~Happy B'day Richard, from Sara~ :)

 

Life is a Journey

God began your life journey 40 years ago...

and then chose that I'd begin life with you 14 1/2 yrs ago!!!

What a journey beside my best friend! :) 

We laugh and cry; we learn and grow.

We use challenges for stepping stones.

~We may not understand the "why's" or "how's" in life, but God gives us plenty to discuss and laugh about along the way~   :)

God, help us balance the life You've called us to live... 

....when the path before us is easy,

or when we can see only one step at a time~

 

 

~May we count our blessings often~

whether they are right in front of us...

 

...or require much hunting~   :)

 

I pray we remain thankful, and never take our journey for granted.

 

I love you, Richard!!!!!!!!!!    :)  :)  

Happy, happy (surprise) Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 Have fun reading through the blog!!   :)  :)   :)

Love,

Sara   :)



~Happy 40th Birthday from Matt Sorrell~

Richard,

 

I am very thankful for a brother who is very interested in others and what interests them.
You are a special person with an extremely genuine personality. You are always the same- same as in "good honest Abe"same. I am proud to claim you as my brother, but wish you would hurry up and run for President because then I could actually vote for an honest politician.

Anyways, I wish you a happy 5th decade and many more!

Now go put some Polygrip on those dentures,that "clicking"is annoying!

Love ya',
Matt

[Richard's younger brother--3 years younger]

 

Richard & Matt- during a triathlon in Republic, Missouri (Aug '12) 

~Happy 40th B'day from Darren Sorrell~

Dear Richard,

First of all, you don't look a day over 35. I am convinced your age had been altered before I was conceived. Even if your birth certificate validates your claim, I wouldn't rule out the possibility of fabrication.

In other news, I am very thankful to have an older brother such as yourself. When I was younger, you served primarily as a counselor and consultant.(aka wise guy). :) Now as I am older, our relationship has evolved into a friendship. Though I value your wisdom and advice, I find myself appreciating the friendship that has developed. I can only imagine friendship deepening as the years go by. Thank you for listening and sharing your life with me. I am blessed to call you brother and I love you very much.

Darren
[Richard's youngest brother--18 years younger]

Darren, Richard & Matt after triathlon in Republic, Missouri (Aug '12)

~Happy 40th B'day from Mom & Dad Sorrell~

Dear Richard,

Here you are at "40" years old! The first thing we as parents say is, "Where have all the years gone?"

It just can't be possible!

We were young and inexperienced as 1st time parents. You were so wanted and loved! Our first born little baby boy. You were a beautiful baby! What a joy and blessing you were. You were such a sweet and pleasant child. You always had a smile for everyone you met. You really never gave us much trouble.

It was life changing for us when God spared your life from the drowning incident for which we will be forever grateful.

We are so thankful that you gave your life to the Lord early and the example you've been to your yonger siblings through the years.You are such a blessing for any parent to have.

God has blessed you with a beautiful family that makes us even more thankful.

We deeply cherish and appreciate you very much.

May you enjoy this special day! Happy 40th!

Love,

Mother and Dad

[Lynette & Paul Sorrell]

 

~High-five from Caleb~

~First-born~ Blue eyes~ Brown hair (use to be blond)

 

 

Caleb's favorite activity is to wrestle and "rough house" with daddy. Problem is....very soon he's going to be taller than his dad~   :)





~Giggles from Antonin~

~Second born~ Brown eyes~ Dark Brown hair~

 

Antonin loves fun and games...especially if means time spent with daddy!  

He patiently waits his turn to share his many dreams and stories, knowing his dad will listen...to just one more. :)

 



~Smiles from Ashlyn~

~Third born~Brown eyes~ Dark Brown hair~

 Ashlyn loves writing notes & letters to her daddy. She often tapes them to the front door, so he won't miss them when he comes home.  :) 

~Happy 40th Birthday, daddy! I love you.... from Ashlyn~



~Richard as Daddy~ :)

 

Richard couldn't be a better daddy to our three children!

In the above photo, Richard's holding Caleb~ our first little boy~  :) 

We were living in Rogersville, Missouri, and Richard was employed with the Postal Service. It was around this time that Richard decided to begin college classes and work toward his Accounting degree.

Antonin came along several months later (the boys are two years and two weeks apart).

Right after Ashlyn was born (literally), Richard got a job transfer within the Postal service, and we moved to Belleville, Illinois. The photo above was taken about a month after our move. It was our Anniversary, and we thought we'd try going out to Red Lobster in spite of the fact that Ashlyn was temperamental and colicky. :)    I can laugh about it now, but it was a challenging evening together.  I took Ashlyn while Richard ate, then he took Ashlyn while I ate. I was SO relieved when Ashlyn actually fell asleep, and took a picture to remember the moment.  LOL!    :)

 Thank God, colic does not last forever, and everyone survives!   :)  Here we are visiting family in Missouri a few months later~

 ~ Richard lending a helping hand~   :)

 Just had to include this funny photo... "Sun's in our eyes, mom!!"  :)

~Our first ocean experience~ :)

~How we met~

How did Richard & I meet?

We met at an Indiana church one Sunday evening....   :) 

Several months before meeting Richard, I met Richard's parents, younger sister and brother at a revival meeting. Richard's dad, Paul, was a minister at another church in the area and friends with my pastor's family.

While spending time with Richard's family... little did I know that his mother and sister would later tell Richard all about me, and that I was in danger of being matched with someone!!! Richard had recently moved to SW Missouri, so I thought nothing of his family talking about him. I recall his mother showing me a family photo... and I remember asking which one was Richard... but honestly! I was only wondering who they were talking about!!! :) I strongly disliked match-making efforts of others, so it's good I didn't realize what was happening.  

Several months later... on April 20th, Richard came to my church fully intending to meet me. 

I was the piano player, so had a good view of the people sitting in the pews... and I thought I recognized Richard, but wasn't sure where I'd seen him before.

After service, Richard walked right up to me and introduced himself. We conversed for about 10 minutes before I began to feel people's eyes on us. The congregation was a small one... and I was the only single lady in the church, so I knew they would all think of match making......   lol!

 I discreetly made my escape (before others could ask me about him or our conversation), telling Richard I needed to leave, but it was nice meeting him.  

I berated myself the whole way home (I was a nanny in Indy), sad that I didn't talk longer with Richard, and that I'd never see him again since he lived in Missouri.    :)

One and half weeks later, I received a card in the mail and stared in unbelief at the return address. "How did he get my address?!?!" I asked over and over again...     :)  :)   :)   lol!

Richard had written a friendly card .... saying that it had been nice meeting me...then, towards the end of the card, "Feel free to write back."   :)

I waited about a week before mailing a letter back to him....   :)

We began a long distance relationship, marrying 10 months after meeting.

Yes, it was a whirlwind courtship, but knew we had found the person we had been waiting for. :)

~I was 22, Richard was 25~  [looking back, we looked like little kids!!  lol!!]

Richard & I married on February 21st, 1998 in the church building where we met.   :)

~A couple tid bits~ :)

Unless you're related to Richard, you may not realize that he drowned when he was two years old. Yes, he drowned. While the family lived in Oklahoma, Richard wandered away from his parents and ended up in the creek pictured below. In April of 1975, heavy rains caused area rivers and creeks to flood. In fact, so much rain had fallen that spring, that farmers had fallen behind with planting their crops....which would explain why Paul & Lynette were busy planting when Richard wandered off.  

When they discovered him in the creek, he was floating under the surface of the water, and  he wasn't breathing. Paul was not trained in CPR, but prayed and asked God to help him~

It seemed a long struggle with death while Richard very slowly "came to", and I'm so thankful God gave Richard back to his parents. 

My reasons are very selfish ones of course. I never would have been blessed to have met and married him.   :) 

 

Richard attended several different schools in his lifetime.... but this is where he attended Kindergarten (Guthrie, Oklahoma)~   :)

Richard also attended a Christian School in Guthrie... he's the cute little guy on the right~  :)

I don't remember what the trophy was for... a spelling bee?

It wasn't until Richard was in his mid  20's that he decided to go to college and pursue an Accounting degree.

So... school took a little longer with working full-time at the Post Office, and caring for a wife and  (eventually) three children.  :) 

After much time and effort (7 years), Richard received his Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, in 2007. We were all so very proud of him for conquering that mountain!!!  

 Richard finished his schooling the same year Antonin graduated from PreK, and we enjoyed a celebration at our home in Belleville, IL  :)  :)  

Sweet memories~

~Richard Paul Sorrell~ September 19, 1972

Happy Birthday, Richard!!! 

On September 19, 1972,  Richard Paul came into the world at a hospital in New Salem, Arkansas.

Richard's dad, Paul, owned a farm in southern Missouri, and was on a trip to purchase chickens the night Richard was born quite unexpectedly- three weeks early. Richard's mom, Lynette, was 19 years old when she became a mother! She'll never forget the rush to the hospital with her sister-in-law, and the delivery of her first sweet baby boy.  :)

Paul & Lynette watched their little son grow.....

 ....and wondered whether he'd vote Republican or Democrat-?   :)

Richard grew up learning what "hard work" meant, along with developing an appreciation for animals.  :)

The photo below was at Richard's first Birthday party! His Aunt Doris made the cake, and his cousin, Terry, joined in for the photo op.

Paul giving Richard a much needed lift!   :)

Church Camp-meeting time~! 

Richard was thrilled to become a big brother to Matt....

 ...the two boys instantly became life-long pals  :)

"Hey, did you hear the one about the cow and the pig??"

 My absolute favorite photo in the world!!! What adorable little farmers!

A few years later, Richard & Matt welcomed their baby sister, Christi, into the world!  :)

Richard, Matt & Christi experienced all types of adventures together, but the greatest adventure of all was when little brother, Darren, was born several years later... in the 90's!   :)

[at Darren's high school graduation in 2009]

..... and the Sorrell family adventures continue ....    :)   :)