Last week by blog friends George and Betsy were visitng Pine Mountain State Park and they took the time to go find my childhood home and email me photos.
ALL PHOTOS TODAY were taken by Besty, Just for ME!
Thank you Betsy the photos that have are the pilot light of my memories of a wonderful childhood in the Applachian Mountains of Kentucky.
The odd thing is, all the buildings look exactly like they did more than 50 years ago. I recieved my first kiss in the above building. At that time it was a reccreation hall. I was 13 so it was not that much of a kiss, but I still remember it.
As I looked through all the photos Betsy sent to me, the tears of joyful memories poured down my face. This is Kelly Hall and where they attended classes and we build snow forts on that lawn
The above photo is the way my brother and I looked as we walked over this bridge. (oops! make that the way we looked when HE walked accross this bridge, I went the long way round)
More happy memories waited on me when I found this song on Blind Pig and The Acorn blog post about Shape Note singing and memories of my dad baptizing people in the river in Kentucky in the 50"s flooded my soul. I found the video on YouTube and it's perfect. I learned Shape Note Singing in Kentucky and did not even know what it was until now.
These photos taken by a friend truly prove the saying.
"photos are the pilot light of memories"
Thank you to my blog friends for all these sweet memories.
29 comments:
Sandra, what a wonderful walk down memory lane for you. Betsy was so sweet to take photos for you too. The old foot bridge was neat.
George and Betsy are Great friend's
to think of you and do this. You have put togather a fantastic blog with their help.How far did you have to wlk around to keep from walking across that bridge. he he he he he
My folks went to Asbury College in Wilmore, KY, where they met. Next June they will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary. I was just three when Dad graduated from Nazarene Theologic Seminary in Kansas City, MO. You have great memories from that time... I guess I was too young and just don't remember much. My ex-husband and I were both small children attending that graduation at the same time. His dad was in my dad's class but they didn't know each other.
So nice to have Betsy and George send you a touch of home. I'm with you--I would NOT have crossed that bridge!! I have a hard enough time crossing a steel and concrete one!!
Best,
Bonnie
I love this post. What wonderful memories and the video is tops. So glad you have those pictures.
What great friends to do this for you. Always so fun to have the memories! Love the pics. That song is one of my VERY favorite! I will be singing it all day! Thank you, my friend! Happy Birthday to your hubby tomorrow! AND 26 years of marriage --that is so nice! Here is to many, many more!
what a coincidence, my dad was an evangelical pastor.
@pulpit rock- the image is not HDR, i made the colours of the sky and sea a bit stronger and adjusted the rocks contrast selectively.
btw, thanks again for your so generous comments on my second blog.
Wow! What good memories you must have of this beautiful place and all the wonderful people you met there. I know from our conversations that times were hard but I know that you cherish those times so much. Those times were so much more simple and I think that was a good thing. The world we live in today moves to fast for me. Snapper and I both love that kind of music. Little did we know we were listening to "shape note singing." (we learn something new every day) We call it Bluegrass or mountain music. Both songs brought tears to my eyes. Good tears. I love it all. George and Betsy are wonderful friends to do this for you and you did a wonderful job of putting to together. Love you!
Oh Sandra, This almost had me crying this morning... I'm so glad we got to visit that area --just for you!!!! Love the picture of your Dad --and especially the one of you and your brother.... How special.....
I hope you can get back there yourself sometime... That is an incredible area of Kentucky...
Hugs,
Betsy
What wonderful friends to take time to take the pictures and send the to you. Nothing like good friends and good memories. I can tell you are very touched by them. Such a nice picture of you & your brother - I can definitely see you - then to now - in the picture. Was that your Daddy in the baptism picture? Looking at the picture of him outside the church brings to mind how times/dress has changed - we sure are a lot more casual these days - comfortable to say the least but there was something special about how men and women dressed up and not just for special occasions.
I'm glad you enjoyed the pictures we got of Clear Creek Mountain Bible College. I enjoyed your memories and pictures very much.
What awesome people to go and take those photos for you. It is so nice to have pleasant memories of growing up and to have photos to help us remember the details. What a great trip we just had.
What wonderful memories, Sandra! I love the first kiss building. And of course, the legendary bridge!! I can't imagine it without the sides! I had to ask Phil what Shape Note singing was, and he said he learned it when he was a real little boy. He said they don't teach it anymore because it won't work for many songs,especially the ones with chord changes. We have lots of hymn books, because he is a song leader, and he just got out a hymnal to show me the note shapes, now I am comparing them to the regular notes in a modern book. He remembers what shape each note was, do you? That diploma looks in perfect shape.
Do you still attend a Baptist Church? I have been going since I came to New Zealand.
Today, my church is hosting the Willow Creek Summit. i offered to help, and guess what, I got excited and got up at 4am, and I need to find some flowers.
My goodness, what memories this must have brought back for you. Sometimes it is good to go back in time like this.
Hi Sandra.
you have very interesting and enjoyable blog here..
in answer to your question.. yes she may use the poem.. thank you so much for asking.. most just take and run.. "smile"
I hope you have a very blessed day..
soft hugs
Hope
What a wonderful walk down memory lane in pictures. What is "shape note singing"? .... perhaps a subject for your next blog. Everytime I go back to Savannah, I drive by the house that I was raised in..... brings back a lot of good memories.
A very interesting post, thanks for sharing! - and thanks to your friends too, for taking those pictures for you! I didn't know your dad was a baptist pastor.
What a wonderful post. I love all the pictures :o)
what great memories and images to accompany them ...
George and Betsy are just the best, how sweet of them to take all those photos. Those are some wonderful memories you have from that place.
I didn't think I knew what Shape Note singing was until I played the video. Growing up in GA I always heard that style called "fa so la" or Scared Harp. It's all the same thing and very beautiful.
I have that song by A. K. wow..what memories! Thanks for the sweet share! It was nice of them to do this! I know I mentioned my dad was born in 1916..and incidently, he was the oldest of ten- he had seven sisters! His Uncle had seven sons and I'm the youngest of seven (lol) Now, although he wasn't a preacher
(ha ha- he could get his point across), but had to care for all the rest of his younger siblings. His dad died before I was born. Nice post Sandra- love the photos and video! (sniff)
What a fantastic gift with the photos. It looks like a wonderful place to go and explore--thanks for sharing your memories.
Oh how nice of them to take the photos and I just love the old one of you and your brother. What sweet memories for you : ) I'm glad I could play a small part in reminding you of those precious days too : )
You made me teary eyed with this post.
What wonderful memories and precious photos of your dad and you and your brother together. This is really great and touching post.
What a fun idea! It was great to wander down memory lane with you. :o)
wow - that george and betsy took the time to find this place and photograph it for you is one of the sweetest things i've heard... what neat memories...
Wow, Betsy and George are some wonderful people...I go through Pineville every time I go home....have been through it 100's of times. Remember Top Value stamps? They had a store there where we could go and redeem them.
I have heard of Clear Creek, but did not know where it is at. I still read the Middlesboro Daily news on line almost every day. It is not far from Pineville....it is just across the mountain from where I grew up in Tennessee. (Cumberland Gap, TN area--that was our mailing address but I lived in the country)
What a wonderful story of true friends and the beauty of your childhood.
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