MY DEAR BROTHER...thinking of you on what would have been your 51st Birthday, January 26. Is it one whole month already since we've been without you, sweet one? Can it be? We miss you so much. Mark Rhodes was not only my baby brother, he was a smiling sweet man who brought happiness to all who knew him. He played upright bass for The Rhodes Brothers Bluegrass Band and also in seven of the ten SOLD OUT stage productions of 'Always...Patsy Cline.' He loved playing pool and riding his Harley. Although he had asthma all his life, he still sang and played his music with such gusto! He was amazing for a self-taught musician, as all my brothers are. I am VERY proud of all of them. Mark will ALWAYS be remembered with much love and respected for his talent. Please keep my family in your prayers. God Bless You. IF TOMORROW STARTS WITHOUT ME If tomorrow starts without me, and I'm not there to see. If the sun should rise and find your eyes all filled with tears for me I wish so much you wouldn't cry the way you did today while thinking of the many things we didn't get to say. I know how much you love me, As much as I love you, and each time that you think of me, I know you'll miss me too; But when tomorrow starts without me, Please try to understand, that an angel came and called my name, And took me by the hand And said my place was ready, in heaven far above, And that I'd have to leave behind all those I dearly love. But as I turned to walk away, A tear fell from my eye, For all my life, I'd always thought, I didn't want to die. I had so much to live for, So much left yet to do, it seemed almost impossible that I was leaving you. I thought of all the yesterdays, the good ones and the bad, I thought of all that we had shared, and all the fun we had. If I could relive yesterday, just even for a while, I'd say good-bye and kiss you and maybe see you smile. But then I fully realized, that this could never be, for emptiness and memories, would take the place of me. And when I thought of worldly things I might miss come tomorrow, I thought of you, and when I did, my heart was filled with sorrow. But when I walked through heaven's gates, I felt so much at home. When God looked down and smiled at me, From His great golden throne, He said, "This is eternity, and all I've promised you." Today your life on earth is past, but here life starts anew. I promise no tomorrow, but today will always last, and since each day is the same way, there's no longing for the past. You have been so faithful, so trusting and so true. Though there were times you did some things, you knew you shouldn't do. But you have been forgiven, and now at last you're free. So won't you come and take my hand, and celebrate my life with me So when tomorrow starts without me, don't think we're far apart, for every time you think of me, I'm right here, in your heart. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NOT, HOW DID HE DIE, BUT HOW DID HE LIVE? Not how did he die, but how did he live? Not what did he gain, but what did he give? These are units to measure the worth Of a man as a man, regardless of birth. Not what was his church nor what was his creed? But had he befriended those really in need? Was he ever-ready with a word of good cheer To bring back a smile, to banish a tear? Not what did the picture in the newspaper say, But how many were sorry when he pased away. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ REST AND REWARD The Bible leaves no doubt that there is life after death. Humanity is created for eternity. The earthly life is but an overture, a prelude of reality to come. Blessed -- happy -- to be envied -- are the dead who 'die in the Lord.' They are people who, during their life, believed in Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord. When they exchange the temporal for the eternal, their work is done forever. Thy finally have rest. All the troubles and tensions of their earthly existence are behind them. They have arrived at their eternal destination. They are HOME! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please keep our family in your prayers, especially for my dear mother, who is the ROCK of our loving, close family. Thank you for each and every prayer. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~