September 11, 2001

Sunday - September 11, 2011

The picture above was taken at Spring Hill Cemetery in Huntington, WV. There are over 3,000 flags which were placed in the section called "The Healing Fields." 75 of these flags are in memory of the 75 people on that fateful plane which carried Marshall University's football team, coaches, staff, members of the Huntington community, and the crew of the chartered team plane. The remaining flags are in memory of all who perished at the hands of those evil people who hijacked the planes! These flags blowing in the wind represent a person who died a horrible death!

2,996 deaths have been recorded from those terrorist acts with 19 of them being the terrorist! 2,977 innocent people died that day!

Do you Remember where you were ten years ago today?

Bill and I both were still working at Wayne Middle School teaching 8th graders. Bill taught Social Studies while I taught Language Arts. It is one of many days in our lives we will always remember where we were. Other days include the assassination of our President, John F. Kennedy; the MU plane crash; and the explosion of Challenger are only a few days that will always be a part of our memory.

Following is Bill’s memory of September 11, 2001.

9/11
“I was in front of a class of 8th graders at Wayne Middle School. The vice-principal came over the intercom and said teachers you may want to turn your TVs on. This is important. The first plane had struck. People still thought it was an accident. We watched awhile, and then I turned the sound down and continued with the lesson. Another class came in. The TV was still on. I started the lesson. Later in the period, with my back to the TV, one of the kids said, Mr. Hardin that building just fell. I turned the sound back up, just then learning the second tower had been hit. I don't know how shocked I looked to the kids, but it must have gotten their attention. I went back to my desk and collapsed in my chair. Except for the TV, there was absolute silence in the room. No one needed to get a drink or go to the restroom. Just " silence.”

My memory of September 11, 2001 is as follows.

9/11
It started out as most days in the middle school. Students were running, pushing, laughing, talking loud, and would rather be anywhere other than in school. Class had already started and instruction has already been given to the first class for the lesson that day. We were settling in to work on the assignment when the intercom came on. We were use to that “squawk Box” coming on numerous times throughout the day. Generally it was an announcement looking for a misplaced student. Most of us learned to “ignore” the interruptions! Today was different. Mr. Mills came on with a very somber voice that sounded stressed, worried, but not panicked!! Calmly he told the teachers that we may want to turn on the TV to witness history in the making! My students looked at me as if, “are you going to turn it on?” I did! What we saw was unbelievable, and at the time we thought it was an accident! I left the TV on, but had the students to go ahead and work on their assignment! Then the unexpected happened, another plane was shown hitting the other Tower. Gasps of breath could be heard with all students looking at me as if to ask, “Is this real?” We watched. We listened. We tried to stay calm! After letting it sink in, I tried to keep the students as calm as possible, but I knew this was bad!!!!

Do You Remember Where you Were September 11, 2001?

Our thoughts and prayers go out to all affected by those horrendous deeds which has affected not only our country, but the world as well.

Grandchildren Bring a Smile to Our Face

Friday - August 26, 2011


Grandchildren tend to bring a smile to our face. Their innocence and the delight they get out of the smallest things such as running around in the back yard; helping Mammaw in the kitchen; or simply sleeping soundly in the loving arms of Granddad. Our grandchildren sure brought the smiles to our face with their visit. The moment they left the house became so quiet. But the memories of the day caused the smiles to return, and the pictures taken will keep those smiles in place!

Posing with the geese, Cora Ann says cheese!!! :):)

Ben sleeping soundly with not a care in the world!

A proud Granddad holding his two precious grandchildren . . .

. . . and of course Mammaw loves holding them too!!!!

A sleeping baby is a wonder to behold!

Cora having Mammaw and Great-Mammaw Layne saying "cheese!"

We love these two little ones more than words could ever explain. We cherish each moment we get to be with them. The distance in miles does not give us the opportunity to see them daily, but we know Cora knows who we are and that we love her. As Ben gets older we pray he will know that as well. They both bring a smile to our face and a spring to our step. ( We need that spring to keep up with Cora Ann! ) If you are fortunate to live close to your grandchildren, give them an extra hug and enjoy the time you have to be with them!

Caring - Sometimes Life Seems to Get in Our Way

July 6, 2011

It's one of those nights when sleep evades me! So many things going on in my mind, not necessarily troublesome things . . . just things! So I decided to check the blog, and began to wonder why I continue to write new post. One of the reasons we started it was so family and friends could keep up with us, and we could keep up with them. I guess FB has taken over that department now! :) No comments have been left on the blog sight since last September! I know many have left response on FB and that lets us know someone is reading about what's going on with us! Thank you for caring! :):)

Caring . . . . we all care strongly about God, family, friends, work, and on and on . . . . but do we always show others that we care?

I know God is with us as we take care of Mom. There are days it really hurts when watching her just sitting and not being able to do the things she had done her entire life - especially cooking and crocheting. We try to keep her active and occupied so she will feel good about what she has done for the day. She now uses a cane and/or walker when getting around. She loves her walker because it has a seat attached so that she can sit and rest if she gets tired when we are out and about. For someone who is 91, she get around pretty good and is sharp as a tack!

She reminds me of my grandparents as they got older. They always loved to see the family come in for a visit; or even a card or letter to say hello would put a smile on their face. I've discovered that Mom likes to see what comes in the mail on the chance that an unexpected card was sent to her by a loved one - family or friend - it doesn't matter. She loves when the kids come by and sees her; she loves the unexpected phone call of someone calling and checking on her; and oh she loves the unexpected cards. I hear all about who called, came by, or sent a card from her for days. It brings a smile to her face.

As I helped Mom go to bed tonight the tears flooded my eyes. Her frail body stooped over using a cane to help her walk to the bedroom she has slept in for more than 58 is moving slower today than it did a year ago. Yes it should because she is now 91. For more than 70 years she has worked helping take care of others - family and friends - and would still be doing that if her body would let her. It is really hard for her to "just sit" and let others do for her!

We love Mom so very much and are trying to help her know that she is loved, appreciated, and not forgotten. We try to keep her busy - no not plowing the fields - but watching us (supervising us) in whatever project we are working on at that time. We take her on "short drives" to visit family or to go to the store. Mom being the oldest member of the family will call (actually have us dial the number) to check on family whom she knows has been having a rough time with their health. She has always done that and still wants to check on them to make sure they are doing okay!

I know life has a way of keeping us all busy . . . . work, family, church . . . . but if you have an elderly member in your family, or a loved one who is sick or disabled . . . . give them a call; go by for a visit if possible; or use the Postal Service and send them a card. Let them know you still care and that you love them.

Most days Mom will sit in her recliner "watching" her shows . . .that is if she's not napping!

She loves to visit family when she is up to it . . . a "short drive" to Peach Creek and she was catching up with how Claude was doing!

A trip to a family reunion enabled her to catch up with the "Fowler" side of the family!

One of her favorite places to visit is Dink's . . .she wants to make sure her "oldest boy" is doing okay!!!!

Ben - 10 Days Old (Almost)

Thursday - June 30, 2011

I have finally taken a few moments out of my day to introduce Benjamine Monroe Hardin to you all! He made his appearance into this world on June 20, 2011. He will soon be ten days old! (Actually when 5:00 rolls around this evening he will officially be ten days old!) He weighed 8 lbs 12 oz; was 20 inches long; appears to have blond hair and is the cutest little fellow!!! I've chosen some pictures to share that I took, but some are borrowed from Ben's mother! No captions will be provided . . . .just look at them and come up with your own! :)

These are two of the most precious babies whom we love unconditionally! Our prayer is that their journey through life is smooth full of love for family, friends, and most importantly God! We love you Cora Ann and Benjamin Monroe!!!!

Granddad and Mammaw

Another Year Without You

June 13, 2011

Where have the years gone? It seems like only yesterday that we were all together. Yet there is another Father’s Day coming up in which we will be missing you! Life has not been the same since either one of you left. We have all tried to pick up the pieces and bravely go forward with life. There has been joy, laughter, celebrations, but also tears. There will always be that empty place at the table and that wish you were here sharing the good times with the rest of us! There is not a day that goes by that someone in the family, a friend, or someone who did not know you, but wishes they had after all the stories they’ve heard will mention your name. Laughter will follow; tears too; but reassurance that we will all be together some day in our Heavenly Home because we have a loving and caring God.

Dad and John, we all love you very much and even though we wish you were still here with us, we know that you are in a far better place than we. We feel you presence when we are all together; and we feel that same presence at times when we are alone. There is no doubt you are looking down on all of us.

There are some who for some reason do not understand the closeness we have as a family. Once we all married, then that closeness should have dissipated according to many. You see it on the news; you read about it in the papers; and you hear about it when out and about at how “estranged” many families are today in our society. We all make new friends; we all have many new people come into our lives; but as I’ve heard many times before – no one will love you like family! We love and accept you for who you are . . . . we may not approve of some of the choices you have made, but we still love you!

We Are Family!

Dad, you were a great teacher for all of us on family values. The way you worked so hard to provide for Mom and the four of us is an example that has molded the boys and me into being who we became as adults. You worked on days you could barely hold you head up and NEVER complained. You taught us how God wanted us to treat one another . . . oh yes, we had our differences, and sometimes that stern hand had to come to the front. I remember how upset you would become when you had to correct any of us, but I also know that you were guiding us onto the right path. Dad, you also taught us how to help take care of family, and that the sacrifices we make for them is but only one thing that God wants us to do.

One scripture comes to mind that tells us to care for our relatives is:
1 Timothy 5:8
8 Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Our role model - the best father ever!!!!!

John, you were a great provider and did care for Laurie and the kids. You worked hard just as you saw Dad work all those years. I know not only Dad, but Mom as well, were/are so proud of you and the man you became! They are so very proud of Dink and Mike and how they became the providers for their family too. I would be remiss to say that I believe they were/are proud of what I have done to help my family as well.

John followed Dad's example!

We know Mom comes from a caring family . . . one that was willing to take in an infant to care for even though they already had eleven children. This was a time when money was scarce; food was raised to feed the family all year; they experience the fallout of the Great Depression; and played active rolls in WW II. It was this caring attitude; love of family; and knowing that God wants us to care for one another that helped make them who we love and hoped we would be like as adults.

None of the paths we all have chosen has been easy. Dad and Mom’s path was not an easy one, but we all know that with the love they had for one another, and the presence of God in the home, that road was not as bumpy as it could have been!

Dad, you raised us to not be selfish, and that we need to care for those who can’t care for themselves as they use too. I pray that what you and Mom taught us will filter down to part the generations that follows us. Times have changed, but I pray the love for family has not!

You both would be so proud of your grandchildren!!! Sorry Dad, but John now has surpassed you with the number of grandchildren. John has nine adorable grandchildren, all of whom you both would have a blast with and would love to tease and play with and who would love you in return!

Some day we all will be together again, but until then, know we all love you and miss you so very much!

The family haas been extended with the DIL's and SIL along with all the grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Those who knew you and remember you miss you both too! Some are too young to remember or weren't born yet, however they are growing up with stories about the "Pappaw's!" We hope we make you proud!

I love you Dad and John . . . . very very much . . . . and I miss you every day! We are taking care of Mom who misses you both more than words will ever convey!