This video is worth watching ....

A Letter From Hell:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kq2xbMHcOw

A DEA officer stops at a ranch in Texas, and talks with an old rancher. He tells the rancher, "I need to inspect your ranch for illegally grown drugs." The rancher says, "Okay, but don't go in that field over there," as he points out the location.

The DEA officer verbally explodes saying, " Mister, I have the authority of the Federal Government with me." Reaching into his rear pants pocket, he removes his badge and proudly displays it to the rancher. "See this badge? This badge means I am allowed to go wherever I wish . . . . On any land. No questions asked or answers given. Have I made myself clear? Do you understand?"

The rancher nods politely, apologizes, and goes about his chores.

A short time later, the old rancher hears loud screams and sees the DEA officer running for his life chased by the rancher's big Santa Gertrudis bull . . . . . .

With every step the bull is gaining ground on the officer, and it seems likely that he'll get gored before he reaches safety. The officer is clearly terrified. The rancher throws down his tools, runs to the fence and yells at the top of his lungs . . . . .

"Your badge. Show him your BADGE!"







--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cill Mitchell Antonini

I recently received these photos from Cill.

She & her husband Sam are now living in Arizona.

This is how Christmas decorating is done in Arizona....

And this is one way to get around ...

Cill at the golf course ... in December


The golf course


The courtyard at their home



Meet Sidney Antonini


and Shelby


Cill & Shirl



Cill & Sam in their front yard ... in Winter!



Cill & Sam in front of one of their orange trees

Cill & I met a long time ago ... at Little Ida Church where our parents were members. It's been a blessing to be in touch with her again ... to receive her emails & photos.
I love you Cill!

Just suppose ....

You died in an accident on your way home two weeks from today. In a matter of seconds you understood what the accident had done and you then found yourself standing on the outside of heaven's gates.

A man on the inside looks at you and asks this question:

"Who are you and why should I let you in?"

What would your answer be?

Your answer matters.

Poems by Vickie Kendrick

I will never forget you Mom

Mother you are so far away,

but I can still feel you.

The essence of your being

is in everything I say and do.

The nearness of your spirit

takes my breath away.

I feel you in my heart

as I go throughout my day.

When I close my eyes,

I get such a feeling of bliss.

I can see your gentle face

and still feel the love of your caress.

You tiptoe across my mind

in the gentlest ways.

You're in the softness of a rose

and the warm wind on my face.

You're the sunbeams from heaven

shining brightly in my soul.

The sweetness of all serenity

that fills my heart with gold.

You're always inside my mind,

even though we are far apart.

I can feel you with me always

tugging gently at my heart.

There is the sweetest devotion,

I know you loved me too.

We'll be together in spirit

and I'll be forever loving you.

by Vickie Elliott Kendrick

Poems by Vickie Kendrick

For my mother

Sitting on a porch swing on this beautiful day,

My mother then began to tell,

Of all the things she had done well.

She spoke of the true love she had obtained,

She said it was sweeter than a spring rain,

Her love for him lasted many years,

In his passing she has shed many tears.

She told of her children and what they meant,

With them the joy she has spent.

Her love was free for them to share,

We knew she was always there,

Advice she gave was for free,

Wanting the best for us to be,

Honesty and respect for others was a must,

In all her children she placed her trust,

To love everybody and then we would know,

The family circle of love we have seen grow.

by Vickie Elliott Kendrick

Poems by Vickie Kendrick

A Place in Time – for Mom

She brought a smile to those she had touched,
For in her heart she loved us so much,

So often her laughter a thought and a wish,
Remember, that day she gave her first kiss.

A place on the cheek- a pinch and a hug,
A slap on the bum- for good measure, please come.

A place to remember- to Mom’s house we go,
A place full of love of this would be told.

She talked until morning of days that had past,
No sleep for my eyes I pray I could last.
Remember the child, remember the time,
A day yes a thought that memory of mine.

A place in the hearts of those that would love-
My mother’s love was a gift from above:

Sweet Lord please remember my one thoughtful wish,
To always hold dear those hugs and her kiss.

by Vickie Elliott Kendrick

Subrina Riddle Caudill

In Memory of Subrina Riddle Caudill

Subrina Caudill, 90, of Premium passed away Sunday, January 3, 2010 at her residence.

Subrina was the daughter of the late Lou and Mattie Riddle. She was the widow of Delzie Caudill.

Surviving are 8 children: Lorene (Bill) Butski and Vernon (Rose) Caudill all of Michigan, Katherine (Enos) Amburgey of Indiana, James Verl Caudill, Imogene (Joe) Smith, Brenda Sue McGlamery, Glenda Dale New, Terry Lynn (Sherri) Caudill all of Whitesburg; 18 grandchildren, 33 great grandchildren, 1 great great grandchild.

Visitation: 6:00 P.M. Tuesday at the Letcher Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in the Whitaker Cemetery at Premium, Kentucky.

Funeral: 11:00 o'clock Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at the Letcher Funeral Home Chapel with Dock Frazier officiating.

(Obituary taken from Letcher Funeral Home, Whitesburg, KY)

Our thoughts & prayers go out to the family. Subrina was the youngest daughter of Lourenza Riddle & Martha Jane Pratt Riddle. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her.

A sick man turned to his doctor as he was preparing to
Leave the examination room and said,
'Doctor, I am afraid to die.
Tell me what lies on the other side.'

Very quietly, the doctor said, 'I don't know.'

'You don't know? You're, a Christian man,
And don't know what's on the other side?'

The doctor was holding the handle of the door;
On the other side came a sound of scratching and whining,
And as he opened the door, a dog sprang into the room
And leaped on him with an eager show of gladness.

Turning to the patient, the doctor said,
'Did you notice my dog?
He's never been in this room before.
He didn't know what was inside.
He knew nothing except that his master was here,
And when the door opened, he sprang in without fear.
I know little of what is on the other side of death,
But I do know one thing...

I know my Master is there and that is enough..'

Glory to God in highest heaven,

Who unto man His Son hath given;

While angels sing with tender mirth,
A glad new year to all the earth.
Martin Luther

The object of a New Year is not that we should have a new year.
It is that we should have a new soul.
G. K. Chesterton

This comes from Bobby ....

New years eve 2009...........laundry is going and the furniture is shined.

snow on the ground, motor city chill in the air.................
people up here whining about winter.....I don't really care.

Michigan unemployment still rising......auto makers going down hill.....
Americans keep buying foreign products..........and they all will as well.

Obama our president and Pelosi speaker of the house......................
what in the dickens are they really about.

Micheal Jackson, Heath Ledger, Ted Kennedy and Farrah Fawcett I will miss most.........
Lets all put on our little White glove tell them fair well and finally give them a toast.

Global warming, Al Gore and green energy and yet Gas still on the rise................
Corn and bio-fuel will save America they say is just another lie.

Crime is up all over , but yet less cops on the street............
Thank god for CCW'S.....just in case one day they decide they would really like us to meet.

Right wing, left wing, liberals and democrats on the air.............
thank you Bill OReilly, and Hannity for showing them how much we still care.

Hln, Cnn, Msnbc and Fox news all report whats up in far off lands.............
But why don't we all just support the military and bomb Iraq and Afghanistan.

Quantomino bay and now sent to Illinois and New York.............
Just line them up on a wall and call in a hillbilly like Sargent York.

I hope this doesn't upset some of you but if it does I still don't understand......
then when terror hits your backyard like 911, maybe a soldier can help you take a stand.

2010 is tomorrow, hope good health and cheer to you all.................
I still don't see where our life issues will go away and gas prices will just fall.

Thank god for our family in 2010, children, biscuits, gravy, eggs and sweet tea too.......................
don't forget the cornbread made with buttermilk, pork chops and some onion and fried potatoes will do.

Enjoy the grip of your snow shovel this season and hope your snow blower starts the first time around...........
or for me watching and listening to Lukas plow ours with his four-wheeler is such a lovely sound.

May your hair stop thinning, weight and looks are in check and hope your aches and pains of getting older is much less.................
and then May 2010 still be your very best.

Amen and pass the peanut butter Fudge!

Mary did you know that your baby boy

will one day walk on water?

Mary did you know that your baby boy

will save our sons and daughters?

Did you know that your baby boy

has come to make you new?

This child that you've delivered,

will soon deliver you.

Mary did you know that your baby boy

will give sight to a blind man?

Mary did you know that your baby boy

will calm a storm with his hand?

Did you know that your baby boy

has walked where angels trod?

And when you kiss your little baby,

you have kissed the face of God.

The blind will see, the deaf will hear

and the dead will live again.

The lame will leap, the dumb will speak,

the praises of the Lamb.

Mary did you know that your baby boy

is Lord of all creation?

Mary did you know that your baby boy

will one day rule the nations?

Did you know that your baby boy

is heaven's perfect Lamb?

This sleeping child you're holding

is the great I Am.

Christmas Letter from Linda Riddle Jent

From Linda Riddle Jent:

Dec. 12, 2009

Dear Family & Friends,

Here I sit this Christmas season doing something I said I would not do this year ... Write a Christmas letter and send cards. I also said we were going to 'cut back' on gifts (which I have). Yet I still find myself trying to make sure everyone has that special something. I love Christmas, I guess I take that after my Mom, but so many other do too. I love to decorate, look at the tree while sitting quietly in our living room, and yes, wishing for snow. While thinking about a lot of things this past year, I found myself facing things and circumstances I never thought I would actually face or have to deal with. Loved ones that are gone or very sick. Another is my not being able to do with the grand kids things that I would love to do. To have them sit on my lap, to run and play like they want me to.

The past 3 years I have been dealing with chronic back pain. I have seen several doctors, had many different treatments and injections, all leading to surgery this Fall. Only to find out the surgery did not fix the problem. So I am back to seeing other doctors, praying that they can help me with this.

God has used this to show me that I cannot do or fix it all. He has shown me that I must rely on Him even more than I have in the past. he has always been there for me and my family, seen us through a lot, and yet I still find myself trying to 'make everything okay'. Not being able to do a lot physically, He has sent me some help in the way of a beautiful Amish family whom we met last year. The daughters have been helping me with the housework. I am so grateful that God sent them to us. They are a blessing.

Christmas 2008 was here on the farm. Working on the loft for almost 6 months, getting everything ready for 'old-fashioned, homemade Christmas'. We had Santa & also a sleigh ride ... the food was delicious .. but the thing that I loved the most was when my Mom, 79 years young, sat and read to our family the Christmas story from the book of Luke. How I pray that special moment will remain in the hearts of our sons, their wives and their children. Thanks Mom & Pat for all your love, help and support.

Crit is still working, on the road and in the air a lot; we are so thankful that God has blessed us with this job. Tanner & Haylee are in 1st grade, Logan in pre-school, Zoey being cared for by a beautiful young lady from our church. How I miss not having her. Kristie is working part-time; Jamie is still fighting fires. Kerri is teaching 5th grade, Jeremy working his job and going to school full-time to follow in the footsteps of his brother.

Our daughter-in-law Kristie, her father Greg, has gone through so much the past 6 years. This year he lost both legs, but God spared him his life. He has touched this man in a way that only Greg can tell. I am so very thankful that God has kept Greg & his family close to him through all this. Part of him may be missing physically, but he is with his family, alive this Christmas and for that we are thankful. We cannot wait to see him standing, walking & doing some of the things he loved to do.

Crit lost a sister to cancer ... one whom he stayed with while we were dating. She was a special lady and friend to many. I know she will be sadly missed by her family this Christmas.

One of my dearest friends, Lynne, was diagnosed with stage 3 colon-rectal cancer, the cancer spreading to other areas. I cannot begin to tell you how bad this has been for Lynne, but God has so many 'angels' looking down on her and has carried so many prayers up to heaven on her behalf. She could not believe the out-pouring of cards, letters & emails that people have sent her. The prayers have worked. Lynne went for her PET scan the week of Thanksgiving and praise the Lord!, she shows no signs of cancer. She will be on a treatment plan consisting of oral chemo for the rest of her life, but the doctors told her to 'keep praying because prayer has worked". I love you Lynne (aka Erline) and miss you so much.

Our daughter-in-law Kerri, her mother, Aline, has been going through a lot of health issues also. Having had a kidney removed previously from cancer, the doctors thought it may have returned. Going through a lot of tests, our prayers were again answered ... no cancer! She had her gall bladder removed on Thanksgiving and was able to come for a visit this week.

Our neighbor and friend, Mira, caring for her mother for the last year or so, taking her to dialysis 3 times a week, spending lots of restless nites caring for her. Losing her this Summer took its toll, but God was good also. The 'calm & peace' that was in Mira's voice the night she called to tell us "Mom has gone home", as hard as it was to hear those words, God gave Mira Peace.

My sister Pat, having major surgery late this Summer, but she went in knowing that God had given her Peace and all would be okay and it was.

I am sure there are others that I am forgetting, but God knows who you are. God knows my heart also. The prayers that are embedded deeply there, praying for them to be answered in His way, not perhaps, mine.

We are so blessed to be able to watch our grand-children run, play and fish here on the farm. Pretty soon they will be tagging along behind their Dads, going after the big buck! To see how much they enjoy here, the simple things ... a walk down the '2-trac', lots of rides on Papaw's tractor, looking for rocks, casting a line in the pond. Feeding & caring for their chickens. I still choke up when it is time for them to leave.

Getting back to the 'no cards this year'. While driving our grandson Tanner & grand-daughter Zoey home a couple of weeks ago, we were noticing all the pretty lights and decorations in our home town of Coldwater. They have Santa standing very tall on the main corner of town, but on the other side lay the 'baby Jesus'. We are still able to display a nativity, giving us the real meaning of Christmas.

Tanner spoke up and asked me "Mamaw, what do you want for Christmas this year?" I thought a moment before answering and then I replied, "Peace ... I would love to have Peace". He replied "you can't get that for Christmas" .... and I said "Maybe I can". He asked me how and I said "I pray for Peace and God hears our prayers, so I pray He answers this one". He then said, "For real, what would you like to get...maybe some new pajamas, would you like some new pajamas?" (He has seen me in a lot of them lately). I told him that would be great and Zoey added "Yeah, some new jammies Mamaw". The innocence of being a child. Young enough to still believe, young enough not to know all the wrong in the world, hearts feeling some pain of their own.

So here I sit, knowing I still have presents to put the last little touches on, yet thinking of that little conversation a few weeks back, and wishing for Peace. So much is going on in our world. Soldiers leaving to fight a war, away from their loved ones, to protect ours this Christmas Day. Loved ones, even in our family, losing their jobs after working and giving for over 20 years. We hear that things won't get much better, yet I still hope and I pray for Peace. Praying that God would have mercy on our country once again and see us through another day, another year. To restore America back to its roots and yes, give us Peace. Perhaps this isn't the most traditional letter for Christmas, yet it is something I truly wanted to share.


To thank God for all He has done, is still doing and will continue to do. Thanking Him for sending us His Son .. JESUS, the real meaning of Christmas. For sending us, over 2 thousand years ago, PEACE. I cannot imagine how Mary must have felt on that night, giving birth to her son in a stable. Yet the story is so tender to my heart. What did she feel, knowing she was looking into the eyes of our Savior? Thinking of those that came from afar and yes, bringing Him gifts. The night so dark, yet the stars shined so bright, the brightest One lying in a manger. How I wish for such peace, not just on earth, but in the deepest part of our hearts. I wish for, as Amy Grant sings, "A Silent Night, a Holy Night", a little peace right here.

So Tanner, I guess I can say, God has already given me my gift. It didn't cost anyone anything, except Christ Himself. Now I need to accept it deep within my heart...knowing that He has my life in His hands. Things may not be going so well for a lot of us ... but we truly need to realize and be thankful for what God has done ...giving us His Son to love us, to care for us and die for us. To be ever so thankful that we can be with those that we love, that they are healthy and hopefully happy.

So from our hearts to your home .... we wish you Peace. Peace on Earth & Goodwill to you all. Wishing that the things that need to be fixed can be fixed. Wishing that the doors of employment would be opened for those in need, wishing health for those that are sick and hurting. Wishing "Hope" for the hopeless and to everyone, again, I wish you Peace.

May God reveal the meaning of this Christmas Day deep within your hearts ... we love you all.

Merry Christmas and May God continue to bless you.

Love,
Linda & Crit

Christmas Memories, 2009, Vickie Elliott Kendrick

With great appreciation, I post the following Christmas Memories from Victoria Elliott Kendrick. She was just a little girl when our family met their family at Little Ida Church in Ecorse, MI. My Dad, Winford Riddle, and her Dad, John Elliott became best friends. Often where you saw one man, you also saw the other. Bro. John was laid back and easy to get along with. Bessie was a lady with a big heart, she loved easily and told you the truth whether you wanted to hear it or not. I loved to hear her laugh.

Little did I know when my family met John & Bess's family that one day I would be married to John's nephew. That his children would become my cousins by marriage. It's amazing how God orchestrates our lives and brings people together to not only be friends, but to become 'family'. This is a beautiful memory, enjoy!

In the photo: Bess & John Elliott with daughter Victoria

To me all my memories of Christmas are precious.

It started out as a gift to open a few days before Christmas. We would get so excited only to open it and find a pair of socks, a candy cane or some little thing to wet our appetite to open more. Mommy would always tell us we had to wait on Santa.

Dad always read the story "The Night Before Christmas" or told it from memory. He always added a few extra lines to make us laugh. It would start on Christmas Eve with leaving Santa milk and peanut butter cookies. It had to be peanut butter because Dad said that was the only kind Santa liked. (Later when I found out about the real Santa did I realize that was Daddy's favorite cookie.)

I remember Mom and Dad getting up between 4 am and 5 am to start making stuffing and preparing food to be cooked. Dad was the "chief taste tester". He always told us he had to sample everything before we did so he could make sure we would not get sick when we ate. Trust me it was his favorite job. It was the sound of them in the kitchen together laughing, talking and Mommy humming Christmas songs. Dad telling Mom to add more salt or seasonings and Mommy's reply was "John, who is doing the cooking here?"

It was the time when I could hear them both say, "Lord, thank you for the blessings you have gave us this year and the food we are about to eat today." These words will be forever planted in my memory of them.

It was the silver aluminum Christmas tree with the colored wheel to make it change colors when it turned. It was the opening of gifts that meant we were the richest kids in the world on that morning. It was simple gifts. Mom crocheting barbie doll clothes or making them on her sewing machine. It was clothes, shoes and just things we needed. There was always a gift that was something we had asked for. They always made sure we got some of the things we wanted. They gave us the best they could and it was given in love no matter what it was.

It was also the little brown bag of goodies we got. An apple, an orange, candy canes and some hard pieces of candy. To this day I can still taste how good those were. Nothing ever compared to the taste of those goodies like it did at Christmas.

These are my Christmas memories that I have tried to do some of them ever since my sons were born. I have added a few, but the open of the gift before Christmas, a stocking with the same goodies are given each year to the boys and my grandchildren. I have a book with the "Night Before Christmas", Mom bought me in 1969. I still put it out and read it to the grand children. They now tell me they are too old to hear it. I still read it whether they listen or not.

Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas. Give Aunt Oma a big hug and kiss from me.

Christmas Memories, 2009, Bobby Riddle

Christmas Memories from Bobby

Christmas 2008 was a Christmas like none before. Divorced, my family separated and not all together as we were the 22 years prior . Employed and gifts plenty under the tree. Basement flooded for 2 weeks prior. Dinner was dull and quiet.

Christmas 2009 will be different. Still divorced, but all of my family looks to be all together lord willing a few days from now.Unemployed and gifts not many this year but even more thankful than last year. Dinner looks good and conversation should be better than last.Basement has been dry to thank god.

Thats all I have. Buts it's all I need.

Merry Christmas..........YA'LL!

Christmas Memories, 2009, Sharon Kay Riddle Smith

Yes, it's Christmas. The year flew by and here it is. Time for all the family traditions, time to reflect on how special family truly is.

This year we will spend Christmas Eve at Mom's, like we usually do every year, and of course order Mexico Way, which has become part of our family tradition. For us, it's a highlight because we don't have it so easily accessible.

Since the girls were babies, I started the Christmas Eve pajama tradition, and now it's one that we all share. We will exchange pajamas, and everyone HAS to wear them on Christmas day. Makes me think of Linda the year someone bought her pajamas that we would now call capris...ha.. !!

I started a new tradition last year in making Mike's Granny's Carrot Cake, and of course NUT ROLLS !!! I still stuff the girls stockings every year, and put them out on Christmas Eve after we get home from Mom's. We will all sit around the fireplace and watch Megan pass out the packages while we eat nut rolls and have coffee. We all have to take turns opening gifts so we can see what each other got, and Mike and Myndi LOVE that part...!! Last year we all stayed in pajamas the entire day.....this year I think we will do the same !!

A song that is usually played every Christmas morning is Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays by N'sync.....it's one of our favorites.

I want to personally wish everyone that reads this a very Merry Christmas !! My wish for everyone is for all to have a happy spirit in their hearts and to be so thankful that our family had another blessed year.

Love to all !!

Kay

Christmas Memories, 2009, Sue Elliott

Christmas Memories from Aunt Sue

"My dear Clyde and Louise- so glad to offer a few memories for the blog if you want to use them.

We always spent Christmas Eve with Oma and Vernis and Roy of course partied too much at the station and we were always late for the 6:00 dinner of chicken from KFC. Ask Oma if she remembers what food Roy dropped in the snow on her front steps when they lived on West 58th Street. I was mad as an old wet hen at the time but sure would love to go back to those Christmas times.

It's never too late to start traditions. This year I copied one from a story I think I read in Better Homes and Gardens. When I put up the manger scene, Ally puts Baby Jesus in the manger. Hopefully in years to come she will remember this; the manger and nativity figures are mine from when I was just a little girl.

Hope that all of you have a safe, healthy and calm Christmas Day. I have really cut back a lot this year. Love to all of you - Auntie Sue and her zoo!!!"

Christmas Memories, 2009, Rebecca Neblett Rohde

Abby Rohde & Santa, 2009

Abby is the daughter of Brian & Rebecca (Neblett) Rohde

Granddaughter of Warren & Rita (Riddle) Neblett

"Her second christmas already. Where has the time gone???.
I have many memories of Christmas, some good and some bad, but what I miss the most is the fun we had as a family together. The gift exchanges, the laughs we shared and of course the good food. Where has those times gone!! I especially remember the wrapping paper fight we had in mamaw's basement, that was a great one!!!" - from Becky Rohde

Cat & Rebecca

The Wedding Day of Rebecca Amburgey & Jordan Ude

Rebecca & her Dad, Enos Amburgey

Katherine Caudill Amburgey & Grandson Ben

Enos, Rebecca & Kathy


Mother & Daughter



Husband & Wife...Jordan & Rebecca