YOU ARE DEARLY MISSED ! WE THINK ABOUT ALL THE GOODNESS YOU SPREAD TO ALL PEOPLE YOU CAME IN CONTACT WITH. THERE WAS ALWAYS A SMILE ON YOUR FACE THAT WE STILL SEE  THAT YOU GAVE TO US. AUNT RITA & I MISS YOU VERY MUCH! YOU WERE TOO YOUNG TO LEAVE US.  UNCLE BOB & AUNT RITA

2/15/2012 

Happy Birthday Rick!

Happy birthday my dear brother
I wish that you were here
I miss our talks and your stories
And the coffee we would share

Happy birthday my dear brother
I feel a void within my heart –
A part of me went with you
When this world you did depart

Happy birthday my dear brother
I know you’re in God’s care
I’ll celebrate your life today
As God celebrates you there

Happy birthday my dear brother
I never will forget
The treasured moments that we’ve shared
I look back without regret

Happy birthday my dear brother
My heart broke the day you had to go
Some days there’s such a longing
That my tears begin to flow

Happy birthday my dear brother
There are smiles and laughter too
That often fill my heart
When I stop and think of you

Happy birthday my dear brother
You are forever in my heart
We shared in God’s eternal life
So we wont always be apart

Happy birthday my dear brother
I look forward to that day
When I see you face to face again
And in God’s presence we will stay.

All my love,
Angie

By: Angie (Lichtman) Hensley

Rick, as I think of you and miss you this Christmas season, it brings some comfort to envision you celebrating in a new way, in Heaven!  ...love you, Angie

Christmas In Heaven

by Wanda Bencke 

I see the countless Christmas trees
Around the world below,
With tiny lights like heaven's stars
Reflecting in the snow.

The sight is so spectacular

 please wipe away that tear
for I am spending CHRISTMAS

 WITH JESUS CHRIST this year.

I hear the many Christmas songs

 that people hold so dear
but the sound of music can't compare

with the CHRISTMAS CHOIR up here.

I have no words to tell you

of the JOY their voices bring
for it is beyond description

 to HEAR THE ANGELS SING.  

I know how much you miss me,

I see the pain inside your heart
but I am spending CHRISTMAS

WITH JESUS CHRIST this year.

I can't tell you of the SPLENDOR

or the PEACE here in this place
Can you just imagine CHRISTMAS

 WITH OUR SAVIOR face to face

I'll ask him to lift your spirit

as I tell him of your love
so then PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER

 as you lift your eyes above.

Please let your hearts be joyful

 and let your spirit sing
for I am spending CHRISTMAS IN HEAVEN

and I’m walking WITH THE KING

My "Rick" Memory  
>  
> One of my memories or Rick, probably the one that
> stands out most in my mind was a Thanksgiving day.  It
> was November of 1998.   
> I remember Rick, Sam Spears and myself all hanging out
> at Sam's house.  For whatever reason, and a variety
> of different circumstances,
> we all were there on that day.  It was like
> we were a little rag tag group of outsiders that was brought
> together to celebrate the holiday together.
> Sam's mom was a relatives house, and we were
> all going to enjoy the day ourselves.  It was the first
> year of my divorce, and I was like
> a wandering gypsy, staying in and out of Sam's
> place, and roaming the countryside trying to heal from my
> very raw wounds.
>  
> We all took part in preparing the meal, and I remember
> Rick and I in the kitchen going back and forth with jokes
> and tossing food
> and other stuff around, just having a blast. 
> He was always trying to look on the bright side of
> things, and I remember him encouraging me,
> and just bringing a lightheartedness to a
> very heavy and difficult situation.  Some joy and
> balance was definitely in need, and Rick was
> there to bring it to the table literally and
> figuratively.  He was a true joy to be around; and I
> remember that day, although it was my first
> "holiday"
> apart from my wife, we had a great time of fun
> and fellowship with one another.  People need people
> that encourage, love and lift them up,
> especially when they can't do it for
> themselves.  Rick was one of those special people, with
> a true heart, a love for God, and a  love for
> people,
> which came shining through his personality to everyone
> within his sphere of influence.  I was very glad
> that we got to share that moment in time
> together, with genuine love and fellowship with
> brothers in Christ.  My life was made better
> by Rick being in it, and he will be sorely
> and truly missed by everyone that he came into contact
> with.  Rest in peace my brother; we shall meet again
> my friend. 
> Your friend, Jim Steelman  
 

 I remember connecting with Rick when he entered GA in Dec.
> 2006. We were seeing the same counselor (Mike Mooney) and
> hit it off quickly. I drove him around a few times when he
> needed a lift and attended meetings all over with him.
>
> He came in a beaten, broken down, suicidal man and turned
> his life around - and said those last 2.5 years were
> awesome. He was facing problems, taking care of past
> mistakes the best he could and working a solid program.
>
> Very very glad to have known him for over 2.5 years. We
> spent plenty of time hanging out at his Coffee place, TGI
> Fridays and on phone. He was always there for me and
> others in the group. He was my big brother, didn't
> sugarcoat anything - but also didn't act like he was any
> better than me despite my many relapses and struggles. He
> was always there for me, in times of crisis or not, without
> complaint.
>
> He was extremely well loved in the rooms all over GA. Was
> easily approachable, kind, real and supportive to all. He
> was nicknamed "The Mayor" because he seemed to
> know everyone.
>
> His passing has hit us all very hard in the GA rooms,
> especially those that got to know him and love him. He was
> an amazing person to me.
>
> One of the many things I remember about Rick was back on
> January 28, 2009 when Chris L's wife passed away
> shockingly. Chris was very close with him and called him and
> Rick was first on the scene at Chris' house that night.
> Then he called me later around 9pm to tell me what happened
> and see how I was doing (since I wasn't attending
> meetings and he knew what trouble I was up to). I met him up
> at the coffee house and we went to dinner after until
> midnight talking about my struggles and my failures. He
> encouraged me to get back on track, to not give up, to keep
> fighting - with tough love. We met up or talked everyday
> after that for a couple weeks to make sure I was ok and back
> on track. He used to tease me that "I only called him
> when I wanted to kill myself" so I started calling him
> more when things were going good. I firmly believe that if
> it wasn't for his help back in late January that I would
> be dead or in jail right now and I thanked him for that many
> times. I wish I could thank him one last time for
> everything.
>
> Sincerely,
> Steve Fogel
 

Every time I look at my kitchen, I think of your
> dear brother.  Actually, every time I look at the
> purple wall behind this computer (on my dining room wall), I
> think of your brother saying "You and I aren't
> talking right now.  Barney exploded all over your
> dining room wall."  He was NOT happy about
> painting the one wall purple and the other walls cream.
>  However, he convinced me that we should paint the
> dining room wall purple and the living room caramel, and not
> the other way around.  The idea of caramel being a
> "welcoming color" and the purple drawing you into
> the house was his.  I do feel welcomed and drawn into
> the house every time I come in.  God bless the Jewish
> carpenter who played such a huge part in making this house a
> home for us.

 

Remember when we'd play in the yard

and stay up all night just playin' cards

When I had a bad day, you'd make me laugh

At times it felt you were my "other half"

It hurts me to know what you've gone through

But the past few years, I have been so PROUD of you.

Why you did what you did, is still unclear

It's not the same without you here

I'm so sad I won't see your smilin' face

But I know you're in a better place

I love you so much, you just don't know

You'll always be "My Little Bro" !!!