Dear "Beautiful Family Tree Branches" or "Blame it All on my Roots,"

Dear "Beautiful Family Tree Branches,"

Thankfully, I don't have to make any apologies for my "roots." I come from some strong stock:

Some Sweet Southern Women

Some Fierce Southern Women,

Some humble servants,

A Pentecostal preacher that started a Bible College,

Farmers,

Teachers,

and a Band Director / Landscaper and his Beauty Queen Wife!

I thought about all these "branches" of my family tree a few weeks before Christmas as I ran around part of the town where I lived for the first few years of my life. I even ran past the elementary school where I attended 1st grade under Mrs. Priester. I ran past the neighborhood where I rode bikes with one of my first friends - Ann.

And I ended up on the "downtown" street - Lee Avenue- and stood under the vintage marquee sign of the Palmetto Theater. Lots of stories live in those walls. It still lights up pink and green when local events are still held there. I thought of the Vaughan and Holmes Family of my Father's side. Standing here I am reminded that the streets were dirt coming out to town from the old home place when Dad's mother was a girl. I have heard lots of stories about them growing up in this town. I have a lot of great Story-tellers in my family tree.

Palmetto Theater, Hampton, South Carolina

These days I am writing new stories. Like the story of adoption, and the story of a new grandchild coming in 2020, and the story of invincible parents who have written the story of my life one day at a time, one experience at a time, in joy and sorrow and in sickness and health. I am woefully unprepared for coming chapters, but I steel myself to embrace it all. I don't want to miss a thing - and when you have that attitude you get live the very best moments.

I come from a long line of story-tellers: it is in my DNA. There were story-tellers who used words, story-tellers who used pictures, story-tellers who planted beautiful stories in yards with plants and flowers, and those who used their lives to tell the most beautiful stories of all without a single word.

I am a storyteller who uses words and pictures and paint. I am also a cheerleader for anyone who wants to do the same. I am painting a story with my life - this blog will paint it with words and occasionally some pictures and paint. I will get some paint on me - and sometimes it will run down my cheeks. It is my hope that you will get a little paint on you, too.

With Love,

P.S. Those Family Tree Branches that annoy you? Accceptance is key. God really does have a plan for all of it.