Rhett's 16th

This past weekend was spent in Houston, celebrating my SonShine’s 18th birthday:

In just two short months, my Angel Girl will turn 16.
These are huge milestones and fun, momentous occasions!
It’s hard to believe that my sweet, little baby boy can now be drafted and would proudly serve our country.

It’s tough to envision my delicate, tiny baby girl behind the wheel and in the driver’s seat.

The only thing more difficult to imagine is them NOT.
NOT turning 18 and NOT receiving that Selective Service letter, NOT growing into a special, strong, and significant young man in this world. NOT turning 16 and NOT taking that nerve-wracking driver’s test, NOT tasting the beginnings of independence in this world.
I simply can not fathom NOT doing these big things with my precious kids.
Our sweet friends are facing just such a difficult, bittersweet day. On July 5th, one of their angels, Rhett, should be celebrating his 16th birthday, but he is not. They should be standing in ridiculous lines at TXDOT, teasing him about smiling for the camera, getting him his very first truck, taking pictures of his contagious grin while he enjoys his day, and commenting on what a spectacular young man he is becoming right before their eyes.  His big brother should be handing out advice on high school and driving and girls.  His little sister should be riding to school with him, messing with his radio, and giving him a hard time just because it is so fun to do so.
They should be doing these things with Rhett and so much more.  But they are not.
They are not doing these big things with Rhett because he was taken from this world far too soon. Far, far too soon!
I am not sure how they will make it through July 5th. With the same faith, grace, love and devotion that they’ve illustrated every other single day since December 28th, I am sure. I will not pretend to understand what they feel as Rhett’s 16th birthday approaches.  I can not comprehend how deeply they miss him nor how desperately they want to hold him and hug him on his special day.  I can not begin to grasp the emptiness that July 5th will bring their family.
But, I also can not pass up the opportunity to celebrate such a beautiful, albeit brief, life.  Rhett will forever stay 15.  And yet, we can still honor him on a day that will be a reminder of a bright student, a passionate athlete, a loyal friend, a shining light, and a hugely loved, profoundly missed young man.
So, here is what I need…
First, I am asking everyone I know – THAT MEANS YOU – to give $16 in honor of Rhett’s 16th birthday to his educational scholarship:  THE RHETT HERING REVOLUTION SCHOLARSHIP.

Rhett was a fun, spirited, friendly student-athlete who touched every classmate, teacher, neighbor, and friend who was blessed to know him.  His scholarship continues to bless others with his goodness and spirit.  Facebook claims that I have 1008 friends.  I think that is overstating it quite a bit, but I do think I have at least 250 friends out there, and if each of them finds 3 more friends then we will reach my goal of 1000, $16 donations before his birthday on July 5th.

To make your donation, either click here to send your $16 through GoFundMe, or mail your $16 check to The Rhett Hering Revolution Scholarship at this address:
McGregor High School
c/o Karen Tucker
P. O. Box 356
McGregor, Texas 76657
Secondly, I am auctioning off a special quilt that I made just for Rhett’s 16th:

Now, Rhett was an Aggie fan:

BUT he and his family have also been a huge support to Coach and our family through the years, especially during our time in Waco when we lived closer to one another and our boys played baseball together.  Furthermore, I have it on very good authority that they also love the Bears.  And seeing as how I have absolutely ZERO maroon but lots and lots of green and gold, I’ve created a Baylor Bear Log Cabin combo quilt that is open for bidding on eBay:

The quilt measures approximately 78″ x 102″ and is perfect for a full or queen sized bed, a stadium blanket, or snuggling on the couch for a movie or a ballgame.  There are 35, 12″x12″ blocks:  18 are BU t-shirt panels and 17 are traditional log cabin patterns.  I pieced the log cabins using a brown center and a wide variety of greens and golds for the logs to give it a unique and “scrappy” feel.  I machine pieced the top and am having it professionally machine quilted by Ann Olson of Ann’s Quilt N’Stuff in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.
Please take a look at the quilt on eBay, share this information and the auction with your friends, and be sure to pause along the way to send your $16 to celebrate that Rhett’s 16th.
Then go hug your loved ones extra tight.  Smother them with kisses, even if they fuss and fight and resist.  Make everyday with them a big one…one in which they know how treasured and adored and loved they are in every single moment.
Because every day together is a gift!

With hugs and love,
Ashli
PS:  Please, please, please leave a comment on this post with your name when you submit your $16 donation so that we have a running list of how close we are to my goal of 1000 gifts!!