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Part 5 If Oak Trees Could Talk

17 Jun

Part 5  If Oak Trees Could Talk

If Oak Trees Could Talk! Inspirational Romance/Suspense

If Oak Trees Could Talk!
Inspirational Romance/Suspense

Thank you once again for taking the time to listen to my Video Blogs or reading along with my book If Oak Trees Could Talk!

I’ve really enjoyed doing the Video Blogs as this is a totally new experience for me!   However I feel that to make life exciting and to follow my dreams of being a writer, I have to keep stretching and coming out of my comfort zone! 

 I hope that these blogs will encourage you to step out and follow your dreams as well!

 

Chapter 2

A Momma’s Love

“There was never any one who encouraged me like my Momma did.  I recall that she once had this old straw broom that she swept the floors with.  There was barely any straw left on one side where she swept so much.  This was my chance to do something special for my Momma. I took some new straw, a piece of bailing wire, and a new hoe handle that I bought with money that I earned myself at Harper’s Hardware Store. I made my Momma a brand new broom.  I thought I had done a pretty good job on it.  The smile on my Momma’s face made me swell with pride when I presented her with her new broom.   Every time my Momma would sweep the floors with the broom, she would sing. I thought she seemed to smile more after that.   I was so encouraged by Momma’s smiles that I made making brooms my life’s profession.   Although it was not a glamorous profession, this talent made me a nice living.  I built brooms and sold them to Mr. Harper to put in his hardware store along with many other hardware stores throughout these United States.  I eventually took over our local Hardware Store after Mr. Harper died! Nah…it wasn’t glamorous or anything, but I was able to make a nice living for me and my Helen and little Amelia. I sure hope, like my Momma, that I was able to help a few folk along the way.  What more can you expect to do in a life old friend? Nothing more I reckon.”

“Old friend does that old swing still hang from your longest limb?  I was so happy when Dad hung that old swing up for me.  I think I was probably about eight, no maybe nine when he hung it up there for me. Do you remember that I raced home every day to swing?  I tried to make it my goal to go higher every day than I did the day before! Do you remember when I jumped out of that silly swing and about broke my fool neck?  Fortunately instead of my neck being broken, it was only my left arm.  I recall it was only a few days before school was out. That summer was one of the longest summers of my life.  I couldn’t go swimming or anything, and darn it, if my arm didn’t drive me crazy with its itching that could not be scratched because of that hot and heavy cast.  Well I said it was one of the longest summers, but it wasn’t all bad.  I seem to recall that I met my little darling Helen during that summer.”

Henry yawned as his thoughts began to run together and his eyes grew heavy.  Sleep was eminent but yet he tried to cram all that he could remember into a safe place in his heart where he could pull it out when he needed to place another piece of his puzzled life together.  He thought of his sweet little Amelia.  How she loved that swing, probably as much as Henry did when he was a child.  He pushed her for hours when she was a little girl and they talked and talked about what they both were going to be when they grew up.  Henry was of a mind that he was never going to grow old, for when his Helen was by his side, he always felt like that little nine year old boy.  He and Helen would romp and run and play with Amelia just like children.  Sometimes she acted older than her parents did, but they had a wonderful life full of laughter and love.  This was a life that Henry was determined to find again.  Maybe with the Oak trees help he could figure out how to get their lives back.

“Helen Elaine Meyers is her name.” Henry whispered with a smile.  “Do you know her? She and her family moved into the old Honeycutt house down the street.   She’s sure a pretty little thing isn’t she old friend?  I was just thinking of that Helen Meyers down the street. I bet she would really love my swing. What do you think? Yep she would love it.  I wouldn’t push her very high though.  I wouldn’t want to make her afraid of heights.  Can I tell you a secret that nobody else knows?  I think I’ll probably marry that little pigtailed, blue eyed girl one of these days.  Yep, I know that I’m only nine years old, but when I am older I’m going to marry that sweet gal if she’ll have me.   You just wait and see!”

Henry smiled mischievously as he told his old friend good night. “Talk with you in the morning.” Henry mumbled as a peaceful sleep came to him for the first time in weeks and he held his Helen as tight as he could to prevent her from ever leaving.

Thank you again for “Tuning in!”  I hope that you are enjoying the story of If Oak Trees Could Talk!  I also hope that you will subscribe to my  Youtube Videos as all of the Video blogs will be archived!  Until next time, have a wonderful week!

Part 4 If Oak Trees Could Talk

15 Jun

Part 4 If Oak Trees Could Talk.

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Part 4 If Oak Trees Could Talk

15 Jun

Part 4 If Oak Trees Could Talk

If Oak Trees Could Talk! Inspirational Romance/Suspense

If Oak Trees Could Talk!
Inspirational Romance/Suspense

 

Hello Everyone!  I’m so glad that you chose to take the time to join me again either to read or to listen today for

 Part 4 If Oak Trees Could Talk! 

I have just finished doing a local  Art show and a book signing event this past weekend of all my books!  I love getting out and meeting new friends!  I am doing this video blog in hopes of gaining new friends as well! 

 

Chapter 2

 

A Momma’s love!

As Henry lay upon his bed holding his precious Helen, she quickly drifted off to sleep.  Henry too should have been sound asleep by now especially after taking his medication, but he began to think of his daughter Amelia and then his little precious mother.  Suddenly tears filled Henry’s eyes as he once again visited the old Oak tree.

“Why should I even want to remember my Momma’s funeral?”  Henry questioned.  “I would much rather remember how loving and kind she was. It makes me sad that I can hardly remember what she looked like.  It’s been so long since she passed.  I remember she always smelled like vanilla, or lemon or one of those spices.  Bless her heart she probably had no choice as she lived her life in the kitchen cooking for folk.  I remember she was usually the first one to take food over to a neighbor if they needed something.  She was a Godly woman, she truly loved everyone.  I don’t recall her ever saying an unkind word about anybody.  These are the things old friend that I want to remember. Not the pain of my heart shattering into what felt like a million pieces when she left us.

Do you know what I remember old friend? One time I fell and scraped both of my knees up so badly that they bled and bled.   Every time I would bend them they bled even more.  My dear Momma carried me around for probably a week, with my Dad telling her all the while to let me down and let me grow up.  She took a lot because of me and my brother Gerald.  Gerald, I wonder where he is? I remember folks kept telling me to get her a wheelchair when she got so weak, but I insisted on carrying her where she wanted to go.  I guess it was because she carried me.  Anyway, yes old friend, I remember when we put my Momma in the ground, right underneath one of your outstretched branches.  God love her heart.  I ached all over with pain of missing her.  Yep, I came running to you over and over again just like I had always done. I was heartbroken and didn’t know how to deal with my Momma’s passing away. Do you know what old friend? I think I’ve always come to you because you’ve always been like my Momma.  You never done anything but listen to me regardless of what trouble I got myself into.  I always found comfort by telling you my thoughts when I was hurting.  It felt almost like the kind of comfort that my Momma gave me when I scraped my knees.  After we buried her beside you, I sort of felt like she was there every time I came to you.”

Thanks again for “Tuning in!” I would love to hear from you!  You can either contact me through my website http://www.covenantessentials.com/  or simply  comment after you watch the Youtube Videos of If Oak Trees Could Talk! Until next time, have a great week!

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Part 3 If Oak Trees Could Talk

3 Jun

Part 3 If Oak Trees Could Talk.

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Part 3 If Oak Trees Could Talk

3 Jun

Part 3 If Oak Trees Could Talk

  Hello Everyone, Welcome back to Part 3 If Oak Trees Could Talk!

I am excited about the response that I’ve received so far from this book and video blog! I feel as though I am sitting across from an old friend, sipping coffee and just having a nice visit!  My hope is that you will feel the same way!  I hope that you will continue to listen or read along! 

Also check out DIY Mama for other blogs and DIY recipes!  Have a wonderful day!

“Inspiring One Dreamer at a Time!”


Part 3 If Oak Trees Could Talk
  Chapter 1 Henry William Tyler Normally when Henry was given his medication, sleep came to him quickly, however his mind continued to revisit his dear old friend and he felt exhilarated because he was able to remember the entire fireworks event from his early boyhood.  He was anxious to find out what other events the old Oak tree could help him with.  What other fragmented pieces of the puzzle of his life could she help him put together? He wanted to see and talk to his dear sweet Helen.   He wanted to let her know that he remembered a whole event in his life and that regardless of what memories came and went, that the memory of their lives together had not gone as so many other memories had.  Henry knew that Helen had been hurt by his memory loss maybe more than he had been, but he was determined that he would regain it back. He and Helen would go home where they belonged.

Henry and Helen were residents of the Glenview Residential Home for the “Elderly”.  The home served the small rural community of Mason Creek’s elderly and handicapped.  The home came fully staffed with a couple of on-call doctors and nurses.  Helen actually came to live here about six months before Henry came.  She had fallen and broken her hip, which was tragic enough because of her age, but as she had to undergo surgery to repair it, Helen then had a mild stroke.  The stroke left her partially paralyzed on her left side.  She could walk with a walker and was left with a slight slur to her speech.  What was ironic was that Helen’s mind was still quick as a whip.  Henry on the other hand came to live at Glenview because frankly he could not live without Helen by his side.  After Helen had her accident and was placed in Glenview for what was supposed to be therapy, Henry could not handle what was happening to her.  Her accident was so traumatic to Henry that the only way he could deal with her being away from him was to go somewhere else in his mind.   The doctors basically diagnosed him with what they called functional amnesia due to a broken heart. They told Helen and Amelia that when Henry was ready to come back to them that he could.  However, once both Helen and Henry were placed in Glenview, Henry seemed to go further away.

As Henry thought about his boyhood and the event of the Fireworks he was anxious to share his memories with Helen, so he pulled his legs over to the side of his bed and searched for his bed slippers with his feet.  He was going to visit the love of his life, regardless of who liked it or disliked it.  Henry never understood why they would not let him and Helen live in the same room together.  He viewed it as a conspiracy to keep them apart and he was not going to just lie in his bed all the time and put up with it.  Helen felt the same way as Henry did.  She felt that if they were together they both could get well and get out of the Glenview Residential Home for the Elderly!  Both Helen and Henry felt as though they’ve aged more in the past six months than they had in their whole lives.  Both of them were determined to leave Glenview together and as soon as possible!                 It was as though Helen had read Henry’s mind somehow, for when Henry had made it from his room into the hallway; there stood his sweet Helen to meet him.  They quickly darted back into Henry’s room before they were busted by one of the nurses.  Henry helped Helen across the room with her walker.  She then climbed into his bed.  He gently lay beside her and wrapped his arms around her in a tight embrace. He never wanted to let her leave his side.  Henry softly whispered a promise to her while he pulled her even closer, “We will be whole again and when we are, we will have the life we had before Glenview!”

Again, I am so glad that you have chose to join me today!  I hope that you will return and “Tune in Next Time for If Oak Trees Could Talk!  

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Part 2 If Oak Trees Could Talk

27 May

Part 2 If Oak Trees Could Talk.

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Part 2 If Oak Trees Could Talk

27 May

Inspiring One Dreamer at a Time!

Welcome Back to part 2 of If Oak Trees Could Talk.

If Oak Trees Could Talk

  I am excited to be doing the Video blogs.  I am learning a lot, from time to time.. If you prefer to read along, simply scroll down to find the section of If Oak Trees Could Talk that I will be sharing in this blog!
I hope that you are enjoying the story so far, please check back often as I will be posting at least once or twice a week!   I will also be doing other blogs please check out DIY Mama!

If you missed Part 1 of If Oak Trees Could Talk, please look at the archives and click link!

VIDEO BLOG: https://youtu.be/LzmSXl-MB3I


Lets Continue:
                                                                

Chapter One

Henry William Tyler

There were many things that Henry routinely looked at and tried to remember over the course of his life.  He tried to preserve the events and happenings that meant the most to him and quickly weeded out those times that would tend only to gender him pain or regret. Henry’s fondest and most important memories were always centered on three huge things in his life.  The first being His one and only true love, Helen Elaine Meyers Tyler.  The second of course, was his lovely daughter Amelia and her family, and lastly something that may have seemed mighty strange to most people was Henry’s best friend.  Henry was of a mind that one could find friends in just about anything.   Although Henry found many friends and was loved and respected by many, his best friend was not a person but instead it was an old Oak tree.  Yep, again it might seem strange but the old Oak tree had been every bit as much of a friend to Henry as any person could’ve been to him.  The Oak tree loomed tall and strong over the entire side yard of what used to be Henry’s folk’s place. She stood like a huge giant and always had her limbs extended in what Henry felt was a welcoming embrace.  She participated in just about everything of any significance in Henry’s life.  Henry would tell you, that she probably knew more about him than any person that he had ever met, with the exception of maybe his wife Helen.  No one could keep a secret like the old Oak could.   She kept all of Henry’s secrets from the time he was a young boy until he was well, of a mature age.             Sometimes Henry found that he would have times when he couldn’t quiet remember things like he used to.  He knew that the stories were all there, but somehow he just couldn’t seem to put them all together to make them make sense to anybody.  Sometimes the stories never made sense to him either.  He would become frustrated that he couldn’t figure everything out. He struggled to know the difference between what was real and what were figments of his imagination. He couldn’t quite make all the pieces come together properly. It was as though he had all of the puzzle pieces, which were persons, events and important times in his life, but they all wouldn’t fit where Henry thought they should have fit.  When he would try to share his thoughts with someone, well frankly, he just couldn’t make them make sense.  However, the old Oak tree knew all there was to know about Henry and when he would go back to visit her in his mind, it seemed as though she helped him fit the pieces together where they made a clearer picture.  Then Henry would remember what he wanted to remember.

“Well here I am old friend back under your outstretched branches and I was wondering do you remember the day of that fire at the city square? I heard someone mention the Fourth of July was coming and it just set my mind to thinking about that big fire at the city square.  You say that I’m the one who started that fire?  Now let me see, what happened again on that Fourth of July?  Oh, now I seem to recall that Mr. Davis from over in Scioto County came to Mason Creek to Old man Harper’s hardware store.  I remember that he had a whole delivery truck full of fireworks that were illegal in our county, but I being a young lad, I was somewhat curious to see how they worked.  Well anyway, I climbed on the back of Mr. Davis’ truck and helped myself to a goodly supply of those fireworks.  Old friend, do you remember what happened next?  Yep, it definitely turned in to a Fourth of July celebration that Mason Creek wouldn’t forget for years to come.  How was I to know that those fireworks were real explosives?  I could’ve killed my fool self.  I remember after the fire was started that I ran to you like a scared rabbit.  I climbed up in your branches and hid until the sparks stopped flying and the smoke cleared.  I thought my Dad would thrash me a good one if he found out that it was me what started that fire, but nothing, not the first lick.  I was sure he and my Momma knew it was me.  What do you think?  Yep they knew… hee hee, and so did old man Harper.

“Hello Mr. Tyler, it’s time for your medicine.”  Nurse Wanda interrupted.  “What was so humorous?”  She probed.

“Oh it’s a secret between me and an old friend!”  Henry answered with a chuckle.

“It must have been some secret.”  Nurse Wanda replied.

Then suddenly silence filled the room as if Henry physically left, but he was not gone, he just seemed to fade away to some place no one could go except for him.

“Mr. Tyler?  Mr. Tyler?  Nurse Wanda continued to call, but to no avail.

Henry offered no more conversation as he stared forward with just the slightest grin upon his face.

“Well, I’ll be back later Mr. Tyler to check on you okay?  Maybe, you can tell me your dirty little secret then.”  Nurse Wanda teased as she left Henry alone in his nursing home room.

Please Tune in next time for Part 3 and the continuing story of If Oak Trees Could Talk!  I would love to hear from you if you have any comments!   covenantessentails@gmail.com    

Christine Gilliam Hornback’s Books

http://astore.amazon.com/authorartistm-20

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If Oak Trees Could Talk Videos

20 May

If Oak Trees Could Talk Videos.

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If Oak Trees Could Talk Videos

20 May
Inspiring one Dreamer at a time!

If Oak Trees Could Talk

05/18/2015

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  • Okay I know that this blog is probably turning a little different, okay maybe a little weird,  but at the suggestion of my dearest friend and husband, I am going to share my latest Inspirational Romance Novel with you!  Every week I will post a new portion of my book until I’ve finished it.  I hope that you will enjoy it.  If you miss a week, that portion or chapter will be archived.    As both  my husband and I were born in the Sixties we remembered when radio would play stories that if you wanted to hear the rest of the story,  they would say, “TUNE IN NEXT TIME!” Well my hope is that you will stayed tuned in until the end and that we can live out this story together!
    Also for those who may not have time to read it, I will also be posting the portion in Youtube videos!  So maybe you can take the time to listen!  Again they will be archived as well so that you can go in and listen to a portion if you happened to miss  a week for whatever reason…..say like LIFE Happens!
    What do I get it out of this you may ask?  Well, if you like the story, maybe you can recommend it to your friends and maybe you will look forward to others that I’ve written or will write in the future!  If you sign up to follow this blog, you will also get free insights and notices of my latest books.  I will also run contest for my followers to win my books or other things that I feel would be a great way to say I appreciate you!  I would love to hear from you as we go on this journey together!  Blessings and Happy Reading or Listening!
  • Book Cover for If Oak Trees Could Talk
  • https://www.youtube.com/embed/3F_aCHJ83Fs“>
    I know that this is all new, so if my videos are amateur I ask that you bare with me I learn how to do them.  Right now I just wanted to strike while the iron was hot, and I hope that you will enjoy going on this journey with me!
  • My Latest Inspirational Romance “If Oak Trees Could Talk” written by Christine Gilliam Hornback all images and copy are copyrighted 2014
  •    Okay, here we go with the first Video that will cover the following! I hope that you have a cup of coffee or tea and are ready to visit with Henry William Tyler in the small southern town of Mason Creek, Georgia!    Chapter 1   Henry William Tyler    
  • https://www.youtube.com/embed/eIVgRCmDumc“>
  •            His name was Henry William Tyler.  He was a true Southern gentleman in every sense of the word.  Born and raised in Mason Creek, Georgia he was well known and thought of rather highly by everyone who knew him in his small rural community.  He had a beautiful wife, daughter, son-and-law and two wonderful grandsons.  He had a life that was full of treasures that you could not put a price on. Henry’s Father was a Salesman who could sell a bathing suit to an Eskimo.  Folks say that the gift of being a salesman was definitely passed on to Henry.  Henry was kind and pleasant, had an impish smile that curved into deep dimples and bright eyes that danced whenever he would go into to one of his long drawn out stories.  He claimed his stories were all passed down from generation to generation. Most of the people who heard his stories thought that what Henry said must have been true based on how long it took him to tell them.   However, most of the folks in Mason Creek didn’t seem to mind how long Henry’s stories took to tell as everyday they would gather at Henry’s Hardware store to hear him tell the same stories over and over again.  They knew that every story, regardless if they heard a similar version of it before was going to be different the next time they heard it.   Henry knew how to embellish his tales.  He dressed them up much like bright rhinestones on a country western singer’s blazer. He caused them to dazzle and sparkle a little more with every telling of them.  Whether the story was really that long or if it was the southern drawl or perhaps the way Henry turned phrases was questionable, however again it didn’t much matter as it was free entertainment in a small town with not much else to do but shoot the breeze.    Every day, friends, family and even a few occasional strangers would gather around the counter at Henry’s hardware store when he would begin one of his elaborate tales.  They listened in anticipation of being thoroughly entertained, but not before they buried their arms down into a huge barrel full of ice cold soda pop and bought a greasy brown paper sack of Henry’s famous hot boiled peanuts.  They sipped their colas and ate their peanuts while listening to Henry and watching every lively expression!  When they left the Hardware store they usually walked away from the experience having bought several hardware items that they really didn’t have need of.  However, they also left his store with huge smiles on their faces and their heads shaking in disbelief as the stories got a little wilder with the telling of them!  Henry was of a senior age.  How senior I couldn’t really tell, but when Henry looked into the mirror, the person looking back at him sure told it all. It seemed strange to Henry though, because the man he saw in the mirror looked more like his Dad than it did himself.  What Henry saw was a tall thin man with white hair and white whiskers.  If he had not known better, Henry would’ve sworn that it was his father.  When Henry smiled, he could see slight wrinkles not quite as deep as the ones he remembered his Father having, but wrinkles none the less around the corners of his eyes.  He also saw his father’s forehead and nose, which were strong characteristic traits throughout the Tyler’s family tree. As Henry continued to gaze at his image in the mirror, he whispered softly to himself, “Yep with this forehead and this nose, I can be assured that I am indeed a Tyler. But when did I get to be so darn old?”  Henry questioned, “Where did the time fly off to?”

Christine Gilliam Hornback Author, Artist, Inspirational Speaker

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Sunrise or Sunset?

6 May

Sunrise or Sunset?.

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