My friend "Patti Mac" - Patti McDonald Adams

Life offers through the course of its journey the opportunity to meet people at all of the different stages and travels from our lives. Some of these opportunities to meet people will be growing relationships throughout our lives while others will be for a specific time period that will never be forgotten, always celebrated and remembered with fondness. There is another category of opportunities and people that is very difficult to explain. It is that friendship from life's journey that is filled with random re-connections that have this magical element of "picking up exactly where you last left off and your conversation and friendship continues on without ever missing a single moment". Patti McDonald Adams was a friend of impact in the lives of countless numbers and was a golden gem and treasurer to her family. If standing around having a conversation or simply over hearing a conversation between others if you heard the reference 'Patti Mac', your face would instantly be smiling from ear to ear and you were eager to interrupt and join the conversation because you held in common a friendship with one of the all time great's who was always smiling and whose personality was the life of your laughter. The journey we are each on in life has many twists and turns. Sometimes the roller coaster of life is a blast to be on and we have our arms and hands extended waving in the air without a care or fear. Sometimes the roller coast ride is shifting us side to side and the beat and the bangs are a welcomed stop at the rides end. The friendship Patti and I enjoyed became one of randomness because of relocations, work, and travels. Uniquely it seemed at each of my journeys Patti Mac would show up. When I moved to Nashville, Tn., one of my first conversations was, yes with Patti Mac. I had walked into the home of Shannon and Melissa Bunch with the phone being handed to me with the instructions "Tim Hobart" the phone is for you. On Sunday, January 24 when I walked into Patti's room she opened her eyes, began smiling and said "well hello Tim Hobart". That was the Patti I knew and she blessed my life through our friendship. To me she is best described as one of a kind, indeed! Until then

Leap Year 2016 and the day 29

Hello 2016! At the close of every year individuals make resolutions, setting in motion plans to achieve their goals. When I read or hear the word resolution I always think of being 'resolutely resolved'. To be resolved is firm in your commitment, steadfast and determine. To be resolved implies a debt paid in full, the balance released, a loosening of restraints and resolved also implies final. These descriptions help us to fully understand what we are saying and with what amount of force and belief we extend in our statements. Resolutions include decisions like loosing weight, exercising to maintain health, the discipline of sitting down to read a book, to begin writing and journaling your thoughts, stories and experiences. Resolutions could also include decisions to end a relationship, change our attitude or our quickness to dismiss the opinion of others without listening first. Reconnecting with family or friends would be a great resolution as would forgiving others for their actions which may have been intentional or maybe they still remain without a clue as to the impact of their actions on others, you more especially. Any or all of these sound like they would be positive resolutions and proper steps for the beginning of a new year any year. The fact that this year is a "Leap Year" many might not even be aware of at this point. Come February everyone is going to discover the how and why this year's February will have 29 days and not the normal 28 days. With 366 days to work with in 2016 what have you decided resolutely? This year the God Lord above has uniquely give us an extra day. Will you use it wisely? Will you decided to treat Feb 29th as just another day? Why not do something special and use the day to advance the cause of "Making the World a Better Place"? If you have procrastinated on making any New Year Resolutions seize this opportunity to 'resolutely resolve' to intentionally use God's extra day, February 29, 2016 as your day to make a difference in the life of another. If you want to be really creative why not use the 29th of everyday this year to make a difference in one life. You've still got time to plan....January 29th has not yet arrived. Until then.

Remembering Vic Morris from Cumberland High School, Harlan County, Ky.

In the eastern coal field of Kentucky "we mountain folk" are proud of our family name and from where we hail. Who we are and the character we cherish is often the direct reflection of the heritage, values and experiences we shared with our parents, grandparents and even great-grandparents. The name Vic Morris is one that is immediately known to the residents of Cumberland, Kentucky, Harlan County and even more so to sports fans in the Commonwealth. His notoriety is such because there isn't a single person who walked the halls of Cumberland Elementary School, Cumberland High School or played basketball or baseball that didn't realize, in time, that Vic Morris was indeed unique. As a student himself he was a stand-out baseball player who went on to play baseball as as an "Indian" at Cumberland College in Williamsburg. While at Cumberland he became the First All-American in Baseball History. His children, like their father, all were athletically inclined. Even his grandchildren have excelled in their athletic pursuits. After college Vic returned to Harlan County beginning and finishing his educational career impacting lives by simply living out his Christian Faith and by striving to make a difference. What made Vic Morris unique as an educator was that he could be and often was firm, tough, and a no-nonsense kind of teacher, but that was not the totality of Vic Morris. What made him unique and even extraordinary was alongside his firmness was a genuine care to see everyone succeed. He believed that young people could succeed and that the role adults played was to believe, support and encourage students to dream and dream big. As a student growing up I knew when someone really wanted the best for me and when their words were from their heart and life of experience. I first met Vic and his wife Lunelle 33 years ago while attending Cumberland College in Williamsburg. Because of Richie and our friendship I met Lewis, Amy and Daniel too. I am grinning ear to ear as I write that my life has never been the same either! Real friendships are few and building such a relationship takes time and commitment. Vic and Lunelle Morris were a special couple for many reasons. As husband and wife they complimented each other. If one of them was talking with you the other one would soon be there to say hello with a handshake, hug and a smile. Like many parents if you loved or liked their kids then they loved and liked you back. What you might not be expecting was the second part of that love and liking. It also meant that they would substitute for your parents, keeping you in line and watching out for your well being too. I can hear Vic now seeing me and greeting me with a big "Hobart". It was the sound of friendship that now is a precious memory. Until then