The Tear in His Eye

Thursday - September 11, 2008



What does one say when this date of September 11 approaches? Most will say they remember where they were and what they were doing – just as those old enough remember what they were doing when President Kennedy was assassinated; when the Challenger broke apart that fateful morning of the launch; Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy’s assassinations; and the bombing of Pearl Harbor. There are so many things that have happened in our country’s history we couldn’t list them all. Some may have made more of an impact on us than others – but we remember!

Bill and I remember September 11th well. Our assistant principal came on the intercom and said we might want to watch what was taking place! It captivated the kids – some were scared, others watched it as if it were a movie; and some sat there in prayer! We left the televisions on for the remainder of the day with planned lessons now laid aside, and a life lesson being experienced. The kids had questions – but, we didn’t have the answers!

The next day the kids came back in telling of stories that they knew, or someone in their family knew someone on one of the planes or had been in the Towers. This made it more real to them. A teacher we worked with husband was in the Towers when both planes hit! I actually went to high school with him. God was with him and he had escaped from the 44th floor before the Towers collapsed! He was covered with all the soot and debris and had to walk at least 10 miles to his hotel. His family had gathered together and prayed until they heard from him which was not until later that evening. It was a life changing experience for him and his family.

Bill had a RESA trainee with him for an observation period so that he might be able to become a substitute teacher. He was as glued to the television as the kids were. Bill explained that sometimes you do have to put the book to the side and talk with the kids about what is happening now! Some parents came and picked up their children - the rest of us stayed until regular dismissal time. It was a very long and scary day.



As the day and evening went on, I found myself glued to the television coverage of what had happened – three planes causing three major catastrophes. I saw a veteran standing in the crowd with tears rolling down his cheek. He looked so sad and lost. It made me think of Dad, Bill's dad, and their generation as to what they had sacrificed for the freedom and safety we as Americans take for granted. What has happened to our country? Thus when I sat down, the poem underneath the following pictures of our fathers was written.

The following two pictures are of our fathers when they were overseas during WWII. It was becasue of men like them that we have the freedoms today that we take for gtanted! Thank you Dads and veterans from all across the country! My dad is in the picure on the left and he is in the middle - looks like they were digging a trench! Bill's dad is in the picture on the right. Also in that same picture is Bill's cousin - Ray Griffey. Ray is on the left and Clyde is on the right. Uncle and nephew met up while serving their country and protecting our shores while overseas.



















The Tear in His Eye
The veteran represents a nation proud and strong;
Inspiring her to do what is right and not what's wrong.
Sadly he sits, and we are wondering as to why
This soldier of old has a tear in his eye.

Watching with disbelief so quietly, brave, and tall;
The nation he fought for is together for the good of all.
This obscured enemy will eventually learn about defeat
As God guides his nation back on her feet.

This veteran has witnessed her sufferings in the past,
Wars, assassinations, and the Oklahoma blast.
Now, we need not wonder why there's a tear in his eye,
As he watches the devastation that started in the sky.

The lives lost in Pennsylvania, Manhattan, and DC
Will not have died in vain, on this we all will agree.
So, to the veteran with the tear glistening in his eye,
We ask that you not worry on us you can rely.

The battles he fought helped mold us today;
The tear in his eye will now be wiped away.
His nation will comfort this veteran of old,
As the facts of what happened begin to unfold.

Phyllis Sue Hardin

Great day; So, So Day

Wednesday - September 10, 2008
Great day; So, So Day

It has been a great day because Dink was released from the hospital. Rhonda called 911 yesterday morning because Dink was having difficulty breathing. He really didn’t want to go by ambulance, but Rhonda convinced him it would be in his best interest (and her and Bobby’s) to travel to the hospital via ambulance! If he were in the midst of a heart attack, they would be able to help if there was a need. Thankfully he was not having a heart attack. He was kept in the emergency room for a very long time until a room became available last night. I asked them this morning if he slept and the reply was “NO.” “But wait till we get home!” Anyone who has had to stay in the hospital overnight knows either as a patient or staying with a patient there is NO sleep for the sick! There is always someone coming to take blood, check blood pressure, and give you your medicine and even the noise from the hallway. Busy, busy, busy! They treated him for pneumonia, congestive heart failure, and were watching him for the possibility for a blood clot. Thankfully with the grace of God and the power of prayer, Dink went home this morning!

Yesterday afternoon as I was standing at the foot of his bed, he told me it was my fault!! Just like my big brother to blame me! He said it was my fault because of the blog! Okay, anyone who reads this – don’t tell Dink he has made the blog again!!!!!!! I’m just so thankful he is home and things are going better for him!

If my brothers did not tease me – I would worry! They come by it honestly. Our grandfather was a quiet man – I always thought he was as big as Paul Bunyan – a giant of a man who could do anything! He would tease us and play little jokes on all of us all the time – seems to me that John and I got teased the most. Maybe we were a little more gullible????? Papaw would have us look away from our plates for various reasons and then he would hide the plate when we were not looking. He would just sit there as if nothing had happened! Papaw was a giant of a man – one who was loved by us all.

Dad was a lot like Papaw in the teasing department. (He was also as big as Paul Bunyan in my eyes!) He loved to tease everyone – especially the grandkids!!! Sometimes when the kids get together we tell Papaw and Uncle John stories. Dad loved to give Mom a hard time as well. Every evening he would sit in the floor and inch his way toward her on the other side of the room. He loved to grab her toes – which he knew she hated!! My brothers are a lot like my grandfather and dad. They are quiet (to a certain degree) and they love to tease the kids, their one and only sister, and mother!!!!!!!! I’m sure they tease their spouses as well which is a Layne trait! You might be wondering if I inherited any of these characteristics. I could say I am the one who is serious all the time, never laughs, never teases, and has no sense of humor, but I can’t because that would be a lie. I, too, have the same sense of humor and way of teasing as my brothers. We may not have had a lot when growing up, but we had a lot of laughter (and love) in our home!

With Dink being home and still with that sense of humor and teasing all around him, it has been a great, great day. Hopefully he and Rhonda will be able to get a good night’s sleep tonight!

The “so, so day” refers to me and my back! Yes, to those who know the history of my sciatica nerve know that it has given me fits the last three years. Today I twisted the wrong way, and woe is me – the pain. The good thing is that I have enough sense now to get to the doctor BEFORE the pain really starts. My back was out of line, and boy is that muscle sore! Hopefully if I watch what I do, the pain will soon be gone again! I was really doing well, and I hope to be back on that road again soon!!!!!!

After writing about the teasing, joking, and laughter in our family, I looked up some quotes about laughter and would like to share some with you. Days that are full of laughter, love, and fun with family have been the best days to remember – and oh have we had many days with that laughter. Hope you enjoy them – they can give us all food for thought!

The most wasted of all days is one without laughter. ~e.e. cummings

Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face. ~Victor Hugo

An optimist laughs to forget, a pessimist forgets to laugh. ~anonymous

Laughter is the spark of the soul. ~ anonymous

You can turn painful situations around through laughter. If you can find humor in anything, even poverty, you can survive. ~ Bill Cosby

A smile starts on the lips. A grin spreads to the eyes. A chuckle comes from the belly. But a good laugh bursts from the soul overflows, and bubbles all around. ~ Carolyn Birmingham

The human race has one really effective weapon, and that is laughter. ~ Mark Twain

The following pictures show how Dad and Dink loved to tease Mom! The last picture is of my grandfather (on the left) with his brother Uncle Sam.

So Sad - So Glad

Sunday, August 7, 2008

So sad; so glad
Crying days; happy days
Lonely times; family all around
Death so soon; baby’s first light
Heartbreaking; heartwarming
Oh so sorrowful; living for tomorrow
Tears of regret; tears of joy
Beating heart stops; a new one starts
Tears of pain; and tears of joy
Life will pass; time will go on

In God’s word the book of Ecclesiastes Ch 7:14 it says that “When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other . . . ."

It has been a little over a month since John left his family here on earth to join his heavenly family. Some days are so sad while others are so full of joy and gladness. How can this be I ask myself? My pen went to work writing some of these differences I have felt this last month.

The sadness and many words that express how sad one can feel have revolved around the passing of John – in my eyes so young, but then who am I to say that. Within the last month there have been others who have passed away and were a lot younger than John. How those families must feel! A former student who was only 22 years old left the world after battling a brain tumor since she was in high school. Another former student lost his mother who had battled cancer and was only 54. When God calls each of us home, age makes no difference. We (I) need to remember that God is with us when times are good and bad. My family isn’t the only one who has lost a loved one recently – how do you measure recently? Is it a week, a month, a year, or is there no way to measure the time? We still miss Dad, Bill’s parents, our grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends who have gone home before us! Time will never take away the hurt of losing a loved one – it just becomes a part of our everyday life. It is a numb feeling that we have learned to live with and endure. As we have gotten older, it seems that the visits to the funeral homes are becoming more frequent and harder to do.

This past month has also been one of celebration and joy. The first grandchild is now a reality. David and Jeni have shared the great news that this awaited event will take place around March 29! Their first doctor’s appointment was one of such joy – especially for them because they got to hear the baby’s heartbeat for the first time. What a joy that had to be for them. They also “saw” the baby when the ultrasound was developed (which was shared with all the grandparents). These are the happy times! Also, David and Jeni were able to see their nephew for the first time! I know how they must have felt when they held him. There is nothing as heartfelt as the joy of cuddling a new born in your arms and praying that all will be good for them as they grow into adulthood.

Whatever happens, we all need to remember that the good Lord above is always with us during every phase of our life. We must put our trust and faith in Him and know that He will never put more on us than we can bear! There is a reason we have the good and the bad times in our lives. Both should help us put our faith where in needs to be - with our Heavenly Father – He sent His only Son to die on the cross for us. How hard in our humanly ways would that be – your ONLY Son?

As we end this posting our prayer is that all who read this know that you are never alone!!!!

Happy Birthday Dink!

Tuesday, September 2, 2007

What do you say to your oldest brother on his birthday? Happy Birthday Dink! This doesn’t really tell you how much you are loved – regardless of all the hard times you have given me through the years. You are the big brother, John, Mike, and I have always looked up to – even though we may not have told you that!

I remember when John and I were first graders and we thought it was so neat to have a big brother out on the playground with us. Little did we know that we had embarrassed you by running up and saying “Hi Dinky!” Woe is me - we had NO idea you went by the name of Bill when at school! You came home and told Mom to tell us NOT to call you Dink or Dinky at school. So the next day, we saw you on the playground and we just waved at you! We didn’t call you Dink at school anymore. It wasn’t until we were older that we realized you weren’t ashamed of us – just that you wanted to be called Bill at school. We never did call you Bill at school or at home – you will always be Dink!

I also remember how much of a protector you were – especially with Mike! When he was little, you always took his part with the neighbors who thought they could pick on him because he was so much smaller. Look at him now – he can protect us all!

We were the two who always went up in the “holler” to stay with Mamaw and Papaw. You were there to help in the fields and the garden, and I was to help at the house. But somehow, I ended up helping both in the house, the garden, and even the hay field. Those were really the “good old days” and I wouldn’t change anything about what we did.

I hope and pray that you have had a great birthday! You have a wonderful family – Rhonda, Billy, and Bobby who love you so much! Don’t forget that Mom, Mike, and I love you as much. I know that if John were here he would have called to say happy birthday as well.
So from all who love you – Happy Birthday Dink!!!!!!

Oh yeah, I forgot to say I’m posting some pictures! Hope you enjoy them!

Hillsdale Visit

August 23 – 28, 2008

After our side trip to Cincinnati we headed up to Hillsdale, Michigan. Hillsdale is a quaint small town about an hour from Toledo, Ohio. Once we cross the border into MI, we only have about 20 – 25 minutes to reach David and Jeni’s. It was great to see them. David had a dinner he was to attend and Jeni didn’t feel well enough to go. So, David and Bill went off with a member of the church for the evening, and Jeni and I had a relaxing evening talking. She is still experiencing “morning sickness” and it seems to stay with her most of the day. She is hoping once she gets through the first trimester she will start feeling better.

Jeni works at Hillsdale College, so she was working during most of our visit. The students first day back to school was the Wednesday we were there. David works from home preparing his sermons for the congregation of Bankers Baptist Church. They both work hard and do a good job.

We were entertained by Molly, the lovable beagle. She is a sweetheart with the biggest and saddest looking eyes – especially when she would like to have a bite of whatever it might be you are eating! We have some really good “Molly pictures” we are going to share with you. She gives a lot of joy to David and Jeni. The following pictures show how adorable Molly can be! (and pitiful when looking for the little bit of leftovers!)

We also played bocce while we there. Bill and I had bought the set when at the beach, but had never played it. So one evening after supper we all went across the road to church’s park and played. This is a nice relaxing game that does not require a lot of physical activity. You do have to bend over and pick up the balls you have thrown and walk around, but no running! We really didn’t keep score, but I think I may have won!!!!! We got really tickled because when Jeni threw her ball she hit Bill’s and knocked it further away from the little ball several times. The object of the game is to see who can throw their ball closest to the little ball which is thrown first. It was a very enjoyable evening.

While there, Jeni got news from her sister that she was on her way to the hospital. On August 28, 2008 at 2:16 Riley James Abrusci was born. We want to say congratulations to Ruthie and Jamie. Sophia is now a big sister and the pictures we have seen are adorable. David and Jeni were heading south on Sunday so they could say hello to Riley James.

During the month of April there will be a caravan heading north to hold the new born of David and Jeni. A little over twelve years ago we started having little ones around – it was the beginning of John’s grandchildren – starting with Emily and at present the youngest being Ali G. David and Jeni’s baby will give Mom nine great-grandchildren. We are so happy for them and pray all goes well for Jeni and the baby.

We hope that all have had a great weekend with family and friends. Cherish those moments.