Introduction

I had a strange thing happen to me. I had gone to bed one night not thinking of anything in particular. When I fell off to sleep, I knew I wasn't dreaming, it was like a strong impression all night long about writing a book, or story of our family's life at home. I never had anything like this happen to me or impress me so. I don't know if it was the Lord or not, but I was given the title of the book, who to dedicate it to, and that my brothers and sisters were to give their input into what they could remember of their lives down through the years while growing up at home. I am sure we all remember things a little differently, but the gist and reality of it all was our real life in a large family. The first thing that came to my mind when I woke up that morning was but Lord, there is so many stories and books out there now. What would I have to tell that would inspire people to read our story? It was as though I could hear a still small voice saying yes, but not to many of a true life story of a father, a mother with 22 natural born children raised in the hills of West Virginia staying together through it all the good, sad, hard times we've all been through. After all of that, it was as though I was arguing with myself. I said, "but Lord I don't know anything about writing and especially writing a book." Again it was as if a voice said, "write what you know and what you can remember growing up through the years."

So, as I attempted to put this story together, I started thinking that it won't be easy but it's something I can accomplish for the whole family. It will help all of my brothers and sisters share the testimony of their lives that was so closely knitted together.

Sincerely, Dorothy (Dottie) Helen Anderson