I met Gene at Mt. Victory High School when I was 14.  He was visiting 
his grandparents and came to school with his uncle Joe and Aunt Bernice 
Wright. His school at Harlan, KY was dismissed for KEA (Kentucky 
Education Association). He wrote to me when he got back home and we 
continued writing letters for about a year. Gene came to see me several 
times during that time. I found him to be a very special boy and friend.

At the end of his Junior HS year 1943, Gene decided to volunteer for 
the Army. And we had decided that we were in love. He asked me to wait 
for him to return from the war. I have a box of his letters he wrote to 
me.

Gene came home from the war, (WWII) in January 1946 just before his 
21st birthday and enrolled in school at Harlan, Ky to finish his senior 
year. We had a correspondence courtship. He was a really good writer! 
He came to Mt. Victory to see me several times and gave me an 
engagement ring on Valentine's Day. We talked about a June wedding.

His school at Harlan dismissed for KEA  so he wanted us to get married then. I 
agreed.  So with little time to make plans, I remade a jacket dress 
into a suit, bought a blouse, hat, shoes etc.for my wedding attire. 
Gene didn't have a dress suit, so we borrowed one that my brother 
Vernon had left at home.

Daddy arranged with Rev. Charles Hogg, a Methodist minister to do our 
wedding service.  Rev. Hogg was also an auto mechanic, so the wedding 
was set for Friday evening, which was Good Friday. Gene and I were 
married in a small chapel at the Somerset Methodist Church.

My Daddy drove us and on the way we picked up Gene's Aunt Bernice. Just 
as we arrived in Somerset, we met Dan and Mildred on their way home 
from U of K.  That was the wedding party.

Dan and Mildred treated us to dinner

Gene passed away September 27th, 2009.  We were married for 63 years 
April 12, 2009.  Today would have been our 65th Anniversary. I was 
blessed to have married such a devoted man!  And to be the mother of 
his three wonderful children.

Grace and Peace Abide with You,
Emily

A Very Special Day!

It was on Friday January 8th 1954.  We lived at Owl's Nest at Hyden, KY 
where Gene was Extension Agent for U of K.  Leslie County. Gene was 
working in town that day. He had been out of town all week.  I was at 
home with Russell almost 6 and Carol Lynn 26 months old.  I had been 
having some discomfort most of the day.  I cooked soup beans (pintos) 
for supper.  As we were eating, I told Gene I probably needed to go to 
the hospital after supper.  He immediately began to get ready to go. He 
called a neighbor to stay with Russell and Lynn.  Then he made a pan of 
warm water and washed my feet!  We went to Frontier Nursing Hospital 
which had a midwifrey nurse training school. Midwifrey student nurse 
Ruth Brown took care of me. (No anethesia) Gene was with me and little 
Stephen Douglas was born at about 9:30 P.M.

We stayed in the hospital for about 8 days and the baby was beside me 
during the day and was taken to the nursery at night. We were in a 27 
bed ward with most of the mothers needing special attention. That was 
an experience not to be forgotten! The nurse midwives delivered most of 
the babies at the homes of the mothers. They made follow up home visits 
for about a month to be sure mother and baby were doing well.

Nurse Brown gave me a delightful warm sponge bath after the baby was 
born! She planned to work on the missionary field in Africa when her 
training was finished.

Gene took Russell and Lynn to stay with my mother at Mt. Victory.

Steve is a beloved son and  a wonderful man.  Gene and I were very 
blessed to be his parents.

EVH

August 31, 2010

Mom made dinner for Alan and Lynn tonight.  She said that she was glad we gave her an excuse to cook.  It's a change she's dealing with.  How to "be" as just one person.  She's rethinking how she eats and how she keeps food on hand.

For the last couple of days she's been working in the back yard with some help from Valdis. She's getting the garden winterized, working on gutters, and thinking about some landscaping changes she may want to do.  One of the things she's working on is a new raised bed in the garden.  She's going to plant some winter crops soon.

Hershey is becoming much calmer these days.  Sometimes she's still doing the excitability peeing, but it is really much, much better.  The vet told Emily that it was a submissive behavior, so perhaps she's becoming more confident.  She will also come into the house and lay on the floor in the kitchen while Emily works.  She's lots of company in the back when Emily is working in the yard.  One of her favorite things to do is swing with Emily no matter what time of day.

August 22, 2010

Yesterday was my 83rd birthday! I had a very nice day. Steve came to spend most of the day. Lauren and Madison came by on their way to Atlanta, Lynn and Alan joined us for lunch. Lynn and Alan remembered that Gene always got me red roses for any occasion. So here came Alan with a dozen beautiful red roses!

I received many beautiful cards and there are sooo many wonderful face book messages. I'm still working on them! I really must get with this face book thing!

We all enjoyed playing with Madison while Mommie Lauren had a short nap. Having them here made for a very special day.

After lunch Steve, Lynn, and I took three roses to the cemetery for Gene. The cemetery looked beautiful.
The sod is growing well. Three more rows have been added since Gene. We all agreed that it is comforting to have a lovely place so nearby.

The hot weather zapped the second green bean crop so I've begun taking the wilted vines down. Tomatoes, peppers and maybe some eggplant are still coming on.

Hershey is still growing and still really energetic! How can I teach her not to jump up on me and everyone else? She just loves attention.

I need to get her inside now . Since her surgery last week, I've been letting her sleep inside (in her cage}

August 21, 2010

Today was Emily's birthday.

Steve came up to spend some time with her, and Lauren dropped by with Madison on her way to Atlanta.

Emily made a crustless quiche for lunch and Alan and Lynn joined the crowd.   After lunch Steve and Lynn went with her to the cemetery.

She took three of her birthday roses that Alan brought her to the cemetery. 

August 20, 2010

Lynn and Alan treated me to a birthday at Red Lobster tonight. We enjoyed our meal then went to Babies "R" Us to shop for a baby shower gift for Sarah and Ryan Fetz' baby Jacob Dennison who will be here around October 12th!

Whipped Cream and a candle!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apple and Ice Cream Dessert!

How thoughtful of Lynn and Alan to make this day and tomorrow special! I'm amazed tp have reached the age of 83 years so quickly. It seems only yesterday that I was growing up at Mt. Victory.....seeing my brothers and Gene go off to WWII...graduating from High School.... attending college at S E Teachers College at Cape Giradeau, MO...home for Christmas. Gene home from the war. Getting married that April 64 years ago. Well my Daddy used to say "Life is only a drop in the bucket",  so I hope I have been a good drop so far!

Valdis came and helped me trim one of the cypress trees at the back of the house and did some other jobs. He is a hard worker and very strong. I am very glad to have his help.

Hershey is learning to behave fairly well in the house. I've been letting her go outside for short times and she is staying in the den and kitchen pretty well. She wants to supervise anything I'm doing.  She was 5 months old on the 13th and weighed 33.3 lbs!. She has long legs and jumps at least 3 ft. off the floor. I wonder how much bigger she will be.

Steve will be here for most of the day tomorrow. Lauren is bringing Madison to spend next week with Steve and Pat and will stop for a short visit on the way to Atlanta.

I am looking forward to their company on my birthday!

August 19, 2010

Yesterday at 7:30AM I took Hershey to the vet for her spaying & shots. I picked her up at around 3:00. Hershey is doing well. Then I went to the Wednesday evening dinner and Bible study at 5:30.
Hershey is supposed to stay inside for a few days. She is being pretty good. But I can't seem to teach her not to jump on me and others. She loves attention so much. She is sleeping in her cage at night and getting a little outside time during the day.

The engine light on my Volvo has been staying on. I had taken it to B&F but it came back on. When I took the car for the emissions check, it didn't pass. Today, I took the car back to B&F. They needed to keep it so Lynn came and brought me back home.

Lynn drove by the cemetery as we came home. There are now two more rows of graves below ours. The grass looks good. They have closed the road up to Gene's grave site so we will have to park on the main road and walk up the hill a little way.

Valdis and his girl friend Kallie came by for a visit this afternoon. I was glad to see them. He is going to help me with some outside work tomorrow.