Wife, Mother, #1 Bestselling Author, Spiritual Midwife/Coach, Inspirational Speaker, Creator of Inspirational Programs and Authorship Programs, Artist and Art Instructor!
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I was told that this was sort of wild! Who gives 4 books away that they worked hard on to write and publish?
Well, I guess I’m guilty! Thank you to all that supported and encouraged me! I am honored to share the love with you through this Free Christmas Bundle. Get one or all four as my gift to you now! By the way 5 Steps to Birthing Your Dream A Spiritual Midwife’s Manual is sitting pretty at #1, again thanks!
I have several large Oak trees in the front and back of our house which are simply loaded with acorns! Do you know what acorns sound like when they come showering down from these Oak trees onto a roof of a house or tin roofing? Let’s just say before the foliage really turns brilliant colors, the acorns falling and pinging are always my sign that autumn is well on its way and that a change of Season is Here!
For the most part, I love the change in seasons in the natural as there are obvious signs everywhere, but do you know in our own lives, especially spiritually, when changes are coming we sometimes are taken by surprise. Were there signs? I believe sometimes there are obvious signs and then other times, the signs are a little more subtle. How do you prepare for change? Or can you prepare for it?
I am a firm believer that nothing touches my life that is not filtered through God! Yes that is a bold statement because face it we go through some pretty bad things! God didn’t send those bad things to me, but if they come He helps me to navigate through all of it.
John 10:10 King James Version (KJV)
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Have I ever questioned God as to why I’m going through this painful situation or why I had to go through them in the past? Absolutely, but do you know when I look back I can always see that He was with me, even when I didn’t know Him or know He was at the time.
I don’t know about you, but I’ve gone through pretty painful things that I really thought were going to take me out, but I am still here! Why? Because someone may be reading this post right now that needs to know that this painful thing you are going through has come to pass. Whether things are good or bad, they will always change! Just like the seasons, they are only here for season. This thing that is so painful or so joyful will eventually change into another season etc. This is how life is, we go through seasons that are good, but then we go through seasons that are harsh like a winter full of blizzards that have totally left us wondering will our lives ever be “normal” again? Will the landscape of my life that I once knew to be wonderful, ever be the same? Life is all about change and how we grow through the changes.
Do I have all the answers? Absolutely not, and I dare not pretend that I do, however I honestly know the One who is the answer and His name is Jesus. I know that whatever season I have gone through, my relationship with Him has been an anchor for my soul. I have found that His words are true and that He is trustworthy. I love Psalms 91 because the words in this Psalm have spoken to me many, many times to calm me and to keep me regardless of what season I am going through.
Psalm 91King James Version (KJV)
91 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
I pray that you will find peace, joy and comfort in this season for your Spirit, Soul (your mind, will, and emotions) and in your body, regardless of the season that you may be going through! This too shall pass!
Please feel free to comment, I would love to hear from you!
As I was thinking about so many of my friends and family that are going through much heartache and pain, I found myself meditating on how God purposely uses what is going on in our lives to help encourage others.
This statement comes from my simple understanding of faith! Knowing that God is faithful to us and will use everything we walk through to bring us into our purpose. He uses all of our processes to help us. His main objective is to help us realize the big why. Why was I created and what is my purpose? I believe again it is quite simple, so that He can pour His love through us by speaking His words, being His hands and His feet, and letting His heart be extended to others to let them know He has a hope and a future, an expected end for them to do them good and not evil!
Regardless of all of the religious reasoning behind why bad things happen to good people, this I know to be true! God is a good God! He is a Father with a Father heart. What father in the natural unless he had mental issues would inflict pain on their child to try to teach them something! Would you put sickness, disease or other horrible things on your children to try to teach them? As ridiculous as that sounds, why do people think of God in that way?
This is the tricky part of our process! God uses the good, the bad, and the ugly. Everything we go through, God will use for our good, but that doesn’t mean that everything we go through is good! Did you get that? Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father but that doesn’t mean that bad things will not come to us or touch our lives. Bad things happen to good people and in contrast, good things happen to bad people all the time, right?
James 1:17 (KJV) Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
The Bible also states the following:
Matthew 5:45 (KJV) That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
What does that mean? Simply stated Christians are not immune to trouble! Many think that because we are Christian that nothing bad will or should ever touch our lives, but there is nothing in the scripture that supports that statement. If we live in this world, and are of the human race, than we will experience trouble and pain, but we have Emanuel-God with us!
John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
So my point in writing to you today, especially if you sometimes feel lost in your pain, or let’s be honest maybe you feel like God has abandoned you in your most desperate hour of need, is to assure you and to encourage you that you are not alone in your pain. The Lord knows exactly where you are and knows how to turn all things to help you and to comfort you! He also knows how to bring you to a place of total victory where you will be able to use the things you’ve walked through to help others walk through as well! This is His true father heart for you!
Isaiah 61:1-11 (KJV)61 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.
4 And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.
5 And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.
6 But ye shall be named the Priests of the Lord: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.
7 For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.
8 For I the Lord love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
9 And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the Lord hath blessed.
10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
11 For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations
Thank you for taking your time out to read today! I hope that if you are the one today that is in pain and need to be comforted that you will reach out to this loving Father through Jesus who suffered all pain so that He could relate to yours. If you do not have a relationship with the Lord then it is so easy to become His child and receive his salvation (complete wholeness in every area of your life)!
Romans 10:9-10 (KJV) That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
That’s it, simply accept Jesus Christ, as Lord and Savior over everything in your life (yes that means all of your pain and heartache, over all the good, the bad, and the ugly) and believe in your heart that God our Father raised him from the dead for you! Now tell someone (confess) that you accepted what He did for you! Viola, you have become a New child of God!
2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
I would love to hear from you and what the Lord has done in your life! Please feel free to leave comments and let me know how the Lord has helped you!
Written by: Best Selling Author, Christine Gilliam Hornback
If Oak Trees Could Talk what stories could they tell? If she were the old Oak tree in Henry William Tyler’s side yard she would tell humorous and heartwarming romantic stories, but unfortunately all stories told by the old Oak tree cannot always be humorous or romantic. When Helen, the love of Henry’s life winds up in a nursing home, Henry becomes heartbroken and lonely. Unfortunately, in order to deal with his emotions, he develops temporary amnesia and winds up in the same nursing home. The couple, determined to leave Glenview’s Residential Home for the Elderly will do anything to resume their passionate pursuit of love and reclaim their lives. Henry discovers a key to unlocking his memory bank by revisiting the old Oak tree in his mind, as well as a few other unexpected ways. Who better to help him find his way home than the old Oak who knew all there was to know about Henry?
Part 51 If Oak Trees Could Talk! FINALE & A FREE GIFT!
Yay! Everybody, I am so excited and yet a little saddened that this week, we are concluding the Video Blogs of my Romance/Suspense If Oak Trees Could Talk! I want to thank all of you who have “tuned in” each week or read along with me. I never realized how long the process would be but I love you for being faithful and showing up! As I told the story I’ve tried to imagine you sitting across the table from me as if you were an old friend! This video blog is a little longer this week as I felt it necessary to get the rest of the story in, but it is the grand finale of If Oak Trees Could Talk! So being true to my word, I want to give you the surprise gift that I mentioned in the last Video Blog for being here today and in the past weeks!
CLAIM YOUR SURPRISE GIFT NOW: CLICK HERE! I can only offer this free gift for a few days- Starting August 30, 2016-September 2, 2016. So I encourage you to please GET IT WHILE YOU CAN!
SPOILER : IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO KNOW THE END OF THE STORY DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER OR CLICK ON THE VIDEO SIMPLY GET YOUR FREE GIFT!
We are picking up in Chapter 22 The Ghost, and will finish the book in Chapter 23!
They rushed out of the door and down the hallway going as fast as Helen could with her walker. Soon they rounded the corner to the nurse’s station. When Nurse Warren saw them she immediately ran to them as she could see that they were very upset.
“No not at all, it is urgent that we call our Daughter!” Helen said.
“Okay, but is there anything that I can do to help you?” Nurse Warren asked.
“No, please, I just need to talk with my Daughter immediately!” Helen stated.
“Nurse Warren went around the desk and placed the telephone onto the counter. Do you know your Daughter’s telephone number, Mrs. Tyler?”
“Yes I do!” Helen answered as she dialed Amelia’s number as fast as she could while Henry held the phone. “Here Henry, tell her what you told me!” Helen ordered,
The telephone rang once, twice, three times and still no answer, then on the fourth ring Amelia answered the phone.
“Hello, Steele Residents” she said,
“Amelia, it’s your father! Something is terribly wrong. Mr. Hodges and Sheriff Eugene are going to commit murder if they haven’t already. I heard them say it needed to be done immediately to a Mr. Stapleton. We need you to convince someone that I am not making this up! Something has to be done!” Henry said very directly. “Do you understand me, Amelia? I heard them say they that they were going to do it. I also saw what they were going to do it with. The Sheriff is dirty, so I do not know who to call. Please tell Robert. We would like to get out of here as soon as possible!”
“Daddy, Mr. Howard and Mr. Henderson are here. They will know what to do. Go back to your room immediately and we will come after you! Lock the door! We will be there after you. Hurry, go back to your room and wait on us to get there! Do not open the door until you hear mine or Robert’s voice,” Amelia pleaded.
Amelia ran immediately into the front room where her company was. She told them what her Daddy overheard and seen. Mr. Howard used Amelia’s telephone and immediately called the counties District Attorney and the regular police department since Glenview is in the city limits. Mr. Howard and Mr. Henderson left immediately to go to Glenview. Robert called his sister and dropped the boys off, as Nurse Melba Applegate and Amelia drove on to the Glenview.
When Amelia had gotten to Glenview, the police was already there. She pressed through with Nurse Applegate after convincing the police that it was her parents that had called. She ran through the entrance past the nurse’s station to the hallway where her parent’s room was. She knocked urgently and told them to please open up.
Immediately Henry opened the door and Amelia fell in his arms. He was obviously shaken, but strong. Amelia then ran to her Momma, “are you okay?”
“We’re fine Dear, just upset that Mr. Hodges is so evil. I feel sorry for poor Ed and Immagene Perkins. Bless their hearts. How their hearts must break to have a son like Sheriff Eugene.” Helen sighed sadly.
“Daddy the police are going to want to talk with you. Are you ready for this?” Amelia asked.
“Yes, Dear, I am ready! You do believe me don’t you Amelia?” Henry asked rather pathetically.
“Of course I believe you Daddy!” Amelia reassured.
When Amelia and her parents walked around the corner, Mr. Hodges was pressed up against the wall in handcuffs. Henry couldn’t believe what he saw. He feared that they would think he was just a senile old man because it was his word over Mr. Hodges but they took him seriously.
“Mr. Tyler, Sir, may we speak to you, please?
“Absolutely Police officer, Henry said as he followed the police officer and signed papers promising that all the things he had witnessed and heard were true. Mr. Howard was by Henry’s side.
“Oh and Mr. Tyler, Good news, you saved Mr. Stapleton’s life. He is in very serious condition, but he is alive. It seems that what was in the syringe was some kind of allergens that Mr. Hodges knew that he was allergic to. It would have been fatal if you had not called when you did. We will ask more questions later, go home and get some rest.” The Policeman said.
“Let’s go home, Helen! Are you ready?” Henry asked as he pulled her in to him and kissed her hard on the lips!
“I have never been more ready in my life, my Hero!” Helen said with a huge smile!
“Oh it was just a Ghost!” Henry said with that familiar little impish grin.
Nurse Melba smiled as she stood in the distance and watched Amelia’s parents. Robert and Amelia were standing beside her. “Your parents are the real deal aren’t they?” Melba asked.
“Yes, my dear friend, they are the real deal! You must really get to know them!” Amelia answered as she watched her parents with tears of joy and admiration in her eyes.
Chapter 23
Home Sweet Home
Henry and Helen walked out of their bedroom into the kitchen. Helen put them on a pot of coffee. She couldn’t wait for it to finish brewing though for her heart longed to see the sun come up. She walked out of the French doors onto the patio and sat down. It was a brand new life and as the sun came up, Helen was grateful for the second chances. Soon Henry came out with coffee in hand.
“Here, my love! Just the way you like it!”
“You are here and sharing it with me! That’s the way I like it!” Helen commented.
“I want to make a toast! This is to a long, healthy and happy life together!” Henry said as they clicked their cups gently together. They sat peacefully as the sun rose and Henry and Helen’s new life had begun.
Henry and Helen lived their life with even more passion and purpose the second time around. They lived it with more awareness of all the tiny things that were so important. They realized that all of those tiny things in their lives that they used to take for granted, when added up were the sum of all the big things that were the most important. Henry and Helen had a second chance at being parents, grandparents, neighbors and friends and even great grandparents!
They truly pursued love. The love they pursued wasn’t the generic kind of love that was based on condition. No they learned the true unconditional kind of love. They enjoyed the giving of it and the receiving of it. Henry and Helen found out that the difficult things that come are not supposed to tear apart but are meant to bind together.
As soon as Henry was well enough, he went back to work at his hardware store. When he went back the business more than doubled. It wasn’t because people needed more hardware, but because the people crowded in for the entertainment of hearing Henry tell his stories again! He told new stories of a man who went into a nursing home with memory loss but when he wanted to remember things, he sat under an old Oak tree in his mind. He could then remember again. The people thought that he was sure telling some whoppers! Henry thought how life reads like a good fiction. As people pressed him for more and more stories, He decided to pen his own story to see if anyone would take the time to read it. He entitled his story If Oak Trees Could Talk.
Henry and Helen lived and loved until they were Ninety Eight years old. That was almost Twenty-five years after they walked out of Glenview. They were married Eighty years. They both died within two days of each other and were buried in one grave under the old Oak tree. Their monument read “They Passionately Pursued Life and Love!”
Everything they owned of course went to Amelia’s family with only one exception. Henry and Helen wanted all of the proceeds of the sales of Henry’s book If Oak Trees Could Talk to go to some folks who couldn’t afford their bills at the Glenview Residential Home for the Elderly in Mason Creek, Georgia.
Robert, Amelia and their family still had a crowd of regulars at Tyler’s Hardware store. People would still gather around to hear Henry tell his stories for years after he had died. At Amelia’s suggestion he had physically recorded himself reading his story of If Oak Trees Could Talk as well as his other embellished tales. Folks would come in as usual. They would get them an ice cold soda pop along with a brown paper sack of fresh hot boiled peanuts cooked with Henry’s very own recipe. As they pulled themselves up a chair and listened to Henry’s whopper tales, they continued to enjoy Henry’s company!
Thank you once again for “tuning in” or reading along with me! It is my hope that you have enjoyed my Romance/Suspense novel, If Oak Trees Could Talk, for it has been my pleasure to share it with you! As always I would love to hear from you. I want to thank all of you that have begun following my WordPress blogs. Please continue to check in often as I have had some very exciting things happening that I would love to share with you! If you are interested in obtaining your own copy of If Oak Trees Could Talk in paperback format or any of my other books, please visit my Amazon Author Page here! Also If you are new to my Video Blogs and would like to catch up on the story from the beginning please check out the archives in this blog or simply Subscribe to my blogs or to my Youtube Videos as they are numbered and in order! When you Subscribe to my WordPress Blogs, I have a wonderful free gift for you as my thank you! I am also a weekly contributor to The Lakeview Times. All of my videos are published each week at http://www.lakeviewtimes.com
I am so excited to have you join me for another video blog of my Romance/Suspense NovelIf Oak Trees Could Talk!I am excited to announce that because you have stuck in here with me that I am going to do something special for you! At the final Video Blog which should be in a couple of weeks or so, I will be giving you a free gift as a thank you gift for being who you are and coming along beside of me for all of these videos!
In other exciting news my brand New book released last week 5 Steps to Birthing Your Dream A Spiritual Midwife’s Manual It has been ranked #1 Best Seller in 3 Categories and #1 Hot New Seller! I want to thank you if you went in and got your copy! I am so thrilled because when you work hard and it pays off, it is worth all of the effort! Let me encourage you that if you have had dreams and haven’t seen them yet, don’t give up! Maybe you might have failed at doing something, don’t just give up on them, get back up and try a different approach but don’t let your dream die!
Okay, yes, it’s time to get on with the this week’s blog! We pick back up in
Chapter 22 The Ghost!
Soon there was a loud knock on Mr. Hodge’s door. Henry listened intently to hear every detail clearly
“It’s about time!” Mr. Hodges’ said. “Did anyone see you come up here?” He continued.
“What if they did? I am the Sheriff of this little one horse town. Who would stop me or with all of these old retards living here who would even know that I was here? Heck they don’t even know that they are here! Sheriff Eugene said as he laughed. “Oh, Maybe Mr. Henry Tyler would see me!” He said again as he continued to laugh. “That goofy man was sitting in a limb of a tree like a squirrel only he was naked! What do you think he is going to say?” Eugene asked as he continued laughing uncontrollably while he made fun of the residents of Glenview.
“Okay, you’ve made your point. Now let’s get down to business. Mr. Stapleton needs to go into a coma and then pass away in peaceful sleep!” Mr. Hodges stated plainly. “His wife just died, bless her heart, and he has no more relatives. We stand to get all of his life insurance which I might say is a substantial amount. Here is the syringe with what you will need to do it. Don’t come back until I call for you. Do I make myself clear?” Mr. Hodges ordered. “There will be a huge big fat bonus in this one for you, Sheriff.” He said with an evil smile.
“Mr. Stapleton will meet his maker ASAP.” Eugene promised as he went out the door. Mr. Hodges waited about twenty minutes until he see Eugene out in the parking lot. Mr. Hodges signaled him and thumbs up and then walked out of the office. Henry moved quickly to get back through the duct and back to the cafeteria. He made it back in record time. He rushed down the ladder and had just gotten in rolled back in front of the high pantry shelf which is where he got it when he heard a noise. He quickly dropped and went behind a counter. It was Nurse Warren getting her a soda pop out of a vending machine. She then turned and went back down to the nurse’s station. Henry rushed to put everything back just as though he hadn’t touched a thing. He pushed the cafeteria door open, ran back to the Stair door and pushed it open. He ran through the stairwell and quickly opened the door slightly to see if it was clear. Henry then ran and got back into his room just in time. All of a sudden there a soft knock at the door. He quickly got into bed, clothes and all. He covered up, closed his eyes and acted as though he were sound asleep when Nurse Warren peeked in. Everything seemed as it should have. The “Ghost” was in bed! Henry took in a deep breath as he tried to figure out what to do next.
He needed to contact someone with the information that he found out. But who could he contact? The sheriff was dirty and as Henry thought about what Sheriff Eugene had said about the residents of Glenview, and especially about him, he realized that the Sheriff was probably right. If he told what he knew, who would believe him? Who but Helen would even believe him, with the exception of maybe Amelia? He couldn’t sleep knowing that Mr. Stapleton was going to be murdered. Sheriff Eugene had already left. He may have already used the syringe on Mr. Stapleton. He had to do something even if people did think he was crazy.
He woke up Helen. “Helen, Sweetheart, wake up. I need you to wake up?”
Helen rolled over immediately to see why Henry was so upset.
“What is wrong, Henry? Why are you so upset?” Helen drilled.
“Quick I need for you to get up. I’ve got to tell you something and I need for you to believe me okay. I need you to know that I am not crazy and that I am perfectly sane in what I going to tell you.
Helen sat up and looked right into Henry’s eyes. “Okay, honey, what is it?”
“Mr. Hodges and Sheriff Eugene are going to murder someone. His name is Mr. Stapleton. They may have already done it. I heard them planning it. I heard Mr. Hodges tell the Sheriff that it needed to be done and how to do it. He gave him a syringe full of something and told him that it had to be done immediately. Sheriff said it would be done “ASAP.” What do we do Helen?”
“Let’s go to the nurse’s station and call Amelia right now. She will know what to do! We will have her to come and get us. What time is it?
“It is about Eight-thirty. I heard them talking about Eight o’clock this evening.” Henry explained.
“I’ll get dressed!” Helen said as she moved as quickly as she could.
“What if they just think I am crazy? Henry questioned.
“What if they do and this Mr. Stapleton dies. What if they believe you and he is saved from those mad men?” Helen said. “This will just have to do,” Helen said as she slicked down her shiny gray hair. “Come on let’s go.”
Thank you once again for “tuning in” or reading along with me! It is my hope that you have been enjoying my Romance/Suspense novel, If Oak Trees Could Talk, for it has been my pleasure to share it with you! As always I would love to hear from you. I want to thank all of you that have begun following my WordPress blogs. Please continue to “tune it” as we are moving right along through the book.
If you are interested in obtaining your own copy of If Oak Trees Could Talk! or any of my other books, please visit my Amazon Author Page here! Also If you are new to my Video Blogs and would like to catch up on the story from the beginning please check out the archives in this blog or simply Subscribe to my blogs or to my Youtube Videos as they are numbered and in order! When you Subscribe to my WordPress Blogs, I have a wonderful free gift for you as my thank you! I am also a weekly contributor to The Lakeview Times. All of my videos are published each week at http://www.lakeviewtimes.com
Welcome to my video blogs of If Oak Trees Could Talk! I once again just want to thank all of you for reading along or “tuning in” to each post! We have a few videos left as we are nearing the end of the Romance/Suspense novel.
Today we pick up in a new chapter!
Chapter 22
The Ghost
The time seemed to slow to a snail’s pace for Henry. Once he and Helen had gotten back into their room from the activity center, the therapist came in and took Helen to therapy. Henry wished that he could take a nap but instead he found some of the notebooks that Amelia had brought him. The pages were filled from when he was still trying to find his way out of the darkness. As he read some of what he had written, his eyes filled with tears as he looked to his old friend once again.
“I knew you were helping me all alone!” Henry said to his old friend. “Well you and the Sweet Lord above. I have to give him credit because he has blessed me with the best that I could have ever asked for in this life.” He thought of his time on the outside a couple of days ago and how free he and Helen were. He chuckled when he remembered that he left the center with no clothes on! “Boy I surely was messed up wasn’t I.” Henry said to his old friend. “But as usual you helped me when I climbed up in your loving branches of embrace. What a precious time for my Helen and I. I owe her a lot more precious times and I am going to see that we are free to enjoy them. Thank you for helping me Lord, Henry said as he looked to the sky, then he looked back at his picture of the old Oak tree, Thank you for best friends too. Amen.”
Just as Henry finished his prayer of thankfulness and reflection, a knock came at the door. It was the therapist bringing his love back to him. Henry’s face lit up as Helen seemed to be in better spirits.
“You did wonderful, Ms. Helen!” The therapist bragged. “I think you’re right where we hoped you would be. You’ve recovered wonderfully. Things will only improve from here on out.” The therapist encouraged as they went out of the door, however the door never closed completely as Nurse Applegate come in behind therapist with a smile.
“Terrific, I just heard the good news Mrs. Tyler. That is wonderful progress! I know that you have put in some very painful work- outs in order to get that report huh?”
“Yes sweetie, I sure have.” Helen answered with a wide smile. She knew now that she was ready to leave Glenview. She felt that all Henry ever needed was his home and familiar surroundings to be whole again, especially his old Oak tree friend. They were on their way out and it couldn’t be soon enough for either of them.
“Do you want to go to the cafeteria and eat or do you want it delivered into your room?” Nurse Applegate inquired. “I have the rest of you medications right here. It is up to you if you want to go to the cafeteria.” She continued.
Helen looked at Henry again as she knew that he had to hide his pill, but he had already perfected his acting. He pretended to pop the pill as he downed a glass of water and Voila! He was finished.
“No, we will not go to the cafeteria. My sweet Helen has had a rough day with therapy and the activity center. I think we will just stick around and after dinner go to bed.” Henry answered quite clearly. Helen agreed.
“What time did you say everyone left the cafeteria again? Henry asked.
“Everyone is out usually around by about seven o’clock!” Nurse Applegate answered as she was really surprised that Henry actually responded to her questions, and even asked questions and waited for her response. She was impressed with both Mr. and Mrs. Tyler’s progress.
After Nurse Applegate left their room, Henry and Helen mused at their day. All in all it was a pretty good day considering where they were. The two waited for their food to be delivered so that they could eat and go to bed. Henry didn’t tell Helen about the conversation between Mr. Hodges and Sheriff Eugene. He didn’t want to worry her any more than she was already worried. Instead he seriously was going to lie down with his sweet Helen and when she drifted off to sleep the “Ghost” was going to make his move. He hoped that Helen would sleep and be none the wiser.
Soon someone was at the door. It was their dinner. Henry and Helen sit at their little bistro table. With their glasses filled with nothing more than water, they pretended it was wine and toasted to great healing and progress that they both had made. Suddenly Henry raised his glass and hollered, “To life!” Helen giggled and repeated, “To life!” They eat their dinner and spent time with one another. After their meal they stood and looked out of the window over the gardens as the sun was going down. They smiled as both were thinking the same thing, but then Henry said it! “Yes, soon we will be looking over our own beautiful and peaceful gardens!”
Helen smiled as she moved toward the bed. She truly was exhausted and she climbed in as Henry covered her. “Aren’t you coming?” She asked.
“Soon, Sweetheart, I will come to bed soon!”
Helen drifted off to sleep almost immediately. Henry stood and watched her as peace settled in. He watched the time until it was around Seven-thirty. He then needed to act quickly and precisely. It was now or never, he thought. He immediately went to the door. He opened it quietly and looked both ways to make for sure that all was clear. He stepped out and walked quickly to the end of the hallway. He pushed open the door that read Stairs. He listened to make for sure that no one was in the stairwell. He walked faster to the door that he hid behind when he overheard Mr. Hodges and Sheriff Eugene talking. The door opened right in the front of the cafeteria. He opened it slightly as this hallway was obviously busier than the one he and Helen’s room was on. He heard someone talking and could see two Nurses standing in front of the medicine room. One unlocked the door as the other stood outside. When the first came out, the second went in. Soon they both walked together down the hall and around the corner. When it was clear, he ran and tiptoed to see if he could see through the two windows in each of the cafeteria doors. As he looked inside it was darkened with the exception of the exit signs above the doors. Henry was thrilled as it was just enough light for him to see what he was doing, but not so bright that the “Ghost” could hide in the darkness quite easily. Soon he pushed one door open very gently and stepped inside. Once, he was sure that it was clear, he ran immediately to the supply closet. Stepping inside, he immediately grabbed a black uniform which would help him to be even more blended with the darkness of the room. He could also possibly pass as a cafeteria helper if he was questioned from a distance. Henry then searched through a utensil drawer where he found a small tool kit. He grabbed it and placed it in the pocket of his uniform. Henry then rolled the tall ladder that was used to get the supplies down from the top shelf of the pantry under the air conditioning vent that was mounted in the ceiling. He scurried up the ladder like a lineman and immediately opened the toolbox. He took out a screwdriver and unscrewed the vent. He then turned it at a different angle to push it to the right of the opening. He knew he wanted to go left. Henry tried to pull himself up from the ladder, but he was very weak. However, he was determined to fulfill the Ghosts mission. Once he was finally able to lift himself inside the duct, he then crawled as quietly as he could on his knees. The duct work was metal and it made a rattling noise as Henry’s knees pressed into it. He moved quickly until he went through to the middle hallway. Henry knew that the next room he went over in the vent was going to be Mr. Hodges’ office. It was probably getting close to Eight o’clock and time for Sheriff Eugene to show up. Henry moved very deliberately and slowly now to keep down any noise that his knees would possibly make. Henry practically held his breath as he moved up over Mr. Hodges office. The vent was actually next to the inside wall which pleased Henry. He could rest his body flat and lay down. Most of his body and weight would be positioned into the hallway that was in the middle of Mr. Hodges office and the cafeteria. He could see Mr. Hodges’ desk which was off to the right of him. He also could see Mr. Hodges as he stared at this watch. Henry just made himself comfortable and waited quietly.
Thank you once again for “tuning in” or reading along with me! It is my hope that you have been enjoying my Romance/Suspense novel, If Oak Trees Could Talk, for it has been my pleasure to share it with you! As always I would love to hear from you. I want to thank all of you that have begun following my WordPress blogs. Please continue to “tune it” as we are moving right along through the book.
If you are interested in obtaining your own copy of If Oak Trees Could Talk! or any of my other books, please visit my Amazon Author Page here! Also If you are new to my Video Blogs and would like to catch up on the story from the beginning please check out the archives in this blog or simply Subscribe to my blogs or to my Youtube Videos as they are numbered and in order! When you Subscribe to my WordPress Blogs, I have a wonderful free gift for you as my thank you! I am also a weekly contributor to The Lakeview Times. All of my videos are published each week at http://www.lakeviewtimes.com
Have you ever had one of those rewarding moments where all of your hard work on a project is seemingly beginning to pay off? Well, Thank God, I am having one of those moments. I’ve gotten some great news about my latest book that I’ve been working on. The results of the rewards are not quite known yet as I have gotten an open invitation to do something that I’ve only dreamed to do, but my expectations are high! Honestly, I am so humbled by what the Lord is doing already with my new book, 5 Steps to Birthing a Dream A Spiritual Midwife’s Manual which will be available in a few weeks, that I am blown away!
I wanted to thank all of you who voted for my new cover! If you haven’t voted yet please CLICK HERE , and vote, as there is still a short amount of time. Your reward will be a FREE Download of my latest book on Kindle for helping me out! I must stress however, please fill out the information so that I know that you have voted. I have to your information so that I can notify you of the winning cover and when your book will be available! If you do not fill it out, then I can’t send it to you!
In the meantime, however,I want to get on with the Video Blog of book at hand, for If Oak Trees Could Talk! . This has been one of my dearest stories! Unconditional love is the key, my dear friends, to all long and endearing relationships! In this Romance/Suspense Novel If Oak Trees Could Talk!I hope that I have painted a picture with my words that displays this kind of love in Helen’s and Henry’s love for one another!
We will pick back up in Chapter 21 The Final Plans
Amelia left and immediately drove to see Mr. Howard, the lawyer of her parents. Mr. Howard had been a longtime friend to her family and had handled every legal issue that they ever had. She presented him with everything that had happened at Glenview. She told him everything that she suspected and what Mr. Hodges and Sheriff Eugene threatened her with if she didn’t bring her parents back. Amelia also handed him all of the paperwork that she had received when her parents were signed in and were admitted to Glenview. Lastly she handed him the new pills that Henry was given and told Mr. Howard that suddenly he had a diagnosis of having severe allergies on his chart. He looked Amelia straight in the eye as she gave him the pills. He then looked over the paperwork thoroughly that she handed to him.
“Well let me put your mind at ease Ms. Amelia, I have wonderful news. “Mr. Hodges at Glenview has nothing to stand on. Ms. Amelia, you acted as your parents’ power of attorney while they were ill which they gave you legal right to do. You freely signed them in and you can check them out anytime you desire to do so. Mr. Hodges knows this and he is facing terroristic threats in my professional opinion and that Sheriff want to be Eugene is using his office of authority illegally. There is not one thing Mr. Hodges can do about your parents legally, if you chose to walk your parents out this very second. Your dear parents have their medical insurance and Veterans’ health care benefits that Glenview recognizes so there shouldn’t be an issue with remaining or outstanding expenses. I think we need to get to the bottom of what’s really going on with Mr. Hodges at Glenview. I will do it very discretely of course, but I am going to make a few phone calls. Did you say that Mr. Henderson at the Times had some information about Mr. Hodges? I think I should have me a little conversation with Mr. Henderson first. I will get back to you. Will you be home this evening.
“Yes Sir, as a matter of fact, Mr. Henderson and Nurse Applegate are supposed to be at my house this evening. Why don’t you just join us, Mr. Howard?
“Well little lady, don’t mind if I do, kill two birds with one stone as they say”
“Thank you Mr. Howard, You’re welcome to come around seven thirty this evening then.” Amelia said as she breathed a deep breath and left Mr. Howard’s office.
After Amelia had left, Helen and Henry decided to take her up on her suggestion. “Let’s get out of this room!” Helen suggested. She was hoping to sway Henry from doing anything crazy. “They probably have some kind of activities going on in the activity center. We probably have a lot of friends down there that would be glad to see that we are doing so well!” Helen convinced. “It will help us past the time while we wait on Amelia to do what she needs to and we get out of this place!”
Henry nodded yes in agreement. He held the door for Helen as they headed down the hallway to find the activity room. They walked to the nurse’s station to ask for directions to the activity room when they turned around they ran right into Mr. Hodges.
“And where do you two think you are going?” He asked rather rudely.
“We just thought that we would go work a puzzle or do some kind of activity in the activity room!” Helen spoke up rather quickly. Henry just looked down at the floor, rung his hands and mumbled so low that he could barely be heard. He then mumbled a little louder and Helen and Mr. Hodges could hear the word Ghost.
“Very well, it’s right around the corner.” Mr. Hodges said as he looked at Henry in total disgust. “How are your severe allergies?” Mr. Hodges asked extremely loud so it gained the attention of all that were in the lobby.
Henry offered no response one way or the other as he wanted Mr. Hodges to think that he must still be very ill or drugged up because of the severe allergy medication! They moved on and soon found the room. When inside the residents that were able and that knew the Tyler’s stood up and cheered them! They admired them for escaping and trying to gain their lives back, for each of them wished they could do the same When Henry and Helen scoped the room they seen many of their friends and family that had fallen to sickness or just came to Glenview to live so they would have assistance and not be alone. It was hard to fathom for Henry and Helen that someone would actually choose to live in a place like this, however Henry could have compassion on them for he was alone without his Helen and knew how difficult loneliness was. Henry really wanted to socialize but to keep up the pretense that he was still not well, he couldn’t really be himself. Normally Henry and Helen were the social butterflies at any party. They brought their exuberant zeal for life wherever they went. It attracted people to them because they longed to have what they saw in the Tyler’s lives.
They found a place and fit right in with the others who were playing various games, crocheting, knitting, puzzles, piano playing! It was actually like a party and Helen and Henry were glad they came. They needed activity in their lives, for Helen could not sit in that room any longer regardless of how nice it was.
Because Henry couldn’t really be himself, he whispered to Helen “I will be right back!” He stepped out into the hall and went toward the cafeteria as he could see its big double doors in plain sight. Just for a second, Henry felt lost. He forgot why he stepped out of the room. As he walked toward the doors, he heard voices coming toward him. He panicked. He seen the red sign that read Stairs on the door, he quickly dove in. He listened outside the door as his heart pounded wildly. It was Sheriff Eugene and Mr. Hodges. “Come to my office around eight o’clock or eight-thirty tonight Mr. Hodges told Eugene. We have to end this one!” Mr. Hodges said in a hateful determined voice.
“Yes Sir, I’ll meet you there!” Sheriff Eugene said as if he were a little child taking orders.
“Henry whispered, “Okay, I understand now. He had perfect timing. This could be it! The Ghost will do his thing and be at the enemy’s camp to hear what they plan. This will be just like the missions that I have done in the service!”
When Mr. Hodges and Sheriff Eugene left the hallway, they continued to walk into the cafeteria. Henry rushed out of the stairwell door and practically ran to get back into the activity center so that if Mr. Hodges went by and peeked in, he would be none the wiser to what Henry was up to. Henry felt an exhilaration running through him. It was pure adrenalin. How was he going to calm himself until it was time for the Ghost to be loosed was the challenge.
Thank you once again for “tuning in” or reading along with me! It is my hope that you have been enjoying my Romance/Suspense novel, If Oak Trees Could Talk, for it has been my pleasure to share it with you! As always I would love to hear from you. I want to thank all of you that have begun following my WordPress blogs. Please continue to “tune it” as we are moving right along through the book.
If you are interested in obtaining your own copy of If Oak Trees Could Talk! or any of my other books, please visit my Amazon Author Page here! Also If you are new to my Video Blogs and would like to catch up on the story from the beginning please check out the archives in this blog or simply Subscribe to my blogs or to my Youtube Videos as they are numbered and in order! When you Subscribe to my WordPress Blogs, I have a wonderful free gift for you as my thank you! I am also a weekly contributor to The Lakeview Times. All of my videos are published each week at http://www.lakeviewtimes.com
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