Apple Barn

The Apple Barn really is a barn, it was built back in 1910. They planted their first trees in 1976 and have planted more every year. The orchard now numbers over 4,000 trees. The Apple Pie Kitchen,was later added ~ where you can find YUMMY bake delicious treats like fried apple pies, apple doughnuts, and apple dumplins for eating there or taking home. You can enjoy homemade apple cider(hot or cold. We tried both!! We had to give daddy a call and "rub it in" that we were enjoying a HOT apple pie with vanilla ice cream!!!
The apple barn is a great place to visit, we talked how fun it would be to visit during the spring and enjoy a picnic down by the river/

Sgt. Penney visits Copeland

The following story was printed in 3 different local newspapers here in Surry County.
DOBSON — In March of 2008, Tracie Whitaker’s first-grade class at Copeland Elementary School adopted a soldier for their class project. They started writing Sgt. Scott Penney of the United States Army, who has been serving in Afghanistan. Along with these letters and cards of encouragement the students collected items that Sgt. Penney needed. In a three month period Mrs. Whitaker’s class collected four huge boxes of items that were mailed to Sgt. Penney.

These students are now second graders and were gathered together in the Media Center for a big surprise. Mrs. Whitaker reminded them of their project that they worked on last year in her class. As the students started to remember Alex Beck stated “that’s when we wrote your Army friend.” Yes, everyone was remembering and their faces began to light up in anticipation of what was to come. They were informed that Sgt. Penney wanted to visit them so he could thank them in person for all their words of encouragement and the boxes that were sent to him in Afghanistan.

Upon Sgt. Penney’s arrival in the Media Center, the student’s eyes and mouth told all. They couldn’t believe that this was truly Sgt. Penney. He began by introducing himself and thanking the students for everything they had done. Sgt. Penney told the students a little about what he does to serve the United States Army.

After a few moments, the students began to ask great questions. Teresa Vazquez wanted to know what the schools were like in Afghanistan. John Rodriguez asked about how much walking they had to do and if there were any mountains. Most of the boys wanted to know about the guns and tanks. Alex Hege on the other hand wanted to know about the churches in Afghanistan. Sgt. Penney explained to them that they have a church service of their own and someone in his platoon leads the service. As the visit came to an end Mrs. Whitaker stated, “That his time there was heartwarming and gratifying.”

Just a few minutes with Sgt. Penney was a lifetime experience for these students and truly something they will never forget. Sgt. Penney will be returning to service on Dec. 23, and Mrs. Whitaker plans on picking her project back up with this year’s first graders.

Cabin Life

After the weekend Scottie arrived, we drove up to Pigeon Forge, TN. I've been there many times as a child and once my parents took Kynsley and I before we moved to Germany. I was excited that we were getting a family vacation!! We rented a cabin up in the mountains and the owners were so kind to us! Our cabin was so beautiful and we joked that we could just live there for the rest of our lives. I was happy that the entire cabin was full of Christmas spirit and even a tree stood in the family room. Kynsley loved the pool table and before you know it, she made up a game that Scottie spent many hours playing with her. SCHS told Pizza Kits as a fundraiser back in the fall and I'd been saving ours for this trip. Once we got the pizza in the oven, the high winds knocked all the power out! But we left the pizza in and thank goodness the oven was hot enough~it finished cooking it. That was supposed to be a lazy day in the cabin but with no power, we were forced to head down into town~which I didn't mind. We plan to take another trip someday!! Enjoy the photos we took of our cabin life in TN.

Decorating for Christmas

We waited for Scottie to get home before we decorated the Christmas tree this year. Once we all got back from the parade we let the boys put the tree up and the kids decorate it.
Even though we've been miles apart we still carried on our tradition of exchanging ornaments. Kynsley got a little girl dressed as a ballerina. Since she started dance this year we thought it was the perfect ornament for her. Before I opened mine, Scottie explains he wanted to get me a world to represent the distance between us wasn't as big as I thought, I just smiled....he found a gold airplane with crystals on it, since I've had the chance to travel allot this year. Scottie opens his, its a world~I found one!! I told him it represents that we are a world apart but I love him more today than ever before!

Christmas Parade

Kynsley's Christmas Wish

The following story was posted on WXII12.com This will be a "welcome home" we will NEVER forget

PILOT MOUNTAIN, N.C. -- A woman and 2-year-old daughter welcomed home a sergeant Thursday night who had been serving in Afghanistan since March.

Kynsley Penney said she promises this year she has been a good girl. She said she does just what grandma asks and kisses her special doll with her father's picture every night.

"When we go to bed, we say prayers and ask Jesus to keep him safe," Kynsley's grandmother, Patty Childress, said.
Kynsley is hoping these good deeds will be enough for Santa Claus to give her the two special requests she has this Christmas.

"I asked her if she wanted a new doll or a stroller, and she said, 'I don't know,' and then a week later she said, 'I want a blue truck and my daddy,'" Childress said.

Her father, Sgt. Scottie Penney, has been serving in Afghanistan since March.

Penney's wife, April, said it's been hard for her, but that it's been especially tough on Kynsley.

Scottie Penney's family worked very hard to keep him in his daughter's life, even though he was thousands of miles away from home.

"There are pictures all over the house, and like I said, she has our daddy doll," Childress said. "When she can, she gets on the Web cam with him and makes funny faces. She knows who daddy is."

In fact, Kynsley sleeps cuddled up with her father every night. His picture is on a special doll that her family said she takes everywhere.

Thursday night, Penney walked into Pine Hill Church in Pilot Mountain to surprise his daughter.

The moment was caught on camera.

Kynsley waited patiently in her grandmother's arms to tell Santa Claus her special Christmas wish Thursday night.

"I want my daddy," Kynsley told Santa.

Kynsley even practiced a song for Santa Claus, hoping it will help get her wish granted.

Kynsley's constant singing must have paid off, because the Pine Hill Church Santa delivered her Christmas wish right in time for the holidays.

"It was pretty nice," Scottie Penney said. "We have been planning this for some time. I had mixed emotions about how (Kynsley) would react."

The rest of the room burst out in tears when Kynsley and her father reunited.

Scottie Penney said it was also a surprise for him and his wife to see the community supporting them.

"It was very emotional," April said. "I didn't see anyone who had a dry eye. It was so great to see the love and support of our community, family and church family."

My heart skipped a beat

Everyone knows that by the time I was in Scottie's arms I had been crying all afternoon. At around 4pm I was thinking all of our special plans for Kynsley were going to be ruined. Can I just say, "I hate delayed flights"!!!
As I sat in the Lowes parking lot, crying and feeling hopeless, I saw a smiling face walking up to the car. It was Michael, our pastor!! What a blessing!!! He was able to get me to calm down and reassured me that "God is in Control" and HE WAS!!! Little did we know what HE had planned for our family!!!
At the time I was in between phone calls trying to figure out how we could get Scottie home the easiest and quickest way!! When our ideas fell through I knew there was NO way we could make it to the mall as planned!!
My mom along with many special elves never gave up!
Scottie finally arrived around 9pm and a lady in the airport captured the moment my heart literally skipped a beat. As Scottie said, " I was way past the UGLY cry". SO much emotion came out~I know we've had to go through many tough situations this past year and the touch of his arms around me, gave me comfort that has been missing!

A "thankful" Thanksgiving

I was so happy to be in the states this year for Thanksgiving! Mama and I cooked a yummy feast and invited a few of our favorite people over to enjoy time together!

The Harris Chicken Stew

I love this time of year, warm fires, colors of the leaves, and warm stews. Kara and Brian had their annual Chicken Stew over the weekend. I love spending time with my friends. We as always had many laughs! Thank you two for having me over and thanks to everyone for the FUN night! I'm so thankful for these girls and B. R. A. D. for the memories of the past 20 some years!