Sun, March 22nd, 2009
SPRING’S SPLENDOR IN THE SOUTH!

 MARCH…OUT LIKE A LAMB!

Posted by Christina Rickey at 08:58 | Permalink | 1 Comment

Sun, March 1st, 2009
DIXIE’S WINTER WONDERLAND…

 BREATHTAKING!

 MARCH…IN LIKE A LION…

Posted by Christina Rickey at 08:53 | Permalink | 0 Comments

Sat, November 29th, 2008
HOLIDAY BLITZ

The start of the holiday season in the United States always includes a day full of eating turkey and homemade pumpkins pies, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Santa arriving at the mall, black Friday for shoppers, and the lighting of downtown Christmas displays.  For football fans in Alabama, the holiday season begins with the Iron Bowl.   Auburn University vs. The University of Alabama is one of the oldest and strongest football rivalries in the country.  The Auburn/Alabama football game is discussed, dissected, and brings bragging rights to the winner for the entire year.  For a few short hours on the last Saturday of November, the malls will be quiet, Hwy 280 empty, and cell phones will stop ringing.  As an Auburn alumni mom, I will be wearing the orange and blue, and cheering for the Tigers.  With a 5-6 record, Auburn has had a very mediocre season, to say the least.  However, a win would be sweet especially with the undefeated Tide gunning for a win after losing six Iron Bowls.  I know in my profession, I should be unbiased on who I want to win, but if there really is a Santa, now is the time for him to make all Tiger fans wishes and dreams come true.  War Eagle!!!! 

Posted by Christina Rickey at 02:12 | Permalink | 0 Comments

Tue, October 21st, 2008
SUCCESSFUL BUDDY WALK

On Sunday, October 19, 2008, I had the privilege to participate in the annual Buddy Walk for PADS, Parent Advocates Down Syndrome of the National Down Syndrome Society.  This annual event is to raise money for the Adult Down Syndrome Clinic at UAB.  The clinic, only the second of its kind in the nation, offers comprehensive care and specialty care for adults with down syndrome.  As mentioned in a previous blog, my beautiful granddaughter Emily was born with down syndrome.  Although she will not be eligible to use the UAB clinic until she is 12, it is good to know that Birmingham and UAB are in the forefront with medical care and assistance for persons with down syndrome.  The Parent Advocates Down Syndrome group embraces one vision - “a world for individuals with down syndrome where limitless potential is accepted, expected, and embraced.  PADS believe these special people can and will succeed in our communities”.  Congratulations to the Laps for Little Bit Team in honor of Emily who raised over $2,000 for this worthy cause.        

Posted by Christina Rickey at 02:50 | Permalink | 0 Comments

Sat, August 30th, 2008
WHERE DID EVERYBODY GO?

Hey, where are y’all!   The malls are empty, the neighborhood pool is quiet, the parks are disserted, and the only traffic seems to be heading to…  It must be the last Saturday of August in the South and opening day for the college football season.  Over 7 ½ months have passed since the end of last year’s football season.  Since then, nothing has been silenced.  The speculation continued through the end of winter, spring and summer until this day.  The all sport radio stations have been talking for months about: who blew the big game last season or won the big one; which team is the best or overrated; who has the best offense or defense; what conference is the toughest; what effect will changes in coaching staffs create; and who is in the Heismann running?  Speculation!  Speculation!  Speculation!  Football–the South’s other religion–a land of passionate, screaming, loyal fans.  It’s time to get out your orange and blue, crimson and white, or green and gold attire.  Put out the college flag, hang up the banner, dig out the pom poms, enact your crazy superstitions which have become your tradition, set the tivo, buy the beer, and let the tailgating begin.  Whether you’re Auburn, Alabama, or UAB, let it be known, “this is going to be your year”!  War Eagle!  Roll Tide!  Go Blazers!  Football season is here, it’s game day, and some will say the “best day of the year”! 

Posted by Christina Rickey at 01:43 | Permalink | 0 Comments

Mon, August 25th, 2008
RAINY DAYS AND MONDAYS

Posted by Christina Rickey at 07:36 | Permalink | 0 Comments

Thu, August 14th, 2008
TINY BLESSINGS

I started my day today like most.  I turned on CNN and listened to the news.  It was another day of negative housing and economy news.  The reporter said foreclosures are at an all time high, mortgages are harder to get, and the housing market is going through a period of adjustment.  I thought here we go again!  As a real estate broker, I would be lying if I said the state of today’s real estate market did not concern me.  I decided to take the day off and spend some time with my two local granddaughters, Margaret and Emily.  Both are beautiful, fun, and amazing beyond compare; and I cherish the opportunity of being their grandmother.  I can go on and on about Margaret with how smart she is, her fun-filled joy for life, and amazing personality.  I will spend another day and another blog focusing on Margaret’s many delights.  Today, however, I want to talk about baby Emily.  I remember the day Emily was born 18 months ago.  We were surprised to learn that day Emily was born challenged with Down Syndrome.  As a family we all shared our fears of the unknown.  My son, Craig, who I remember just recently as a rambunctious little boy, displayed tremendous maturity as a man and father that day.  It was amazing how he stepped up by assuring all of us everything would be ok!  I do believe God personally hand picks the parents for these beautiful children.  God certainly knew what he was doing when he picked Craig and his wife, Meg, to raise baby Emily.  Time has passed and Craig and Meg have done a great job helping Emily grow into a beautiful, happy, and adventurous toddler.  Emily brings joy to everyone who comes in contact with her.  She smiles, blows kisses, and waves when you enter a room.  I recently read something quite profound, “God puts Down Syndrome children on earth for a specific reason.  It is evident that God had a hand at work when you look at their faces and see all of the similarities.  Children and adults with Down Syndrome look like brothers and sisters and react that way when meeting each other for the first time.  How could that not be by design?”  I am told Emily is an angel, will never sin, and has a place in heaven.  You can see God’s blessings in her eyes.  I believe our family is on a rewarding journey with baby Emily.  She may take longer to learn to walk, talk, etc., but she will, and it will be on her timeline.  I will cherish every milestone, celebrate her accomplishments, and delight in her joy.  When the going gets tough in real estate, I will think of baby Emily assuring myself that all is right with the world!    

Posted by Christina Rickey at 07:29 | Permalink | 0 Comments

Fri, July 18th, 2008
HAWAIIAN VACATION BLOOPER!

I thought it would be fun to include something on the “Lighter Side” every now and then on my blog in addition to focusing on Birmingham, Alabama real estate.  Well, it is Friday!  Let’s have some fun and laugh about a vacation blooper. This blooper isn’t as bad as Clark Griswold’s with his family vacation to Wally World, but it is funny.  While vacationing in Hawaii several years ago, we visited both Oahu and Maui and enjoyed all the typical tourist activities: Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head, Waikiki, a luau, catamaran on the ocean, etc. While on Maui, a day trip to the 10,000 foot summit of the volcano, Mt. Haleakala was a must. The drive was beautiful and arriving at the top, the view of the island was great.  We parked the rental car and spent the rest of the day on foot exploring the top of the volcano and national park.  It was cool at the summit, about 30 degrees cooler than the coast.  With the end of daylight approaching and anticipating watching the sunset, we returned to our rental car only to discover, my husband couldn’t find the keys.  After checking pockets, bags, etc. we found them…locked inside the car on the floor next to the seat, and we were the last visitors at the summit.  “Great going Dad” was our three sons’ response.  This was before cell phones, so calling for assistance wasn’t an option. The temperature was really dropping as sunset approached.  As we began our hike down the mountain, a park ranger luckily drove up with a smile and laughingly said, “locked out”?   He assured us we weren’t the first and retrieved the car keys for us.  We enjoyed the sunset, laughed about Dad’s blunder and to this day, my husband is fondly reminded about the locked cars keys at Mt. Haleakala. 

Posted by Christina Rickey at 12:49 | Permalink | 0 Comments