As a child, the Branson Community church played a big part of my life. As I remember, it was the people who loved and nurtured me that I associate with that quaint little church.
Each December, the Christmas program at the church was a big deal for our small ranching community–we anticipated it as a major part of our holiday festivities. We put on pageants, songs and plays.
For one of the productions, I was an angel–I felt heavenly for sure. Being an angel can be dangerous! Here’s what happened–safety wasn’t the focus back in the 50’s.
Historic photo of Branson Community Church
Branson Community Church
The Branson Community Church small and quaint.
People that touched my life Maynard Bowen, Walt Graham Ministers of God, who took the time for me. The Loudens The Gilstraps The Smiths The Warners The Cummins Mabel Survant Mrs. Jamieson
Sunday School teachers and family friends who let me sit with them, singing my songs out loud when I couldn’t even read.
Beautiful old hymns and singing. They loved me, taught me, and encouraged me. A safe place to be on Sunday morning, and a nice place to meet God.
Youth group on Sunday night games and talking about God Youth group picnic and campouts at the Gilstraps and the annual Christmas programs.
One year, at the Christmas program I was an angel with the other young girls. Donned in our white robes, wings, and haloes, we walked in a straight line carrying lit candles. The girl behind me got too close and caught my hair on fire! Our teacher quickly handled the situation, and I wasn’t burned. The program went on.
Did you participate as a child in Christmas programs at your church? Any exciting happenings? Let me know.
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Larada Horner-Miller is a poet, essayist and accomplished multi-genre author who holds a bachelor’s degree in English, with a minor in Spanish and a master of education degree in Integrating Technology into the Classroom. She is the accomplished author of six award-winning biographies, historical fiction, memoir, and poetry works plus three self-published cookbooks.
Her sixth book, Coronavirus Reflections: Bitter or Better?, is available in paperback and four e-book formats. Larada offers the reader the opportunity to look back at 2020 and the global pandemic through her prose and poetry through reading, then reflecting and responding. She addresses all the emotions she felt during this overwhelming time and leads the reader through to a self-access: bitter or better?
Her fifth book is the authorized memoir and biography of world-renown square dance caller Marshall “Flip” Flippo. Just Another Square Dance Caller: Authorized Biography of Marshall Flippo is available now in hardback, paperback and four e-book formats. Recently Just Another Square Dance Caller won two awards: Book Excellence Awards Finalist and Silver award for eLit. Book Awards.
Another recent book of hers, A Time to Grow Up: A Daughter's Grief Memoir has won many awards including being a 2018 Book Excellence Awards Finalist in the Memoir category at the New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards and a 2018 Independent Press Distinguished Favorites Award in the Memoir category. Horner-Miller has also been a past national presenter at the Women Writing the West Conference and is currently the creator of Memoir Workshops for others who want to share their family’s legacies through words.
Larada and her husband, Lin, enjoy being nestled in the mountains above Albuquerque, New Mexico, near the village of Tijeras. When not writing books, this passionate, energetic, and enthusiastic woman loves to spend time kicking up her heels at square dancing gatherings, traveling, knitting, and reading.
As co-manager of her family’s southeastern Colorado ranch, she enjoys spending time exploring her family’s historic ranch and reminiscing with her brother and his children about their mom, dad, and granddad.
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