SNO

SNO - Salcris Night Out

In 1985, I begin working for a medical computer company called Salcris. This was a great family owned company started by two brothers, Tom and Henry Donald. Their father was a doctor in Anniston, Alabama many years ago. The company was sold after 1996 to Reynolds and Reynolds, then it became InfoCure, Vitalworks, and Cerner. Today, the company closed its doors forever!. So many years of hard work, employees, and many customers - IT IS DONE. 

Rick also was an employee of Salcris and then Reynold and Reynolds. When Reynold's sold the company to Vitalworks, Rick remained with Reynolds and Reynolds, which is still providing for us today.

A reunion of sorts of every past employee of these companies was tonight and we all gathered to meet and greet one another with crazy stories, hugs, kisses and memories. It was so much fun! We have made forever friends and acquaintances. 

Thanks for the memories and those who put this together.

Thanksgiving

As our Thanksgiving winds down and comes to a close, I am one angry person.  After hours of conversation yesterday with Rick's mom and dad - she just hung up the phone in may face.  The Richard Mitchell's were not invited to the family Thanksgiving today, but Bob and Helen told us that they would come by and visit at some point today.  They also told us that they wanted to have a relationship with Wesley and Spencer.   By 9:45 pm they had not arrived, so I called to see if they were home.  Helen answered the phone and I greeted her with Happy Thanksgiving, but the intention of my phone call was to let her know that I was hurt and so was her son that they did not come to our home today. I wanted her to understand that promises not kept and choices that are made have caused our family situation.  She began to make excuses about Bob being tired, the neighbor needed something, dinner was late, it was not her fault, Bob was cold, etc. etc. I asked why she didn't call?   Well more excuses came forth - they just got home, it was too late, she probably should have but we should not hold this against them.  She proceeded to tell me that Cathy invited them over and we didn't invite them. She was yelling into the phone and I continued to talk in a very calm voice stating my side of the story - She told me that I had upset her and she would have to discuss this at some other time. SLAM!  Father, You know how angry I am, You know our hearts and the choices that we made today.  Give me peace and grace for the moment.  Be with my husband, as his own parents have chosen not to be part of his life and there is no way this can not hurt very deeply.  Father, thank you for loving us and filling the gaps in our hearts.  

Lisa

unPLANNED

Today started with a roar!  I had planned to get up and take the Suburban back to my sister that I borrowed yesterday, go to work for a couple of hours, come home to cook for family tomorrow, and then chill.  Rick offered to take the car back on his way to a clients office - YES - I can sleep a little longer.  The phone rang around 9 am as I was soaking in the bed watching some TV - it was Rick's mom and dad on their way over to visit.  

Needless to say it did not start off very well.  There has been some family tension during the last several months (maybe 27 years to be exact). The Richard Mitchell's have felt un-accepted and the Bob Mitchell's have felt un-wanted.  The conclusion after several hours of talking, tears, explanations, he-said she-said, and prayer was to move forward.  Let the past be gone.  There are still fences to mend with the siblings and grands but it is all a step in the right direction. 

The Richard Mitchell's (Rick, Lisa, Richard, Leslie, Joanna, David, Wesley, Spencer, Josiah, Caleb, Maleah, Kainaan, Elijah, and Libby) will celebrate Thanksgiving together tomorrow and give thanks and praise to our Heavenly Father for all of our many many blessings and each other.  Thank you God that You are our Restorer and Comfort.  

Scatter Christ

Remember Margaret Downs

My great aunt, Margaret Downs, passed away this morning at 4 am.  She was 90 something, (I think) and was so ready to join her husband, Howard.  Howard passed away 18 months ago and she has been wanting to die since that time.  She fell several weeks ago and broke her hip which led to a downward spiral.

I will forever remember:

** her coming to my house 20 + years ago (70 something) and picking pecans in our front yard in her high heel shoes. Margaret and Howard then took the pecans home, shelled them and returned them to us for freezing.

** M & H were the most in-love couple I have ever met.  I recall as a child that they were always together, doing everything from picking pecans to dancing at a ball.  Two years ago our family ran into M&H at the mexican restaurant.  We all hugged and greeted one another and I asked H, "What did you have to eat?  Was it good?" and he responded, "I don't know what I had, M ordered it for me but it was pretty good."  After all those years...  

**She was always dressed and starched in the finest of clothes with her makeup on -  no matter what time of day or where she went.  I know that she drove herself to the hair dresser just last month as she has done for many many years.  She was a feisty independent lady with a big heart.  She wrote her own obituary, planned her own funeral, picked her burial dress, etc.  

I can only hope that you are singing and dancing in heaven with your husband, while worshipping and praising Our Creator.   We will miss you.

Lisa

PrePare

PrePare

Busy busy Saturday.  Up early to start the green beans, squash, yams, etc. for our Thanksgiving Dinner tomorrow. Spencer came home today to visit with us. It is so good to see him. He has become our mature college student now that he has been living by himself since August. Spencer has taken full responsibility for his class schedules, wash, apartment cleaning, cooking and the day to day decisions that come with living alone.  We are so proud of him, but we miss him deeply. We pray for him to make good choices as he continues to become the man God intended for him to be.  

Tonight was a wedding shower for our nephew, Jason Sandlin.  Many gifts were received and Jason and Mallory are on the road to their wedding on December 20, 2008.  The situation was a little tense with the Mitchell family.  Rick and sister are at odds - Cousins are in the middle with no communication - Grandparents and Grandkids are not speaking - Lies are flying - No Mitchell Family Thanksgiving is planned - Mexican standoff it is!  We will pray for grace.  Mitchell's are notorious for having it my way or the highway.  

The Rick Mitchell's WILL have Thanksgiving and I am sure the Bob Mitchell's will too - just not together.

We have been unable to talk with our Sudan boys.  Hope you are having a good time with friends.

Scatter Christ

Rick_Lisa

Red Tahoe

Wesley finished college with his master degree in Accounting and he started his new job in September 2008.  Today, he purchased his first car.  Dad and I are so proud of you Wesley and we love you with all of our hearts.  We are so blessed to have you as a son. We pray for you to follow Christ in everything you do and we pray for your spouse to be a great helpmate.  

Be the Change you want to see in the world today!

WLUWAOH - Mom and Dad

Rick_Lisa

Richard is 30

Richard’s 30th Birthday
You know we all have people we look up to. People, whom we admire, people who seem to capture our attention, our respect, even our heartfelt affection. People when you think about them it influences you in the most positive way. A way that captures your respect. For us these people take on the position of role models, leaders, encouragers, supporters, an example of what is right. These are people whom you go to when you need a constant in an inconstant world. These people you can put in the Philippians 3:17 category in that if you follow them you are following Christ. In many cases these people are older. But that is not always the case. For me I have six of these people I have just described in this room today. Spencer, Wes, Joanna, David, Leslie and Rick. These are my heroes. These are people I look to in light of what I have described to you today. I remember a movie I saw once. I do not remember the name of the movie or the actors but there was one scene that has always stayed with me. The climatic end of the movie had passed and it was in the final minutes when everyone was feeling good and all was well. One of the men turned to the hero of the movie and with no words spoken and in the greatest show of respect tipped his hat. Today I tip my hat to one of the six in honor of his 30th birthday.

Dad