RFD
By Bonnie K. Taylor General Manager The True Citizen

Last Friday and Saturday was a whirlwind weekend kicking off the Christmas season. I was exhausted from attending only two of the functions - Christmas on Liberty and the Town and Country Woman's Club Tour of Homes, "A Christmas to Remember."

If any of you have ever been involved as a homeowner in the tour of homes, it is a huge undertaking.

Opening your home to the masses is an incredible test of patience, time and money.

Two of the families on the tour have new babies in their homes ... Doug and Lori Springer and Ben and Ashley Roberts. Another of the homeowners is expecting a baby ... Amy and Travis Nunnally. The other homeowners were empty nesters, David and Reesa Smith and Chris and Carol Mann.

Each of the homes were beautiful in its own way.

My husband, Eddie's choice for the perfect home was the Mann home with the huge screened-in porch overlooking a lake. A new home to the Manns ... it is a showplace, but home, too, radiating the warmth of the loving couple.

The Roberts' household, home to a newly wedded couple with a baby, Sawyer, and big sister, McKenzie, had so many unexpected touches.

I say "unexpected touches," for I know the homeowners. Ben Roberts, no longer an eligible bachelor, worked with The True Citizen staff for some time and I feel I got to know him well.

I have been amazed at him settling into the husband life and daddy routine so comfortably. Ashley, you know you are blessed when you find a guy like him! Take good care of him ... he is one of a kind!

Each of the homeowners had little mishaps before the big day of the tour. David ... did you say you accidently set the yard on fire?

Well, you made a great recovery. It did not show!

Ben, what was that huge task you started the week of the tour? Getting rid of the root-laden driveway. It was a little more than he bargained for. He had to seek professional help of Mike Sasser.

Oh, and if the driveway was not enough, Ben decided Sawyer's room needed a mural on the wall. He stayed up half the night before the tour painting the masterpiece.

What a dad!

The Springers major garage project still had some minor finishing touches, but you would never know it.

The home was just as beautiful as the young family who lives there.

The Manns completed a moat in the front of the home the day before the event, but it looked well established to me.

We did not make it to the Nunnally home. Our loss I am sure, but we ran out of time.

All of the homeowners were probably sweating bullets on Friday before the tour, but none showed.

It was a lovely tour. Thanks, homeowners, for opening your homes to all of us!

Chistmas on Liberty continues to be a much awaited event for the holiday season. It, too, was a great event!

****** Most of you probably have heard by now that Johnny Barefield broke his neck Friday night. It is only cracked according to his son, John.

Johnny fell from a tree where he was hanging Christmas lights. The young child who lives next door saw him fall and went to get her mom, who happens to be a nurse.

He will be out of work for a couple of weeks, but should be back to normal real soon.

Since Johnny is a new grandpa, he can sit up straight with his neck apparatus and hold his newborn grandson on his chest and all will be well!

Johnny, it's time to leave the light hanging to someone else. Glad you're going to be okay!

*******

Don't forget about Lights of Hebron at the church located just beyond Wal-Mart.

The festival of lights is every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 6-9 through Dec. 23.

There are lights, lights and more lights ... a campfire, live music, hayrides and moonwalk.

Food is available Friday and Saturday and proceeds benefit the church's missions.

A candlelight service will be on Christmas Eve from 6-6:30 p.m. Food will not be available that evening.

Make plans to attend. It will be an event the entire family will enjoy.