It's been three weeks and Ashley has lost 10 pounds. Since then we have recovered and been very busy here at The RackRoom, Ashley helped Alyssa & Travis with the Vacation Bible School workshop few weeks back. Rick has been working on the getting the pool ready for summer. Mama, Ashley & I went to Bristol to visit Kerrie & Jerry over spring break, we had a great trip with the Lady in the black box(GPS). The problem is Kerrie lives in Bristol, TN and works in Bristol,VA. and every time you crossed the state line the Lady in the black box would say recalculating and send us a different way than what we were going or wanted to go, it got on our nerves after a while, but we could not get where we wanted to go with out the Lady in the black box. Kerrie is still learning her way around and she was not much help getting us where we needed to be. You drive through neighborhoods to get anywhere and there are very few STOP signs, they have YIELD signs which was hard to get used to. Found a few Boutiques for Ashley, scrapbook stores for Mema. We just had a great time visiting with them and can't wait till I can go back, hope Rick can go next time but with his off days being in the middle of the week and mine on the weekends, just have to wait and see if we can work it out so we can go together.

Road Trip

A few Saturday's ago Mema and I went to visit Aunt Nancy ( Mema's Sister) and her family in Cherryville, North Carolina we had a great time My cousin Cathy and her husband Jake came over, we went to Cousin Bruce's house but he wasn't at home. We went to this little hole in the wall diner for lunch. The diner has one of the best burgers called Lotta Burger it is great. There was so much on my plate with the homemade fries and onion rings there is no way I could eat it all. I promise that I will add more to the blog later this week. With the change in Rick's work schedule, I'm have a hard time adjusting so I know that he is. Love Cindy

Morning Coffee With My Buddy

Most mornings I sit out on the screened in porch with my coffee and listen to the birds while watching the sun rise, a few weeks ago I met a new buddy scurring around the vacant lot behind our house.

Her name could be Snowball, or it could be Lightening or it could be Lucky.If you can't tell from the picture my friend is a White Squirrel. I can't get close to her and she will not get close to me because of the sweet puppies that share this home and their job is to protect us. So she crosses my property by way of the powerlines. I have seen two squirrels together, one was smaller than the other and not as surefooted on the powerlines. So I'm assuming that the bigger squirrel has a baby. I have never seen a white squirrel, and I have found out that they are easy targets for hawks, cats & dogs. I guess thats why they stay on the power lines.

Brevard NC has a Festival around Memorial Day for White Squirrels. They say there is a difference in white squirrels and albino squirrels. Albino Squirrels have pink eyes white squirrels have dark eyes. From some of the other pictures I have the squirrel at my house has pink eyes. More updates later & maybe a better picture. Cindy

Bubba

Happy Birthday Bubba

Hope

you have a great day.

Love You

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

Happy Birthday Mama!!!!!!

She had just made a hole in one, and yes, she is NUMBER ONE to us! Happy birthday Mom, your the best:)I hope you're enjoying your day. No one would even guess your 50 (Shhh....) Love Ya, Ashley

Friday Funnies

I going to copy Alyssa's Blog and write about a funny, like she does on Fridays on her blog. Last Sunday Ashley was doing the children's church lesson, and the story was about being focused on Jesus! To demonstrate this she decided to use a camera, and was taking a picture of the kids. She got all of the kids to sit close together so she could fit them all in the picture. Then, as she took the picture she turned and took the picture of the people sitting in the sanctuary. Then she asked the kids whats wrong with this picture? The whole time she was thinking they would say it's out of focus, or it's not a picture of us. However, unprompted Samuel said "Uncle Dick's in it." The whole church erupted in laughter, and Uncle Dick just raise his hands in agreement! Ashley just left well enough alone and said actually that is another sermon. Thanks Samuel for making us laugh! Let's remember to stay focused on JESUS.....

Happy Birthday

Cat, If I could pick my very own sister you would be my pick. Love Cindy

Happy 24th Birthday

This was the first birthday that I didn't wake you up with my singing of Happy Birthday, Hope you have a great day, Love you Baby Girl Mom

Celebrating America's Birthday

On Saturday and Sunday the Adult choir of Ben Avon Baptist Church presented, Welcome Home a musical celebrating the freedoms we have been given and those who have made them possible and the Freedom God gives us through His salvation. I will post pictures of the choir as soon as I can get them from Mema. Here are a few pictures made after the presentation.

On Tuesday night we all went Bethany Baptist Church and what a treat it was four of the Chaplains of the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Department were there. They are calling themselves the Singing Chaplains and they were great, afterwards we had Bar-B-Q . On Wednesday the gang came to the RACKROOM for lunch and a swim.

Rick spent Thursday shopping and this is what he bought!!!

Hope Ya'll have a great weekend. I might take a road trip!!!

PS: I still have wedding photos to show but blogger is so slow tonight, I'll try later.

Cindy

She Married

Kerrie & Jerry June 23, 2007

More pictures to come.

One Year Ago Today

"> Today is a bitter sweet day for us one year ago our home was destroyed by a fire and today our baby daughter was getting married. More later gotta get to that church. Love to all Cindy

Two Sweet Girls

On most Saturday mornings I spend with my Mom, we eat breakfast together, then hit the yard sales till about mid day. Then home to spend the afternoon with hubby. Well last week we had a guest with us, we invited Alyssa to spend the morning with us ( her son Samuel left on a mission trip to Jamaica) and we were trying to keep her busy so she would not worry so much.

I do not know if it worked or not but we had such a good time looking for bargains. We found Hannah Grace and Faith a few dresses to wear this summer.

The girls spent Saturday afternoon with us so that Travis and Alyssa could go to the movie and spend some time together. While they were gone I washed the dresses and dried them so the girls could take them home .

This a picture of the girls waiting on there dresses to finish washing and drying. Cindy