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Once in Awhile You Can Go Home Again by Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy

We all have somewhere our heart calls home. Sometimes it’s only a memory but there are times when home remains a reality. Sometimes we find unexpected blessings, especially during the holiday season. And although Thomas Wolfe wrote that you can’t go home again, once in a while you can and do.

After a move far away, we were going home, to my Granny’s house, for the holiday when I was ten. We had a tree in our new place but were told there would not be another at Granny’s.

On a cold December night, we arrived at Granny’s old two-story frame house. We unloaded our suitcases, brought in a couple of bags of presents, and when we headed upstairs to bed, I made a discovery.

A tall Douglas Fir rested against the wall in one of the bedrooms. The soft pine aroma wafted from it. Delighted, I hugged my grandmother and thanked her, but it wasn’t her doing.

My dad’s oldest brother, Uncle Roy, provided a tree. We decorated it with the simplest ornaments, a new glass topper from the dime store, and a string of lights. That scrawny tree remains my favorite in a lifetime of Christmas trees and traditions.

I still recall the joy of going home for Christmas and the love surrounding me once there.

In Homeward Bound Hearts, Jeb Hill returns home after being injured. He doesn’t expect much but he has nowhere else to go. His return becomes a defining moment in his life and leads to the family he’s long wanted.

Here’s the blurb and a brief excerpt:

Take one saddle bronc ridin’ cowboy, Jeb Hill, the Hillbilly Hotshot, who suffers the worst injury of his career. Send him home to be cared for by a widowed nurse, Shelby Thacker, who struggles to pay her bills and support her two children. Add some friendship, then stir in a little attraction. Complicate things with the return of Jeb’s long absent father and throw in the Christmas season. Jeb wants an old-fashioned, heartwarming Christmas, but Shelby’s poverty destroyed her holiday spirit long ago. Toss in some faith, a country church, and a rodeo rider ready to play Santa Claus. Shelby’s and Jeb’s friendship deepens, but can they fulfill each other’s hopes and dreams?

“Bring it on, then.” Jeb bit his lip so he wouldn’t groan. He’d hurt before many times, but not this bad. “Will I walk again?”

“No reason you shouldn’t. You can talk to the doctor when he comes in, which will be soon. Dr. Ahmed is making rounds. I’ll get your meds and be back. Don’t go anywhere.” Sam stood and winked.

If he could have, Jeb would have punched him square in the nose.

Before the physician arrived, the nurse returned and injected Jeb with morphine.

It dulled Jeb’s pain to a tolerable level, but relief wasn’t immediate.

Dr. Ahmed sauntered into the room in a confident fashion. His salt-and-pepper hair and beard indicated he wasn’t young. He catalogued Jeb’s injuries, outlined the treatment plan, and read the chart. “Have you been briefed on your injuries?”

“I got two questions —will I be able to walk and can I ride again?” Jeb clenched the edge of the sheet with his fingers. Both activities were important to Jeb. His future depended on those abilities.

“Walking shouldn’t be a problem, not after rehab and therapy. Dr. Ahmed tugged at his tidy goatee. “Riding horses is more problematic. I don’t recommend busting broncs or participating in any other rodeo events in the future. Although you’ll recover from the fracture, your spine is compromised. You don’t want any further injury because any future breaks are more likely to cause permanent issues.”

The doctor’s stern expression sobered Jeb. He tightened his jaw so hard it ached. If he couldn’t ride, he would no longer be able to compete. With his career and livelihood at stake, Jeb drew a harsh breath as he steeled himself not to weep. “When can I go home?” Jeb pictured his quiet farmhouse back in Missouri. “And how do I get there?

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