Three Brothers and a Sister

Wednesday- August 5, 2009

A year ago today,we lost one of our brothers! The two remaining brothers are very special as was John. We grew up in a loving home, where we may have had our squabbles, but when it came down to it, we protected each other! Dink being the oldest tended to look after Mike since he was the youngest. John and I looked after one another - after all we were twins and that's what twins are suppose to do. It might have appeared that we had paired ourselves up and that there would be even "teams" when a squabble would arise. Hmmmm - somehow the teams were three against one - guess who the one was!!!!!!! Regardless of all the disagreements and skirmishes, we loved each other dearly. We also had respect for one another, and would seek each others advice and help.

The following picture is one of my favorites. A photographer came to the house to take this photo. He had us sitting on the back of the couch, and I remember I was afraid I would fall! I'm really not sure how Mom and Dad had the extra money to have this picture taken - but I'm glad they did!

Dink, John. Sue, and Mike

We enjoyed doing things together - not just having our pictures taken though! We loved to play ball in the backyard with all the neighborhood "boys!" Yes, I said boys!!! It just so happened our neighborhood was polluted with boys! I was as big a "tom boy" as they come! I became one of the boys when an extra player was needed for the games!!! Ahhh - I didn't mind - I thought of all of them as my brothers too!!!!

Very seldom did we get the luxury of eating ice cream, but when we did, it was ohhh soooo goooood! :)

One of our favorite persons in the world was our Pappaw Layne. We loved him very much, and we know he loved us! :) Dink, John, and I would spend many weeks out of the summer staying with my grandparents at the head of "a holler!" We would help them with the crops and anything else they might have needed help with during the summer.

Dink, Pappaw, Mike, Sue, John

Here we are helping decorate the Christmas tree! Well at least three of us are pretending too!!!

Dink, Sue. John. Mike

There were times when we wanted to stay close together no matter what. I remember having scarlet tina and the doctor said keep the boys away from Sue!!! Hmmmm - look what happened!

In the following picture, I was suppose to have been kept away from the boys - hmmm guess they didn't heed Mom's warning!!!!

As w e got older, started out own lives, with our own families, the closeness we forged as youngsters growing up in the west end of Huntington never faded away. As when we were kids, the boys always teamed up against me!!!!!! The following picture shows a little of some of their orneriness!!!

This was taken prior to Bobby's wedding - notice what John is doing to me!

Mom, Sue; John, Mike, Dink

In this photo, Mike gets in on the action. I'm sure Dink would have, but he was the father of the groom and had to ACT refine and dignified!

Dink is the oldest; the rock we always counted on for advice and help. Back on Feb 13, 2009 he suffered a severe stroke and a heart attack a couple of days later. It has been a struggle for him. His wife of 32 years, Rhonda, has been his caregiver since even before that date. Dink has had several heart attacks and has managed to recover. He is continually making progress, but has much more to do!! We love you Dink with all our heart, and are praying that God's will is that you will make a complete recovery!

Dink as a toddler!

Dink's stroke left him paralyzed on his right side and he has also suffered his loss of speech. He has come a long way and has shown so much progress. I love you Dink Layne!

Dink was attending Cora Ann's dedication picnic!
Ahhhh, here comes the baby of the family, Mike. HE was nick-named cotton-tail by a neighbor because of his blond hair. Mike may be the youngest, but he has raised two fine kids who have decided what they wanted to do with their lives and are striving to reach that goal! Mike has been a tremendous help to Mom. Dink and John were her "handy men" - they could and would fix anything that was wrong. Now Mike has stepped up to the plate to do it solo!

This picture shows why Mike was called "Cotton Top" - notice his head full of blond hair!!!! Must have been placed in a "play pen" - just kidding - we loved playing in the old tires as Mammaw and Pappaw's!

Mike and Debbie on their wedding day!

Mike and I love Dink better than anything. Our big brother, our rock, our advisor, is under the weather at the moment. We love him better than anything, and we pray for his continued recovery.

Mike wheeled Dink around at Cora's dedication picnic - Mike would do anything to help his big brother - and so would I!! We love you Dink!

What can be sadder than having Dink suffer the stroke and trying to recover from it? One year ago today, one of the saddest things happened, we lost one of our brothers. He went home to be with our Lord and Saviour, and his Heavenly family. John Philip Layne passed away at home and is greatly missed by us all. Dink, Mike, and I lost one of the most generous and happy person we knew. He was willing to do anything for anyone - even though he may have had no idea as what he needed to do. Mom seemed to hold up pretty well - we three siblings were devastated - angry - hurt - and trying to stay strong all at the same time. We miss you John and love you so very much. We can't even imagine how Laurie and the kids are feeling and have felt. The one thing that has helped us all is that John was a good Christian man with a heart full of love for all he met. We know that he has gone home to receive his rewards and that he has joined Dad in Heaven and they are both watching over us!

John and Laurie -the love of his life and the mother of his children!

We miss you John P. Layne!!!!

I grew up with three fantastic brothers! I'm sure when Dink and Mike read this they are going to say, "What does she want?" :):) Each of my brothers have different personalities, and because of that, they were and are unique. I love them more than anything, and would have not traded them for any others!!!!

Three brothers and a sister have had a life time of memories and life time of love!!!!! I love my brothers!!!!!!