Before...

Exciting Summer

Samuel had a big summer planned; he is going to RA camp in June and then the 22 Member Family Vacation to Walt Disney World. This week his summer got even more exciting. On May 26th he will board a plane with his Grammy and Big Daddy and seven others and travel to Buff Bay, Jamaica for a Mission Trip.

I want to share with you some of a letter a wrote to our family this week..

...Samuel was 10-months old when we took our first trip, now, he will turn ten this summer and he is planning his first trip to Jamaica.
When plans began for the trip to Jamaica this years we had no idea that Samuel would be making the trip, but the Lord seems to be planning otherwise. Someone has backed out and Tommy and Cathy have asked that we allow Samuel to go with them. As his Mommy, my first reaction was NO WAY! No way, am I putting my ten year told son on a plan and send him across the ocean without me. But as the days have passed, the Lord has reminded me of something he taught me ten years ago: As much as I love Samuel, God loves him more. So, as I much as I want to scream NO - I know that God loves Samuel and has special things planned for his life. When I was in the hospital giving birth to Samuel, Eddie stood outside my room and prayed that God wold use the little boy that He was bringing into the work in a special way. This is just another way God is answering that prayer.
God has given Samuel such a wonderful sweet, caring and loving spirit. He has given him such a love and concern for people; it is wonderful to see him get excited about going visiting with Big Daddy and to see the excitement in his eyes when we talk about him going to Jamaica.
...please pray as we handle all the details of the trip, his passport mainly. As his parents, we ask that you pray for us and we prepare our hearts for the day he gets on the plane. We know that God will handle every detail.

We ask all who read our blog that you begin praying now for Samuel and the others on the team and for the people of Jamaica, that God would begin now to soften their hearts to hear the gospel and open their eyes to His salvation.

We will keep you updated...

In His Amazing Love - Travis and Alyssa

Friday Family Funnies - I Need Blood

In the last post I told you Faith had gotten her finger smashed right before we headed out to Chick-fil-a; we were very blessed that it did not take the tip of her finger off, because it came close. When we got home I was looking at her finger and changing her bandaid and her finger was still bleeding a little bit and she was still crying (I told you it dictated her entire day) and with tears in her eyes she looked up at me and said, Mommy it's bleeding I need blood.

(We assume she had heard bits and pieces of conversations about Grammy bleeding and needing blood.)

Have a great week-end.!

I some exciting news to share with you in a little while...

Happy Spring!!!!

This past Saturday, we had breakfast with the Easter Bunny at Chick-fil-a with our church. Anytime we have breakfast at Chick-fil-a is great! Before we left, Faith had gotten her finger smashed in the door, so she was not very happy - we did get a smile out of her when she sat with the Easter Bunny - otherwise, she was crying.

After breakfast, we went home and cleaned out the kids closets and a hall closet. We found this old jacket from when Eddie had Carolina Racing Engines. Samuel thought it was so cool - he had to wear it to school this morning.

Have a great week!

God is so Good!

And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

Most of the time I just keep you updated on the kids and what is going with us through the blog, but today I want to share something that God showed me yesterday. I don't do this often, not because God is not teaching me, but I don't want to seem self righteous or bragging. But, I really feel if I don't share what God did yesterday, I will bust!

Mama and Eddie always taught Kendra and I that when you give to God He will always bless you. You may not always see the blessings, but sometimes He lets you. And yesterday was one of those times He let me see.

A man called the church where I work and asked to speak to the Pastor. We currently have a Interim Pastor, who does not come into the office everyday, but God had it that he was here yesterday. After he talked with the man, he came into the office asking if we kept any petty cash or anything to help those who need a little bit. I told him we do not. He explained there was a man at the hotel up the street that was just asking for a loaf of bread and lunch meat and some coffee. The church family had just helped another man the night before, so the church was not in a postion to help someone else right now. The Pastor went back into his office getting ready to call the man and let him know what he had found out. As I sat at my desk, I just couldn't sit anymore. I called Travis to make sure it was alright if I went and got this man a few things from the store. Of course, he said it was alright. I ran to the store and picked up enough for the man for the week-end. I spent $15 (I don't say that to brag, it is important to what God did). The Pastor took the food to the man and I thought that was the end. I felt I had obeyed God.

This is the amazing part, listen...

When I got home there was check for $84 dollars from our doctors office from where we had over paid at one visit. Isn't God good!

God is so good to let Travis and I see the blessings of obeying Him.

May this encourage you to obey God in what He is telling you, He will bless you.

Friday Family Funnies - Baby Shower

Yesterday, we had a baby shower for Jennifer and Brian. Jennifer works with Travis. Their new baby boy, Luke, will arrive in about six weeks. We were getting ready to leave and I told Faith to get in the car, it was time to go to Jennifer's Baby Shower. As always, she looked at me without a second thought and said; "Do you have the Soap?"

Even when we got home she was not too happy that Baby Luke didn't get any soap, so Jennifer, you will be getting some soap from Faith next week.

Have a great week-end!!

Samuel's Fan Club

Samuel had a good last basketball game this past Saturday. He had a big fan club there. One important person was not there - Daddy! Travis had his first Upward training session this past week-end in Austin, TX. The kids and I survived. Memama and Granddaddy came up Friday night and we had a PJ and popcorn party and watched Peter Pan. There was nothing major that went on, praise the Lord! The major stuff was going on at the Party In a Box. Kendall was sick all week-end with a terrible stomach virus. We are praising God that she is beginning to feel better. We Love you Kendall!

As you can see Grammy made it to the game this week. We were so thankful to see her out and about. The Lord is so good!

I finally captured a picture of Samuel making a shot at his games.

Samuel had a great season and we are very proud of him how he puts his heart into it and is a team player and how Christ is seen through him in every situation. We Love You Samuel!

One goal down...many more to go

In my family we celebrate our "Born Again Birthday's" and Mama surprises us with something each year. Sometimes it is flowers, others times it is a gift. Well, this year Mama and Eddie surprised me with a sewing machine for my "Born Again Birthday" gift. That was back at Thanksgiving. The sewing machine has just been sitting there, I just could never find the time to use it.

One of my goals for 2007 was to sew something. It really didn't matter what it was - it could have been just a button. I just wanted to sew something. Well, the girls and I were at Wal-mart and we saw this adorable pre-smocked material to make dresses. The girls each picked the material they wanted and I was determined that I could do this. I finished a dress for Faith (even with enough material to make a dress for her Baby Doll) around midnight, but I have accomplished at least one of my goals - I have sewed something. The dress for Hannah Grace is on my list of things to do tonight. I thank God that He helped me accomplish one of my goals - even it was just as simple to sew something.

Friday Family Funnies- BALL!!!

The kids have all enjoyed the beautiful afternoons we have had this week. Our nephew, Seth, has only been walking for a couple of months and I guess I took it for granted that he had walked outside on the grass. As you can tell, he was not happy at all. He wanted to play with ball, but would not move his feet to walk. It was so funny, it was like his feet were planted in the ground with the grass. He kept yelling, "BALL!!"

He finally did take a couple of steps to reach the ball, when he reached it he just laughed and laughed and hugged the ball.

Have a great week-end!

I hope to post some more pictures from our time playing outside later today.

Happy Birthday

Happy 89th Birthday to Pop Sparks!

Pop Sparks and his wife, Irene

Fun at the Ballgame

Samuel has had great time playing basketball this season. He has scored points each game and has had fun. He only has one more game. He does not play baseball, so it a season of rest (in the sports world) for The Sparks Family. He has his eye fixed on school being out, RA Camp, and Walt Disney World now.

The girls have had a great time at Bubba's ballgames too. They especially love Skittles time with Big Daddy.

The girls also love to play on the court after the game when Samuel is getting his stars.

Isaiah 61:11

For as the earth brings forth its bud,

As the garden causes the thing that are sown in it to spring forth,
So the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to
spring forth before all the nations.

I was amazed at how blue the sky was yesterday and the tree in our front yard is beginning to bloom and I was reminded again that God is in control of all things...

What's Been Going On

Thanks to all who have been praying for us and the sickness that has run rapid through our house. We are all feeling much better, finally!

Here are a few pictures from the past couple of weeks.

Samuel was part of the Science Fair at his school this week. His project was "Do Family Member's Have Similar Fingerprints?" He found out that yes, family members do have similar fingerprints. He had fun taking everyone's fingerprints. He was a little disappointed that he didn't win, but we think his looked great!

Hannah Grace had a great time playing basketball with Daddy last week, while we were waiting for Bubba.

And as always, Faith is all smiles!!!!

Again, thanks for your prayers and have a great week-end!!!

Friday Family Funnies - Don't Vote for Hillary

The other day Samuel was part of a conversation about the Presidential Election and who they thought would win or who they would vote for. Grammy said, well we sure can't vote for Hillary. Samuel spoke up real quick, I didn't know that Hillary Duff was running for President.

I guess we need to work on his current events a little...

One In A Million

I think my mother-in-law is One In A Million. After this past week-end, she is not only One In A Million to me by the way she loves me and helps me and listens to me and many, many other ways; she is One In A Million in the Medical world, too.

This past Thursday, Cathy went in for a routine colonoscopy. Everything with the colonoscopy was fine and after the procedure, Tommy took her home and she rested for about an hour. Her plans were to take a nap, eat a little lunch and then work on a paper that was due. When she woke up from her nap, her side was hurting and then the pain went up to her shoulder. Tommy had read on her discharge papers that if you had pain in your shoulder to call the doctor back. They called the doctor and the doctor told them to come right back to the office. When they got to the office, the doctor sent them directly to the ER. When Cathy arrived in the ER her blood pressure was something like 80/50 - very, very low! The doctor tried a couple of different things but then decided he was going to have to do surgery. Cathy was bleeding from the inside, he just didn't know from where. The doctor ended up having to remove her spleen. When he was doing the colonoscopy, the scope had "pinched" the spleen and the spleen was bleeding out. Once the spleen was removed her blood pressure and vitals began to return to normal. Until yesterday she was in ICU and then was moved to a regular room yesterday. As of this morning, her body was doing just as it needed to and they were going to try some food. If she tolerates the food well, she might be able to go home tomorrow!

It was a very scary week-end. Travis was able go to the ER and be with his mom - I think for a moment everyone thought that she wasn't going to make it, and from talking I think that she had lost so much blood that her body was not far from going into shock.

God had seen this family through another trail and as always, they continue to praise Him and give His the glory for all He has done.

God has blessed me with such a wonderful family and extended family, I can not even put into words how much I love all of them.

To each of you (you know who you are), I LOVE YOU!

And to Cathy, you have always been One In A Million to Me!

Please continue to pray for Cathy, she has a long recovery ahead of her, but she is strong and determined and I know that God will see her and help her gain strength each day.

Friday Family Funnies - Back to Normal

Faith loves her Baby, but Baby was looking pretty rough despite a good "ride" in the washing machine. Last week, we made a trip to Belk to get a "New" Baby. When I picked Faith up from Aunt Amanda's I told her that Baby was waiting in the van for her. She rushed out to the van to her beloved Baby. We didn't fool her. She kept asking why Baby was pink...where did I get the pink soap...why did she have pink boots on? Finally, she threw New Baby at me and said..."I want her back to normal!"

She since then has taken New Baby in and loves her like her own, even if she's not normal.

Something Red

My husband is such a romantic - he took me for a nice lunch at Fuji yesterday for Valentine's Day, then he took me shopping. He got me something very nice...it's red...A NEW VACCUM CLEANER!!!!!

Thanks, Honey, I LOVE YOU!!!

My Sweet Son

Happy Valentine's Day

Sorry I have not posted in a while. I have been sick, then Travis got sick, and then Samuel was sick. He was home from the school the past two days. He was ready to go back today. I don't think it was for learning, I think it was because of the party!!!!



Please pray that we all continue to feel better and that the Lord protects the girls from getting sick.


I got the sweetest card from Samuel this morning. He went with me yesterday to Wal-mart and as I was picking out a card for Travis, he asked if he could pick out some cards. He picked out one for each of his sisters and one for Daddy and one for me. He was so cute. We went through the self check-out line and he even rang them up so I wouldn't see my card. Then when we got home, after a 3-hour nap, he went in his room and closed the door to write his cards. I was going to show you the front of the card, but I forget my camera at home. It read: "To Mommy From Your Son".

I am very proud of the young man he is!

He is such a sweet, caring, and loving young man because he has a sweet, caring, and loving Daddy!

Happy Valentine's Day to my wonderful husband, who by the way is looking great!!!!!! I didn't think he could get any better looking, but he is proving me wrong. He has lost almost 30 pounds so far, I am so proud of him.

Happy Valentine's Day to Each of You,

We Love You SnOw Much!!!

Friday Family Funnies - The Hardest Shot Ever!

This past Saturday at Samuel's game, he was fouled. He was given two foul shots. The clock had run out and they cleared the court, but still let Samuel take his two shots.

He shots...he misses. He shots again...he makes it!!!!!!!

During half-time, Big Daddy had taken the girls to get Skittles and he told his Big Daddy, That was the hardest shot I ever had to make, and I made it!