MAY: BIRTHDAYS, GRADUATIONS, AND 2010 REUNION PLANNING...

1. BIRTHDAYS: There are a lot of May birthdays in this family! In fact, wouldn't it be nice to have a calendar that we could just access each month to see who in the fam has a birthday. I'll try to get one on this blog soon. But, in the meantime, your job will be to send Patti your family birthdays, just month and the day's number. So, Steddon would be 12/2 and Patti would be 12/3. Click here to send your birthday lists to Patti: transformedminds@comcast.net
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2. GRADUATIONS: send Patti your pics at the same e-mail! They'll be posted!
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3. REUNION PLANNING: Brenda is taking charge of the reservations for this year. Your decisions about next July need to be this July. Contact Brenda at ssikes1@neb.rr.com Jack and Robbie have graciously put down the advance monies needed for the "rec / gathering hall".

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Psalms 40:1-4

I waited patiently for the LORD;

And He inclined to me, and heard my cry.

He brought me up out of the pit of destruction,

out of the miry clay;

And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm.

And He put a new song in my mouth,

a song of praise to our God;

Many will see and fear,

And will trust in the LORD.
How blessed is the man (and woman)

who have made the LORD their trust..."

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AN AWARD AT THE PENTAGON!

Our own Brad Leonard will be honored today at the Pentagon. Brad will receive his award from a 3 Star General. The award?

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Civilian of the Quarter

for the Headquarters of the United States Air Force
Deputy Chief of Staff

for Logistics, Installations and Mission Support
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This means that in the midst of working with many much older than he is, Brad has shown a superior committment and service via his 32 year old servant heart. We're SO super proud of you, Brad!! Thank you for modeling your life after the chiefest of servants. Thank you, Vanessa, for going way over the top in supporting Brad in this appointment to DC for the past two years. We're praying for you both and your little family as you return to Colorado Springs this year.

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God Is Good All The Time

And All The Time God Is Good!

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GIGATTAATTGIG!

IT'S A GIRL!!!

Chloe Mae Sikes

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Born April 9, 2009
Weight: 8 lbs.
Height: 22 and ½ inches

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Parents: Jordan and Jacqueline

(Chloe's their first child!)

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Grandparents: Pops and Gigi

alias - Steve and Patti

(Chloe's their first grandchild!)

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Great-grandparents: Papa and Mama

alias - Jack and Robbie

(Chloe's their 32nd great-grandchild

and #77 descendant)

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CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL...INCLUDING...

Aunt Jessica

Uncle Caleb and Aunt Krista

Aunt Crystal

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It's a boy!

PARENTS: Shayne and Amy (Tabor) Rutherford

GRANDPARENTS: Gary and Donna Tabor

GREAT-GRANDPARENTS: Leon and Billie (Sikes) Tabor

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Rece Tabor Rutherford
Born February 28, 2009
8lbs 15oz
20 1/2"

Here is Raef enjoying being BIG BROTHER!

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU!

May He be taught the wisdom of God's ways!

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JUST A "HEADS UP"!

It will soon be time to begin the plans for our 2010 Sikes Reunion. We'll ask everyone to put down a minimal downpayment in about 3 months. We'll keep you posted! Thoughts are to reserve a time in 2010 toward the end of June...beginning of July... Any opinions? Send them to Steve and Patti at: transformedminds@comcast.net

BARRY AND LEON ON THE MEND...

I apologize for not keeping everyone informed about Barry and Leon's surgeries. Join me in praising God for them both being on the mend! I'm so thankful for Mama Robbie keeping us all connected the way that she does through her emails. Please know that each of you are prayed for and honored daily. Keep living for Jesus!

WE'VE LOST ANOTHER IN A LITTLE OVER A MONTH!

Orville James “Jim” Cox, age 85, of Elephant Butte, New Mexico, passed away on January 24, 2008, in Truth or Consequence, N.M, after a lengthy illness. Jim was born in Three Sands, Oklahoma in 1923 to Dee and Letha Cox. As a teenager, he left home to join the Army Air Force during the Second World War and won honors as an “expert marksman.” He later taught marksmanship to others in the service.
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Jim returned to civilian life after the war with an honorable discharge and worked toward a bachelor’s degree in education. It was during his studies that he met, and later married, Imogene Hurst. After teaching in Oklahoma, Jim and Imogene moved to New Mexico where he taught woodshop and coached various sports at Gallup High School.
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He enjoyed many years of teaching and coaching at the school and enjoyed even more the fond recollection of numerous stories about students he was blessed with having during his career. He always had a smile when recounting some of the antics of his students. One such student recently conveyed: “I have such fond memories of
Mr. Cox. He walked the halls of the high school with such presence that we all knew
we should toe the line!”
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A strong believer in education, Jim completed several courses beyond a master’s degree. He also received a “teacher of the year” award and, after his retirement, was honored by the Gallup Chamber of Commerce for his dedication to the education of his students.
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After the death of Imogene in 1972, he married Kathryn (Sikes) Lufkin in 1981. Kathryn was also an educator with the school district. Jim and Kathryn retired to Elephant Butte in 1992 where he was able to take full advantage of his avid interest in fishing. Although he missed Gallup, he often mentioned that there was hardly a body of water in that part of the state that you couldn’t throw a rock across. The lake at Elephant Butte was like an ocean compared to the water around Gallup.
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Jim continued his interest in woodworking well after retirement. If not fishing, he could usually be found working on a woodworking project in his shop where he was adept at fine cabinetry making.
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Jim is survived by his wife Kathryn, two sons (Jim and wife Maureen; and Steve and wife Nancy), a granddaughter (Kathleen Cox), a stepson (Paul Lufkin and wife Kim), two step-grandchildren (Tim and Christina Lufkin), a brother (Cameron Cox and wife Sally) and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his older sister (Lucille Bradshaw).
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There are no planned memorial services. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to the Veterans’ Memorial Park in Truth or Consequences or to Manuelito Navajo Children’s Home in Gallup.