One of my biggest regrets...

Years ago, Steve & I owned and ran a feed store in the downtown of our small town. We met lots of people, and one of those people was Dale B.

Dale had gone to school with Steve and was a few years older. He had a thing for bantam chickens, and often came in and placed orders with me for specialty birds. He also often bought things on credit and would come in the store and do work to pay them off, since his disability payments only went so far.

One day, Dale came into the store and told me that he'd been thinking about it, and he wanted me to teach him to read.

I was so busy, what with the store and the kids and our mini farm, so I had to tell him that it honored me that he'd want me to do that, but that there was no way I could.

Dale died a few years ago, and one of my biggest regrets is that I didn't teach him to read. I don't know how I would or could have found time, but I know that I get so much enjoyment from reading, I wish that he could have had that joy too.

♥ Melody

Kenny died...

I originally wrote this on Feb. 21, 2014 to facebook, but am adding it here to be remembered.

RIP Kenny - he died a few years ago, but I only found out about it today.

I met him when Steve & I ran our feed store in town. He insisted that feeding chickens the cheapest dog food gave them the best protein for the money - and he his hens laid many eggs to prove it. He took a few roosters off my hands when my neighbor's complained (and he even stood up to the police in my defense when my chickens really ticked off my neighbors once. He later talked to them {the police} about it and told them that he'd heard that they'd been "harrassin' that God fearin' woman across town" and told them to stop it - I wasn't sure how to feel about that, but it warmed my heart :) ), and he offered me one of his Bourbon Red Turkeys for free as a trade. He had a good heart and was a good person. He was also a character, and you know how I like them :)

Anyone can be a cookie cutout, but it takes a special person to be who they are and let the chips fall where they may. I will miss you, Kenny.



♥ Melody

My Confirmation Day - November 2015

Three years ago (Sept 2014) I found a home at St. Mary's Episcopal Church. It was a soft landing after my heartbreak and faith crisis that had happened during the summer.

About 1 year later (All Saints' Day 2015) I was Confirmed. This is a pic of me and my loved ones who came and supported me at my Confirmation. (I'm going through old pictures today and found this one. When I looked at my blog, I realized that I'd never done a post about my Confirmation. Better late than never!)



Several people that I had invited were sad and/or uncomfortable that I'd left my previous faith tradition, so they didn't attend.

These people are the ones who held me up as I was crumbling back then. I very much appreciate and love them! ♥

Some who meant to be there, but couldn't be:
Josh, Hayley, and Mercedes had attended my Confirmation, but had to leave b/c Mercedes wasn't feeling well. Miah and Teryn couldn't come b/c they were visiting their dad.
Also, Matt stayed home w/ Mike who'd had a seizure earlier in the day and wasn't feeling well.

Rio & Amber, Grover & Karen, Ben & Aiden, Ashton, Steve, Jessica & Ruth, Kimberly, Kristina, Marci, and Sherry were able to get a photo with me in front of those bright red doors. Those doors represented to me that everyone is welcome inside. How I love those red doors!

♥ Melody