Tag Archives: family

Keeping Traditions and Memories Alive!

20 Apr

Keeping Traditions and Memories Alive!
IMG_3027 (5)

I had worked all week doing laundry and bedding to pack into our camper. We loaded our little camper with all the necessities that we thought we would need for an entire week and off we went to one of our favorite camping places in North Georgia, where we met up with my nephew, his wife (my niece) , and two small children.
My husband and our boys are lovers of fishing, so I knew what the week would hold for them and my nephew. The guys fished practically every night, and on two separate occasions went on excursions to fish for trout and finally hit gold the last day. Rainbow trout was what was for supper the last night along with smoked sausage and sauerkraut for those of us who are not necessarily fish lovers! As the guys finally found their little pot of gold, so did my niece and I.
My niece and I on the other hand always go scouting for  different kind of gold nuggets. We love to visit unique little towns full of antiques and thrift stores. This year we found a wonderful little southern town that played out like a fairy tale. The people were very genuine and exceptionally friendly. They asked us if we had visited their natural springs, and suggested that we take water containers to the springs and get all the pure spring water we would like. No charge of course as it was a free resource that the little town was thrilled to have and was built upon! We ate at a little hole in the wall restaurant which immediately became a favorite. This little town so left an impression on us that we returned with our families with water containers in hand, and of course revisited the little shops and yes you guessed it, even the little hole in the wall restaurant that had real southern foods, for example: a bowl of pinto beans, cornbread and collards, plus a drink for a whopping $4.99. This was a town that I will frequent as my family only lives about an hour and a half away from it. Amazing how little nuggets of gold are right under your nose, but if you do not look for them, you probably will not find them.
After dinner, each night we would all gather around to play card games such as Canasta, Skipbo, Uno, and a fast favorite Monopoly Deal. As we took turns gathering in each of our campers, it gave us a great sense of satisfaction as we know that we are creating wonderful memories that will last a lifetime. We hope that we are instilling a love for simplicity and tradition into our children and possibly into their children’s children as this is what our parents instilled in us. The most wonderful memories were of my parents taking us on trips such as these and simply spending time with us. Oh how I wish they were here to see how their grandchildren and great grandchildren love the family traditions that they began with us way back when we were just children.
So what is my point of telling you all about my vacation or why that I thought you would possibly be interested? Simply to encourage you to create memories with your children, grandchildren, and possibly even great-grandchildren that will shape their future family vacations. Create times that will spark beautiful and happy memories in them as they too sit around a camp fire, or gather around a picnic table, or possibly like my family get in a late night of card playing and tell wonderful stories that keep my parents with us and their memories alive!

You can connect or follow Christine:

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Christine Gilliam Hornback

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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Thanksgiving Next Week Already?

16 Nov

Thanksgiving next week already?

celebrating-thanksgiving

I remember as a little girl that my Mom would tell me to quit wishing my life away!  Christmas would just end and I would wish spring would hurry up and arrive. Then, of course, I wanted summer to arrive so that we could swim and fish.  When summer rolled around I would wish for Thanksgiving and Christmas again.  When I was young, I would always wish for something else instead of enjoying where I was. This was my Mom’s point she wanted to make to me.  Time was ebbing away quickly and that I needed to enjoy life now, stop wishing for future happiness, find it now.

When I was a young girl, I had no concept of how fast time would fly by, even though my mom’s wisdom kept trying to slow me down.   However, now that I have been married for thirty-six years, have two boys, both growing up entirely too fast on me, I now try to savor every day!  And yes, here we are preparing to celebrate the Thanksgiving Holiday again already!  It’s difficult to understand how fast this year has gone by.

You know life just happens at warp speed!  We are but vapors on this earth!  I now know because of what I’ve experienced in life that it is so important to enjoy the little everyday events because when you are older and reflect, those seemingly little events were the most significant, meaningful, events that make up our lives!

So, may I gently suggest, take my Mom’s advice.  Stop wishing your life away! Get about enjoying your journey now!  Stop and breathe in today and its seconds, minutes, and hours, because there is someone right now at the end of their journey on earth and the only thing they have left are their wishes!

So yes, Praise God Thanksgiving is here again!  I am thankful and so grateful that I have another year to spend with my family and friends and that I have a good life that I am living now!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

 

A Heart to Serve!

8 Nov

A Heart to Serve!

As long as I could remember, I literally served others.  I don’t say that like I’ve sacrificed something to do it.  I say it because that is who I am!   A sweet memory about my parents comes to mind as I think about serving others.  My parents and our neighbors, who were great friends, would get together on the weekends when I was just a little girl.  I think I was around nine years old.   They would play a card game called Canasta.  They played way up into the night, and I would stay up until I could barely keep my eyes open, but in order for me to stay awake I would volunteer to serve them water, soda, and coffee.   I never done it grudgingly, for it truly was my pleasure and it brought me joy. Both my parents are with Jesus now, so I love to think about memories and times when I truly served my parents as they sacrificed so much for my five sisters and me.

People who know me intimately will sometimes tease me by calling me a mother hen.   It probably is a good name, because it is how God made me to be.   I nurture and I feel that I am anointed to do it. It seems I’ve always mothered, but what was ironic was that when it came time for me to actually want to become a mother, my husband and I couldn’t have children right away.   As a matter of fact it took us a really long time.  We actually were married twenty years before we conceived and had our first child and then four years later our second son was born.  Let me just say this as a smile comes to my face, if you weren’t a servant before you had children, you quickly become one.

What brought up the idea of this blog post was the fact that Thanksgiving is just a few weeks away.  This is a time when I try to go all out! When I prepare our Thanksgiving meal, I labor to put my heart into making a feast fit for a King!  I usually have a house full of family and friends.  I honestly love it! With Thanksgiving coming up, I wanted to reflect upon gratitude and how fortunate that I am that I have the opportunity to serve my family and friends, yes and even strangers with a servant’s heart! As I write this, my thoughts go to a couple of wonderful friends that I love who sadly will no longer sit at my table for Thanksgiving meals.  I thank God that before they went to be with Jesus, that I gave them something that I was honored to be able to give to them.   I am not trying to be boastful or have false humility about what I do.    The point I am trying to make is that Jesus said that the servant who seems to be the lowest sometimes on the list by the world’s standards, is the greatest in the Kingdom of God! If I serve people with gladness, then I have pleased my Father in Heaven, and so I am overjoyed!

I send blessings to all who have taken the time read this.  I hope that you have a wonderful season of Thanksgiving!

 

Part 31 If Oak Trees Could Talk

19 Feb

Part 31 If Oak Trees Could Talk!Books

Hello again dear friends! Welcome back to my video blogs of If Oak Trees Could Talk! I am so glad that you chose to join me again today. I hope that you are having a wonderful week. Can you believe that we are already into the middle of February? When I began doing the video blogs of my Romance/Suspense novel If Oak Trees Could Talk last summer, I really had no idea how long they would take or how many, so I am so grateful that many of you have hung in here with me to read or “tune in” each week! This week we finish up Chapter 15 The Cruise!

Chapter 15

The Cruise!

Henry looked carefully before backing up. He looked both ways and then pulled out, but just as he did, he could see the Sheriff coming right toward him.

            “Get down loves, Get Down!” Henry shouted.

            Helen and Amelia obeyed but weren’t for sure why? They could only assume that Henry saw Eugene, which he did. When Henry passed the Sheriff, he looked down a little as to not look him straight in the eye and threw up one finger from the steering wheel as to speak when passing. This was the right thing to do because, again this was the South. Every one speaks whether they know you or not. So Henry actually did this to keep the Sheriff from becoming suspicious. It had been a long while since Henry had even seen Eugene, so they hoped that Sheriff Eugene wouldn’t recognize him. As far as Henry was concerned, he had no clue as to who Eugene was either. He only knew he was the Sheriff because he had seen Eugene’s sheriff’s car. He kept driving and tried to not cause suspicion but all of a sudden in his rear view mirror, he could see the Sheriff do a U-turn in the middle of Harper Street! This could only mean one thing and even Henry knew what it meant. They were recognized!   The Sheriff knew who they were or at least who Henry was. Henry had a decision to make, either to stop or to drive faster!

            “Hold on Loves, we’ve been made!” Henry Shouted!

            “What do you mean, Daddy…..What in the world are you doing? You have to stop! You can’t out run a Sheriff. We are in enough trouble the way it is! Pull over Daddy and stop the car!” Amelia shouted as if her Dad couldn’t hear her yelling at him.

            “Calm down Dear Amelia, he is not deaf. He just does not remember every event in his life yet?” Helen said rather calmly considering that she was in the front seat with a man who may or may not even know where he’s going.

            “Okay, this has gotten crazy! Daddy you have to pull over somewhere! Let me take over the driving! I am the one who promised I would get you both back this morning. I should have insisted that I drive to begin with!” Amelia demanded as she could feel herself panic. When she glanced back she saw that Sheriff Eugene was still quite a distance behind them, but still he was back there. By this time the Sheriff’s lights and siren were flashing and blaring so that every citizen of Mason Creek would know that there was a Sheriff in hot pursuit of criminals.   Rarely did an occurrence like this one escape the attention of the Mason Creek’s residents, for there was very little that happened in this lazy Southern town!

            “Amelia, sweetie, just stay calm, I know exactly where I am and where I am going! Let him follow me, I bet it will be the first Police Escort ever to Glenview’s Residential Home for the Elderly!” Henry said as both he and Helen chuckled.

            “Are you telling me that you both find this to be humorous?” Amelia asked as she realized that this scenario could only end badly. “We’ve got to pull over and let the Sheriff know that we are on our way back to Glenview. He needs to know that we are not trying to escape again Daddy!” Amelia spoke sternly. However, it was to no avail. She watched her Daddy wink and then he smiled at her Momma with that all too familiar impish grin that Amelia had seen thousands of times. Henry cranked up the radio that was playing some country song by George Jones and patted the dashboard of his car.

“Oh baby, don’t fail me now!” He shouted, when all of sudden he pushed the gas pedal as far down as he could and peeled down the street burning his tires. The smell of rubber burning filled the car.   A huge cloud of smoke boiled behind them. It wasn’t long until Amelia could hear the sound of a siren getting closer.   Henry drove like he had done this many times. He squealed tires as he made a sharp turn into a side street that lead down past The First Baptist Church of Mason Creek. He darted into another side street that lead down the street that Glenview was on. As he sped down this street to where Glenview’s Residential Home for the Elderly was, Henry whipped the car into the parking lot which was practically empty. He proceeded to squeal tires and wheel his car around in circles until the image of several figure eights had been burned into the parking lots pavement. After making such an entrance, Henry suddenly whipped his car into a parking space. He put the car in park while quickly handing Amelia the keys!

“And that my Dears is how it’s done!” Henry boasted.

             Amelia was in total disbelief at what had just happened!   She was speechless and as pale as a sheet. Her Daddy got out of the car and went around the side of the car to open the door for her mother. He acted the perfect gentleman as he helped Helen out of the car. He pushed the lever to the back seat so that Amelia could peel herself out of the car as well. Just as they were all out of the car, they heard more tires squealing as a car barreled into the parking lot where they all stood.   Sheriff Eugene’s sirens rang out and lights flashed while he practically fell out of his police car and raced toward them!

            “Ms. Amelia, what in the world do you think that you are doing? Do you know that you could have gotten someone killed driving like that? Oh excuse my manners, hello Mr. and Mrs. Tyler.” Eugene shouted as he took his sheriff’s hat off to be polite. He was shouting quite loudly because his siren was still blaring. In the south it is an understood rule that you are to always respect your elders! He then ran back to his car to turn the siren and lights off.

            Amelia listened as the Sheriff was scolding her, but then suddenly she looked at her watch. It was exactly twelve noon. She answered him without letting on that it was her Daddy instead of she that was doing the driving.

            “Well, Eugene, I promised I would get my parents back to Glenview this morning! It is just now noon so I kept my promise. We’ve been here about five minutes or so, wouldn’t you say Momma?” Amelia asked with Henry’s same wink and smile.

            “Now Ms. Amelia, when I was behind you with my lights and my siren going you should have pulled over. You can’t just go speeding in and out of these side streets like you have just done!” Eugene stated.

            “Excuse me for interrupting you Eugene, I know that you’re trying to do your job, but I wanted to ask about your folks before we go back inside. How are Ed and Immagene doing?” Helen asked. “It has been entirely too long since we’ve seen them. The next time we spend time at home we really should have them over for some of Henry’s famous Barbeque.” Helen continued.

            “Uh thank you Mrs. Tyler. My parents are doing fine. They would truly enjoy Mr. Tyler’s delicious Barbeque. It is surely famous around these parts, Mam.” Eugene replied. He was holding his Sheriff’s hat in his hand as he showed respect to Mr. Tyler.     

            “Well, no since prolonging our return. Thank you, young man for escorting us to Glenview. We really appreciate it Sheriff.” Henry said as he grabbed Eugene’s hand and shook it.

            Eugene didn’t know what to do as the Tyler’s and Amelia left him standing in Glenview’s parking lot holding his sheriff’s hat.

            “Dang, I am sure going to hear about this when I get to the sheriff’s office!” Eugene said as he could see Mr. Hodges watching the shenanigans from his office window.

 

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 Youtube Videos as they are numbered and in order! I am also a weekly contributor to The Lakeview Times.   All of my videos are published each week at http://www.lakeviewtimes.com

Part 28 If Oak Trees Could Talk!

28 Jan

Part 28 If Oak Trees Could Talk

Hello Again! Well we are moving right along as we read If Oak Trees Could Talk! I hope that if you have been following along that you are enjoying the journey! If you’ve just found us, then it is my hope that you will take the time to either listen or read the archived blogs to where you do not feel like you’ve missed out on any of the mushy stuff! Today we are nearing the end of Chapter 14 The Family Gathering! However, we still have a little ways to go.   You might as well pour yourself a nice cup of coffee or tea and get all comfy as we continue reading.

Chaper 14

The Family Gathering!

“It’s wonderful, Daddy. I always love it when you tease me. I love your stories. The boys love them as well. Daddy, they have missed you so much. They were excited and thrilled to be at Gramps and Gramma’s last night because we were together again! They told me that you always did special things with them, such as your yard trips.   They miss all of those times with you. They had not been in this house for months, but last night when they were here, they really enjoyed it. It was only because you and Momma were home and down at the Oak tree. Both of you are the life of this house and this place. It’s you and Momma that makes this place a home.” Amelia said as she began to tear up.

Robert and the boys pulled up in the driveway just as Amelia was speaking of them. The boys flung open the car doors and ran into the house. They ran to Gramps and hugged him and then on to Gramma. Amelia stepped out to see if Robert needed a hand with the food. He was so prepared he had paper plates and plastic forks, the works just so that they could spend time together instead of cleaning up the kitchen after the meal. He also had a thermos of piping hot coffee just in case there was none.

“Baby, you thought of everything! I love you so much, let me take that thermos.” Amelia said as she leaned in and gave Robert a quick kiss. “Momma and Daddy are going to love this!”

When Robert stepped inside the house, Helen grabbed him and squeezed him tightly. He still had his hands full of food when Henry moved forward and extended his hand for a warm hand shake, but then he just grabbed Robert and gave him a big bear hug.   Robert unloaded all of the bags onto the counter and then shook Henry’s hand.   Everyone was so thrilled to be back together.

“Oh man, I smell Elma’s don’t I?” Henry asked.

“Yep,” Dylan said as he began pulling food from the bags. “Sausage gravy, biscuits, eggs, grits, and bacon, yummy, breakfast is served! Just like you always served it for us Gramps!”

“Man I think I will run away more often,” Henry said with a smile.

“I wish you could Gramps!” Robbie said. “We have missed you and Gramma so much.”

“Don’t encourage him, Robbie,” Helen stated. “He would be over here every day when the nurses at Glenview turn their backs!”

All of the family chuckled, but deep down Helen knew Henry would escape again if he felt he had reason to. It was good for all of them to be together. They each took their regular places at the dining room table as they’ve done numerous times before. Even though this was Elma’s food, you would have thought it to be a home cooked Thanksgiving meal, which indeed it was! The table seated Gramps and Gramma side by side of course at one end, Amelia and Robert side by side at the opposite end and Dylan and Robbie in the middle of each side. As they ate, they laughed, and appreciated every second of the last minutes together before Henry and Helen went back to Glenview. Each of them pretended that the dread of the Patriarch and Matriarch of the family leaving wasn’t weighing heavy upon them. The time came, however, sooner than any of them wanted it to, for Gramps and Gramma to return to Glenview.

“Amelia do you want me to drive you and your parents back to Glenview?” Robert whispered while Amelia was cleaning up the dining room table.

“I really thought about it Honey. I think I will drive Daddy’s car. It probably needs to have someone drive it anyway. What do you think?” Amelia asked.

“Sounds good, but are you going to be okay?” Robert comforted.

“I will just have to be okay, now won’t I?” Amelia stated with a sigh.

“Well, if you get there and need me, I am going to stick around the house today with the boys. I think it will be good for the boys just to have a day with their old Dad.”

“That sounds great. You can make the day a fun day for them. I wish I could spend the day with you guys,” Amelia replied. “But soon, we will all be together again.”

Helen walked into the kitchen. She did not appear to be half as upset about going back to Glenview as Amelia was. She and Henry had resolved to go back and do what they needed to do.

“Well, Daughter, let’s get this show on the road! Your Daddy and I have decided to take Glenview by storm Sweetie! They won’t know what hit them! We will be home in a few weeks and all will be well! Are you ready?” Helen asked impatiently.

“Yes, Momma, I guess I am ready if you and Daddy are. Where’s Daddy?” Amelia asked.

“Oh, he and the boys have gone out in the yard for a bit,” Helen said with a tender smile at having mentioned the boys.   “He probably just wants to reassure them that we will be a family again. We do love those two more than life!” Helen said softly. “He also wanted to go see his friend one more time before we left today. He thought maybe that the Oak tree could help him remember a little more before he left!”

“Well, okay, I will go get the car out of the garage. I thought we would drive Daddy’s car if that is okay. It really needs to be driven and this beautiful Sunny morning would be a perfect opportunity. What do you think?”

“Lovely, it will be just lovely.” Helen agreed.

 

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 Youtube Videos as they are numbered and in order! I am also a weekly contributor to The Lakeview Times.   All of my videos are published each week at http://www.lakeviewtimes.com

Part 27 If Oak Trees Could Talk!

20 Jan

Part 27 If Oak Trees Could Talk

Hello everybody! Welcome back to my video blogs of If Oak Trees Could Talk! I hope that you’ve had a great holiday season and that your New Year is off to a great start. If you’ve been following along, I appreciate your patience as I’ve taken a few weeks off. But as we jump right back into my video blogs, we will pick back up in Chapter 14 The Gathering!


  The Gathering!
She asked Sheriff Eugene, “So, what are you going to do Eugene? I would do what I done last night again and again. I would go with my mother from Glenview to search for my father a million times if I had to. I am not apologizing for my behavior to Mr. Hodges or to anyone else. He can kiss my….well never mind! My parents are my main concern and their wellbeing. My mother was going to leave Glenview with or without me, so I went with her!”
“What do you mean Ms. Amelia? Was Ms. Tyler driving and you rode along as a passenger in her car?” Eugene questioned. “It was my understanding that you were driving and carried your Momma away from Glenview.” He continued to interrogate.
Amelia thought about the question and immediately without pondering answered, “No, I did not drive. So what you’re telling me is that Mr. Hodges had no clue how my parent’s left Glenview! I think it would be very interesting to see what Mr. Henderson down at the Mason Creek Times Newspaper would do with a story like this one, wouldn’t you?” Amelia asked as the idea just came to her that Mr. Hodges would not want the reputation of Glenview’s Residential Home for the Elderly to be tarnished. She also was telling the truth, she wasn’t the one who drove the getaway car, her husband Robert drove.
“As a matter of fact, Eugene, if you would let Mr. Hodges know…..No, that’s okay, I will tell him myself that I intend on reporting to Mr. Henderson that my parents simply walked out of his precious Glenview without the slightest resistance from Glenview’s staff! I think he would be more than glad to drop all of the charges. Wouldn’t you agree with me, Eugene?” Amelia said slyly as she knew that Eugene would drive like a maniac to Glenview’s Residential Home for the Elderly to tell Mr. Hodges what she was threatening.
“Now, Ms. Amelia, think about what you’re saying. You don’t really want to hurt anyone now do you?” Eugene stated rather pathetically, for it had been rumored that he had been used to do Mr. Hodges’ dirty work for several years.
“Well, I will have to think about it long and hard before I contact Mr. Henderson, but I am considering paying him a little visit.” Amelia continued to threaten as if she pretended not to know that the Sheriff was somehow in cahoots with Mr. Hodges and every other type of dirty dealings that went down in Mason Creek. She knew that the only reason that he was being nice to her was that his parents had been friends with Amelia’s parents for years. Also he always had a flame burning for Amelia when they were growing up, but never asked her out. Eugene’s mother would not stand for him being anything but nice to the Tyler family.
“Okay then, Ms. Amelia, we will expect you to carry your parents back to Glenview in a little while.” Eugene stated. “I will assure Mr. Hodges that your parents will be back as soon as they eat a decent breakfast.”
When Amelia had gotten off the telephone with Eugene, she immediately called Robert. She told Robert about speaking to Eugene and about threatening to go to Mr. Henderson with a story if Mr. Hodges insisted on pressing charges against her.
“I just feel like there is something that is very wrong going on at Glenview. Mr. Hodges is so worried about his reputation. Oh well, forget about all that stuff, now on to more important things! Will you please bring my parents a good breakfast from Elma’s Biscuit Barn?” Amelia asked with a chuckle.
Elma’s Biscuit Barn was just a little Country restaurant but Elma Simpson was a third generation owner and one of the best Southern cooks in Mason Creek. No one made homemade biscuits and sausage gravy like Elma or real Southern grits oozing with butter and bacon. Going to Elma’s Biscuit Barn was Henry’s thing to do when he was well. He would go and buy breakfast almost every Saturday morning for the whole family. It was a normal Saturday routine, so Robert knew exactly what to order and pick up for each of them.
“Crazy question, but do you want the usual?” Robert asked also with a little chuckle.
“Yes, Sir, I can’t wait until Daddy and Momma gets a good whiff of what you’ve brought them this time to eat! I am sure that the smile on Daddy’s face will be even bigger than it was last night when he was eating his favorite hamburger and onion rings.” Amelia whispered with a chuckle so as not to spoil the surprise for her parents. “Also we can all gather around the dining room table and eat the way that we used to. It will be wonderful! Thank you Babe!” She continued.
“Good morning my sweet Daughter,” Helen said as she was practically beaming. She walked from the gardens, straight through the house, to the kitchen and was barely using her walker at all. Dear I believe we have some ground coffee in the big freezer, if you would like to go get. I will get the coffee pot ready for us.
“Good morning Momma! How did you and Daddy sleep?” Amelia asked as she noticed again that her mother was so chipper.
“Oh, like little babies! It was simply heaven on earth! I am sorry to be so joyous when obviously you’ve not had too much sleep. Stop worrying Amelia, everything is going to be alright!” Helen ordered.
“Will it be alright Momma?” Amelia asked to be reassured.
“Things are good Amelia. Your sweet Daddy and I will return home in a few weeks. We will have our lives back and our family will be complete again. What is there to worry about?” Helen explained just as Henry came walking through the kitchen.
“Well, look at these beautiful girls in the lunchroom. Boy I am sure glad that I came today!” Henry said with an ornery little grin,
“Stop it Henry, Amelia is really worried about us!” Helen ordered.
“Yes Dear, I was just teasing sweet Amelia!” Henry said with a wink.
“Daddy, so you meant to call us girls. Did you mean to call the kitchen the lunchroom too?” Amelia asked in total surprise that he was sound enough in his mind to tease her like this. For this is the way he had talked for months now.
“Yes my sweet Daughter. It’s the Tyler sense of humor. I am sorry, I will be more serious.” Henry said apologetically.
Henry reached out to Amelia with open arms and she ran to get into them. She loved the comfort of her Daddy’s arms. They always made her feel loved and safe. As she embraced him tightly she finally believed that he was indeed almost back to his old “normal self.”

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 about half way 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 Youtube Videos as they are numbered and in order! I am also a weekly contributor to The Lakeview Times. All of my videos are published each week at http://www.lakeviewtimes.com

Part 26 If Oak Trees Could Talk

20 Jan

Part 26 If Oak Trees Could Talk!

Welcome and thank you for visiting my blog. This will be my last video blog of If Oak Trees Could Talk for the year as Christmas is next week and then Wow, the ringing in of a brand new year!

I wish every one of you the Happiest and Healthiest New Year Ever! Thank you so much for being such a wonderful part of this year for me! I’m excited about the year to come as I’ve been working on several new book projects and can hardly wait to go forward with them. I hope that you will continue to join me and come along for the ride.

Today we begin reading in a new Chapter 14 The Family Gathering!

 

Chapter 14

The Family Gathering

            Amelia sighed with dread of the very thought of her parents going back into Glenview’s Home for the Elderly.   Even though she knew that they had really thought everything out and made the decision for themselves, it would not be easy, but she would drive them both back in the morning.   She had no idea what Mr. Hodges had planned for her parents upon their return. Henry had explained to her that it was Mr. Hodges who had told him about her mother’s early release in the first place. Surely, as the head of Glenview, Mr. Hodges should have known the reason that her father had come to be at Glenview’s Home for the Elderly to begin with. The thoughts of Mr. Hodges telling her Daddy about her Momma just did not sit well with Amelia, but again she would honor her parent’s wishes.

            She helped her parents rise up from the picnic blanket to their feet.   Between her and Robert they helped walk both Henry and Helen up the long front lawn to the house. She sent the boys down to get all of the picnic supplies. Amelia waited until they came into the house before making the announcement that she was driving her parents back to Glenview the following morning.   Although both of the boys were very crushed and upset, they pretended all was well. Through everything the boys had become brave and strong young men. Their grandparent’s house felt like home again just because Henry and Helen were there. It didn’t matter that they were down at the Oak tree having their own private picnic the whole time, the boys still found comfort in knowing that they were on the property.

            Amelia kissed Robert and the boys good night as she stayed with her parents through the night. She checked on them several times by peeking through their bedroom door which she was very cautious to do considering the most recent romantic encounters that her parents had while at Glenview. When Amanda peeked in, she saw two peaceful parents cuddled together sleeping safe and sound in their bed. It was a precious sight to behold. This was an image that Amelia would carry with her to help her focus on getting them back home permanently, once they were back at Glenview.

            The morning came way too soon. Amelia had not slept but a little while before the sun came up. The first thing she felt she needed to do was to talk with the Sheriff.   However, it was as though the morning was ordered with all of the most wonderful things that a summer day would hold. She postponed her plans just briefly to take in the wonderful day.   Amelia found herself opening up the French doors leading to the Gardens and several more windows throughout the beautiful house she felt she was home. The birds sang their beautiful songs of praise to the one that made them. A soft breeze blew gently through the gardens and aromatic scents of Lilac and Lavender filled the air and blew through the opened windows. The house was beginning to once again smell like her parent’s home.

Amelia thought that she was the first to arise, but she then heard voices in the gardens. When she walked outside onto the patio, her parents were down in the gardens and her mother was carrying a beautiful bouquet of fresh cut flowers in her hand. Amelia also watched as her Daddy who was fully dressed, placed a beautiful flower in her Momma’s free flowing hair.   As they meandered through the gardens holding hands, laughing, and talking, Amelia knew without doubt that this was what they needed. Her parents needed one another. Henry and Helen also needed their family, their home and even their beautiful gardens, to get well.

While watching her parent’s behavior since being home, Amelia resolved at that moment to bring them home regardless of the consequence. She turned from such a beautiful picture of her parents in the garden to go back into the house. Her parents had decided to go back to Glenview and Amelia would honor their wishes and take them.   However, before she took them back, she was determined to make it clear to Mr. Hodges that it was a temporary arrangement this time. She immediately telephoned Sheriff Eugene that her parents had chosen to return to Glenview temporarily.   Amelia also informed him that she would be driving them back after they had eaten a good breakfast. She let him know that she was bringing both her parents back to their home as soon as she could, regardless if Mr. Hodges from Glenview agreed with her decision or not.   Sheriff Eugene agreed to her plans and simply cautioned her that Mr. Hodges was still insisting that she be arrested for kidnapping.

 

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 about half way 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 Youtube Videos as they are numbered and in order! I am also a weekly contributor to The Lakeview Times.   All of my videos are published each week at http://www.lakeviewtimes.com

Part 25 If Oak Trees Could Talk!

10 Dec

Part 25 If Oak Trees Could Talk!

Welcome back to my video blogs! I can hardly believe how fast the year 2015 has zoomed by! As Christmas is fast approaching, I hope that everyone who has followed my blogs or visited will have a wonderful and blessed holiday!

I want to take this time once again to express my heart felt appreciation for all of my followers and for all of you that have taken the time to “tune in” or read along to my Video Blogs of my Romance/Suspense Novel If Oak Trees Could Talk! I appreciate that even though my reading of my novel is highly unconventional; you continued to “tune in” or read along with me! I also thank you that you have been patient with me as I have fumbled my way through the learning of how to do the videos.   Hopefully in the future, as I finish up my novel, I will continue to learn how to do the videos much better!

Today will be a little longer than usual as we will finish reading Chapter 13 The Picnic!

Chapter 13 The Picnic!

She walked up to the house to find her husband and boys sitting on the porch. Robert knew that she was concerned about her parents so he sent the boys around the back of the house to play. There were lots of things that the boys could find interesting back there, Gramps made sure of that!

“Honey, it’s going to be alright!” Robert said as he reached out for Amelia. She sat with him on the swing. He gently pushed the swing with his foot as he held her hand to reassure her.

“I don’t really know what to do? Momma and Daddy have minds of their own. If they do not want to go back to Glenview, I refuse to force them. I probably couldn’t force them anyway, even if I wanted to. When Momma is released legally in a few weeks and Daddy isn’t, he will die. I seriously believe that he will grieve himself so, that he will just give up and die!” Amelia said with desperation in her voice. “I can’t help but wonder if someone told him that Momma was being released? I know Momma asked Glenview’s staff not too, but someone could have told him accidently thinking it was just good news. I don’t know. Why would he just take off all of a sudden?   He was doing so much better. Every day I could see such an improvement in him. He actually had that sparkle in his eyes that had not been there since Momma had her stroke. He was coming back to us!”

“He was in such bad shape when he went in. I know he has made a lot of progress! I agree with you that someone must have told him about your Mom accidently. I agree something had to happen.” Robert consoled. “Let’s contact your Daddy’s nurse, maybe she will know what happened.”

“Yes, I know Daddy was coming back to us, but honestly, his improvement wasn’t because of Glenview. I seriously believe it was because Momma was getting well and was able to spend more time with him. I am convinced that is all he needs, is to spend time with Momma without being separated. I know Glenview has rules, but it was so obvious to everyone that Daddy lit up and was more himself every time he was with Momma.   I would think that there is an exception to every rule when it comes to married couples in Elderly Homes. They should be allowed to stay together, especially when you can obviously see that they do far better together, than they do apart. Wouldn’t you think so?” Amelia probed for answers.

“I would think so,” Robert agreed!

“If my parents go back to Glenview this will be the only way that they will go and I know that.   I will call Nurse Wanda to see if she knows what may have happened with Daddy. Also I will talk to her to see if she knows who I need to speak with to get my parents placed together in one room! I should have insisted on this to begin with and maybe Daddy would have been well by now. I know with Momma, she had to have the therapy, but she could have possibly gotten it at home!” Amelia continued to reason being disgusted with herself that she didn’t do something differently to help her parents earlier.

“Amelia, you can’t sit around and play the “What if” game! What if you’re Daddy hadn’t left Glenview, would you be asking yourself these questions?” Robert asked.

“Honestly Robert, there is not a day goes by that I don’t ask what I could have done differently. I just feel like I failed Daddy by not getting him to where Momma was at the beginning when she was so sick. That’s when he left us all!” Amelia said, this time with tears in her eyes.

“Okay, looking back is not helping anything and will not change a thing Baby.   We need to move forward with a solution that will make this family whole again!” Robert said rather firmly as Amelia rested her head on his shoulder. “I am good with whatever you want to do. If you want to bring them home, we will care for them. If you want to continue to let Glenview take care of them, I am with you. We need to consult your Mother and see if she has suggestions.   We are going to get through this and your parents will be home and back together again soon! That is the goal, right?”

“That’s the goal Amelia agreed! I love you Robert, with all of my heart. I truly do!” Amelia said as she rested her head on Robert’s shoulder.

“I love you more!” Robert whispered as he pulled Amelia closer.

“I hate to disturb Momma and Daddy, but I really need to talk with her before Eugene comes back in with his lights and siren blaring again! He said he would give me until morning, but I don’t trust him.” Amelia said with dread in her voice.

“Yes, it needs to be done. The boys and I will wait up here. They are really enjoying this time. It’s good being back at their Grandparent’s home!” Robert stated.

Amelia stood to her feet and took a deep breath. She began walking toward the old Oak tree. She could see that her parents were not dancing or swinging any longer. She assumed that they were having their food from Speedy’s Grill and Shake. As Amelia drew closer she saw her parents sitting on the blanket side by side. Her mother must have had some kind of time getting down on the ground. Her Daddy, however, was sitting in a robe with his legs crossed Indian style. He appeared to be perfectly content and at home.   She couldn’t help but chuckle at the site. Finally she made her way to them.

“How’s everything going? Is the food good?” Amelia asked to start the conversation.

“Delicious, simply delicious,” Helen answered, but Henry never said anything. He simply smiled.

“Momma, do you think that I can talk with you for a minute?” Amelia asked subtly. She was very concerned as to whether her Daddy knew the seriousness of the situation. She could only pray that because he made his way back home that it meant something good and positive. However, until she knew for sure, Amelia did not want to speak about her concerns in front of Henry because she did not want to upset him.

“Sure Honey, what is it?” Helen asked. “I meant privately Mom,” Helen replied.

“Amelia Dear, Henry can hear everything that you have to say to me,” Helen said directly.

“Well, Momma, I just didn’t want to upset you both, but you know the Sheriff came earlier. He said that Mr. Hodges at Glenview is very upset that both of you left. He also said that Mr. Hodges is considering pressing charges against me for kidnapping if you both do not return to Glenview.   I am not concerned about me. I am however, concerned about you and Daddy. How is Daddy? Is he well enough not to need Glenview? What do you think we need to do? Momma, I am prepared to stand behind whatever decision you make. For I know it will be what is best for you and Daddy,” Amelia stated as she looked at her little Daddy sitting there still eating his Hamburger and Onion rings in his bathrobe.

“Amelia, we know that it has been really difficult for you. We are sorry to be big old pains in your…. neck. We’ve already decided to go back Honey. We will go back first thing in the morning. Henry thought if he could just see the Oak tree that he could remember everything. He does remember a lot more, but he is not completely well. Both he and I know this. We will go back until I finish up all my therapy. That should be a few more weeks and then come home. When I come home, he’s coming with me! Agreed?” Helen said rather sternly to stress her point.

“I am totally in agreement with whatever you decide Momma. So you’re saying to me that Daddy is better but not a hundred percent yet? Is he well enough to know that he is going back to Glenview?” Amelia asked.

“Amelia, ask your father, he’s not deaf.” Helen once again said rather sternly.

“Daddy, do you understand what we are talking about?” Amelia asked cautiously.       “Will you be okay if both you and Momma go back to Glenview?”

            Tears began to fill Henry’s eyes as he looked up at his sweet Amelia who was so concerned about what they needed. He wondered when she became the parent in all of this mess they were in. He became overwhelmed when he considered the burden that he placed upon her shoulders. For the first time, he could really see that it was a lot for her to have to carry.

            “My dear Sweet Amelia, come here!” Henry commanded with his arms wide open.

            Amelia obeyed and kneeled on the blanket in front of him. He pulled her in close, kissed her on the forehead and gently patted her back. He swallowed hard and began to speak.

            “Amelia, honey, I am so sorry. I sure did not mean to cause this much trouble. I see that you’ve really been worried about us. We are fine now. I just had to see if my old friend here could help me. She really did, but I still have a ways to go. When that man that runs Glenview told me that your Momma was on her way out of there without me, I just went into a panic. I cannot live without your Momma close to me! So I came home to see if I could find what I had lost. I found a lot, but I have not found everything I needed to find. I will though, Daughter, I will.” Henry promised convincingly. As Amelia listened to her Dad, she could not believe that he wasn’t totally back with them. He sounded perfectly sound.

            “But, Daddy, you act….I mean you sound so much better! Are you and Momma sure that you want to go back to Glenview. Are you sure that you would not want to just try to stay here and see what else you may find? I would be happy to help take care of you both.   I am sure we can get Momma the therapy that she needs at home!” Amelia pleaded as she became desperate to convince her parents to stay home. She wanted them home more than anything. She and her boys needed them. Much like her Daddy, she and her family had lost something precious as well, and Amelia felt as though they would never have it back until Henry and Helen returned home for good.

            “We are sure dear, all is well.   We will be fine at Glenview. We will be home again soon, I promise.” Henry said while pulling Amelia close to him like he used to do when she was a little girl. He kissed her once again on her forehead and smiled. “Tell that husband of yours that we said thanks for the Speedy’s Grill and Shakes. That was some of the best food that I’ve had in I cannot remember when. Wow, getting to have a picnic with your Momma, I would run away every day if I could to do that!” Henry said as he nudged Helen’s shoulder. He then smiled a sheepish grin.

 

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 about half way 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 Youtube Videos as they are numbered and in order! I am also a weekly contributor to The Lakeview Times.   All of my videos are published each week at http://www.lakeviewtimes.com

Part 24 If Oak Trees Could Talk!

3 Dec

Part 24 If Oak Trees Could Talk

Welcome back! I hope that you’ve had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! Mine was special as my two oldest sisters from Ohio and Kentucky came to visit with some of their families! As we gathered around our Thanksgiving feast of abundance, I was grateful and blessed to have this time with them.

If you’ve been following along with my Video blogs, then you already know how important family is to me by listening to If Oak Trees Could Talk! Today we are continuing in Chapter 13 The Picnic!

Chapter 13

The Picnic!

She spread out the blanket on the ground and placed the hamburgers and onion rings inside the picnic basket along with a couple of wine glasses. She also placed the bottle of wine in an ice bucket. She propped the radio beside the basket along with the bathrobe that she found for her Daddy. As she had gotten her Mom’s attention, she pointed to the house and whispered to her that that was where she was going to be if her mother needed anything.   Just as she was ready to walk away, a Sheriff’s car came barreling into the driveway with flashing lights and a siren screaming.

Robert walked quickly toward the driveway to meet the Sheriff’s car and Amelia and the boys followed as well to prevent them from interrupting her parents. When they had arrived at the driveway, Eugene Perkins stepped out of the police car.

“Robert, Ms. Amelia, I am sure you know why I’m here, right?” Eugene asked.

“Hello Eugene, how are you? How are your parents?” Amelia asked hoping to change the subject. Helen taught Amelia to be polite and sociable. There wasn’t any reason to be rude; after all, Amelia had gone almost thirteen years of school with Eugene if you count kindergarten. She knew every member of his family and his parents were close friends to hers.  

“My folks are fine, Ms. Amelia. Speaking of folks, Ms. Amelia, How are yours doing?” Eugene probed as he looked toward the old Oak tree.

“Well, Eugene, I am sure that they’ve been better, but they’re not doing badly!” Amelia stated.

“Now Ms. Amelia, we’re going to have to quit beating around the bush here, now you know why I am here, right?” Eugene once again asked as he looked Amelia right in the eyes.

“Well, I honestly don’t know why you’re here Eugene.” Amelia answered. “I don’t understand exactly. Are we in some kind of trouble?”

“Well, I guess you can say that Ms. Amelia, I’ve got to take your parents back to Glenview. I had gotten a call from Mr. Hodges, accusing you of taking your parents out of the home illegally. Is this true?” Eugene once again probed as he kept looking down toward the Oak tree. By this time a sound of music was coming from the tree and Eugene became more and more curious as to what was going on down there.

“I didn’t know that I had done anything illegal, Eugene. It wasn’t like they are imprisoned at Glenview. I am the one, with their permission of course, that had signed them into Glenview. I didn’t think it would be illegal to take them out.”

“Well, Ms. Amelia, Mr. Hodges disagrees. He says that your parents are liable for a lot of expenses and that you were not advised by the staff as to whether or not they were able to leave Glenview. I think it would be best if I just took your parents back, and then maybe you do things differently if you choose to take them out again. Mr. Hodges is pressing charges of kidnapping against you.”

“Now, Eugene, you know that is not the truth. You have parents that are getting older, if your father decided to leave a facility on his own accord, mine you, like Glenview, wouldn’t you want to help your mother find him? By the way, do you still live at home with your parents? Amelia stalled.

“Yes, Ms. Amelia I still live with my parents. Do you know how often I am asked that question?” Eugene asked as he obviously was embarrassed.

“I’m asking you as a friend, Eugene, please just give us some more time. Momma thinks that she might be able to reach Daddy so that he will come back to us.   Eugene I’m telling you and Mr. Hodges right now, if they refuse to go back into Glenview, then there is nothing that I can do about it but stand by what they want!”

“Okay, Ms. Amelia, I’m going to turn my back on what I’ve seen here today. I will give your mother until morning to see what happens with Mr. Henry. I believe that I can hold Mr. Hodges off until then, but after that, I cannot promise you that I can help you.” Eugene said while cocking his head at a certain angle to look in Amelia’s eyes because the sun was starting to set and was shining right in Eugene’s face.

“Fair enough Eugene! Thank you. We will see what we can do! Tell your parents hello for us.” Amelia said with a sigh of relief.

 

Eugene got in his police car, and Amelia could hear him talking on his radio. “That’s a negative on Mr. Henry Tyler’s twenty. We’ll just have to check back later!”

He then started his car and sped off.

The sun had gone down rather quickly and it seemed as though the moon was in a hurry to shine forth.   When Amelia looked toward the Oak tree she could see the silhouette of two people. She watched in awe as her parents swayed softly in an embrace to faint sounds of music. Amelia sighed once again because she knew that only her Momma could have gotten her Daddy down from the tree without breaking any bones.   The radio continued to play softly and she could hear soft laughter coming from her parent’s direction. From a distance everything appeared as it should be. Both of her parents seemed as though nothing had robbed them of their past year’s happiness, but Amelia wondered how it would be if she drew closer?  

Amelia loved what she was witnessing. However, she knew that it was going to come to an abrupt end. Although Eugene Perkins gave them a break this time, Amelia knew his reputation of being ruthless at times. He was a Sheriff who thought more of himself than anyone else did and quite frankly he let the job go to his head. He liked to throw his weight around and lord over people when he had an opportunity. Amelia considered the situation with her parents to be an awesome opportunity for him.

 

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 about half way 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 Youtube Videos as they are numbered and in order! I am also a weekly contributor to The Lakeview Times.   All of my videos are published each week at http://www.lakeviewtimes.com

Part 23 If Oak Trees Could Talk!

20 Nov

Part 23 If Oak Trees Could Talk!

As I begin this Monday morning I want to say that my prayers and thoughts go out to the people of Paris, France this morning as they are mourning the loss of at least 129 people following the brutal and cowardly terrorist attacks last Friday! It is heart wrenching to see the pain on the faces of those who are in shock that such a thing could happen! As an American, we remember all too well of having the same feelings of disbelief as our eyes were glued on our televisions during the 911 attacks of our own country. We pray for courage, unity and resolve to the citizens of all of France this morning!

 

Wow! It’s hard to believe that next week is Thanksgiving! This year seems to have flown by, but I wanted to let you my readers and followers know that I count you as one of my many blessings to be thankful for! Thank you for taking the time to read or “tune in” each week to If Oak Trees Could Talk! I appreciate that you sacrifice your time to read, listen, or comment, for this I am truly grateful!

Today we pick back up in Chapter 12 No Place Like Home and will continue reading a bit into Chapter 12 The Picnic!

Chapter 12

No Place Like Home

“Mom let’s go out the garden way! Can we please?” Dylan pleaded.

“Sure, why not!” Mom agreed.

They walked through a hallway into a vestibule or a very narrow room that housed a grand staircase. This area of the house did not hold lots of furniture with the exception of a few fancy side tables and a huge curio cabinet with beautifully curved wooden carved legs. This room displayed precious relics of past generations of Grandparents and Great Grandparents and even Great Great Grandparents. The boys loved to go into this area of the house because it was like a museum of many treasures that painted a history of the families past.  

The boys walked slowly through this narrow area only to keep going forward into their Gramma’s favorite room, which was originally designed and presented to her by Henry himself on their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary!  This room was the only new edition to the original Victorian.   One usually gasped in awe when entering this bright and cheerful hide-away. This room served as a prelude to what was to come if one chose to continue to walk out the French doors onto the beautiful patio and formal gardens. However, it was difficult to leave this eye pleasing room.   The edition was Helen’s own indoor gardens. This exquisite tropical room was Helen’s very own oasis, which displayed beautiful mosaic tiled flooring in bright vivid artistic patterns. Huge marble columns stood royally and held up huge pediments of artistry scroll works. The room was laden down with green lush tropical plants delicately planted in beautiful mosaic pots where they flourished in this room. Loads of sunshine beamed through the French Doors and the specially designed window panels that seem to magnify the warmth of the rays. Of course, in the corner of this exquisite room was what Helen considered one of her most exquisite and valued material treasures that Henry had ever purchased for her. It was a stunning three tiered mosaic water fountain imported from Italy that Henry found on one of his Home Show buying expeditions for the Hardware store. He had surprised her with this stunning piece of glory that weighed so much that Henry had to use special lifters and levels to get the fountain in place. As with anything Henry had done, he presented it to her with a grand gesture.   He hired a band that knew how to play authentic Italian ballads and marched his Helen blindfolded into the room that stole her heart. The acoustics of the room rang out with the wonderful sounds of cascading waterfalls and sweet ballads of romance and love.

“This room doesn’t feel the same either does it Momma? Rob asked.

“No, Honey, I’m afraid not. I try to take care of Momma’s plants and of course the fountain is off now. No, sweetie, I am sure nothing is going to be the same until Gramma and Gramps come home.” Amelia replied rather quietly almost at a whisper as if she never wanted the living plants to hear such sad news.

“Come on, we’ve got to get these things to Gramma!” Dylan said as he opened the French doors and proceeded out the door with the picnic basket in his hand. The others followed. Their timing was to be perfect as Robert pulled up into the drive with the food that Helen had ordered for her and Henry’s picnic at the same time. The boys ran around the wrapped porch to meet their Daddy around front and Amelia followed.

“Well, let’s hope your mother knows what she is doing,” Robert said.

“If anyone knows what to do to help Daddy, it’s Momma. Let’s just get this stuff to her and find out what else she wants us to do.” Amelia said as she headed toward the Oak tree.

 

Chapter 13

The Picnic

When the family had walked slowly toward the tree, they could hear her Helen singing softly while she was pushing Henry in the swing. As they drew closer, Helen nodded up and down so that they knew it was okay for them to come down to the tree!   They obeyed. Amelia showed Helen all that they had gotten for her from the house and she motioned again, so as to go unnoticed by Henry, with one hand for them to set everything up. She continued pushing Henry with her other hand. Occasionally they heard Henry let out a whoop and then he would yell, “Higher, higher!”

Amelia noticed her little Momma who normally needed a walker at Glenview to stabilize herself, standing as straight as she could muster to push Henry as high as he desired to go. Again as she watched her parents, she witnessed more of the great love that her mother had toward her father.

“Always put your spouse first.” Amelia heard in her thinking as she relived the conversation that she had with her Momma in the hospital about how to love with passion. She was witnessing what her mother meant. She watched her mother putting her father’s needs above her own. Tears stung Amelia’s eyes as she hurried to try to fulfill her mother’s wishes.

 

As always thank you so much for either reading along or “tuning in”! I want to wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving! May you have lots of Living, Laughing, and Loving!

If You would like more information on how to purchase your copy of If Oak Trees Could Talk or any of my other books please go to my Author Page

http://www.amazon.com/Christine-Hornback/e/B00J43R78C/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1413214474&sr=8-1

Never miss a week of hearing or reading along of If Oak Trees Could Talk! Please go to my blog at https://authorartistmomof2.wordpress.com/ as every week is listed in the archives!   You can also find my story published in the Lakeview Times http://www.lakeviewtimes.com

As always I would love to hear from you! If you have recently began reading along or have found my video blogs and would want to hear the entire story please Subscribe to my Youtube Video Blogs!

Thanks again for all of the new followers, comments and the “likes.” They really encourage me to continue sharing each week!

 

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