8th Annual "Cars for Kids" Show

Reprinted from the South Fulton Neighbor, September 10, 2008

Chris Manley/Staff

James Harper, President/CEO of Georgia Baptist Children's Home in Palmetto, readies his 1996 Corvette and 1977 Chevy Silverado for the 8th Annual Cars for Kids Show

Little Red Corvette
Children's home to host car show
By LaTria Garnigan South Fulton Neighbor Senior Writer

On Sept. 20, the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home will host its eighth Annual Cars for Kids Show. The show will be held on its Palmetto campus, located at 9250 Hutcheson Ferry Road, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
It is free for visitors to attend, and for those who wish to enter their antique, classic cars for display cost is $15 by Monday and $20 up until the day of the event.
The car show benefits the children’s home by getting people on the campus that might not have any other reason to be there, according to James Harper, president/CEO.
“A lot of folks come just to look at the cars and we always try to give them some information about the children’s home,” said Harper.
He said they discovered if they could ever get someone to come onto the campus, it changes them.
“They can’t ever hear about the children’s home again and not have a mental picture of where it is or what its like,” said Harper.
Besides being able to see the cars, many visitors just come to have a fun-filled family day outside and enjoy the company, food and many activities for kids that are available. Activities include live entertainment, moon bounce, face painting, games, racing ducks and more.
Vehicles range from antique fire trucks, old tractors, some fast cars, dragsters and other restored vehicles. Harper is entering a 1977 Silverado which he had restored last year. The truck, now belonging to his wife, was her late father’s truck, and was only used on the weekends. Harper also will showcase his 1996 Corvette he purchased a few years ago.
In past years they have had about 60 to 80 cars shown, depending on the weather. They always have a good crowd of lookers come and enjoy the day, said Harper.
The children’s home has been in operation since 1872. They serve school-age children (6 to 18) from broken homes, abusive or neglectful situations, and most of the children are coming from state custody (DFCS), Department of Juvenile Justice or other organizations from the state, said Harper.
“These days the children we work with have sometimes pretty severe psychological needs and part of our ministry is to give them whatever it is they need to be healthy and successful,” said Harper.
The home is affiliated with the Georgia Baptist Convention, which has about 3,500 churches in the convention.
“We are an agency of the convention which means the Georgia Baptist Convention actually elects our trustees,” he said. “Then the trustees are responsible for setting the direction for the children’s home. Ultimately they are the legal ones responsible for the ministry and the children’s home.”
Harper mentioned they have trustees from all over the state of Georgia. This campus is one of three in the state; there is one in Meansville and one in Baxley, which is the largest as far as land area.
The Palmetto campus covers about 300 acres and features a chapel, campus residential homes for girls and boys, a maternity home for unwed mothers who need assistance until their baby is born, a recreational facility with a private school for those not integrated in area public schools and more.
Information: (770) 463-3800 or visit www.gbchfm.org.

New Favorite Pictures

These are my new favorite pictures of Jake! Above is Jake and me on Nanny Betty's front porch. As you can see, Jake and I look remarkably alike...at least our hats look similar! Jake is a great baby.
This is my other favorite picture...Jake, Nana and me on vacation at Panama City. I hope this is just the first of many vacations we can take with him!

James' Toy

I have wanted a Corvette for 40 years! In May 2007 my dream became a reality! I purchased a 1996 Corvette Convertible. The picture above shows me with my prize at the Children's Home "Cars for Kids" Show in September. I can't wait til Jake is big enough to ride with me!

My Favorite Picture (So Far!)

This is my favorite picture (so far). Can you tell why?

Jake and Great Grandparents

Well, Jake is 4 weeks old now. He is a little over 8 pounds, and is developing his own unique personality. We are very proud of him!

He has been busy traveling to meet his new relatives. Pictured below is Jake with his grandparents. Can you tell that they are proud of him, too?


This is Jake with his five generations of relatives. Great Great Grandmother Nanny Shewbert is holding him. To her left is proud Mom Andrea. In the back are his Aunt Fabby (Allyson) , Great Grandmother Nanny Betty Adams, and Grandmother Nana Nette (Lynette Harper). Not many children can claim to be a part of such an enduring family.

This is Jake with his Mom, Paw Paw (James), and Great Grandmother Dot Harper (Mamew).

This is Jake with Mom, Paw Paw, and Great Granddaddy Charlie Harper (Pop Charlie).

We all love him so much!

Jacob William (Jake) Brown

Jacob William (Jake) Brown made his arrival on Saturday, March 29, 2008. He arrived at 9:01 PM. He hit the scale at 6 pounds, 12 ounces, and is 19 1/2 inches long. Andrea, Jason and Jake are doing well. Nana Nette and Paw Paw are elated!

Being A Mother

My daughter emailed me this...the daughter who is about to become a mother! She got the email from her mother-in-law.


Both men & women, sons & daughters - need to read this

BEING A MOTHER...After 21 years of marriage, my wife wanted me to
take another woman out to dinner and a movie. She said, 'I love you, but I know this other woman loves you and would love to spend some time with you.'

The other woman that my wife wanted me to visit was my MOTHER, who has been a widow for 19 years,but the demands of my work and my three children had made it possible to visit her only occasionally.
That night I called to invite her to go out for dinner and a movie.
'What's wrong, aren't you well,' she asked?

My mother is the type of woman who suspects that a late night call or a surprise invitation is a sign of bad news.

'I thought that it would be pleasant to spend sometime with you,' I responded. 'Just the two of us.'She thought about it for a moment, and then said,'I would like that very much.'

That Friday after work, as I drove over to pick her up I was a bit nervous. When I arrived at her house, I noticed that she, too, seemed to be nervous about our date. She waited in the door with her coat on. She had curled her hair and was wearing the dress that she had worn to celebrate her last wedding anniversary.

She smiled from a face that was as radiant as an angel's. 'I told my friends that I was going to go out with my son, and they were impressed,' she said,as she got into the car. 'They can't wait to hear about our meeting.'

We went to a restaurant that, although not elegant, was very nice and cozy. My mother took my arm as if she were the First Lady. After we sat down, I had to read the menu. Her eyes could only read large print. Half way through the entries, I lifted my eyes and saw Mom sitting there staring at me. A nostalgic smile was on her lips. 'It was I who used to have to read the menu when you were small,' she said. 'Then it's time that you relax and let me return the favor,' I responded.

During the dinner, we had an agreeable conversation- -nothing extraordinary but catching upon recent events of each other's life. We talked so much that we missed the movie.

As we arrived at her house later, she said, 'I'll go out with you again, but only if you let me invite you.' I agreed.

'How was your dinner date?' asked my wife when I got home. 'Very nice. Much more so than I could have imagined,' I answered.

A few days later, my mother died of a massive heart attack. It happened so suddenly that I didn't have a chance to do anything for her.

Some time later, I received an envelope with a copy of a restaurant receipt from the same place mother and I had dined. An attached note said: 'I paid this bill in advance. I wasn't sure that I could be there; but nevertheless, I paid for two plates - one for you and the other for your wife.You will never know what that night meant for me. I love you, son.'

At that moment, I understood the importance of saying in time: 'I LOVE YOU' and to give our loved ones the time that they deserve. Nothing in life is more important than your family. Give them the time they deserve, because these things cannot be put off till 'some other time.'

Somebody said it takes about six weeks to get back to normal after you've had a baby.... somebody doesn't know that once you're a mother, 'normal' is history.

Somebody said you learn how to be a mother by instinct .. somebody never took a three-year-old shopping.

Somebody said being a mother is boring ....somebody never rode in a car driven by a teenager with a driver's permit.

Somebody said if you're a 'good' mother, your child will 'turn out good'.... somebody thinks a child comes with directions and a guarantee.

Somebody said 'good' mothers never raise their voices .... somebody never came out the back door just in time to see her child hit a golf ball through the neighbor's kitchen window.

Somebody said you don't need an education to be a mother.... somebody never helped a fourth grader with his math.

Somebody said you can't love the second child as much as you love the first .... somebody doesn't have two children.

Somebody said a mother can find all the answers to her child-rearing questions in the books....somebody never had a child stuff beans up his nose or in his ears.

Somebody said the hardest part of being a mother is labor and delivery (or going through a long adoption process).... somebody never watched her 'baby' get on the bus for the first day of kindergarten ... or on a plane headed for military 'boot camp.'

Somebody said a mother can do her job with her eyes closed and one hand tied behind her back..somebody never organized seven giggling Brownies to sell cookies.

Somebody said a mother can stop worrying after her child gets married....somebody doesn't know that marriage adds a new son or daughter-in-law to a mother's heartstrings.

Somebody said a mother's job is done when her last child leaves home....somebody never had grandchildren.

Somebody said your mother knows you love her, so you don't need to tell her.... somebody isn't a mother.

Pass this along to all the 'mothers' in your life and to everyone who ever had a mother. This isn't just about being a mother; it's about appreciating the people in your life while you have them....no matter who that person is.