A Tear Jerker- Thanks Dean Williams !

A brother and sister had made their usual hurried, obligatory

pre- Christmas visit to the little farm where dwelt their elderly

parents with their small herd of horses. The farm was where they had

grown up and had been named Lone Pine Farm because of the huge pine,

which topped the hill behind the farm. Through the years the tree had

become a talisman to the old man and his wife, and a landmark in the

countryside.. The young siblings had fond memories of their childhood

here, but the city hustle and bustle added more excitement to their

lives, and called them away to a different life.









The old folks no longer showed their horses, for the

years had taken their toll, and getting out to the barn on those frosty

mornings was getting harder, but it gave them a reason to get up in the

mornings and a reason to live. They sold a few foals each year, and the

horses were their reason for joy in the morning and contentment at day's

end.









Angry, as they prepared to leave, the young couple

confronted the old folks "Why do you not at least dispose of The Old

One." She is no longer of use to you. It's been years since you've had

foals from her. You should cut corners and save so you can have more for

yourselves. How can this old worn out horse bring you anything but

expense and work? Why do you keep her anyway?"









The old man looked down at his worn boots, holes in the

toes, scuffed at the barn floor and replied, " Yes, I could use a pair

of new boots. His arm slid defensively about the Old One's neck as he

drew her near with gentle caressing he rubbed her softly behind her

ears. He replied softly, "We keep her because of love. Nothing else,

just love."









Baffled and irritated, the young folks wished the old

man and his wife a Merry Christmas and headed back toward the city as

darkness stole through the valley. The old couple shook their heads in

sorrow that it had not been a happy visit. A tear fell upon their

cheeks. How is it that these young folks do not understand the peace of

the love that filled their hearts?









So it was, that because of the unhappy leave-taking, no one

noticed the insulation smoldering on the frayed wires in the old barn.

None saw the first spark fall. None but the "Old One".









In a matter of minutes, the whole barn was ablaze and the hungry flames

were licking at the loft full of hay. With a cry of horror and despair,

the old man shouted to his wife to call for help as he raced to the barn

to save their beloved horses. But the flames were roaring now, and the

blazing heat drove him back. He sank sobbing to the ground, helpless

before the fire's fury. His wife back from calling for help cradled him

in her arms, clinging to each other, they wept at their loss.









By the time the fire department arrived, only smoking, glowing ruins

were left, and the old man and his wife, exhausted from their grief,

huddled together before the barn. They were speechless as they rose from

the cold snow covered ground. They nodded thanks to the firemen as there

was nothing anyone could do now. The old man turned to his wife, resting

her white head upon his shoulders as his shaking old hands clumsily

dried her tears with a frayed red bandana. Brokenly he whispered, "We

have lost much, but God has spared our home on this eve of Christmas.

Let us gather strength and climb the hill to the old pine where we have

sought comfort in times of despair. We will look down upon our home and

give thanks to God that it has been spared and pray for our beloved most

precious gifts that have been taken from us.









And so, he took her by the hand and slowly helped her up the snowy hill

as he brushed aside his own tears with the back of his old and withered

hand.









The journey up the hill was hard for their old bodies in the steep snow.

As they stepped over the little knoll at the crest of the hill, they

paused to rest, looking up to the top of the hill the old couple gasped

and fell to their knees in amazement at the incredible beauty before

them.









Seemingly, every glorious, brilliant star in the heavens was caught up

in the glittering, snow-frosted branches of their beloved pine, and it

was aglow with heavenly candles. And poised on its top most bough, a

crystal crescent moon glistened like spun glass. Never had a mere mortal

created a Christmas tree such as this. They were breathless as the old

man held his wife tighter in his arms.









Suddenly, the old man gave a cry of wonder and incredible joy. Amazed

and mystified, he took his wife by the hand and pulled her forward.

There, beneath the tree, in resplendent glory, a mist hovering over and

glowing in the darkness was their Christmas gift. Shadows glistening in

the night light.









Bedded down about the "Old One" close to the trunk of the tree, was the

entire herd, safe.









At the first hint of smoke, she had pushed the door ajar with her muzzle

and had led the horses through it. Slowly and with great dignity, never

looking back, she had led them up the hill, stepping cautiously through

the snow. The foals were frightened and dashed about. The skittish

yearlings looked back at the crackling, hungry flames, and tucked their

tails under them as they licked their lips and hopped like rabbits. The

mares that were in foal with a new years crop of babies, pressed

uneasily against the "Old One" as she moved calmly up the hill and to

safety beneath the pine. And now, she lay among them and gazed at the

faces of the old man and his wife. Those she loved she had not

disappointed. Her body was brittle with years, tired from the climb, but

the golden eyes were filled with devotion as she offered her gift---









Because of love. Only Because of love.









Tears flowed as the old couple shouted their praise and joy... And again

the peace of love filled their hearts.









This is a true story.









Willy Eagle









This is an Inspirational message sent to a small group of people. My

hope is that it will make your day just a little bit better.









A small request!









Cancer is a strange cell.









Going along for years in remission and then one day it pops it head up

again.









Pray for the day there will be a permanent cure.









A SMALL REQUEST...









93% won't forward, but I'm Sure You Will........









A small request.....Just one line









Dear God, I pray for the cure of cancer.









Amen









You are all asked is keep this circulating. Even if it's only to one

more person. In memory of anyone you know who has been struck down by

cancer or is still living with it.



A Candle Loses Nothing by Lighting Another Candle.



Please Keep This Candle Going.

Mystery pic fun ... Revealed

OK, the long-awaited solution to the mystery pic, which you may need to go to my blog www.skegley.blogspot.com to follow, is now ... tada ! revealed-------




The answer- my four and a half year younger brother, George. (PHS 55)

It should have been a tough nut to solve, mainly because not many now living knew George at that age. My younger surviving siblings naturally would not and most of the readers, at least three who responded, couldn't possibly have recognized brother George, who turned 73 yesterday, March 7.



George and I have probably remained closer, because of closeness in age, of a very close family.



Things to make the mystery tougher:



George would not have been wearing a dress.



The black and white scan I originally sent did not reveal the red hair of the child. Most of us called George "Red". Sharon was the only other Kegley redhead.



George was born with a foot turned outwards, the left one as I remember. Several operations in Columbus eventually set him straight.



George and a few family members have stayed fairly warm in the Plant city area of Florida, whereas most of the rest of us 'enjoyed' record snow falls here in Ohio.



I guess this is just an inside story anyway, but Jeanie and I called George and Helen and I sang 'Happy Birthday" to him. He said he heard four such songs that day and he voted mine the worst.



Talk about respect?



Frank Hunter after searching for hints, guessed it was me. ( I hope it wasn't the dress).



Jim guessed Mary Lou, Sharon, and Cassandra (Sandy), but he had neither the color pic nor my hint to Frank that the dress did not reveal the sex of the mystery one.



Paul called and Jeanie told him the answer, but he had no guess.



'Ah, sweet mysteries of life' , but again one might say who cares? Except for me and my brother George. George may also disagree, as the red hair Mom, Mary, had combed across his forehead, was so like him at an age even he could not recall. George and I have a close resemblance in hair color now, the few remaining ones are grey, leaving our tops bald.



Our maternal grandfather, Abraham Clark, was bald and our dad, Forest E. Kegley, was bald. Forgive me my brothers, but aren't we all?



Please send George a belated birthday greeting at speck6085@aol.com if you are so inclined.







Sam

About the fun myetery pic-

This fun mystery addendum probably doesn't help many who might guess. Please see following email for the answer:






Saturday, March 6, 2010

Fun mystery pic addendum

Labels Family, Friends 0 comments



A few have inquired as to the source of the Mystery Kegley pic. I have re-scanned part of the ad and will now present it in color, with the source at the top of the page.



I guess the source is not easily readable, but it says: The Columbus Dispatch Friday, March 5, 2010.



Note that clicking on the pic will enlarge it for easier reading of the source.



Please also note that the inquiry from Frank Hunter, Portsmouth Ohio's "Illustrious Illuminator" indicates that it is now in very dangerous hands. It is hard telling what my be photoshopped out of the pic. Hopefully ... NOTHING, Frank, but as you may. It is only a little fun, at least on my part.



Frank guessed the mystery person to be me. Wrong, and one out of ten isn't very good Frank. To be fair though, he only knew a few of the rest of us Kegleys.



Sam

Posted by Sam, Kegley at 6:05 AM





Friday, March 5, 2010

A fun mystery from Sam

Labels Family, Friends, Human Interest 0 comments

BlankFrom this morning's Columbus Dispatch, Frank. Are you home and do I have your correct phone numbers? Blaine gave me 813-310-8772. Hint- Ignore the suggested sex in the pic.









Sam



----- Original Message -----



From: samgabe



To: Sam Kegley



Sent: Friday, March 05, 2010 9:01 AM



Subject: Re: Mystery for Kegleys or any others who may care to reply











who and where did you get the ad?















-----Original Message-----



From: Sam Kegley



Sent: Mar 5, 2010 8:47 AM



To:



Subject: Mystery for Kegleys or any others who may care to reply











A fun mystery ....



The attached ad caught my eye this morning as some baby I remember. I only had to think a little while studying the pic. I would appreciate any guesses. It was one of the Kegley brood of McConnell Ave. in Portsmouth, Ohio a while back.







Sam

Stapanie spielman's cancer fighting- my granddaughter, tobey's request

Stepanie Spielman (Chris's wife) recently died as a result of breast cancer. Pepsi.com has several programs to 'help what you care for'. Please click on the $50,000 gift and scroll down to her book and vote. My granddaughter, Tobey, is in the Spielman's son's class at Jones Middle Scdhool. The Spielman's have raised a lot of money to help in the cancer fight. The link in Tobey's message below is slow right now on my computer, but you may go to www.pepsi.com and follow through.




Thank you in advance,



Sam





On Sat, Mar 6, 2010 at 9:00 PM, Tobey Kegley wrote:





Dear Grandpa,



This is a really important thing that I thought you could help with. I know you can find people to send this on to. If you click on the link at the bottom, it will take you to the pepsi page. If you then scroll down click on vote for this idea. It will help so much! Thank You! I love you guys!





Dear Friends,



Strong Hearts (Stefanie and Chris Spielman's non profit organization for cancer caregivers) was approved by Pepsi to compete for a $50,0000 grant to publish Stefanie’s book, Breast Cancer Boo Boo! Stefanie wrote the book to help explain cancer to children. Her dream was to publish this book and distribute it to kids who are impacted by this terrible disease. We are quite excited about the potential we have, however, we need everyone’s help. Please go to the link below to vote for Stefanie’s book to be one of the top 10 vote getters. You can help us reach our goal by going to the link below and voting for Stefanie’s book and by promoting others to do so by sending the link to your email address book, promoting to friends and posting on your Facebook site.



Help us keep Stefanie's spirit alive and her dream for a cancer free world to come true!





http://www.refresheverything.com/stronghearts?utm_source=email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=good_luck



Thanks for your support, Shannon Peterson





Tobey Kegley












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