In Memory of........

~Jean Marie Helme~

1925-2010

My Nana (or Nana Banana) was an amazing woman. She was strong, caring, funny and well liked. As I reflect on her life and our relationship I have to say I keep thinking of how strong of a woman she was. Her strength through hard times in life was amazing and she carried on with a cheerful outlook. She had a matter of fact attitude, but never complained. She always made us laugh with her endless retelling of life stories! Nana would get a kick out of doing something nice for someone, but being sneaky about it. I admire her and I am thankful for the life lessons she has taught us. But more than that she has passed her strength of character on to my mom, who is an amazing woman herself. We are blessed to have had Jean Marie a part of our lives and who's character will live on in generations to come.

Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.
~Gandhi

4 Generations

Jean (Nana Banana), Debra (Mom/Nana),

Michelle (Mom) and Hope

"Thank God Even Crazy Dreams Come True"

I was born in a city in Florida, but from as long as I can remember I wanted a horse. I prayed every night that God would allow me to have one of the most beautiful creatures (in my opinion) that he had created. Even though there was no way we could have one where we lived. When I was eight we moved out of the city to the beautiful country outside a small one light town. Years past as my dad worked on building our house. Then the day finally came when God answered my childhood pleas through my parents hard work. It was one of my most memorable days.

My first Pony, Prince of the Ponies.

My Second horse who I grew into, Shooting Star.

Hope was born with my passion for animals and has always had horses at the top of her list since she could say the word. She has longed to have a horse of her own. Being that we move so much the dream was never possible. We have done our best to have her around them. Hope has had lessons at different locations and we even owned a beautiful black and white paint pony who had been abused. We spent all the time we could with her to gain trust in humans. When we got her she was so scared that she would shake in fear. When we left she would come to the gate and whinny at us. Hope was never able to ride her before we had to move again.

Hope and Mala

Now her dream of owning a horse she could ride has come true. Patches is an amazing 12 year old buckskin paint mare. Already she loves to follow Hope around like a puppy dog. It makes my heart soar to see Hope smile.

Hope and Patches, it was love at first sight!

I love the lyrics in Carrie Underwood's "Crazy Dreams"

"Crazy Dreams"

Hello you long shots

You dark horse runners

Hairbrush singers, dashboard drummers

Hello you wild magnolias

Just waiting to bloom

There's a little bit of all that inside of me and you

Thank God even crazy dreams come true

I stood at the bottom of some walls I thought I couldn't climb

I felt like Cinderella at the ball just running out of time

So I know how it feels to be afraid

Think that it's all gonna slip away

Hold on, hold on

Here's to you free souls, you firefly chasers

Tree climbers, porch swingers, air guitar players

Here's to you fearless dancers, shaking walls in your bedrooms

There's a lot of wonder left inside of me and you

Thank God even crazy dreams come true

Never let a bad day be enough

To go and talk you in to giving up

Sometimes everybody feels like you

Oh, feels like you, just like you

Yeah

I've met some go-getters

Some difference makers

Small town heroes, and big chance takers

I've met some young hearts with something to prove

Oh, yeah

Here's to you long shots

You dark horse runners

Hairbrush singers, and dashboard drummers

Here's to you wild magnolias

Just waiting to bloom

There's a little bit of all that inside of me and you

Thank God even crazy dreams come true

Thank God even crazy dreams come true