Spur Of The Moment

It was a spur of the moment trip.One more get away before Xav goes back to Austrailia for good.The cabin was perfect as was the game room adjacent to it.We hiked to the waterfalls and sat by the fire as the creek rolled over the rocks nearby.When Xav and I talk God is always apart of the conversation.This time was no different.It is hard to say good bye to special people like Xav.He has traveled all over the world and will go back home with a life-time full of memories and only one suit case.Most of us go off for the week-end with more than that.That night JJ and I played pool.Addie,Cooper JJ and I played Old Maides -somehow I lost and I can still hear them laughing.The next Day we went hiking and Addie and I ran and hiked .She definitely will be a runner one day!Of course that night she was exhausted.We got to see Jessica love on her kids and have coffee with her.Jolene and I were reminded how much we missed those times.We saw Damien and Christerfer talk about him going to South America.I took a picture of all the Kenworthy Guys at the waterfalls-a picture they will all treasure.As Xav was leaving we shook hands and held on for a little longer than usual so much to say that words aren't enough sometimes.

Going Back

November has always been challenging for me in some ways and amazing in others .Josh was born Nov. 13th and my Dad passed away 54 years ago this month.One of my favorite people celebrated her 106 birthday so we took a trip back to our hometown-Rome ,Ga.We first ate pork chops ,rice and tomato gravy,and a pear with Helmans mayonnaise and cheese with my Mom.Next we saw Jimmy and took him 4 Kystall hamburgers and Mrs Hayes .We had our picture made with both of them-at 106 we may not get another chance.Then we went to Aunt Elaine and Uncle Jim's house 82&85.Of course Elaine was worried about her house being messy but we told we came to see you not your house. She gave me an old poem that Grandmother had written.She always gives me an old treasure from the past.I worry with all of our technology now that notes and pictures will be absolute in a few years.Our next stop was Joe and Loraine's  for supper-soup and turnip greens - doesn't, get much better than that.Our final stop was at Debbie Stuarts house.Our kids had grown up together and Larry had helped me run Pak-Rite . It is a rare thing to visit folks these days. We text and of course talk on our cell phones and of course there is Facebook . As a child we use to sit on the front the front porch and talk guess we are all too busy for that now.I use to know everyone on my street and now I barely know my next door neighbor .In1995 we moved from Rome and lost touch with our friends and family .Foster care and raising our kids kept us so busy.We will go back and visit but this day will be special for us.Sometimes you just need to hold onto to things one more time before they are gone for good.

Ethyl B Hayes

Could it be possible that Mrs Hayes could be 106.She can no longer love on kids like she did decades ago but she still wears that same smile that warms your heart.Her and her husband never had kids of their own but make no mistake she has more children than anyone I know.When we looking for a babysitter the name that kept coming up over and over was Mrs Hayes.She was the perfect combination of toughness mixed in with gentelness.The kids never went away hungry for food or affection from her house.She learned to drive after she turned 65.I think she thought the speed limit was somewhere near her age.Justin always asked for pancakes just like Mrs Hayes makes.One of my favorites things she use to ask me after we started doing foster care"has Jolene had enough yet?"I use to wish she had been my Mother.She was everything that you would want-hard worker,big heart,close to God,always smiling and fun to be around.She told me one time -Lidelle you are the nicest man to ever walk through my door-few words have meant more to me.One day I went by to check on her and she was sick.She would go to the hospital and come out without most of her fingers and toes.That would have devastated most of us but it was merely a bump in the road to her.A week later she was driving and making apple pies. How hard is it to button a shirt sometimes with all your fingers, somehow ,she managed to button her dress with her thumbs only.Where does an attitude like that come from? Maybe working 12 hour shifts for 40 years in a cotton mill, or taking care of a mother-in-law for 20 years.Someone who is always thinking about others before herself.An angel on loan to us for a little while. Someone who teaches us how to love and how to live by her example. As I hold the nubs of her fingers she smiles and says her feet are cold.I reach down and put the boots on and the blanket over her cold feet.She potty trained Jessica,Josh,and Justin. Poured her love into them everyday for years.Treated them like they were her grand kids .We have loved this sweet lady for 30 years.Jolene and I had our picture made with her most likely for the last time.Sometime in the near future she will be going home.On that day all that passed her way will give thanks for for her having passed our way!