Beech Tree News Network

Life is full of people with really good intentions.  When people find out that you are an adoptive family, you get asked questions from strangers and even friends that are meant to be harmless.  Unfortunately, sometimes even well intended questions or comments, can be intrusive or hurtful.   This is just a small example of what I and some of my friend’s who have also adopted, have been asked in the past.  I don’t know about my friends, but I find that honey (humorous answers) works better than vinegar (harsh comebacks) when getting a point across. 

I’ve often said of my oldest daughter, Natalie, that she is one of the best mothers I have ever known.  She does so well with her little girl, but even Natalie has her limits, so it was no surprise when she carried Sabria out to where I was working in the yard to see if I could take a shift.  “I can’t get any of my homework done.  She keeps climbing over my books into my lap.  I know I shouldn’t say this, and I real

How many shades of grey are there? That answer should be none. Unfortunately, the world tends to put everything into the grey category. Truth is, everything is black or white . . . right or wrong.

Recently, my mom turned 82. She is a fine lady! Happily, I can say that she is healthy and lives independently. And, as most of you would say of your moms, I admire her greatly.

Many qualities make my mom a fine woman, but four characteristics inspire my respect:

Red had a head the size of a backhoe bucket, and he packed a set of spurs that bore a close likeness to railroad spikes. Given all of this, Red was still a certified COWARD. He would sneak-up on your blindside or get you when your back was turned. Had he lived in the Old West, he would have been classified as a "backshooter." He refused to face you head-on, especially if he thought you were carrying any "difference."

There was a small blue wild flower that grew along the roadside when I was a kid growing up in Spencer County.  None of the adults knew what it was called, so they deemed it a weed.  I called it a Cornflower, after the Crayola color, Cornflower Blue, in my box of 64 crayons.  I was grown before I discovered it was called Chicory. 

One of the things I love about summer (definately not this crazy heat), are my hummingbirds. Although they don't seem as plentiful at my place this year, I do have a few. I could sit for hours and take pictures of these amazing birds. Someone said the other day to me "now there's some patience." But for me, it's my sanity. Anytime I can sit with my camera and just wait to see what comes my way, it's a great day!

July 2009, I was one month removed from graduating from Mid-Continent University.  Barack Obama was President, North Carolina defeated Michigan State 89-72 several months earlier to win the NCAA Championship, The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic in 5 games to win the NBA Championship, and I began writing for Beech Tree News.  

Our recent drought continues to cause problems. Locally and in the mid-west, pastures and crops are not producing normally. This situation has caused farmers to feed hay earlier than normal or to sell livestock. Many farmers hope to produce half the normal crop, offsetting basic planting costs.

Respecting A Hero

I had the opportunity as a young Airman in the late 1980's to meet and become great friends with one of Morgantown's own citizens- Ricky Romans. As I befriended him he often talked of a man that was his hero. He described this man as a "Superman" type of individual. His eyes light up every times he talked of this man. That man was his grandfather, the late Jim Bat Johnson of Butler County, KY.