Christmas Day in Huntsville - The Tradition Continues!

For years Huntsville would hear the sirens all through town, but it was not for anything bad, but it was our own Buddy Stuck going through town watch for the kids to come running out of their houses and he would stop and give them a bag of candy.  I don't know who had more fun though, was it the kids because they got a bag of candy or Buddy because he got to see the smile on the kids faces when he handed them the bag of candy.  The pictures were taken by Nancy Conley.

Christmas Day 2013 the tradition continued with hearing the sirens and seeing the police car drive all through the town watching for the kids to come running out of their houses for that bag of candy.  The only thing different about this year is it was Michael Hopper that is keeping the tradition alive.  I am sure that Buddy was riding right alone the side of Michael as he drove through town where he could see the smile on the kids faces once again.  

The photo below is on that was taken by Tina Johnson.

Rest in Peace Buddy, the tradition of the kids getting a bag of candy on Christmas morning will forever live on in our town of Huntsville.

The True Meaning of Christmas

Do you know what the true meaning of Christmas?  I feel that with the busy holiday season sometimes we forget what it is.  It isn't the holiday parties, the shopping or even who has the prettiest decorations.  Everyone likes watching the Christmas specials and movies and one of the favorites is "How the Grinch Stole Christmas", but from the following picture that I found, even the Grinch knows the true meaning of Christmas:

Have your figured out where I am going to yet with the true meaning?    

On Christmas Day when you are with family opening presents and eating, please take a moment to remember whose birthday it is.

Everyone knows the comic strip "The Peanuts", Linus knows just What Christmas is All About:

I know it is fun to watch your kids open the presents and see their eyes light up when they have that one thing that they always wanted and seeing the smile on their face, but be sure and tell them who was born on that day and the real meaning of the holiday.  Jesus is the reason for the season.

Rest In Peace Huntsville Police Chief Buddy Stuck

Today the Huntsville Community paid tribute to one of our own and our Police Chief Buddy Stuck.  He will definitely be missed on the streets keeping our town safe or in the mornings on the school bus where he got the kids to school safe and them back home safe in the evenings.  

All of the community knew if we ever needed something and we saw Buddy out and about, he would always be more than happy to help out.  The community turn out showed just how much that he meant to this small town of Huntsville.

After the service at the high school we were led through town by several emergency vehicles for Buddy's last ride down main street to his final resting place.

The American Flag being flown with the help of Moberly and Columbia Fire Departments, with the helicopter flying above.

The Huntsville Community will forever miss Buddy Stuck and it will be hard when you drive through the streets and you don't pass him going the other way with that little wave to everyone that he passed, or even the stops that he made at Casey's.  

You will be missed Buddy and thank you for all the things that you did for our community.  

To the family of Buddy Stuck, I know that you will have tough times ahead, but to let you know our small town will be here for you anytime you need us.

Rest in Peace William "Buddy" Stuck!

A Tribute to Huntsville Police Chief, Buddy Stuck

Today the small town of Huntsville mourns the loss of Buddy Stuck.  He would start of his mornings driving a school bus and after he got through with his bus route, would head to his office to protect the streets as our Police Chief.  

For everyone who knew Buddy, they knew he had a big heart and would just about do anything that he was asked to do.  Where ever you would run into him, he would be smiling, laughing and joking.

When Buddy wasn't in his Police Chief uniform, he would be driving the bus for several school activities.  He loved doing things for the kids in the community and I am sure that if you talked to the kids that they would say that they liked seeing him when they got on the bus.

One of the things that he did every Christmas morning was driver through the streets of Huntsville, with his sirens on and when the kids looked out the windows to see what was going on, they knew that if they would go out to his police car he would give them candy.

My thoughts and prayers go out to Buddy's family and to let you all know that the town of Huntsville will always be here for you if you need anything.  One thing about living in a small, rural town is that everyone is willing to be there when they are needed.

I have done two things on my Facebook profile, in memory of Buddy  The first thing is change my profile picture to a pic of him and the second thing is change my cover photo to the following:

It is in memory of all fallen police officers.  

RIP Buddy Stuck you will be missed and will be in the community of Huntsville hearts forever.

The Journey of Life

Wouldn't it be nice in your journey through life if you had a map or even a GPS that gave you the right directions to take when you have decided which path to take.  Well as you know this isn't how it is.  Yes everyone has obstacles that pop up and make you to decide to go over it or turn around and take another path.

I have come to realize that those obstacles that are put in front of you are not that bad if you have faith in God, because he put you on this Earth and will be there to help you whenever you need him, all you have to do is ask.  Everyone has a purpose on this Earth and God is the only one that knows what that reason is and
he will not let you go at anything alone even though sometimes it feels like you are.

I have had several of those obstacles that makes me want to just give up sometimes and stop and think if it is work the hassle to go over them because it would have been much easier to turn around and take a different path.

The first one that was put in my way was when my biological mom was battling cancer and lost her fight when I was just 7 years old, now this would be enough to turn around but I was so young and didn't realize why God would take my mom away from me.  In about a year later, God sent me another Mom to take over where my biological mom left and raising this little girl who was confused at why God took away her mom when she needed her the most.  Now I realize that he filled that void that was missing in my life with another mom.

Another time was when my daughter was diagnosed with Cancer at just 18 months old.  This had me asking "Why Me!"  For a long time I thought that it was something that I done because first I lost my mom to this disease and now my daughter has it.  I said several prayers and one day decided that I was strong and this disease wasn't going to take another person that I love away from me.  All of that positive thinking worked because this year November 18, 2013 my daughter turned 21 years old.

So if you are wondering what your Journey in Life is or if you have had several obstacles thrown in your way,  remember that God is there for you and he does listen to your prayers.  He has a plan for you and will see you through your Journey, because he is your map or GPS and will not let you make a wrong turn and if you do, he will be there to get you back on the right track.

Thanksgiving - A Time for Family not Shopping

When did Thanksgiving become a shopping day, instead of a time to be with family?  I remember when I was little and you were driving to family dinners and didn't see anything open unless maybe a convenience store.  I saw this on Facebook and think that more people should do what it says:

If everyone would pledge not to shop on Thanksgiving than everyone will get a holiday and get to spend the day with family.