Lamanda Deeann McEntire

(our first grandchild).

When Lamanda was three years old she was standing in the front room and looking out the window when she started fussing about something. Her grandma went to check and found Lamanda pointing at a small boy sitting on a small tractor I had recently purchased. She was upset and said, "That boy is on Grandpa's toy!"

The boys father was doing some excavating work for us and I had set the little tractor out with a blade on it for him to smooth up the yard. Grandma had to assure Lamanda it was all right because Grandpa had told them they could use it.

This incident demonstrated to me the strong sense of right and wrong she possessed. Today she's nearly eighteen years old (2003) and still maintains that steadfast sense of right and wrong.

Lamanda has a remarkable God given talent as an artist and will be taking art classes this fall at a college near our home. When Lamanda was seven years old she went to an art class with her grandmother. The art professor was so impressed with her she told Dot that she wanted to be Lamanda's first art teacher in college (and it looks like this will come to pass). Lamanda is a mature Christian young lady and I am very proud of her.

Shawnra Lee McEntire

She was always a daddy's and granddad's girl with big wide questioning eyes. Even at an early age she always wanted to go with granddad to feed the cows. She would stand in the pickup seat and watch in total interest as those old cows tried to eat me out of house and home.

Now, she's a sixteen year old young lady (2003) that's always ready to witness for Christ and has gone on several mission trips with her church group. She has started a group for persecuted Christians called, Teen Voices For Martyrs. They have fund raising events and prayer groups for persecuted Christians world wide. Now, if you're reading this please say a prayer for this dedicated young lady and the ministry she has already embarked upon.

Shawnra has always been straightforward and honest. She didn't have to be taught because she was born that way and I'm very proud of her.

Dorothy Lawrane McEntire

A dark-haired and dark-eyed cutie so serious turned and so unselfish that she would worry and pray for her loved ones at an early age. I always thought it amazing that she looked and was so much like her grandmother, Dot, and her name was decided on before she was born.

I remember when she was six years old she and her three sisters were living with us and she would pray for her parents every night. Some of those prayers would sure melt my old heart. When the girls went back to live with their mother it was hard to take them back. I had Dorothy memorize our phone number and made her promise to call if there were ever any problems. I didn't worry about their mother as she is a Christian lady and I knew she loved her girls very much (she has raised them in church and done a fine job despite many hardships). I did worry about some of the other people the girls might be around but I guess I had just grown over-protective because it has all turned out okay.

Little Dorothy is so smart that when she was staying with us a couple of summers ago (when she was twelve years old), her grandmother taught her HTML and site building. She built her own website and did a fantastic job. Looking at her site, you would think an adult built it and I've had Dot put a link to it from my page HERE .

She still has a giving and unselfish heart and is a strong, young Christian lady that is determined to get a good education. I'm proud of her.

Brandi Lynn Powell

When Brandi was three years old her parents were visiting and attended our small country church with us. At their own church they had a nursery and children's church, so Brandi had never sat through a sermon. Our daughter, wanting Brandi to be quite during the sermon at our church, told her that God would be speaking. Now, Brandi was so impressed that she was well behaved through the whole service (we didn't hear a peep out of her).

We had invited the pastor and his wife to have dinner with us (because they had a long drive back to their home). When they walked in Brandi's mouth fell open and she walked up to the pastor and said, "What are you doing here, God?" He laughed at her and said, "Honey, I'm not God." Brandi said, "Yes, you are." Then our pastor said (pointing to his wife), "If I'm God, then who is this?" Without hesitation Brandi looked at the pastor's wife and said, "She's Goddie!" We all had a good laugh over that one.

Brandi's dad is part Choctaw Indian and when the three children were small their paternal granddad wanted to put them on the Indian Roll. Our daughter, Lisa, called me for advice and I said, "Gosh, yes, let him put them on the Roll as I consider it something to be proud of." The Indian blood really shows up in Brandi with her dark hair and eyes and Mediterranean complexion. She has never met a stranger, has a sanguine personality, and is another one to be proud of.

Justin Cody Powell

 
I recall one day when my wife, Dot, was preparing for a double birthday party for two of our granddaughters (Brandi and Kimberly). She asked our serious, somber grandson, Justin, (who was about five years old at the time) to watch a door and not let the girls in the room because there were unwrapped presents there. Grandma got pretty busy and forgot about Justin until about an hour later and she happened to see him dutifully guarding that door. I can't help but think God has a special plan for this young fellow who demonstrated so much steadfast dedication to purpose that day.

Justin is now a sixteen year old young man (2003) and a real pleasure to be around and still quiet, thoughtful and serious. He's always been a good student and learning has always been easy for him. I feel sure he will wind up with a good education and a job with a lot of responsibility, as he can certainly handle the pressure. I thank God that Justin has always been a good role model for his younger siblings and cousins. I'm proud of him.

Kimberly Dianne Schmoll

When Kimber was about three years old, she was so smart and could be so darn cute that she kept us laughing a lot. One day she told her grandma she wanted to be a McEntire. I'll skip some of the details her grandmother told her she needed to be able to do to be a McEntire. Anyway, her grandma wound up taking her picture sitting on a potty chair with her finger up her nose.

Kimber is now a fourteen years old (2003) and has scored so high on her assessment test in math and science that she has been contacted by several colleges. She received a reading award in the fourth grand and when she was nine years old she received the President's Educational Award (along with a letter from the President) for outstanding academic achievement. She has also received a Young Author's Award for exceptional writing talent along with several honors in speech and debate. Kimber attends church and is a sweet, Christian young Lady. On top of this it's a pleasure to be around her and I'm real proud of her.

Karol Anne McEntire

I recall going into a Chinese restaurant and taking our granddaughter, Karol Anne (I think she was four years old). Anyway, the young waitress was Chinese and spoke with a heavy accent. When she was taking our order Karol Anne looked up at her (and mimicking her accent) said that she uh spoke uh her uh language also. I nearly fell out of my chair. Thankfully the waitress saw the humor in it and laughed with us. Lord help us with this one, but I believe with the Lord's help and our encouragement, she may one day actually speak Chinese, maybe even several dialects (as it would be handy for the mission field).

She is living with us now and keeps us on our toes and gives us a lot of entertainment. She tries to keep granddad in line and won't let him talk with food in his mouth or say any bad words. You could say her personality is mainly Choleric with a lot of Sanguine thrown in. Her grandma has taught her to pray and she takes her responsibility in this very seriously. She always prays for her dad and granddad when they are on the trucks, and as I believe these little ones have a direct line to the throne I'm sure thankful she remembers her old grandpa in her prayers. I'm proud of her.

Matthew Doran McEntire

This one is named after his old grandpa. Four year old Matthew was playing Nintendo with his dad one day when he suddenly stopped and told his dad that when he grew up he wanted to be just like him. My son, Malcolm Dwain, told him "That's fine, but are you sure you want to be just like me?" Matthew said, "I want to be a detective and a Coast Guard officer, but maybe not so fat as your are."

Now, if you think little ones are not paying attention to our examples you are wrong. We need to be ever mindful that we are role models (like it or not). Personally, I can't think of a better role model than my son, Dwain, and he's not really fat. I'm proud of both of them.

Katelynn Nichole Hitt

Katy is Soraya's first born and what a cutie. She is five years old and she looks so much like her mother did at her age I sometimes (in my senility) call her Soraya. Katy's mom and dad are both dedicated Christians and live their faith daily. What role models these young parents are and what an advantage it is to start from scratch raising children in a Christian home and environment.

Katy is attending kindergarten in a Christian school and will probably never see the inside of a public school until she reaches college age and I thank God for this. I know no school is perfect as none of us are perfect, only Jesus. And folks, there's a lot more of Jesus in a Christian school than a public school, so it makes sense to believe there's more perfection there also.

Katy's paternal great, great granddad and grandmother are still alive and what a heritage this young lady has. Her great, great granddad was born in Palestine during the Ottoman times and was raised as a Jewish Christian. Katy's mother (Soraya) was born of Iranian heritage in Tehran, Iran, and raised mainly in the States as she was only two years old when we returned to the States with her.

Katy likes to spend time with her Nana (Dot) and likes to tease her Poppy (me) by hiding his old cap and letting his bald head shine and such shenanigans as that. She likes to help her Nana, like gathering eggs and feeding the chickens. I thank God for this one and I'm proud of her.

Kristeena Joy McEntire

Kristy is the youngest of four girls and probably the most McEntire of the lot as she seems to be a little more mischievous than her sisters. Now, don't take me wrong she is a good girl and shares many of her mother and sister's good traits. She is a fine Christian young lady. She has at times, though, played some jokes on her sisters and they always seem to take it okay as they love her a lot and they are quick to forgive her.

I'll always remember how Kristy, at an early age, always liked to help me do chores like picking up the yard, hauling wood or any work outside and what a little worker she was.

Kristeena is now 12 years old (2003) and attends the same church as her sisters and is also active in her church group. Kristy is also a good student and will do well in life with her quick intellect and work ethics. I'm very proud of her.

I have more stories of our grandchildren to follow as we have a total of 17 grandchildren.