how it began . . . .

I'm going to try blogging again!!  This may more for myself than anyone else, but if you'd like to read, you are invited to come along for the ride.  I make no promises that it will be pretty and rosy and it might get a little messy! I do hope to dig deeper into God's purpose for life and for death.  For hurt and for heartache as I write.  Here we go!  It all started on Saturday, November 5, 2011.  For November in Upper Michigan, it was a beautiful, sunny day.  We were preparing to go to a family gathering at my Dad's hunting camp but, we never made it there. Instead we got the news that made me ask the precious nurse at the hospital, "Is this just a really bad dream", when she asked me if I had any questions. She responded with, "It's the worst nightmare".  I fully believe that God orchestrated each and every event of that day and "nurse Erin" was an angel sent to us by Him!

Following is Rickey's obituary that was published in our two local newspapers:

ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011, RICKEY ROGER RYE ENTERED INTO THE PRESENCE OF HIS LORD AFTER A JOB SITE ACCIDENT. RICKEY WAS BORN TO ROGER (BUCK) AND DORIS (DODO) RYE ON AUGUST 18, 1956, THE 2^ND OF 6 CHILDREN.

RICK RESIDED IN WALLACE WITH HIS WIFE OF ALMOST 20 YEARS, SHEILA AND HIS 3 YOUNGEST DAUGHTERS TESSA JOY (17), TAYA JILL (14) AND KAJSA JO (12). RICK SPENT HIS LIFE WORKING WITH HIS HANDS, A TRADE HE LEARNED FROM HIS FATHER. RICK’S WIFE, THEIR 5 CHILDREN, THEIR SPOUSES AND HIS GRANDBABIES WERE HIS PRIDE AND JOY. RICK LOVED PLAYING CARDS WITH “THE GUYS”, SPENDING TIME OUTDOORS ENJOYING THE BEAUTY OF GOD’S NATURE AND SPENDING TIME IN HIS HUNTING STAND. HE ALSO LOVED THE GREEN BAY PACKERS. ABOVE ALL THIS, HE LOVED THE LORD HIS GOD WITH ALL HIS HEART, SOUL, MIND AND STRENGTH, THIS KNOWLEDGE GIVING US PEACE BEYOND UNDERSTANDING THAT HE WAS IMMEDIATELY USHERED INTO THE THE PRESENCE OF OUR GLORIOUS LORD.

RICK IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE, SHEILA, CHILDREN NICKOLAS ROGER (ASHLEY MARIE), ASHLEY BETH (BRIAN LEE) TESSA JOY, TAYA JILL AND KAJSA JO. HE IS ALSO A PROUD PAPA TO PRESTEN DANIEL KRISTOPHER, DAILA MARIE SUNSHINE, MADELINE GRACE MARIE, TY JORDAN AND LILA FAITH MARIE. HE IS FURTHER SURVIVED BY HIS PARENTS ROGER (BUCK) AND DORIS (DODO) RYE, HIS IN-LAWS, GERALD (JERRY) AND MILDRED (MILLY) NEWLIN, SIBLINGS, LUANNE RYE, TIM (ROCHET) RYE, SCOTT (MARYANN) RYE, TODD (SHERRY) RYE AND JEFF (NORMA) RYE. HE ALSO LEAVES BEHIND MANY AUNTS, UNCLES, COUSINS, NEPHEWS AND NIECES, INCLUDING HIS GODCHILD KAITLYN RYE, GREAT NEPHEWS AND NIECES, AND FRIENDS TOO NUMEROUS TO MENTION. EVERYONE WHO KNEW HIM LOVED HIM.

SERVICES WILL BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2011 BEGINNING AT 2:00 P.M. AT THE ANDERSON-DIEHM FUNERAL HOME IN STEPHENSON. A CELEBRATION OF RICK’S LIFE WILL BE HELD AT 6:00 P.M. AT THE FUNERAL HOME OFFICIATED BY PASTOR DAVID BUCKLEY. FRIENDS ARE ASKED TO WEAR THEIR GREEN BAY PACKER GEAR OR CAMOFLAUGE CLOTHING IN HONOR OF RICK’S LOVE FOR LIFE! BURIAL WILL BE ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2011 IN THE MELLEN TOWNSHIP CEMEMTARY.

A MEMORIAL FUND HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED FOR THE GIRLS COLLEGE EDUCATION.