Philippians 4:13
I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

A quote by Libby:
"Mom has to be one of the strongest women that I have ever known! She won a battlewith advanced endometrial cancer in the spring of 2008. It was a miracle! Do not ask her what her age is, because she will not tell you. She is beautiful! If you call Mom's cell phone, you will hear the ring tone, Road House Blues by The Doors." - Libby Minton-Barrett (daughter).

Evelyn Minton and her daughter, Dr. Billie J. Minton are the authors of the Blue Ridge Tenderpup children's series. These books may be found at the author's website BlueRidgeMoments.com and Amazon.com/Author/drbillieminton

1 Corinthians 10:31
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Evelyn Minton and her daughter, Dr. Billie J. Minton are the authors of the Blue Ridge Tenderpup children's series. These books may be found at the author's website BlueRidgeMoments.com and Amazon.com/Author/drbillieminton

Psalm 95:1
Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;
let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.

Evelyn Minton and her daughter, Dr. Billie J. Minton are the authors of the Blue Ridge Tenderpup children's series. These books may be found at the author's website BlueRidgeMoments.com and Amazon.com/Author/drbillieminton

My pets  look deeply into my eyes to express Love, thankfulness and convey their contentment. They seek to provide companionship everywhere I go.

They are gifts from God that always want to be together. They look forward to cuddles, songs, and prayers that help them drift off into a sweet slumber.

Thank you, Lord, for our pets; precious living souls.

Do you embrace precious, God given moments?

Psalm 8:6-9
You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Evelyn Minton and her daughter, Dr. Billie J. Minton are the authors of the Blue Ridge Tenderpup children's series. These books may be found at the author's website BlueRidgeMoments.com and Amazon.com/Author/drbillieminton

“Hobo Wilson ... a homeless friend, filled up with purpose.”

We met him on a springtime day and it changed my life forever.

The elderly homeless man just stood there in place, and really sized my daughter up with his eyes as she approached him. She had no idea what she was going to do or say but something inside of her  heart told her  to have this conversation.

She looked deeply into the elderly man's eyes, they were sky blue, watery, determined, and very serious. The elderly man just stared into her  eyes, took a deep breath and said, "May I call you Doc?" She replied, "Yes, of course." She then asked him, "What is your name." He said, "Hobo." Her  reply was, "I just cannot call you Hobo, what is your name?" He replied,"My name is Bob Wilson." She asked, "If you are going to call me Doc, may I call you Wilson?" He shouted, "certainly Doc!"

He was a veteran, and now a homeless man that traveled by train from town to town over decades. Wilson described how he would get on a train, not knowing exactly where it was going, and get off when the feeling struck him to do so. He had been doing this for decades. Although he was a homeless train traveler, Wilson traveled from town to town, in order to help homeless people find a home.

Wilson did not travel with anyone or have any roots whatsoever. He was as free as an eagle in our eyes. For a moment, we fantasized about his lifestyle ... no utility bills, mortgage, dinner to prepare or patients to see. In some sense, he seemed to have a better life than we had.

Next, my daughter took Wilson to the apartment complex that she co-owned with her  business partner. Some of these apartments were fully furnished. She told him that he would be living there for free, as long as he wanted to, or for the rest of his life, and that it was his choice. Wilson suddenly burst out crying, and put his head in his hands. He cried so hard, and long, that she thought he must have a puddle of tears in his hands.

It was not long before Wilson gave his heart and life to Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior! He became saved and changed his lifestyle completely.

About six months later, Wilson passed away. It was heart breaking!  We found a piece of paper with a man’s name and phone number. It was Wilson's brother. His brother told us that he had not seen Wilson in decades. Wilson's brother was kind to us, and cried over the loss of his brother.

A few months later, we mailed Wilson's brother two books that we had written. One book was Blue Ridge Moments Volume 1, subtitled, "Your Life Is Only As Good As Your Connection With Jesus," and the second book was a children's book about Hobo Wilson called "Blue Ridge Tenderpups Meet Hobo Wilson Christmas Eve."  Wilson's brother was so happy and could hardly believe that someone had written books about his brother.

Springtime always makes us think of the day we  met Wilson, and how he changed our lives. We truly believe that he helped us so much more than we ever helped him. Wilson is in Heaven now living in a mansion that the Lord prepared for him forever.

John 15:12
My command is this:  Love each other as I have Loved you.

Evelyn Minton and her daughter, Dr. Billie J. Minton are the authors of the Blue Ridge Tenderpup children's series. These books may be found at the author's website BlueRidgeMoments.com and Amazon.com/Author/drbillieminton

Blue Ridge Moments Volumes 1 and 2 are a labor of Love, and authored by my daughter, Dr. Billie J. Minton.

BILLIE'S DEDICATION

Blue Ridge Moments Volumes 1 and 2 are dedicated to the ONE and ONLY, Almighty God, and my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who died on the cross to save us all from our past, present and future sins, my parents, Philip F. and Evelyn Johnson Minton and my two Yorkie pups, Blue and Ridge. Some of my best moments in life are spent with Blue and Ridge, hence the title, “Blue Ridge Moments.” My Lord, parents and pups, truly inspire me!

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS FROM BILLIE 

I would like to express heartfelt gratitude to God’s willing vessels; they helped bring Blue Ridge Moments to fruition.

Jessie Johnson Barrett, selflessly, contributed Love and countless hours of editing with me. She helped name the book’s subtitle and provided numerous photos which were all used in many stories.

Sincere thanks to the pulchritudinous, Aundrea Wilcox. She gave so much of her Love, time and expertise editing this book.

Photo resolution was not overlooked in this book, yet, a simple reminder that beauty and memories may fade. All photos utilized were embraced and appreciated “as is” and were untouched.

With paramount importance; thanks to my dear, Loving Mother, Evelyn Johnson Minton; my pups, Blue and Ridge; my family, friends and team members that provided deep Love and support throughout birthing “Blue Ridge Moments.”

Most of all, I want to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and God, the Almighty Father and Creator of all things. The Lord’s Love, strength and guidance provided the meat for the bones of this book which He allowed me to share with others.

Our blessed team, invites you to enjoy the ministries within Blue Ridge Moments! Bye for now...

To learn more about Dr. Billie J. Minton's ministries within her Blue Ridge Moment book series, please visit her author website at BlueRidgeMoments.com.

Dr. Billie J. Minton's Blue Ridge Moments books; Volume 1, subtitled, "Your Life Is Only As Good As Your Connection With Jesus," and Volume 2, subtitled, "Celebrating Footsteps of A God Dependent Life,"  and Blue Ridge Tenderpup children's book series may be found at Amazon.com/Author/drbillieminton and BlueRidgeMoments.com.

Evelyn Minton and her daughter, Dr. Billie J. Minton are the authors of the Blue Ridge Tenderpup children's series. These books may be found at the author's website BlueRidgeMoments.com and Amazon.com/Author/drbillieminton

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
A Time for Everything

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to Love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

Blue Ridge Tenderpups is a Christian children’s book series. Blue Ridge Tenderpups Love The Seasons, is the second book of this series. In this book, Blue and Ridge share their seasonal pastimes, and excitement for summertime, spring, fall, and winter in this book.

It is also available as a coloring book option.

Follow the adventures of the Yorkie pups who live on the Holston River in the Smoky Mountains within the Blue Ridge Tenderpup series.

Evelyn Minton and her daughter, Dr. Billie J. Minton are the authors of the Blue Ridge Tenderpup children's series. These books may be found at the author's website BlueRidgeMoments.com and Amazon.com/Author/drbillieminton

Matthew 25:35
"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in."

Blue Ridge Tenderpups is a Christian children’s book series. Blue Ridge Tenderpups Meet Hobo Wilson Christmas Eve, is the first book of this series. Blue and Ridge become friends with a group of train travelers in this book.

It is also available as a coloring book option.

Follow the adventures of the Yorkie pups who live on the Holston River in the Smoky Mountains within the Blue Ridge Tenderpup series.

Evelyn Minton and her daughter, Dr. Billie J. Minton are the authors of the Blue Ridge Tenderpup children's series. These books may be found at the author's website BlueRidgeMoments.com and Amazon.com/Author/drbillieminton

Proverbs 22:6
Start children off on the way they should go, 
and even when they are old they will not turn from it. 

Matthew 25:35-45
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink. I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

Evelyn Minton and her daughter, Dr. Billie J. Minton are the authors of the Blue Ridge Tenderpup children's series. These books may be found at the author's website BlueRidgeMoments.com and Amazon.com/Author/drbillieminton

Psalm 90:17
May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us - yes, establish the work of our hands.

Psalm 84:11
For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.

Evelyn Minton and her daughter, Dr. Billie J. Minton are the authors of the Blue Ridge Tenderpup children's series. These books may be found at the author's website BlueRidgeMoments.com and Amazon.com/Author/drbillieminton