I want to wish all my friends here on 365 a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year. I thought I'd share a photo of our family. Pictured is our Daughter Stefanie, left and right, and the rest of us in the center photo. I am on the left, then our Son Peyton, Grandaughter Destiny, my Wife Josie in the back right, and Grandaughter Kassidy front right. It was a wonderful Christmas, though it would have been really special if our Daughter would have been home to celebrate it with us. For those of you who have been following me for some time, way back I believe I shared with you that several years back, we had our share of heartache with our two children. Our Son who is pictured here almost died twice from accidental drug overdoses. I found him the first time when he was almost gone. Thank goodness I knew what to do. The second time someone else found him, and again they knew what to do. God was watching over him. He has since gotten his life back in order, and has remained drug free for almost three years now. The Lord saved his life and opened his eyes to the value of life. He will be 27 in February. Our Daughter and her boyfriend became involved in the dangerous world of drugs, and fortunately it all came to a hault three years ago. This was the third Christmas she has been away in prison. She too has gotten her life in order, and the Lord spared her life as well. Since she has been in prison she has finished her schooling and has earned her diploma and has taken other courses to prepare for work once she comes home. As hard as it has been emotionally on the two of us, we have always taught our Children that if you do something wrong, eventually you must pay the consequences. It was a tough lesson to see them learn, but in the end it was worth it. Knowing that their lives have been led back on the right track means everything to us. God willing, our Daughter, our Baby will be home around September. She will be 25 in May. We talk to her by phone, and she sends us photos like the one on the right, but it is just not the same as having her home to hug. Through it all, God has given us the strength to go on, even during those times when we didn't know what else to do. God has been good, and He has never forsaken us.
You have a beautiful, wonderful family, Rick. I'll send my prayers that your daughter will return to you with her life in control...and that you will have your family complete again. Life is never easy and you just have to be strong. I admire your strength and just gift of love that you so freely share. Blessings to you. Thank you for sharing your family with me!
God bless you and your family, Rick! I can only imagine the anguish you and your wife have endured, but I am glad to see that your faithfulness is being rewarded. May 2011 be a wonderful yearfor each of you!
Wow. What a bunch of heart aches you have had. The stress you have had, is enough for 10 people. Keeping you faith in the Lord has made you a stronger man. Thanks for sharing this personal story with us. I pray that things are coming around and your family will be even stronger.
Rick, this is a beautiful family collage. I admire you for being the positive role model your children need...and on top of that tough love can be a challenge but your faith is seeing your through...I will add my prayers to yours. God bless you and yours and hoping 2011 will bring good news.
Beautiful photo. I would never have guessed that you have been through so much because of all of your wonderful uplifting commentaries all of the time. I wish you lots of luck in the future with your family!
Beautiful family photo. Thank you Rick for sharing your good and bad times. I pray for strength for you, your wife and children to get through these hard times. It sounds like many of your prayers have been answered already. Your son doing well, a beautiful granddaughter, and your daughter turning a difficult situation into a success. I hope the months go fast for her return home. :-)
As parents we can only guide them so far, and then we have to sit back and let them fly, hopefully in the right direction., And if they struggle then we are there to help, aid and guide again. As a teen and young adult I never understood that, but now as a parent myself, it scares the crap out of me, that one day my son will no longer be under my wing. I pray that he makes the right choices, but if he doesnt I also pray that I will have strength like yours to be there, still loving and ready to guide, aid and support, Take care Rick, and Safe and wonderful New Year to you and your family..
you have had your share of heartache, but as people say, God never gives us anything we can't deal with. Wishing you and your loved ones peace, love and joy in the upcoming year! Beautiful collage.
God bless you and your family. I can only imagine how hard this must be for you, but like you said...there are always positive lessons to be taken from adversity. I think and strongly believe that it is never too late to turn our life around and find a better way to live. Best Wishes and hope/prayers that you will have all your loved one's together by next Christmas!
Great photo and lovely family photos. Wishing you the best as your family lives to meet the challenges of life and the security of faith. Wishing you a wonderful 2011
You and your family have been through so much. I really admire you Rick for many reasons. You are such a wonderful father,husband and family man.God bless you and your family,wishing you the very best for 2011.
What a touching story. Thank you for the courage to open up and share something so personal with all your 365 friends. By next holiday season I hope you are sharing even more wonderful success stories! Happy New Year!
You and your family have been through so much, Rick. I am glad that you have remained strong, and kept faith. It must be so hard sometimes, but I pray that 2011 will see more light break into your lives. Thanks for being so encouraging to all of us!
I love your attitude. Keep strong and stand by them. You are correct that these hard lessons in life will hopefully set a great path for all of you. Have happy an a healthy holiday season.
I'm so touched to read your story, Rick. You are so humble to share it with us. I'm glad your daughter is in good hands and is on the right track. September is just a few months away. Time flies fast. God bless you and your loved ones!
Thank you for sharing your family. Life can be hard but God is always good. (At first, I left out an o in good - which is also true). I'll pray for continued blessings for you and your beautiful family in the new year.
Beautiful family photo!! Wow, what struggles you have gone through with your children. I'm so sorry! I am so thankful that they seem to have both found their way again and are striving to be better. Thoughts and prayers for you and your family! I hope you had a Merry Christmas!
Beautiful family!! They can never be replaced that's for sure. What a testimony they both have to share with others. Always keep your faith in the Lord and never let go. He does know and have all the answers in our lives and our childrens. Next Christmas will be even better, thanks for sharing. :-)
Dear Rick and Josie, you are God's messangers to all of us on 365 who have read this story of your life. He is working through you to all of us, and I cannot begin to imagine what you have been through. I Praise God for all the Blessings He has given to you both and that He has listened to your heartfelt Prayers for your beloved children. He has been with them on this journey and has nurtured them back to a better life and soon you will all be able to Praise Him for His wonderful mercies. May He continues to show you all the way, you are a wonderful example to all - God Bless you and may you all rejoice at the time that is coming when you will all be together again.
what a touching story...thank you for sharing it with us. God is truly amazing and does wonders in our life when we allow Him to. I'm so glad your children are both on the right track--I can tell that has quite a bit to do with the parents they have--supportive and loving. They are blessed to have you!! I hope you had a Merry Christmas and I'm thankful for your friendship...
oh rick, thanks for sharing that. the story of your son's experience is both frightening and also encouraging--to know that God in His providence will not allow our bad choices to take away even one day from the life He has intended. and i'm so sorry to hear about how your daughter wasn't able to be with you over christmas, but how awesome that God has been working for her good in her circumstances. what a beautiful family, and a beautiful picture of His redeeming love.
Rick, very nice photo. And I was just about to apologize for one of my recent photos for letting out a little to much personal information. But when I read your, I decided that maybe its a good thing to share our stories.
I am so very glad both your children are clean and doing well now. And it will be a happy day when your daughter gets home. Hopefully it will be smooth sailing for you all in the future, now that all the bad stuff is out of the way.
May god bless your family.
Thanks for sharing, Rick...i'm sorry to hear the predicament your family have to go through. Glad they are being lead back to the right path...prayers & best wishes for you & family.
Thanks for sharing your life with us. I can see the Lord's faithfulness in all these things and I pray for His covering and guidance for you and your family. God bless you, my friend.
I'm sure she is missing you all as well. Some of us, myself included, are just the type of people that need to make our mistakes, despite all the good advice we end up getting. Hugs to you and your family.
What a beautiful family. All family's have their share of heartache, but it usually makes them stronger, I can see this is definitely the case with your family. I wish you all the very best for the year to come, September will be here before you know it!! :)
I have not been able to keep up with pictures while away so I am reading this for the first time on Jan. 1. Rick, you are an inspiration to us all. Your love for family and deep faith in God shines from every picture you post. And now to read of the heartaches you have endured and the tragedies you have overcome make your story even more inspiring. I wish you the happiest of new years with your family together.
Thank you Rick for sharing with us the trials you and Josie and your children have been though. You are a testimony to the Rock that you stand on. I too pray that your children and grandchildren will come to know and love the Lord as you both do. He has brought you all through so much.
January 2nd, 2011
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Fantastic collage, best wishes for 2011
I am so very glad both your children are clean and doing well now. And it will be a happy day when your daughter gets home. Hopefully it will be smooth sailing for you all in the future, now that all the bad stuff is out of the way.
May god bless your family.