Arkansas Visit February 2009

Chad, I and Chase went to Arkansas to visit my inlaws. The drive was very pleasant. We had great weather and the temps started out just right. The farther we drove the cooler it became, but the sun was shining and we took several breaks along the way. Chase did very well in the car. I was grateful since most of our trips really don't go past 3 or 4 hours in the car. That is about all Chase usually takes before the crying begins! When Chase started to get the least bit fussy, we would find a rest stop, gas station or if it was near eating time, a place to stop and eat. This gave him ample time out of the car seat and when we were ready to leave, it was like almost starting over from the beginning! After 11 hours, We finally reached Arkansas. During the drive to Mountain View, Chad and I saw so much damage from the recent ice storm. There were so many power poles down, trees toppled (on power lines), trees on roofs and we saw one on a car too. We saw long rows of NEW power poles put up without any power lines on them. There were lots of people without power. We were listening to the radio and came across a emergency station that was reporting counties and cities, towns that still remained without power. They were listing places that were to be worked on and were asking people NOT to call in and report that power was still out as that it was slowing down repairs and power restoration.

We arrived at my inlaws around 6ish pm. We were all very excited to see each other. It had been nearly 9 months since we had been together. My mother-in-law went straight for the baby! And Chase just loved it all. We got the grand tour the new house and picked our bedrooms. We slept upstairs. We were the first to sleep up stairs! Chase and I slept in the right side bedroom (ON THE NEW BED TO BEAT THE BOOT!)and Chad in the left bedroom. We had the upstairs bathroom. AGAIN a first. we were the first to shower upstairs, I believe. The house was very lovely and homey. It had excellent views from every room and window. My favorite part of the house was the breakfast room. It was very dainty and quaint. We could watch the birds from the breakfast table. (although we didn't really ever eat breakfast there). The outside was very woodsy. There were lots of down trees. Chad and my father-in-law worked a couple of days outside pulling down trees. The second day they were going to cut them up but couldn't get the chain saw going. So we all went for a drive. We saw lots of places in town. We went to a place called Calico rock and saw an amazing view of the river and town.(in which my MIL found some history on the river! VERY INTERESTING). We also went to a little shop strip and I can't remember where but it was a historical place. We went in and looked around. There were some really cool and neat things in the shop. There were some old type toys that I played with as a little girl. This is where we got Chase's b'day gift from my inlaws. It was a Pixar Disney Cars rug. It is a pretty nice sized rug that Chase can play on the floor. The man who owned the shop also owned an ice cream parlor next door. Due to the ice storm, and lost power, I believe he lost about $600 worth of ice cream. It was sad because his insurance deductable was about $10,000.00. He said they went to a hill side and poured out all the sour ice cream. He was also handy in sewing things...after a long debate and persuasion, I had my favorite purse have it's broken strap sewn back on. I hope it will live another year! Around lunch or dinner I am not sure which, we stopped at a Mexican diner to eat. It was so nice. The hot sauce and chips were terriffic. I had eggs ranchero and had a very different experience as the ranchero sauce was none I've ever eaten before. It looked like a barbeque sauce type but still had the tomatoe taste. It was very good. We really had a nice time looking at all the tour spots for the Music places even though it was not in season. One day, my MIL took me to a Mennonite lady's home, Elsie. She was making a baby quilt for her soon coming grandbaby. It was still on the quilting frame and there was suppose to be a quilting get together but it had been cancelled due to the lack of power for some of the people. It was interesting to meet her and hear a little about how she came to be in Arkansas. I also met a lady named Mary. She was very nice and interesting as well. We also met a couple that were my inlaws friends. Their names were Carl and Jean. They were very nice and are very involved in many things. There was also another couple that we were able to meet, I can not remember their names but I believe the man helped my FIL work on the house. I feel good that my inlaws have friends there. I think they will have much to do for a long while. The woodsy land will be enough to keep them busy for a while.
While there, the weather seemed cold and windy. On one of those days, we went for another car drive just to see some scenery. We went down Meisenhiemer road and on to a farm. We saw a sow and her 15 piglets running openly. While driving, we also saw a HUGE pig. I have never quiet seen a pig so big before! We had supper at Pizza Inn and had great visits with each other. Chase made sure to leave fingerprints on windows and doors. Best of all, I GOT TO LISTEN TO A FEW DAYS OF SOUTHERN GOSPEL MUSIC! Chad didn't complain ONCE while driving in the car home. It was great.

A year gone....A new one begins...

It only seems like yesterday that I gave birth to my sweet baby boy, Chase. It is hard to believe that Saturday, Feb 21st, He will be a year old. We have had so much joy in the passing of the first year and we look forward to many more joyful years. I have watched him grow and change. I have watched him triumph in rolling over, sitting up, crawling and now walking. He has learned several words, mimicks peoples faces and is ready to give kisses. It is amazing to me how I already miss his babyness(if that is a word). I have seen him change also in appetite. He loves his food. He isn't afraid to eat new things at all. I am so very proud. How dearly I love him.

Another year has passed for my daughter, Ashley, who will be 17 years in April. It is so very hard to believe that my beautiful daughter has become a beautiful young woman. She is so amazing. She has an amazing voice and sings wonderfully. She has made great strides in her school work and is doing well. She is triumphing over emotions and feelings that can so easily take over. I see her learning to deal with life and learning to make mature decisions. The future for her holds no bounds. What excellent opportunities await her. The hardest part for me will be letting go slowly. She has always been my angel baby. She and I have been through a lot together. She has been a sweet gift in helping me through! I love her so dearly and am very proud of her. I am proud of her every accomplishment. I am just proud.

Another year has passed for Chad and I. We have been married going on 16 years. It seems like only yesterday that we were married. I love him with all my heart. He has been a strength to me that only God himself has placed in my life for me. He has been and is an encourager to me. He supports me and makes me feel safe. He gives me comfort and tries to understand me. He shows me his love in so many simple ways that never go unnoticed. We have had such wonderful times. We have also had such hard trials and yet through God's grace, we have made it through. We love each other more and stronger. I am so very proud of Chad and I dearly love him. I thank God for him.

I trust God with my family. He has carried us through this past year. I trust that He will carry us through many more years to come. I will stand in awe of the Lord and give Him thanks and praise. Blessed be your name!

James 1:17 King James Version
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

In Memory of Arthur Franklin Amick Jr.

Saturday I picked up the paper and read that Mr. Frank Amick Jr. passed away. To me, Mr. Amick was a very admirable man. He was a Godly man and he left a remarkable impact on my life. Who is he to me? He was my 7th grade History teacher from G.L. Wiley Middle School. I remember going to him on some hard days and he would pep talk me and remind me that God was in control. He was very compassionate and cared about all the other students. He tried to instill good values into students who otherwise may not have had a model adult at home. I thank God for the opportunity to have known Mr. Amick. I thank God for the opportunity to have had his class. Although, History to me was not very interesting at the time, it was the man who left the mark in my life. He challenged us to stand up and do what was right and not to do the cowardly thing and follow the crowd. He was true to heart and lived the life. I know that he is in the arms of Jesus rejoicing. Some day, we will meet again!!

Obituary:

Arthur Amick Jr.
"Frank" Amick Jr. Arthur Franklin "Frank" Amick Jr. passed away Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009, at Scott & White Hospital in Temple, and went to rest in the arms of the Lord and Master he had served so faithfully. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, at the First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Steve Ramsdell officiating. Frank was born Feb. 21, 1922, in Burlington, N.C., the first of seven children born to Arthur Franklin and Elsie Moser Amick. When Frank was 15, the family moved to High Point, N.C., and he became an athlete and student at High Point High School. He graduated in 1941. On Dec. 8, 1941, Frank enlisted in the Navy and was very proud of the time he served his country. He was a crew member on the aircraft carriers, Ranger and Wasp in the Atlantic Theater, and served on the Currituck, a seaplane tender, in the Pacific. He had many stories from those days and they served him well when he became a history teacher. He not only taught history, he lived it. When he returned to High Point, he became reacquainted with the girl he had first met when he was 15 and she was 12. They fell in love and were married on June 1, 1946. Frank became a student at High Point College and joined the football squad. His love of the sport determined his future career. After graduating from HPC, he became the coach of all sports at Randleman, N.C., and introduced football into their lives. He shared his love of sports and history with these students and they made an indelible mark in their lives. When Frank decided he wanted to get a master's degree, he and his wife agreed that Baylor and Waco would be the right place. They came prepared to stay one year, but they never left Texas. His coaching and teaching years in Texas were spent at schools in Marlin, Crosby, Teague, Victoria and Waco, where he shared his great enthusiasm for history, fair play, love of God and good sportsmanship. Frank was a member of the First United Methodist Church, the Wesley Workers Sunday School Class and Gideons International. He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister and brother-in-law, Elise Victoria and Russell Hunt; and a brother, the Rev. Alvin Amick. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Frances Coppridge Amick; two sons, Richard "Rick" and wife JoAnn of Richmond and Michael "Mike" of Lewisville; two daughters, Patricia "Pat" and husband, Andrew Waden of Austin, and Nancy and husband Brad Lamb of Richardson; 10 grandchildren, Eric and wife, Amy Amick of San Antonio, Nick Amick of New York City, Wesley and wife, Lizzie Amick of Keller, Brett and wife, Nicole Amick, Sean Amick and Jordan Amick, all of Lewisville, Laura and husband, Benito Hipolito of Round Rock, Kevin and wife Laura Waden of Killeen, Scott Lamb of Richardson and Jason Lamb of Waco; seven great-grandchildren, Catherine Hipolito, Joshua and Conner Amick, Marshall Amick, Brycen Amick and Mikaela and Keira Waden; two brothers, Hervey Amick of Morrow, Ga., and Bobbie and wife Martha Amick of Greensboro, N.C.; two sisters, Polly Yow of Jamestown, N.C., and Helen Stutts of High Point, N.C.; and many nieces and nephews in Virginia, Georgia and North Carolina. Pallbearers will be the grandsons. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the
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Alzheimer's Association, the Salvation Army or the charity of your choice. February 21, 1922 - February 11, 2009 Sign the Guest Book at http://www.wacotrib.com/