Christmas 2022 with The Family Fold

Merry Christmas with Love from The Family Fold! We hope you enjoy our rendition of “Mary’s Boy Child” above.

Your prayers for Ricie are such a gift to us! We are thankful she can celebrate Christmas at home. Last year, she was in the hospital in Florida; and 2-years ago, she was in our local ER in excruciating pain. So this year is better, praise God! Please keep your prayers going for her.

We also thank The Lord that last week Ricie & Patrick celebrated their 40th Wedding Anniversary.

We have loved ones who are celebrating their first Christmas in Heaven.

Y’all may remember praying for our friend, Mary Anne, who crossed over last month. Her sister/best friend, Myrtle, took sick and went on to Heaven, too, this month. As it has always been, Mary Anne & Myrtle are together again like two peas in a pod!

Also, the daughter of The Family Fold’s late guitarist/vocalist, Jim Jewell, crossed over. I know Gail is rejoicing in Heaven with her daddy, our “Precious Jewell.”

Please say a prayer for all of their loved ones here on earth. Thank you!

On December 23rd, Maybelle celebrated 5-years of being The Family Fold’s beloved cat! She is so affectionate and smart. I believe she thinks she’s a little Doberman, haha!

Update from Ricie

“Happy Monday! Hope you all are doing well. I’m doing fine, just a little bit impatient for my progress. I’m still unable to walk. We went to Mayo Clinic two-weeks ago for outpatient visits, but I got admitted to their hospital during that time. I am happy to be back home now. The fractures in my back weren’t new and did not require surgery. They fitted me for a back brace to help with the healing and the pain. I’m hoping everyone has a great Christmas. I would be out and about seeing everybody, but it’s cold and flu season, and I can’t walk. Thank you all for praying for me. Don’t forget to keep on praying for me to get back to doing everything I want to do. Thanks! And thank You, Lord Jesus, for getting me this far and continuing to do more.” ~Ricie Eubanks

The outpatient became an inpatient…

Prayer Alert for Ricie… Although Mom had good followup appointments (Brain MRI & Infectious Disease) yesterday at Mayo Clinic, it was discovered that she has fractures in her spine. We spent the night in Mayo ER, and she was admitted to the Mayo Hospital in the wee hours of the morning. Please pray for her! She has excruciating back pain. Please pray for her medical team, and please pray for God to bring healing to her spine. Thank you!

“Thank You, Lord, For Your Blessings On Me”

Happy Thanksgiving from Mom & Me! We hope you enjoy this song we filmed for the holiday.

In a few days, we will travel to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. We will be there for a few days as Mom has several doctors’ appointments. She will have a brain MRI, a kidney ultrasound, see neurology, neurosurgery, and infectious disease. Please pray that she will get good reports from all of these people. And please pray that we will have a safe and smooth trip.

A few weeks ago when we were talking with someone from Mayo Clinic, he said they were all familiar with Mom and knew her name. He said that her case has been presented so many times and they have learned a lot from her… Wow!

This Thanksgiving we are especially grateful for how God is helping and healing Mom, and we are thankful for every prayer that you say for her. Please keep on praying!

We pray that you have a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend, and we thank The Lord for you.

Preparing for Florida travels… And thinking about that city where the roses never fade.

Greetings from Mom & me! We hope you’re doing well. We are preparing for our trip to Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida that will happen shortly after Thanksgiving. We will be there a few days for several followup appointments Mom has there. Please pray for us to have safe travels and for her to get good reports.

(And if you feel compelled to give a little gas money, we do continue to keep Mom’s fund open. The links are still on this website.)

A few weeks ago, some of our church friends gave us these beautiful roses.

Roses always make me think of one of my all-time favorite gospel songs about Heaven… “Where The Roses Never Fade.” Below you’ll find a rendition of this song with a dear friend of mine, Margaret Frost. She’s been in Heaven several years now, and another sweet friend of The Family Fold joined her there this month. Our little Mary Anne crossed over. Please especially remember her best friend/sister in your prayers, Myrtle.

Peace, prayers, & blessings as you get ready for the Thanksgiving holiday. Know that we are grateful for you!

“I am going to a city where the streets with gold are laid, where the tree of life is blooming, and the roses never fade. Here they bloom but for a season. Soon their beauty is decayed. But I am going to a city where the roses never fade.”

All Saints Day with The Family Fold and The Saint Paul’s Choir

On All Saints' Sunday in 2021, The Saint Paul's Choir performed "My Last Days On Earth." The melody was written by Bill Monroe, and Eryn Eubanks wrote lyrics for it. Although the song is originally bluegrass, Eryn arranged this version especially for organ and choir. Big thanks goes to Keith Shafer (organ), The Saint Paul's Choir, and Paul Roberts.

“I see my time is drawing nigh,
Soon I’ll bid this world goodbye;
For my Lord above is calling me home,
But I shall not travel alone.

In Heaven, forever I’ll live,
This life, I’ll gladly give;
I’ll fear not when my hour comes,
Though it be my last days on earth.

O, Death, where is thy victory?
Christ took away thy sting;
He is The Way, The Truth, The Life,
And He is why I sing!

In Heaven, forever I’ll live,
This life, I’ll gladly give;
I’ll fear not when my hour comes,
Though it be my last days on earth.”

We pray this song is a blessing to you this All Saints’ Day!

The latest from Ricie

I thought you would be glad to see a recent photo and Facebook post from Ricie. As she works on getting better, she is also working on learning a new musical instrument… The Bass Guitar! This instrument has hung on our wall for years, and we are glad for Mom to finally give it a chance. She has always loved her big upright bass the best. The video below, “Watson Allman,” is an old Family Fold favorite that features a fine bass solo by Ricie.

Please keep your prayers going for Mom, and please send an extra one today as she has an appointment with one of her doctors at Mayo Clinic. Thank you!

Audrey on Eryn’s walk with The Lord

Below is an article that one of my music students wrote for a school assignment. When asked if she could interview me for this assignment, I thought it would be for a music class or something like that. When I found out that music wasn’t the topic, I was absolutely honored that she thought of me for this assignment… Wow! Audrey may not be an official journalist with the press, but I think this is the nicest article anyone has written about me… ERYN

Eryn Eubanks is a famous musician who is well-known around the CSRA. She has been playing music since a very young age, and she displays her relationship with God through her music and talent. She has been teaching me music since I was young, and she has inspired me in my walk with Christ as well. She loves the Lord; her story and testimony has inspired me, and I hope it will inspire many others that hear it.

Eryn has been a Christian pretty much her whole life. She isn’t sure what age she was saved, but it was quite young. However, she remembers to this day, the first time she went to church. Sunday, April 24, 1988 was her first time going to church, and she was only ten days old. Her grandparents were the ones to take her, and they raised her in the church. They always took her to church every Sunday, because her parents were busy working most of the time. She always knew what salvation was, and she knew that Jesus was always with her. She has sensed God’s providence play throughout her whole life, in every aspect. From being born to a wonderful family, to her amazing church experiences, and by her bad situations turning into good ones, God’s providence has always made a way for her. She says that when any concert she does goes well, that is because of God, and otherwise, she can’t do anything without him.

Eryn always tries to spend time with God throughout the day. She goes by the saying “Pray without ceasing”. She always tries to glorify God through everything she does. She makes time to read devotionals and daily Bible passages, and she sings gospel songs anytime she gets the chance. She also enjoys mediating on scripture throughout the day, and falling asleep to the Christian radio station at night. Eryn also establishes God honoring priorities through all she does. She makes sure she goes by his word in all choices she makes. She still gets overwhelmed sometimes, but keeps going for God’s glory.

Eryn has two Scripture passages that have always meant a great deal to her. Isaiah 41:10 says, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” This verse helped her get through her open heart surgery. She found out she had to have the surgery on Wednesday, September 11, 2019. Her mom and dad ordered her flowers with that verse on a card during that time, and later that day, her husband gave her that exact same verse. The verse came to her one more time during the day, and this verse helped her get through this hard time. She saw it as a promise from God, and that promise was fulfilled with a successful surgery. Eryn also loves Phillipians 1:6, “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” This verse has helped her during her life right now, because her mom is having some health issues. It has also inspired her in her music career.

God has impacted her life in so many incredible ways. Just by the way he orchestrated her life, her rescue from death with her open heart surgery, and the Lord rescuing her dad from a deadly case of pneumonia when she was only eight years old. God had preserved her and her families life all these years, and he still does. She has many eye opening experiences which moved her close to God, including her surgery and when she broke her leg and couldn’t walk for six months. The Holy Spirit taught her how to keep a positive attitude during all situations. She hasn’t had any challenges with non-believers because she is a Christian. She had been very fortunate. Most people know that she is a Christian, but those who don’t believe have never given her a problem, which she considers to be a blessing.

Eryn’s walk with God and her career and life in music have brought many relationships into her life. During her homeschool experience, she got to build her relationship with God and her grandparents. She also got to meet her lady friends and her husband. Because public school was so bad, homeschool opened doors for her that have led to where and who she is today. When she was asked what advice she would give to a young person who wants to serve the Lord, she said that you should always stay close to him. Pray and give your heart to him on a daily basis. Make sure to know and study your Bible, and do your best to find people who teach the Bible properly. Serve the Lord in all you do and bring glory to him. Use your gifts, no matter what they are, to glorify him.

Eryn Eubanks’ life and testimony pulled at my heart strings and really helped me learn what a real relationship with the Lord looks like. She lives her life for him, and never gives up even in the hardest of situations. She has inspired me and helped me get where I am today in my music career and walk with Christ. She sees the world through God’s eyes and loves the Lord with all her heart. When she walks into the room, you can just feel the presence of God radiating off of her. She always has a smile on her face no matter the situation, because she knows God is always there, and I aspire to be just like her, and live for God in everything I do.

-Audrey Barefield (May 14, 2022)

In Memory of Tom Bock

The Family Fold is thinking of our friend, Tom Bock, and remembering his loved ones in prayer. Tom’s celebration of life service happened on September 25th, 2022.

We were blessed to meet him at Club Magnolia one Masters Week many years ago. Each April, we would be so glad to see him again because he would sit nearby for hours listening to our band and clapping after every song. He would tell us that he would rather be there at Club Magnolia taking in our music rather than out at the golf course. Wow! What a compliment to receive during golf’s biggest week! And whenever we saw him, I always had to sing for him “Somewhere Over The Rainbow.” That was his song.

We post this song in his honor, as well as a video from Club Magnolia to give you a sense of those happy times.

Thanks be unto our Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ, our Family Fold will see Tom Bock again, over the rainbow.

Mom’s home for her birthday!

Today is Mom’s birthday……. And she is celebrating with us at home in Augusta, Georgia! We are super thankful to God that she is well enough to be home, and of course she is very glad about it.

As y’all know, Mom was in Jacksonville, Florida for approx. 10-months for medical treatment at Mayo Clinic Hospital and Brooks Rehab Hospital. Our family would not have been able to make those biweekly roadtrips to be with her there without the donations y’all made for Mom. We cannot thank y’all enough for that!

We are not having to do those frequent trips now, but there will still be travels to Florida in our future. Mom has several follow up appointments at Mayo Clinic with her specialty doctors (neurology, infectious disease, and more), as well having the procedure there to remove her feeding tube. She also hopes to travel back to Brooks Rehab for periodic outpatient physical therapy there because they are just so top-notch with their methods, attitude, and resources. At home, Mom is on a lot of medicine to knock out infections, and those treatments are supposed to continue for at least a year. We also have various medical supplies to stay stocked up on since she uses them on a daily basis. So if you still feel compelled to donate to her from time to time, it will most definitely help her here at home, too.

But more than this, we ask that you PLEASE KEEP ON PRAYING for Mom! We praise God for what all He has done for her. It is so evident how He has helped her. But there’s still a lot that we are praying for God to bring to pass. Mom still needs to relearn how to walk and be able to take of herself again. We need God to keep on strengthening her, to defeat infections, to shield her from all harm, to take pain away, to keep on healing her and getting her better, to get her back to helping and serving others, to get her back to playing all of her musical instruments……. So please keep on praying for God to restore Mom’s health and life for His glory. Thank y’all for standing by us through all of this! We thank God for y’all.

Ricie still needs big prayers!

Mom has been in Brooks Rehab Hospital for 3-weeks now. She has done some things there that she has not been able to do in previous times. But, it has been over a year since she has been able to walk, and she has hit a plateau in her progress. If she does not improve soon, insurance wants her discharged. So please, PLEASE pray hard for her. She still needs strength and miracles. We really want her to have more time there at the rehab before she comes home. My slogan I say about her being there is, “The longer, the stronger.” Please continue to intercede for her. Thank you!

Mom is going to Brooks Rehab!

Mom always has my back! Let’s continue to have her back when it comes to our prayers for her. After 85-days in the Mayo Clinic Hospital, she is going to Brooks Rehab Hospital (Jacksonville, FL). Please continue to pray for The Lord to shield her from infections and setbacks, for her to get better & better, for all of her muscles to regain their strength, and for her to emerge from this long season of sickness she has endured. Thank y’all for caring and praying!

Ricie Update + Eryn’s 22nd Mandolin Anniversary

As y’all may know, Mom made it through her brain surgery, thank The Lord! ​The ongoing prayer is for the medicines they are giving Mom to work well for her so that all infection in her body will be defeated… So that her muscles will regain their strength and that she won’t have any more brain issues and problems like she has dealt with. So please, please, please continue to pray with us about this. We still need God to bless all of these efforts and bring about healing & restoration in Mom.

July 14th is my 22nd mandolin anniversary. Time has flown by, and I have had the most fun with this musical instrument. I celebrated today by giving a mandolin lesson to one of my teenage music students/friends. Many of the songs brought back wonderful memories. The tune that she chose to start with today was the first mandolin tune I ever played out of “The Fiddler’s Facebook” back when I was 12-years-old. I told her the way that came about was because I was so excited that the book had the sheet music for “Black Mountain Rag.” I flipped to that tune, looked at all of those notes & double-stops, and said to myself, “Oh! I can’t play that right now. Too hard for me! I guess I’ll play this one underneath it.” And that is how “Black Nag” got added to my repertoire, haha! I hope you enjoy this video of The Family Fold playing it. Mike always provides a solid rhythm guitar for my fingers to have fun dancing around, and Mom’s penny whistle always makes my mandolin sound better! Keep praying that she gets back to making me sound better soon.

Praise Report after Brain Surgery

Mom’s neurosurgeon just told me that her operation went very well… Praise God! Thank y’all so much for praying extra for her all throughout this day. 👏🏻💕🙏✝️💕 We didn’t know this until today when one of his coworkers told us, but Mom’s neurosurgeon was featured on a Netflix documentary. Click the video below to see a news clip about it…

Prayers for Mom’s upcoming brain surgery

Mom’s brain surgery will be this Thursday, July 7th, 2022 at The Mayo Clinic (Jacksonville, Florida). Please pray extra for her, for her doctors, and for all of her medical team. Please pray for God to keep Mom safe, and for this operation to be successful. Please pray that this surgery will solve a lot of her problems. Thank y’all so much for caring about her like you do!

Wishing you a wonderful 4th of July, and we hope you enjoy our rendition of “This Land Is Your Land.”

Ricie Prayer Update… Biopsy + Brain Surgery

Mom is having another biopsy of one of her spinal discs today. They are talking about her having brain surgery next week. Please keep Mom and her medical team “prayed up!”

Prayer Alert for Ricie + More “Summertime Tunes” for You

PRAYER ALERT… Mom is in a rougher shape. 😞 But, the doctors here at Mayo Clinic are reassessing, retesting many things today, and working hard to get to the bottom of these problems. Please keep praying for God’s guidance & answers, and for His healing & restoration for Mom. Thank you! #injesusnameamen

We hope you enjoy this second helpin’ of “Summertime Tunes” from The Family Fold. We just need Mom’s bass and Dad’s box to make us sound better! Please keep praying for Mom.

“Girl I Left Behind Me + Miss McLeod’s Reel”

“Sockeye”

“Angel Band”

“Cuckoo’s Nest + Soldier’s Joy”

Summertime Tunes - part 1

Mom is still in The Mayo Clinic Hospital, and I am on the road to visit with her. Please continue to pray for her. Your prayers are what we are most grateful for. We are thankful for those who have given to her fund. That has been a big help, especially since it’s been 8-months of her having medical care in Jacksonville, Florida. We’ll keep on doing whatever it takes to get her better. Meanwhile, we hope you enjoy the latest tunes uploaded to our YouTube channel. (You’ll see it posted at the bottom.) Please keep praying for Mom to get back to playing music with us again!

Also, we are posting a photo of our “Precious Jewell.” He has been in Heaven 5-years now. Our Family Fold sure misses him and his one-of-a-kind music he brought to our band. One of my favorite things about Heaven is getting to play music again with my loved ones I’m missing here on earth… The music won’t stop or be postponed up there!

Thank you for your prayers for all of us. We send our gratitude, love, & prayers for you all, too.

Eryn Eubanks & The Family Fold play “Golden Slippers,” “Poor People of Paris,” “Fair & Tender Ladies,” and “Blackberry Blossom.”

June 14th with The Family Fold

On this date 14-years ago, The Family Fold hosted our first music festival benefiting Lynndale, Inc. in 2008. Time has flown by, and God has blessed us with a lot of fun! We pray to Him to get back to all of these musical events.

Mom is having a PET scan…

Mom is having a PET scan today. Please keep on praying for her healing. Thanks!