Reflections

  In November 2025, Elizabeth and I had the incredible opportunity to take my mother to the Holy Land. Together, we walked where Jesus walked, visited places we had read about our entire lives, and experienced firsthand the history and faith that have shaped generations of believers. After tracing the footsteps of Jesus throughout Israel, we loaded into a van and began a journey south toward Egypt. Our route took us along the western shore of the Dead Sea, passing the imposing fortress of Masada, where Jewish rebels made their final stand against the Roman Empire nearly 2,000 years ago. As the sun bore down on the hot desert floor, we arrived at the border crossing of Taba. Crossing into Egypt was no simple matter. We passed through five separate checkpoints before finally entering the Sinai Peninsula. From there, we traveled along the Nuweiba-Taba Road, following the coastline of the Red Sea as darkness settled over the desert landscape. Our destination was Saint Catherine, a smal...

Who would have thought in 1983 that my friend, Lee would be an executive manager of a successful town and I'd would have owned a business for 28 years.  We had just turned 16. We were idealistic young "bens" ( b oys trying to be m en ). School had just let out. For 9 months Lee was an experimental driver; one might call him a novice. Me on the other hand, I had only had my license for three months. But like most "country boys" we both had been driving the back roads since we were 13, praying we wouldn't get caught. I had a jack-up, large tired, roll-bar pick up strewn with KC 1,000,000 power spot lights. I considered myself a sophisticated redneck. For months we had been dreaming about heading to the mountains.  Camping, experiencing nature as two independent men (or so we thought). So the week after school was released, we loaded up the bed of the truck with sleeping bags, lounge chairs, coolers, flashlights, food, a tarp and rope. Basically everything ...

I went to my brother-in-law's wedding in Edmonton,Canada in early February.  It was exciting and somewhat a feeling of completion to watch Jeffrey McGonigal march his beautiful bride down the isle. The significance of this wedding is compounded by the fact that my wife has only known her brother since 1995. He's not 22, he is 40 years old.  The story of an adoption reunion that happen 22 years ago has taken Elizabeth and me to Canada many times, but most especially four incredible times, including this one. During my search from 1992-1995 for my wife's birth mother, thoughts of brothers and sisters weren't the driving forces. However, after Elizabeth's realization that she was the oldest sister in a family, she shifted from being a middle child in her adopted family to the oldest in her biological family; literally overnight. When we first landed in Edmonton Alberta, we were a young 27 years  old married couple. Her new siblings were 13 to 24 years old. Like lo...

I hope you enjoy this short story from my friend, Becky Tarlton. She is known all across North Carolina as a hardworking and honest auctioneer. Everybody's got a story....I think you'll enjoy hers! T. Kyle Shake my hand.   Good to see you.   I like an affirmative handshake.   There was a time when a contract was made and blessed with the shaking of hands.   My how things have changed.   How many times have you heard these sayings?   A person is only as good as their word.   A person’s word is their bond.   If you can’t say something good then say nothing at all.   Treat others as you wish to be treated.   There are many more but how many do we really try to live by?   I am sure we all fall short in some way or another.   I speak of my Dad every chance I get.   I always found him to be congenial with me and with others.   I never heard a cross word exchanged between he and my Mom.   Actually never...

John Caudle, Part 2. An interview with a hero! John Caudle and his B-29 Crew. Photo most likely taken at Tinian Island This post is a followup to part 1 of an interview I conducted with John Caudle, a Farmington, NC World War II veteran. I think you will really enjoy this time I spent with John. You can see in his eyes the reflections of 65 years. Enjoy T. Kyle

Meeting John Caudle in 2009 was a rich experience. John was scheduled to be on the first rounds of veterans going on the Triad Flight of Honor, a trip for World War II veterans to see their memorial.   To describe John,  I would call him a humble gentleman. By age 18, he was stripped from his country roots and traveled all across our country and even a small island in the pacific, Tinian . A young John Caudle during the  war. This island was the launching pad for the Enola Gay , a plane that was engaged in the paramount event of World War II and will forever be engraved in the annals of American World War II history.  Caudle knew the bombardier of this famous plane, John Ferebee , who was from the same small county in North Carolina.  John served as a tail-gunner in a B-28. I hope you enjoy this reflection John offers, a relection over 60 years after this amazing experience.   Click to watch part 1 of his story.

In 2009 ,  it was my great honor to take James Foster from Cooleemee on the Triad Flight of Honor to Washington, DC.  Mr. Foster demonstrated a meek, kind demeanor. You'll hear him talk about working triage the day Eisenhower pushed the American troops on the banks of Normandy.  Later, he found himself post Battle of the Bulge liberating concentration camps. I think you will be moved by this great American!   Click to watch interview

One of the great memories I will cherish for a lifetime was my participation on the Triad Flight of Honor committee.  Together, with the support of Rotary 7690 and citizens all across the Triad, we took over 1300 veterans to see their memorial.  Listening to these veteran, I learned so much of what made our country strong. A World War II veteran that was known by many in Davie County, North Carolina was John Barber. I hope you will enjoy this 20 minute interview with a gentleman, a veteran, a public servant and loving husband.....John Barber. Click to watch the video