“The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree is the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.” ~Burton Hill Finally with a little help from my youngest grandkids, I got my tree decorated. Isn’t that the way of it? The ones old enough to be real help stop wanting to help with things like this while the little ones who …
Christmas Contest and Stories
It might be sixty-five degrees outside here in Kentucky, but it is December. Christmas is on the way. And one of the best things about Christmas is the spirit of giving. Gifts, gifts and more gifts. I’m getting on board the gift giving train by having a Christmas giveaway. st prize is a pair of these fun bookends, winner’s choice …
Homecoming Smiles
“Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose.” Goshen had a great 200th birthday celebration today. Our church was overflowing, something that hasn’t happened our way for a long time. A lot of people who grew up in the church came back to celebrate and remember …
If I Knew Then What I Want to Know Now
My aunt, grandfather, mother, father, and sisters. I was taking the picture. Other things may change us, but we start and end with the family. ~Anthony Brandt Today is my grandfather’s birth date. If I’ve done the math right, John Lewis Houchin was born in 1871 on September 23. Around that year anyway. He was one of four sons. I …
Angel Sister and Mom
Eveyln on the left, Mom on the right This is my mom and her older sister taken in front of the house where she grew up. I’m guessing Mom is maybe 16 or 17 here. For those of you who have read my book, Angel Sister, here are the two real people that became my characters, Kate and Evangeline. Mom didn’t …
Scenting the Trail to Better Scenes
Do you have a favorite flower? I have a hard time picking one favorite, but the peony is definitely in my top ten. Their lush blooms, their spicy smell, their faithful, every year blooms are three of the reasons. And another is the memories. My aunt had two peony bushes in her yard when I was a kid. My mom …
Moments in Time
Today while I was walking I got to thinking about how I remember odd moments in my life. I’m sure you do too. Of course we all have those universal moments we remember. Moments of tragedy or world changing events so intense that we remember exactly what we were doing when we got the news. The bombing of Pearl Harbor. …