E A N'S
L A C E
E A N'S
L A C E
Well, welcome to Jean's Place -- she's the best wife the Circuit Rider ever had, you know -- he was 19 and she was only 17 when he just up and took her off to North Carolina as his new bride -- just a couple of kids!! Oh, in case you wonder about that age in getting married -- they both graduated from high school when they were 16 -- ah, that's a story in itself! Their first child, Richard, was born at Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station two years later -- cost them $7.00 by the way.
C R sure enjoys those food items from Jean's Recipe Box! Those Cherry Chocolate Kisses are really good, but CR says they don't hold a candle to the other kind which Jean gives him --- ummmmm! Both being adventuous types, CR and Jean enjoy trying new recipes. Now that we have a lot more "breathing room" in our new location with its 20 million acres there will be recipes added to the Recipe Box regularly.
Oh, oh! Guess what? Alvin was attracted to those pleasant frangrances floating out of Jean's kitchen and just had to stop in and see what was causing them! Here he is now to tell you how to get to Jean's Recipe Box.
Please excuse my intrusion again. But I got so excited about Jean's Recipe Box that I wanted to invite you to come on over. All you have to do is click on my picture and you can go there. Now I know some of you have doubts about me and my appearance, but I discuss that over at Circuit Rider's This 'n That area. But you can take that in at a later time, if you haven't done so already.
And now a special surprise for you -- Circuit Rider gave me a picture of Jean and him to put here -- ah, he's the one on the right, and as you can see, still quite affectionate, insisting they are still honeymooning! But he also said if that silly ape doesn't quit staring and making all those faces he's going to get irritated and there will be monkey fur scattered all over the Range and then I suppose I'll have to clean it up!
Jean and Circuit Rider in Disguise
OK, to see them as they really are go to Clayton and Jean!
The clock of life is wound but once
And no one has the power,
To tell just where the hands will stop
At late or early hour.
To lose one's wealth is sad indeed,
To lose one's health is more --
To lose one's soul is such a loss
As no one can restore.
The present only is our own
To seek to do God's will,
Tomorrow holds no promise, for
The clock may then be still.
Lots of interesting things to investigate here -- just click on the image or the colored underlined link to experience new sights and activities.
Puzzles & more plus other stuff at
For a real family fun experience go to
Jean would like you to experience
Take a tour of the
Get something to add to the decor of your home or a recipe at
Jean just received her first Longaberger basket this past Christmas -- take a tour at Longaberger Baskets -- if you drive past the company headquarters in Ohio you will not easily forget the sight -- building is shaped like a giant market basket standing 7 stories high -- a real head turner!! Until you can get there to see it, you can view a photo of it within the web site under Longaberger Library.
Jean also enjoys paintings of the Civil War era and would like to obtain a number of these (budget permitting, of course!) -- if you would like to view some impressive works by historical artist, Mort Kunstler, then click on American Print Gallery One of Jean's favorites is "Till We Meet Again" which pictures Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson bidding a final farewell to his wife -- he later died as a result of being wounded in battle and developing pneumonia.
Jean wants to visit The Country House which is in Salisbury, Maryland -- she hopes to visit it in spite of it being a 6 hour drive away! CR's suggestion -- drive part way down, stay overnight -- on to the store the next day -- start part way back, stay overnight, and return back home the third day. Isn't that romantic? Remember they are still honeymooning after all these years!
Are you a "hopeless romantic" as is Jean's special "other"? Travel to COCO's RETREAT -- lots of poetry, scenery and those sorts of things that warm the heart and makes one appreciate even more that "special love" with whom you crossed paths some time ago, and life was never the same after that, was it?
To give a message to Jean click here 
Meet Megan, our special Angel. Megan is our granddaughter and was 11 years old on March 5, 2002. Her parents are our son, Eric, and his wife, Vicki. Megan has a condition known as Angelman Syndrome which is caused by a piece missing on the 15th chromosome. She still crawls, although she can pull herself up beside furniture etc. She does not talk but only makes sounds and probably never will talk. She attends classes designed for special children such as she. She loves to be in a swimming pool which her daddy and mommy got for her. Her daddy got a special deal on an outdoor furnace in his wheeling and dealing and is able to heat the water of the pool up to 90 degrees if he wants to -- not only for Megan's comfort, but for Granddad and Grandmother H. as well! The condition has sometimes been described as the "happy puppet" syndrome. Here are some sites Megan would like you to visit: Angelman Syndrome Foundation Home Page which gives you much info on AS as well as links to other places. Touched by An Angel provides basic facts and discriptions of Angelman Syndrome children along with some photos. Angelman Syndrome from A to Z also provides lots of information which is very helpful to better understand the nature of the condition.
The little praying angel is placed here courtesy of another angel I crossed paths with on the Internet by the name of Angela with whom you can become better acquainted by visiting Angel's Homepage -- she has put together a fascinating angelic site!
It actually began in the fall of 1995 -- I had taken a strong stand against an obvious wrong and it resulted eventually in 3 persons in one congregation lodging a complaint against me with the District Superintendent. Proper procedures were not followed in this (complaints are first of all to be taken up within the Pastor Parish Relations Committee and then if deemed necessary, the Committee Chairperson makes contact with the D.S.). The result was the forcing of our retirement at least 1 to 2 years earlier than planned and a very negative impact on Jean's health. Two of the persons involved in the complaint action Jean had considered to be the best of friends over many years -- I have never seen anyone so hurt or feel so betrayed -- the whole family began to feel the impact of this thing. Her health began to steadily deteriorate and in May of 1997 she was hospitalized with a heart problem, part of which involved her heart rate. She was given a prescription of medication to deal with this. The effect of what had happened earlier was beginning to take its toll.
September 19, 1997 appeared to be just like an another day for us up until 8:15 AM, that is. I had prepared a scrambled egg breakfast (with the fixins' of green peppers, onion, tomatoes etc.) for Jean and me. I was going to cut firewood that morning -- so after breakfast I prepared to leave the house -- was lacing up my workboot and was within about 10 seconds or less of walking out the door when I thought I heard a moan in the kitchen (and my hearing is not all that great) -- went out to check and found Jean on the floor -- totally paralyzed on her right side and unable to speak a word -- I held her a bit and spoke, but she couldn't respond -- only roll her tongue a bit with a frightened look in her eyes -- what I saw in that moment comes back to haunt me sometimes to this day. A quick call to 911 - in almost record time the Blacklick Valley Ambulance service arrived -- almost at the same time another paramedic arrived, and soon it was off to Lee Hospital in Johnstown PA.
I drove down and got there shortly after and was permitted into the emergency area where she was -- although I had been praying all along, what I saw was not very encouraging in that moment -- the nurses worked with Jean trying to get response and movement in her right arm and leg, but to no avail -- anyone could see she was getting worse!
Then Dr. Hyman, neurologist and specialist in stroke situations, came on the scene -- shortly put a proposal to me -- a helicopter ride to Pittsburgh and the "6 hour window" procedure to be attempted, which was still experimental or stay at Lee and possibly use a drug if Jean met the criteria, such as the time frame (within 3 hours), past medical history factors etc.
It was determined that she "qualified" in a sense to be given TPA (nicknamed "clot buster"), which only about 3 per cent of stroke victims can be given and even then it is extremely risky. I had to make the decision and basically said, "Do what you can do." In the meantime Jean's condition continued to worsen -- the medication was prepared and soon the IV began. She was moved to the Coronary Care Unit soon after the treatment began and after cat scans had been taken.
Eventually, I was permitted to go into her room after they got her situated. All the while two nurses were working with her in an effort to get response. Then after about 2 hours the "miracle" began to be manifested -- she began to speak some words and began to regain some movement in arm and leg. By the end of the afternoon she had regained her speech and movement in both arm and leg. She continued to regain her strength and a week and 1 day later left the hospital -- got out of the wheel chair and got into the car on her own "power" and walked into the house when we got home. The last cat scan indicated she had never had a stroke, even though her heart had gone into "A fib" mode and spit out a clot which had lodged in the left side of her brain!
Needless to say, we have nothing but praise and thanksgiving to our God for His abundant healing mercy in this matter. It was through many channels through which He worked to bring about this miracle! In retrospect, it is obvious God was working in many ways -- He kept me from leaving that morning -- if I had gone out the door, I wouldn't have come back for another 3 to 4 hours, and the stroke was described as "massive" which meant that I probably would have found her dead! Special persons "just happened" to be in place -- the additional paramedic who is quite knowledgable regarding stroke and who drew the needed blood while the trip was made -- the 2 nurses were on the scene who were to head up the new stroke unit at Lee Hospital, which was to "officially" open the following week -- Dr. Hyman, the specialist in this field, "just happened" to be on the hospital premises and was immediately paged when Jean was brought in -- these are a few of the evidences that God was working as He does so often, in mysterious ways!
Jean is able to do anything she did before and still has that beautiful hand writing that she has always had -- just has to go a little slower at times -- she is on medication including a powerful blood thinner in order to prevent clots in case the A fib thing repeats. Lee Hospital personnel described her recovery as being 100 per cent, the first stroke patient they had to reach that level of recovery. We thank God again for how He worked through all this and many persons involved! Indeed it was a miracle!
Often through all this I had prayed in part the prayer found in Psalm 86 which toward the end goes like this ".... But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth. Oh, turn to me, and have mercy on me! Give Your strength to Your servant, And save the son of Your maidservant. Show me a sign for good, that those who hate me may see it and be ashamed, Because You, LORD, have helped me and comforted me." (Psalm 86:15-17 NKJV). I praise Him because I fully believe He showed us a "sign for good" and confirmed that what we had done months ago was the right thing -- if it were otherwise, and I am the monster a few people have painted me to be, then why did God do this miracle in our family? Anyone have an explanation? (Isaiah 41:10)!!
A Post Script: It's amazing how God works through these things -- He separated us from those who claimed to be friends, but proved they were not and He has given us many new friends to replace those who eventually revealed their second faces! Some of these we have met through Internet communications, and some have visited the Circuit Rider's Range and we have established new friendships that way -- you can check comments in the Guest Book to see how it has been. God always brings new people across your path who will be a blessing in many ways, and thus help to erase painful memories of the past! 
A PPS: November 14, 1999 -- God has wonderfully opened up a new door of opportunity for us. We had our first worship service at Gipsy Christian Church in Gipsy, PA and met some fine people with whom we shall be working in days to come. They graciously and warmly received us, and for that we are extremely grateful. God continues to arrange for us to meet new friends in the faith
Clayton and Jean Harriger
With tiger suits removed and...
"Forever in Love" :-)
CONSTRUCTION ON CIRCUIT RIDER'S RANGE CONTINUES IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS!
...AND GOD'S WORK ON CR!!
And Jean would say He's got a big job to do!! :-))
Copyright 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 Clayton D. Harriger
