Thursday, August 14, 2008

Happy Birthday Rich!!


Rich is our baby, our baby is 25 years old. How can that be? This is a picture of Rich and his wife Rachel (We all love her a lot!!)

Rich was due August 8th 1983. That was also Melissa's birthday...she had been the baby for
9 years....after her birthday party she said, "Okay momma, you can have the baby now". She was ready to hand off the youngest baton... Whew!! Thankfully, he was born exactly 1 week later, so they always share birthdays on the same day of the week, a week a part. Melissa made the adjustment well from baby sister to big sister....she calls him her beloved brother.

Beloved he is!! What a joy he has been to our whole family! He's smart, funny, talkative, talented, and has a heart of pure Gold. He's a give you the shirt off his back kind of guy. He loves the Lord with all of his heart, soul and mind. I am so very proud of him!

Rich walked when he was 10 months old. We had been in the car for 14 hours driving to Florida for vacation. The minute I stood him up in the condo, he let go of my hands and took off on the tip of his toes all over the place. He was free, free at last!!

When he was three he became the evangelist of the neighborhood. ''Jesus wants you to love each other!" he'd preach to all the kids when they would have disagreements. "Pray, Jesus wants you to pray!" He then led all the children on our circle to be brave, take those training wheels off!! Find out what's around that corner!

Rich was about five years old when Dick asked him if he would like to go to a letting (a county bid opening) with him. Rich very excitingly said, "Yes! but give me a minute!" He then ran to his room and put on khaki pants, plaid shirt and tie...just like his dad. Ran out and said he was ready to go.....we just about died, wow..... just like dad. Be still our hearts. In the following years from time to time I've said to Rich, "whatever you do, don't do what your dad does for a living." Well...I might of just have well said, when you grow up do what your dad does...because that's exactly what he did, followed in dads footsteps..

Successfully, Rich has followed his dad into the equipment sales business. He recently landed a BIG account and sold 2 gigantic machines to an important company that had previously only bought CAT. This is big, really big.
Rich is just 25 years old....


What great things lie in wait for him?!!
The sky is the limit!!






Rich I love you dearly and know that whatever you do, whatever success you have in life, you give the glory to God. With your zest for life and spirit of adventure, you make the world a better place to be, and are the hope of the future.

Happy 25th Birthday!!

6 comments:

Charlotte said...

don't we love those babies!! So glad you got to celebrate together.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RICH

Anonymous said...

Mom said it best, the world is a much better place with you in it.

You are the best "little" brother a sister could ever ask for. I am so proud of all you have accomplished in your life and can't wait to see the rest...your future is bright! :)

Happy 25th Birthday!!!!
Sis

fleur de lis cottage said...

What a simply beautiful family you have. I hope Rich had a special birthday day!

Brad, Cheri and Sammy said...

I still call the remote control the "push", thanks dude.

Football and Fried Rice said...

25? wow, he IS a baby!!! Happy Birthday, Rich!

Brinke's-N-Knox! said...

Now that is a great birthday present! Thanks for being a Mom who encouraged creativity and persistance...I still have 3 more years to write a hit country song or Rachel wins the bet!
Love ya, thanks for coming down!