Blogging

Tonight I was looking at different blog pages and realized I could also do a photo blog. It opened my mind to write about the pictures I have posted. The pictures consist of pictures I have taken, family photos and friend photos. I feel like I am heading in the right direction in regard to my writing. I may never be a pro, but I will never know until I try. So this is my chance!

"Write what you know and you will do well."
-Don Wallis Antioch University McGregor

Renewal

I noticed these flowers growing along the roadside in London, Ky last year on Taylor School Rd. These flowers were growing among a lot of brush and safetly nestled behind a barb wire fence. This entire property had been abandoned, looked like there may have been a fire at one time because the chimney was still in tact. I found this sight to be a renewal of what once was and had to capture the scene. Driving through the mountains can really take a person back several centuries. I often wonder who lived in this place and what their life may have been like.

Applachian Orphan at Dessie Scott, Pine Ridge, Ky "Shane"

When I look at this picture, I realize this is now a grown man. I met his sister in 2005, via the internet and we became best friends. She has shared many stories of her childhood with me. My friend has two siblings, they are twins, Wendy and Shane. When these kids were young their mother took them to an orphanage and left them for three years. When I look at this picture I see an innocent child, who did not deserve to be left at an orphanage for three years. There mother was basically made to come get her kids. I hope to sit down with my friend and get the entire story written, this is only the beginning.

River Road Church Viper, Ky

My aunt Vernease went to home to be with the Lord a few years ago and this was the place of her funeral. This woman was more of a grandmother to me than an aunt. She loved this little church house and made it her final request to have her funeral services here. I wanted to capture the moment as a permanent reminder of her and her life.

Appalachian Funeral Vicco, Ky

My cousin Bob Sumner's funeral and burial, George's Branch holler, Vicco, Ky. My father and brother are also buried at this cemetery. This mountain is a beautiful resting place for our family. Appalachian culture has deep respect for the deceased, family members spend hours taking care of the family cemetery keeping it looking beautiful.

Quilt Sign

Friendly

Innocence

This is a picture of my daughter and her aunt Lisa's dog buddy. This picture illustrates the innocence of a young girl gaining the trust of a dog by feeding him ice, under a Bradford pear tree on a hot summer day in Keavy, Ky.

Keavy Ky

This is a picture of one of my father in laws ponds in Keavy, Ky. As you can see he is sitting on the edge of the pond fishing, if you look closely a fishing pole is causing a ripple in the center of the photo. This was one of the most beautiful place I had ever seen, unfortunatly since the death of my father in law things are not like they use to be. This photo is a constant reminder of my father in law and his love of the outdoors and fishing. This is a true legacy for the children and grandchildren in the family.

Dogwood Gatlinburg, TN

Ah, the beautiful dogwood leaf. My mother has always passed down the legend of the dogwood tree, so I will pass it along as she has.

The Legend of the Dogwood

In Jesus time, the dogwood grewTo a stately size and a lovely hue.
'Twas strong and firm, it's branches interwovenFor the cross of Christ it's timbers were chosen.
Seeing the distress at this use of their woodChrist made a promise which still holds good:
"Never again shall the dogwood growLarge enough to be used so.
Slender and twisted, it shall beWith blossoms like the cross for all to see.
As blood stains the petals marked in brownThe blossom's center wears a thorny crown.
All who see it will remember MeCrucified on a cross from the dogwood tree.
Cherished and protected this tree shall beA reminder to all of My agony."
~ Author Unknown ~

Barn London, Ky

Best Friend

Route 64

George's Branch, Vicco, Ky

Appalachian Orphan at Dessie Scott in Pine Ridge, Ky "Wendy"

Outhouse London, Ky

Cumberland Gap

Summers in Kentucky

Kentucky Building

Beautiful Friend

Aunt Ann Walker-McIntyre

Woodland Angel

Dragonfly in Keavy, Ky

Dragonflies

Barn Rose

Mother, Ora Walker-Williams

Dad, Gilbert Williams Jr

Great Grandparents, Thomas & Kathleen Spencer

Beautiful Friend

Granny Mary Spencer-Walker

Grandpa Elijah Walker

Cold Metal

Primitive Toy Shop

Watering Cans

Vanity

Barn Window

Gears

Old Barn

Early Travel

Light the Way

Dry Basin

Simpler Times

Oil Lamp

Glen Helen, Yelllow Springs Ohio

Glen Helen, Yellow Springs Ohio

Woodland

London Kentucky

Pow Wow, Southeast Indian

Route 64

Drowning

It seems as if I find myself drowning in life's daily happenings. My husband leaves for work every day at 5:30am, each day I get up, get my daughter ready for school, drive her to school, come home and get ready for work myself. I love my family but I feel like I have lost who I am, I am a wife, mother, daughter, aunt and employee but when am I just ME? I feel like I am being pulled under with the current.

I love the work I do now, but have recently graduated with a bachelor's degree last June. I am currently looking for a new career in the business management realm. I went back to school to make life easier for my family, but the stress is still present. I suppose it doesn't help that I am also trying to look for a new career. I wish I could just stop and take a deep breath. I know I am probably better off than some people, I try to think positive all the time but even the true optimist has to have times when they want to give up and run away.

I don't want to wish any days of my life away but when are brighter days going to come my way. My life has been one challenge after another from day one. I just feel like I was given the short end of the stick! Maybe I try to hard to make things right, trying to conform to what society expects, but if we don't we will not survive, we all have to work to pay for lives expenses. In a way I wish "progress" wouldn't have happened, yet on the other hand where would we be without it? I dunno, I just feel like in the good name of progress we left part of our true souls behind...

Writing...

Writing, where to begin. I recently graduated with my Bachelor's Degree in Business Management. However mid-way through the completion of my degree, I realized I really want to become a writer. I have very mixed feelings about this though. I will be 36 years old next month and often wonder if there is enough time in my life left to pursue writing. It has been a hidden dream of mine for quite some time and I just don't know what to do. I hope to begin a writing class during the winter, but I am honeslty terrified to even begin, I am afraid of failure. I think I have good stories to share, but that is just my opinion, people may not give a flying "F" about my stories. Where do I go from here?

Family

Again I find myself pondering why families fall apart. There have been so many instances in my life where I see families fall apart. You have some family members who obviosly care to much while others think it is fun and games. I wonder if this is a psychological issue and there is some form of enjoyment from causing chaos.

My friend recently told me about a book she read about a Wolf In Wolves Clothing, this books describes sheep and wolves, how you have wolves who create their own path and sheep who are always followers. Maybe I am a wolf and have never realized it. I am not catty and I enjoy healthy relationships, whether with my friends or with family members. I get tired of explaining myself over and over, if someone has done wrong they should own up to it and deal with it, instead of brushing it under the rug and expect everyone to move on as if nothing happened, sorry I don't deal that way. If you want to be in my life then be loyal, honest and trustworthy, don't base a realtionship on your own selfish needs.

I use to get really angry with people but now I realized instead of anger I should really feel sorry for this type of person, because they are the ones who need help not me. Who has time for drama in every occassion of their life? I am not an actress and if I wanted drama in my life I would have pursued an acting career, I didn't sign up for the drama department. My father in law always voiced his opinion on busy-bodies and now I am fully aware of WHO he was talking about and understand what he meant about being idle, it only causes trouble.

Ok, will finish later gotta go to work...

Why Make Differences?

How can a parent make differences in their children? I can understand each child being different and having their own unique personality but how can a mother choose one or two children over the other? Some children have stronger personalities than others but should the child with the calm, quiet temperment be shewed to the side for the others to take center stage? In this particular situation I am speaking of adult children. A mother should be able to have a relationship with all of her children without the other siblings dominating the entire relationship. How can a mother let this happen, can she not see that she is being manipulated, or does she choose not to see what is right before her eyes? How can a mother want bad things to happen to her child and their spouse or children? Is this selfishness or callowness?

To a degree the mother is responsible for the actions of her children and if they choose to manipulate their mother, then at least she should exhibit perspicacious judgement and figure out what is going on, instead of roaming this earth in utter blindness. Does a mother not see what pain she causes her children when she does not take a stand and see the entire situation for what it truly is, instead of being led around like a lost sheep into oblivion? Wake up woman, see where the truth lies instead of blaming an outsider for the quandary that has existed for many years!!

Children are a product of their parents, parents rear their children for many years before they send them out in to the world, or for some who lock their children out and send them wondering in a world of confusion and then judge them for the decisions they were forced to make. Playing the blame game never takes care of the issue at hand, issues have to be resolved and their has to be closure before people can move forward. After there is so much hurt, how is it these relationships can be repaired? Spiraling, spiraling, spiraling, now affecting the grandchildren in the family. Does one child or grandchild really take precedence over another? How do people decide that one is better than the other? As for me, I am a mother of one, but I have many family members, nieces, nephews, and now their children, great nieces and great nephews. I cannot chose one over the other, they are all precious and when a problem arises we handle it as diplomatic as we possibley can and we explain to the children what happened and what the consequences are or were for their actions. We DO NOT let the children treat each other unfavorably, we teach them to love and respect one another.

Relationships cannot be built when they are always being torn down in some form or fashion! For those of you who think the best way of handling a situation is to treat people horribly, well the only thing you are accomplishing is deeper and deeper hurt and then anger rears its ugly head. How can a mother who is the head of the family allow such an atrocity to continue? If you are unhappy with a situation it should be dealt with in a diplomatic manner, you do not take the word of others in these type of situations, you talk to each person or persons involved and get the whole story before you make your judgements on situations, you cannot come to a conclusion with half truths, it will never work.

As for the individuals who continue to get hurt by their family members, in the long run, they are better off not being in the presence of such people. There is hurt to endure and overcome but all in all it is far more less hurt than they would have endured being involved in such dysfunction on a regular basis. Chalk up the ignorance and move on because it is far less misery than you would have to contend with on a daily basis.

Mothers please do not place a divider between your children, after all they did not ask to be born, it was the choice of their parents. Love them as if they are still little children, are we to not to have the heart of a child to enter the Kingdom of Heaven?