~* Every One Needs a Hero*~

When just babies; we lived with our maternal grandmother until we were 5 and 7 years old....
Summers spent playing in the vegetable garden. Little child adventures hiding and playing in the old grape arbor or late in the evening as the the song of a Meadowlark in the distance. While resting after a long day of play underneath the shade of an Oak tree, or  listening to the melody the  wind would make through the White Pines down a country lane. During soft Summer nights sitting on the porch swing hearing the serenade of a Whippoorwill that would rival any New York or Boston Symphony, and no sound could be any sweeter. 




 You taught me how to throw and skip rocks into the small pond down the hill from the farm gate. How to bait a hook for my fishing pole....As I recall the distinct smell of Pine cones and the soft feel of Pine needles underneath our feet. Apple pie baking in the oven....the aroma of  cinnamon when Grandma would bake .... The scent of her prized and cherished roses drifting on the Summer breezes. The taste of green apples in June......Sitting in the garden eating red ripe tomatoes, feeling the dirt warmed from the sunshine between our toes.....Lying on our backs counting all the stars we could see up in the sky at night.--------That old red wagon we played on. The trip down the back steps of the basement!...I still recall how that among many more adventures must have been a close one---- how we must have given our Guardian Angels pause to stare in astonishment!




Grandma would can for the Winter months ahead, and we would sneak into the kitchen, somehow opening the canning jar of delicious sauerkraut, eating our fill until it seemed we would burst the buttons on our soft denim trousers. Winters seem so long in Kentucky and we spent them sledding over the hill by Grandma's house....that carhood just wasn't "fast" enough, no we were after speed,  oh, the thrill seekers we were!.....the clear vivid memory of  nearly flying over that hill and flying we nearly did, too!  When we traded that old carhood for the car's windshield! It isn't any wonder we were not injured or worse!  At Grandma's; Aunts, cousins, uncles, we all gathered together, and had such a fantastic time.....memories to last for a lifetime., indeed.




Those same memories remind me of Christmas time. of the laughter in the kitchen, every one talking, laughing at the same time. Gathering at the dinner table;some of the chairs were red, still I remember while there was also a long bench that could seat at least 25 people all at once on either side of the table if necessary. The same table that to, little children seemed so huge!---- O what a time that was. Those days now  gone though not forgotten.


Occasionally we see an aunt an uncle or a cousin, though we never visit.  So terribly sad that it is, when the family chain is broken, when a loved one is called Home to Heaven, it just isn't the same,  and even though it shouldn't be this way,  family doesn't seem to visit one another as they once did. I believe that our loved ones who have gone on Home would rather that we all remain close. Sometimes it does not seem real that Grandmother has been gone now for 26 years. Those years, how they have went by so quickly, now.
When mom met dad, we went to stay with mom. Now that our children are grown, I see the hurt in mom's eyes at times when we all leave and now realize how our leaving when we were children must have broke grandmother's heart,  yet we always tried to visit her as much as we possibly could.




 Throughout the years, my memories were filled of you always being there for me, always protective always watching after me. I don't ever remember you ever crying or complaining one time when we were disappointed because of some thing we wanted but maybe  didn't receive at the time.  Days were filled with school and plans for our futures, what we were going to do and be when we grew up.
 the studious type each evening; I spent in our backyard at the concrete table, I was busy dreaming and  writing of faraway places I wanted to visit. Loving animals,  I wanted to be a journalist; a writer and in a position to help others. You always loved sports, westerns, working with your hands.


As I  recall with vivid detail; the hours spent in our living room floor at our old homeplace watching Bonanza, The Virginian or High Chapperal. Westerns we could barely remember our uncles would watch while we lived with Grandmother. Our baby brother enjoyed playing with tonka toys, dozers, backhoes, loaders dumptrucks and today he does just that, He's a contractor, is president and ceo of a drilling and construction company. Quite proud of him we both are.


When you and I were in our  early teens, during the Summer months you often helped dad in his own construction business working so hard for a boy of only 8 to 16 years old. Then at times you would go visit a friend helping him at he and his wife's farm working just as hard there, too.  We often had talks about what we were going to do, places we would someday visit. Sometimes you struggled in school. I remember mom transferring us to another school due to the fact your teacher was extremely unprofessional and so derrogatory, devastatingly insulting to you....as well as some of the local area kids being downright vicious and mean to us,.


The only emotion I recall feeling at the time after hearing about what had been said to you, Anger was what I felt,......anger and disappointment that a teacher who was supposed to be an adult, the example....who was supposed to "Do unto others as You would have others do unto you"  those were the first words I saw when entering Mary Alice Jayne's 1st grade class, and I couldn't help but wonder why your teacher had been so cruel to you.....When you were such a great kid, always laughing never complaining never disrespectful to any one......


 When you were only 14 years old,  I remember you and dad had drove to town. I recall the day very well, because it was mom's birthday and the year was 1978.
I remember thinking it sure seemed like a long time that you and dad had been gone and in fact it was after 10:00pm when you did return. At the time we lived in a rural region of the county, about 7 miles from our old hometown. It was during a drive toward town to run an errand for mom, you and dad came upon a horrific accident. There had been a woman with a baby and small children in her car and a man and two young men in the other vehicle,  9 people altogether.


I recall Dad saying that you just wouldn't give up on those people......The steering wheel had been bent over the woman driving, one of the car's and with the strength of God's Mighty Angels behind you., You bent that steering wheel back into the dashboard with both hands, pulling the woman free from the car, then the little baby and the other children. By this time the local police and state police,  arrived on the scene demanding that you and dad stay away from the cars. Screaming at you and dad telling you the cars were going to explode to get back!


 Yet had you left the other people in the other car they would have surely died. Although sadly one of the men did pass away from the initial impact, there were still people severely injured in the car. You got the other two young men out of the burning car just moments before it exploded bursting into flames engulfing the entire vehicle and the other one as well. When you came home with dad that night, your clothing was so bloody, you were covered from your head to your feet in blood, yet you saved the lives of those people.


Then within a few years later you attempted to save the life of a man who had suffered a massive heart-attack. You and dad were together that night as well and he said you didn't want to give up on that man, you worked with him until the EMT's arrived and they said there was nothing more any one could do. You tried and did more than a lot could have or would have done., yet I know that it bothered you for many years afterward because you felt that you couldn't help that man.


When in the 7th grade you began playing Varsity football for our old school. You were big for your age and with the strength of Hercules it seemed. You became our school's star athlete; a Track star Champion, a  Running back, Fullback. From 7th grade until You graduated, You had the speed of a scatback some Sports announcers said in their radio broadcasts. In 1982 before your highschool graduation, You were named Mr Football, Mr County, Kentucky Conference Champion in Field and Track and Football.....




You lead the school 's Football Team in Total Yardage and Total Shut-outs when the opposing team did not gain even so much as one point. This was You and Your team's goal, to not allow any opposing team to make any score points during Your final year in highschool and this was accomplished of course because you were the star athlete.  Giving credit where credit is due., there were some fine atletes on the varsity football team without any doubt at all  however You were the Champion; a Star by far!!-------I recall nicknaming You.....and had Your jersey number on the back of a tee-shirt, this same tee,  I wore, reserved special only to wear to all your games----- and it stated that I was Your Sis. It brings a smile just remembering...




Indeed, I saved all the newspaper articles and clippings as well as other newspaper articles and our own school newspaper and booklet for the football team, I wanted to be a part of the school newspaper yet it seemed there was never any room on the school paper for another "writer hopeful".Yet I was simply content to collect all the news and reviews of your success, no one could have been any prouder. Many people had said you could be an NFL Candidate with the right backing.


After graduation; You were ready to select a college or university attending a university on a full football scholarship when once again you were insulted by some uncaring thoughtless teacher in reference to some of your grades. Strange these same individuals didn't seem to care or mind at all in the least at the time while you were leading the team to the Championships in field and track and football,  bringing prestige and honor., putting the school, the county and the town on the map! ---------Quite the contrary I say!!-----


During Your Senior Banquet in 1982; The local Veteran's Post Honored you with Heroism for your selfless brave act of saving the lives of all those people when you were but a child in 1978.-------- I've often wondered why it took so long?   You were presented with a plaque.....

Throughout the years, when I moved away from our hometown, traveling extensively to many different states, we have remained in touch and have always been close. Rather then continue to play football you chose to begin working in the construction and engineering field.
Land excavation with D-9 Bulldozers; earth movers as I have often referred those huge dozers, in logistics and drilling.

The father of three children now grown. Two daughters and a son. I don't think I have ever seen a better Dad that You are and have been to your children,  and under the circumstances., though your two marriages failed, you however did not fail your children, you have always been there for them. Yes while I may be prejudice, after all the same blood that flows through your veins, is flowing through mine....yet I have always been one to call things as I see them and the Truth shall stand when the world is on fire., Grandmother would always say and she also said, "Plain words are easy understood"-------

I always felt that You have a heart of  pure gold. Always quick to help others in need, a smile for others, always laughing, fun-loving, certainly Your kindness and caring has shown and speaks for itself.
A living testimony to what a wonderful person; a good decent loving caring man, father, brother, son You truly are......

You once asked me when would the hurt go away after being nearly crushed by past hurt and now the present hurt in your life.
You asked me for my advice......What do You do?

My Brother

This is the very best I can give you.....from my heart:


 We don't always have the answers to the why of some things in life....and yet I do know this,  there is the assurance that God has a GOOD plan for each of our lives who truly Love and serve Him.


God does not lie and He keeps every one of His Promises and His Word says: He will take a terrible situation that the old adversary has meant for our harm and He will turn it around and work it all out for our Good, Amen!?---------My Brother; my Hero, simply there are those who wish they were only but half the person You are, how Good would they truly be and how well off would they be!?-------- In the midst of Your pain, do not forget, Our God has not abandoned you!.....He will go with you through the fire and not one hair on your head shall be singed....This too shall pass.....For storms do not last and once again the sun will be shining!

Remember; there are those in life who mean well....they have good intentions, not all people are horrible, terrible., for there is still some Good people.....and I still believe in the Power of Love.....I believe it is stronger than any force on earth....it can overcome evil with its Goodness......There are those kind loving people who seek to help others, who want to be a blessing, do well, succeed in life and or strive to do so....... There are those who Care!


Just be ready and able to distinguish the Good from the bad, the wheat from the tares.....While there is good., there are also those who would try to deceive you..... they  attempt to hide behind a facade.....

Always maintain a healthy positive balance in your life and know the difference...


 When you stand up for what you believe in.......

there are going to be those who respect you......who like you

Then, there are going to be those who hate and envy you because of what you stand for.......


There are those who have now accused you of a horrible thing, when in my heart I know better.....God is Loving,  just and righteous, He will not see His children be destroyed! ............God will see you through------do not fret or worry even concern yourself for their evil.......for even that old adversary satan the devil has but a limited time; a season for which to do his evil.......he will use others., to try to bring ruination upon our lives, simply because  he knows envy, inferiority, low self-esteem, malicious jealousy is within their hearts to begin with....those who abuse others, attempt to lie, oppress, accuse and bring havoc, pain and suffering upon others----------- Always remember., we all shall reap what we sew

Let's make certain ours is a GOOD harvest in the end........

Keep on living Your life and doing Good as You always have done


Trust in The Lord my Brother....hold fast to His precepts, as I pray for your sustaining Faith  strength and wisdom and He will keep You upon the right path..-------rest assured, He will vindicate You!


I Love you my Brother.......


tomorrow is a new day!


Blessings always~

~An Old-fashioned Christmas in the Mountains~

       It's cold here in the mountains of Kentucky tonight.  It's been a while since my last post....been a little sidetracked due to appointments and other things that seem to come up.
 I just came inside to check on a roast I've had in the oven for the past couple hrs. Should be done and ready to serve! I can't wait....I'm famished!-----Been having a small problem with some coyotes tonight, they seem to be gathering closer. Since the weather is beginning to get colder now, I've been seeing more animals closer to the cabin. I've been trying to keep my dogs closer to home. As I was walking up the steps to the porch I noticed the light in my Nativity. We just finished the 4x 10 manger yesterday evening and are planning to work on Mr. and Mrs. Snowman before Christmas.

With all the decorations, I've had for several years now, I placed them in different locations here at my home.   Every where you look, Christmas is in the air! Isn't that nice!? Though it would seem there are some who are not as excited to celebrate Christmas. For various reasons I suppose. Tonight my mind and heart is filled with thoughts of my family and of friends near and far. What Christmas really means for me. Just the other day while shopping for a 2nd smaller tree for my  cabin here in the mountains, I overheard someone say they hated Christmas & wished the holidays were over soon.

    It seemed sad really, the question remained, why would someone hate Christmas...how could any one hate Christmas for that matter? What could be so terrible about Christmas?! Nothing as far as this blogger is concerned. Everything about Christmas is wonderful!---- Christmas is a time for Romance a time for appreciation, for Love for gathering of family and of friends, gift giving, and it doesn't have to be the most expensive gift....there is the joy of Christmas caroling, the Christmas movies, Children's laughter, for counting one's blessings. Personally I have made it more than a "Family Tradition" to appreciate all the blessing God has bestowed upon me, upon my family. To try not to take for granted the most important people and things in my life., to appreciate all the goodness of God.  I am thankful; grateful that He sent His Only begotten son; The Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; a King of all Kings, yet He came as a little babe, not in riches or glory but in humility in a manger in the City of David, in Bethlehem. Wisemen followed a star and today wise men are still following, searching, seeking out, The Savior.


With all the stress people feel during this time of the year, the pressure to buy this or that, pressure to over- spend in an already compromised economy, with all this rushing around, With the retail prices the bargains the deals,  have we forgotten what Christmas is really all about? When people should be relaxing enjoying the peace, the joy of this beautiful Season. Whatever happened to an Old-fashioned Christmas? That's what I have here in the mountains. Friends and neighbors gather together for a huge bon-fire a few days before Christmas, we make homemade Chili, peanutbutter sandwiches, Hotdogs with homemade sauce.  We go for an old-fashioned hayride throughout the valley. then, we roast marshmellows, smores. Sending out a few Christmas greeting cards, buying a few gifts for family and a friend or two. Having a small turkey breast and or a ham or maybe both for dinner with all the trimmings included. With leftovers to enjoy for at least 3 more days!

I do not do well with stress and I seem to deal with it enough throughout the year, therefore during Christmas a most Special Season, I try my very best to relax.....enjoy the season remembering it for what it truly is; a time for Celebration...to appreciate the very 1st Christmas Gift; The Lord and Savior Jesus Christ...a time for gathering with family and friends in appreciation.

I hope this Christmas, it's meaning is a little clearer for all of us.

May Yours be a Blessed and most Joyous one.

Blessings always~