THANK YOU
First and foremost, I would like to thank my one and only Lord and
Savior, Jesus Christ, and his Heavenly Father, God. Without them, no day, good or bad, or
occasion, happy or sad, would be possible in this world. If they did not grant met the talent to
write and expose me to the right people to help nurture and develop it, nor direct me to the publisher, Lee
Sebastiani of Avventura Press, to take a chance on me, this book would not
exist.
Mom, Grandpa, I especially thank you for your strength, courage, and ability to overcome anything in your path. I know life was hard at many points in your life, but you truly made the best of things, even if you went without. Your gentleness, kindness, and stubbornness was a blessed mix to be a part of, and I am forever grateful. Mom, thank you for challenging me and encouraging me to continue to improve. Grandpa, thank you too for all that, and for trading cameras with me on that day long ago. I know you are both smiling down from Heaven as you see the joy within me to finally have this dream to come true.
I want to also thank my Husband, John, for never letting me give up, even when times seemed impossible. You have a faith in GOD and a warm spirit like no other. I have never heard you say an unkind word about anyone, and you always look on the bright side of things. Thank you for being a source of warmth, light, and understanding.
My precious children-Joseph, Rozeanna, and Hunter, my gifts from God, thank you for putting up with mommy doing research on the computer, writing, and being crabby from pulling all nighters. Those all night writing sessions were for you- so I could devote more time when you were awake, rather than take away. But never, once, did I not think of you, never once, did I not do something with you in mind.
I would also like to thank my family members-aunts, uncles, cousins alike, for giving me such rich material to write about over the years, and for putting up with me and my camera at every family event. I especially thank my dad, Charles R. Rivers Jr., for making my life an adventure growing up. I may not have always seen it that way at the time, but I am forever grateful for the many positives our ever changing lifestyle produced. I also thank my sister, Chrisy, for being my sister and good friend over the years, as well as a good friend through thick and thin. A thank you too, for my brothers, Jeff and Charlie, for helping to shape my character. My nieces and nephews- thank you for making me laugh and smile.
My dearest friends: Ginger, Amber, Carla, Lakendra, Stacy, Wayne, and all those I have lost touch with, thank you for making life always interesting, always helping me stand, and making every ordinary day extraordinary. Your light shines brightly in this world, and your friendship I will cherish forever.
To the Class of ’87, from Deland High School in Deland, Florida; especially-Bryant, Marie, Brent, Jeffery, and the many, many others who have stayed In contact or remembered to say hi over the years- Thank you for rooting for me back then, and standing by my side now. To the new classes yet to graduate- Stand Tall, and Go Bulldogs!
My wonderful church families of the Faith Bible Church, Deltona, Florida; Sanford Christian Alliance; Sterling and Hollisterville United Methodist Churches in both Sterling and Hollisterville, PA; the incredible Pastor Pat Lee and family, and the awesome Forgiven Band-your faith, support, friendship, and guidance are true gifts, and I am proud to be a part of these congregational families.
A special thank you to Build-A-Bear, Babyland General/Cabbage Patch; WNEP; and Ryan Leckey for their kind permission and approval of pictures, copy, and video for this book. The events that took place in each establishment were vital to tell the tale, and thank you for providing those wonderful memories.
If I did not mention the countless people and places that stood behind me, and my wonderful readers-.please know you are not forgotten in my heart. Let your light shine by performing acts of kindness every day.
Mom, Grandpa, I especially thank you for your strength, courage, and ability to overcome anything in your path. I know life was hard at many points in your life, but you truly made the best of things, even if you went without. Your gentleness, kindness, and stubbornness was a blessed mix to be a part of, and I am forever grateful. Mom, thank you for challenging me and encouraging me to continue to improve. Grandpa, thank you too for all that, and for trading cameras with me on that day long ago. I know you are both smiling down from Heaven as you see the joy within me to finally have this dream to come true.
I want to also thank my Husband, John, for never letting me give up, even when times seemed impossible. You have a faith in GOD and a warm spirit like no other. I have never heard you say an unkind word about anyone, and you always look on the bright side of things. Thank you for being a source of warmth, light, and understanding.
My precious children-Joseph, Rozeanna, and Hunter, my gifts from God, thank you for putting up with mommy doing research on the computer, writing, and being crabby from pulling all nighters. Those all night writing sessions were for you- so I could devote more time when you were awake, rather than take away. But never, once, did I not think of you, never once, did I not do something with you in mind.
I would also like to thank my family members-aunts, uncles, cousins alike, for giving me such rich material to write about over the years, and for putting up with me and my camera at every family event. I especially thank my dad, Charles R. Rivers Jr., for making my life an adventure growing up. I may not have always seen it that way at the time, but I am forever grateful for the many positives our ever changing lifestyle produced. I also thank my sister, Chrisy, for being my sister and good friend over the years, as well as a good friend through thick and thin. A thank you too, for my brothers, Jeff and Charlie, for helping to shape my character. My nieces and nephews- thank you for making me laugh and smile.
My dearest friends: Ginger, Amber, Carla, Lakendra, Stacy, Wayne, and all those I have lost touch with, thank you for making life always interesting, always helping me stand, and making every ordinary day extraordinary. Your light shines brightly in this world, and your friendship I will cherish forever.
To the Class of ’87, from Deland High School in Deland, Florida; especially-Bryant, Marie, Brent, Jeffery, and the many, many others who have stayed In contact or remembered to say hi over the years- Thank you for rooting for me back then, and standing by my side now. To the new classes yet to graduate- Stand Tall, and Go Bulldogs!
My wonderful church families of the Faith Bible Church, Deltona, Florida; Sanford Christian Alliance; Sterling and Hollisterville United Methodist Churches in both Sterling and Hollisterville, PA; the incredible Pastor Pat Lee and family, and the awesome Forgiven Band-your faith, support, friendship, and guidance are true gifts, and I am proud to be a part of these congregational families.
A special thank you to Build-A-Bear, Babyland General/Cabbage Patch; WNEP; and Ryan Leckey for their kind permission and approval of pictures, copy, and video for this book. The events that took place in each establishment were vital to tell the tale, and thank you for providing those wonderful memories.
If I did not mention the countless people and places that stood behind me, and my wonderful readers-.please know you are not forgotten in my heart. Let your light shine by performing acts of kindness every day.
