Events 

Birth Announcement! 

Jerry and JoAnna Hines are proud to announce the arrival of Jasmine's new Colt on Saturday, April 22, 2006. His name is "The Sunshine Kid".  He's a beautiful, tall and thin, young fellow and is a "Rascal".  "Sunshine" is Brown (like his Mom) and has a white "Maple Leaf" blaze on his forehead.  He's healthy, fast and looks like a future "Derby Winner"!
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A Sad Day in North Carolina

This story is dedicated to my mother, Norma Hines. She passed away on Tuesday January 24, 2006 and her funeral was on Saturday January 28, 2006. She was 83 years old.
As with most funerals you see relatives, friends and neighbors that you have not seen in years. Mom's funeral was no different except that several other family members, friends and neighbors too had passed away in the past few years thus not as many people were in attendance.
I was always a Dad's Boy but Mom was always there for me.  She provided the love and discipline throughout most of my budding years.  She was a beautiful young wife and Mother. Her early pictures showed her good looks and I can see why my Dad was attracted to her. They married very young (then a Southern Custom) and shortly afterwords started their family which included my sister and me.  We were born in the War years of the 40's and were cared for mostly by Mom due to Dad being away in service.
 
They bought our first home in the early part of 1947.  It was a small four room house in the wonderful country area of North Carolina. That's where my sister and I grew up until we left home after completing High School. My career created a lot of geography between Mom, Dad and me and thus we were never as close as we were while I was growing up.
My Dad died in 1999 as the result of a massive stroke and my Mom continually grieved until now. Her last seven years resulted in ill health and being moved to a special care giving home where my sister works.  Mom's strongest desire was to join Dad in Heaven and on January 24th her wish was granted. Strangely enough my Dad also passed away on the 24th day of the month, March 24th, 1999 which happened to be my wedding anniversary.
Although my loss is a great one, Mom's passing was a joyful event.  She and Dad are once again together.
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EXTRA-EXTRA-EXTRA! 

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"MY MAN MURPH"

A GREAT RED IRISH SETTER

MURPH WAS BORN ON A FARM IN SOUTH CAROLINA IN APRIL OF 1993. THERE WERE SEVEN IN HIS LITTER. FROM THE VERY FIRST DAY THAT HE WALKED ON THE FLOWING GREEN GRASS HE FOLLOWED MY EVERY STEP AND SELECTED ME TO BE HIS " DAD ". AT SEVEN WEEKS OF AGE MURPH TRAVELLED ACROSS THE ENTIRE COUNTRY AND JOINED OUR FAMILY AT HIS NEW HOME IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. HE IMMEDIATELY TOOK CHARGE AND
WENT WITH HIS NEW MOM (MY WIFE) TO OBEDIENCE SCHOOL WHERE THEY BOTH GRADUATED WITH FLYING COLORS.
MURPH ADDOPTED RUFFIE OUR BEARDED COLLIE AS HIS NEWLY FOUND BEST FRIEND. THEY REMAINED " PARTNERS IN CRIME" FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS. HE LOVED TO PLAY BALL AND BELIEVE ME HE MADE SOME FANTASTIC CATCHES. HE ALSO ENJOYED GOING TO LOCAL LITTLE LEAGUE GAMES WHERE ALL THE KIDS AND PARENTS ADORED HIM. MURPH LIKED MOST PEOPLE EXCEPT FOR OUR LOCAL PRIEST AND OUR LOCAL HANDYMAN. HE JUST DID NOT APPEAR COMFORTABLE WITH EITHER OF THEM.
MURPH WAS MY PUPPY. I NEVER REFERRED TO HIM AS A DOG BUT ALWAYS AS A PUPPY. HE NEVER GREW UP AND WAS ALWAYS FULL OF LIFE AND VERY HAPPY. HE WAS DEFINTELY A MEMBER OF OUR FAMILY AND ADDED SO MUCH LOVE AND JOY. HE ENTERTAINED US WITH HIS ANTICS EVERY DAY.
WHILE BEING ON A VISIT TO OUR LOCAL VET HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CANINE LYMPHOMA (CANCER) AND SIXTY-THREE DAYS LATER PASSED AWAY WHILE SLEEPING AT OUR BEDROOM DOOR. HE WAS ONLY NINE YEARS OLD AND WE LOVED HIM SO MUCH. HE WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED AND HE WILL ALWAYS BE " MY MAN MURPH".

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