Like water to the thirsty is laughter to my soul. Without it I would shrivel and die. Life is heavy; times are hard. A hearty laugh lifts the spirit, lightens the load, breathes courage to a fainting heart. It\'s been said by some unidentified jolly soul that, "Laughter is a tranquilizer...
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1807 Views
I've often wondered why such strange things happen to me. Sure, I know sometimes I can bring them on myself, but there are those things that happen "just because." Here's a little story about one of those times. When my daughter, Heather, was in her first year of high school,...
1533 Views
1533 Views
My son Justin has been battling Alopecia Areota; which is a hair loss, since he was four years old. He is now 17. We first realized this problem after Justin attempted to cut his own hair. Due to the "creative hairstyle" he chose for himself, expert help was needed. At the barber shop,...
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851 Views
Stacy has been taking piano lessons for one year. On March 3, 2009 she particpated in the Gold Cup Festival hosted by the National Federation of Music, Conroe Chapter. Stacy memorized her two solos and performed them for a judge. She received a Superior Rating (5 points). Good job Stacy! ...
1491 Views
1491 Views
Alysia has been playing piano for a few years. On March 3, 2009 she participated in the Gold Cup Festival hosted by the National Federation of Music, Conroe Chapter. This is her second year participating. She did very well and earned the highest mark possible, a Superior, worth 5 points. Next...
1281 Views
1281 Views
Although I have collected family stories all of my life, I have only been involved with writing stories since the mid 1980\'s, around the time I started making patchwork quilts. My 2 children watched in amazement as I cut up pieces of fabric into tiny shapes and carefully, lovingly stitched the...
2556 Views
2556 Views
The Pearl Earring The gold engraved invitation stood propped on the sitting room mantelpiece for several weeks and Dame Roma's secretary had been very gracious when I had accepted her request for my husband and I to dine with her at Government House at a black tie dinner. After much agonising...
2750 Views
2750 Views
The first profound thing I saw my daughter Danielle do was fail. It was astonishing what she did after that. One afternoon, she and Rosie were drawing fruit as an impromptu art exercise. At the end of the day Andria, a visiting favorite adult relative, remarked how nice their creations were. ...
389 Views
389 Views
n Normal 0 false false false EN-AU n X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 ; &l t;style> & lt;![endif] --> Afraid She came up behind me, silently, stealthily and full of mad malice. I was 21 years old, full of brisk, confident starched efficiency, my attention focussed on the ward dinner box which had...
2106 Views
2106 Views
The older I get, the more I enjoy warm weather. It's amazing how the sun has such a therapeutic effect on what lies deep beneath the skin. Oh, I can perspire along with the best of them when I'm cleaning a bath tub or just climbing two flights of stairs, but that's different. I'm...
115 Views
115 Views
661 Views
661 Views
Uncle Johnnie's pastimes never ceased to amaze us. Kelo, a retired race horse, would run around the barnyard like a big puppy. Uncle Johnnie's big smile would erupt into laughter at our reactions and interaction with Kelo.
540 Views
540 Views
Ronald Stephens, Uncle Johnnie's baby boy (correction-Until William). The "I love my family gene" has shown up in Ron. He is the person everyone in the family knows because he makes it his business to connect with them. In this way, he is very much like Grandmother. He is very proud...
1423 Views
1423 Views
Okay, so you've been introduced to my son at 3-years old. At least you think you've been introduced. Actually, you have only seen him from a distance. It's time you come inside our home and meet him up close and personal. </div> For most of us 5:30 a.m. is a time...
946 Views
946 Views
Cousin Charlie remembered a time when Henry James came in from the field with a loaded and with the trigger cocked 3? 5? gaged shotgun on his shoulder. Charlie took it from him and remarked "that\'s how kids get killed". Henry, when told of Charlie\'s account, filled in the rest of...
1389 Views
1389 Views
June 6 1991 a preschooler was asked what she wanted to be when she grew up. She turned to the camera and said "a mommy". I was both proud and horrified. Others congratulated me on being a great role model. I feared my child would be another teen pregnancy statistic. 16 years...
1245 Views
1245 Views
Janie Shellman (1994 Smart Family Honoree) On September 22, 1917 twins were born to William Joseph and Ursula Smart Stephens, a happy bouncing baby boy and girl. These babies were named Janie & Johnnie. Janie was reported to be the second born. She became the oldest sister of the 8 surviving...
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137 Views
Aunt Janie is holding a quilt started by grandmother, completed by Aunt Janie, made possible by Uncle Johnny and given to me who have wonderful and horrible memories about it. Uncle Johnny drove trucks and ever so often he would get a load he deamed useful to himself or the family. ...
1225 Views
1225 Views
What Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up? age 10 One day my mother asked me,What do you want to be? Do you want to be a teacher,Or a singer full of glee? Are you meant to be a writer,Who day dreams all day long? Thinking...
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887 Views
Glasses (2009- age 16) God works in mysterious ways; I've heard it all my life,But truly, I couldn't see it until I couldn't see , Until the nearest chalkboard was never near enough to read. In second grade my teacher knew there was something wrong with me, When she...
1047 Views
1047 Views