Dear Glenda, The Good Witch,

Three months ago this very night, our life was literally blown out from under us.  Now, sometimes I (Cicely) feel like we haven't come very far since then!  We have been very blessed during this journey by many, many people.  I don't know how we would have made it without everyone but I still find myself asking the question, Glenda where are my ruby red slippers?!!  I am ready to click three times and wake up at home!! I am so over the process!! I am not trying to complain just trying to be honest about how I am feeling!! This has been hard and I am ready to approach the end.  However, we still have a long road ahead of us.  So thank you to all the prayers and keep them coming!! We love you all and thank you for being in our lives!

Cars down, houses to go!!

I know it has been a while since I have posted.  Just had a minute to get on here and do a little updating!  Good news is we have got 2 cars now! The car shopping is over thanks to a lot of looking and God blessing.  Bad news, still much, much more to do!!  Now, we have to find time to begin clean up at my mom and dad's house and at the "site".  Went over there the other day and one neighbor has completely cleared his lot and another is beginning.  So now we feel really behind!!  I am overwhelmed with all we still have to do on top of the regular "life" things!  Sometimes, for just short minutes, I do get a little frustrated with all we are having to deal with!  I know that it will all work out, it is just exhausting to even think about.  Please pray for us that we will have the mental and physical strength to get through these next few months.  Also for wisdom that we will make the right choice about housing.  Hope to post back soon! God Bless!

Hello everyone! Sorry it has been so long since I have posted! So busy! So as most everyone knows, they totaled out both of our cars so we are now having to look for 2 vehicles.  We went out together today for an anniversary/car hunting date.  We did look at a couple of cars and hope and pray that we make the right decision.  Hopefully we can get something settled with that possibly next week seeing as how the rental car goes back on Thursday!  I am planning on going back to work to finish up the year.  It will only be four days but I am a little anxious about leaving the kids and also all the work that there is still to do.  I really feel obligated to go back and spend that little bit of time with my kids.  I have missed them so much!! Also, I have a lot of paper work to finish before the end of the year!!  I want to say thank you again to everyone for their prayers and ask that you keep them coming.  We have a lot of big decisions to make in the next few months and we want to do what God wants.  So please pray for wisdom!

Well we had an amazing day at church!! We went back to Sunday school for the first time in a while and it was such a blessing!  The class was packed out!!  Yeah God!!  It was so good to see everyone and get to tell them in person how much their love and prayers have meant to us.  Great sermon by pastor Ramon as well!  Lots of truth that sometimes hurts (in a good way) : ).  Then we got to spend the afternoon celebrating a birthday with good friends.  We love them dearly!  The only disappointing news that we received was this evening when Josh got the call on the vehicles.  We were told that the van is definitely totaled and there is a great chance that other car will be too.  I cried for just a minute which is silly and wasn't really over the cars.  Then, I dried it up, remembered who is carrying us and realized that he has all of this under control so I don't have to worry.  Thank goodness too because there is NO WAY I could do this alone.  Thank you Lord for your never ending love!!!

Finally!!

I am so glad to be posting tonight!!!  We finally got our Internet set up at the rental house!  I have really missed letting everyone know how things are going.  First things first, I have many people to thank.  I need to say thank you to all the people in the Meigs County School system!!  You have blessed my family more than you will ever know!!  Also, thank you to the people at Ooltewah United Methodist Church!!  I do not know what my family would do with out everyones' love and support.  God has been blessing us continually ever since this happened and we are so overwhelmed by the love that we are receiving from everyone!!  May God bless you all two fold for all you have done for our family.  I also have to thank our families.  They have taken us in, fed us, clothed us and worked their tails off for us!!  We love them more than words can say!!  So after saying that, we are in the rental home and trying to get settled back into some sort of routine.  I am ready to get through anything that we need to so we can go ahead and begin the official "clean up".  I makes me sad to say that and that will probably be a hard day for me, but it must be done for us to really get to move on!!  Thanks again to all and hope you have a blessed night!

Tonight, just letting everyone know where we are in our current needs.  Since we were having a hard time telling everyone specifics, it was suggested that we go register somewhere.  So we are registered @ Target.  It isn't complete yet because we didn't have the time but we will take care of that later.  If anyone is interested you can find it under Barker Housing or under Josh Barker.  Also, we know some of the things that we already have donated and should not need.  We have the following: kitchen table and chairs, couch/loveseat, and possibly mattresses for all beds.  The Murmaid place in Cleveland is replacing mattress that were bought  there and our mattress and the mattress that Sophie was sleeping on were both purchased there.  Our biggest need is prayer and we know that all of you are doing that!  We are hoping to begin moving in tomorrow!  Everyone is excited about this!  Thanks again to EVERYONE who has helped with their prayers, gifts etc.  We are truly blessed beyond words!!

New Beginnings

So today we got confirmation on a rental house.  We are now just waiting on the finalized lease and then we can sign it and begin to move in.  Landry keeps saying "Our house is broken." so we decided to take him to see where we were going to be living.  He liked it so much he wanted to stay!  Sophie said that she really liked it too!  The owner of the property has been wonderful to work with!!  We got to spend some time with the girls today which was nice.  Sophie had her first ballet practice for the recital.  I cried when I saw her up on the stage.  She was so beautiful up there!!  She is dancing to "Somewhere Over the Rainbow".  Wow! Doesn't get more appropriate than that for what we have just been through.  If not for the protection of God, I may not have had the opportunity to watch my baby dance across that stage!!  I am overwhelmed at the outpouring of generosity!!  I feel undeserving!  I am blessed just to be here on earth with my family around me!  Thank you God for your love and protection!!