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My brother and I are asking you to help our mom and dad complete the purchase of their dream farm. They’ve dreamed of creating a place that brings joy to their community and helps Veterans and their families for many years now. But they have been confronted with a timeline that they were not prepared for. More than a year ahead of schedule, they have to buy the rest of the farm or loose it forever! Please help us help them! Please read their story and see why we want so badly to make their dream come true. Most children cannot begin to fathom how their parents have impacted their life. Daily sacrifices made to ensure our future and a better chance at having the things they never did. Helping us avoid pitfalls and enabling us to make better decisions and ultimately become better human beings. My brother and I are asking for your help; to show our mom and dad how much they have meant to ours and so many other’s lives, by now helping them to achieve their dream of a Tennessee farm. Our parents love for us is immeasurable, if given the opportunity to give something back to them, no matter how small, that would be an extraordinary gift. We hope to help them complete a dream that’s right within arm’s reach. Please share as much as possible with your families, friends, churches and coworkers. And please, ask them to share this too!
My name is Alexandra, I am a single mother to my amazing 10-year-old little girl. I would not be where I am today without the selfless acts of my parents Walter and Nicole. The extraordinary sacrifices they have made for my brother and I, are unending. They gave my daughter and I a loving home to live. Furthermore, it is because of them that I have multiple degrees, a successful career, and a little girl that has never wanted for anything. My dad gave me his Army G.I Bill to help with my education; he has been there for me in ways I am in awe of everyday. My mom is the most caring and selfless person I know. She was alone at times to raise us while our dad was on deployments. She supported our dad along with his soldiers and friends in every way she could during his Army career. From shipping personal care packages during deployments, to inviting soldiers to our home for holiday dinners when they couldn’t make it home to their own families. She and our dad always put family first no matter what their own desires were. They showed us that caring for others and giving of yourself can make a big difference in peoples lives. The kind of mother and person I’ve chosen to be, is all because of how my parents loved and raised me. My older brother Cody shares in the same admiration and thankfulness. He also served our country; in the Air Force, and with our parents love and guidance has grown to the wonderful, thoughtful and caring man he is today. Our family is unbelievably passionate and loves each other fiercely. We strive to support each other throughout life and share in all that comes with it.
Like most people our parents have dreams, and like most children we want to help with those dreams as they have with ours. As I’ve described, Cody and I grew up in the military (Army Brats). Our dad served 20-years in the United States Army with my mom serving and supporting right beside him. As you might imagine, moving all around the world can be quite hard on a family. We constantly had to find our way in new places, new responsibilities for our dad, a new job for mom, and new schools and friends for us. However, our parents kept traditions alive wherever we were, no matter what was going on in our lives or in the world. Our favorite tradition became finding a Christmas tree farm and going to pick a Christmas tree each year. Regardless of where we were, it seemed to always give us a sense of home, family and peace. It didn't take long before our parents thought it would be nice to have a farm of their own when they retired from the Army.
It was at that point, about 15 years ago, when the thought turned into a dream and they started making plans to make it a reality. Over time they kept forming their own vision of the farm and planning a way ahead. We were older and better prepared to understand, they sat us down to tell us something that they had dealt with on their own for several years. They shared that our dad had been dealing with PTSD for several years; they had shielded us from it so that we wouldn’t have to worry about him. Our dad told us how our mom had been his rock and continues to help him cope with it. He shared with us something else that had helped him fight the thoughts he struggled with. He had started woodworking a few years before this conversation when he made a cradle for my daughter. He had discovered that it helped focus and settle his mind. He shared that he found himself at peace when working in his shop. This personal discovery made him want to share with others that suffered with the same condition. Therefore, they wanted to add a woodshop to the farm, where Veterans could come at no cost and discover the joy of woodworking, in the hopes that it could help them in the same way that it helps our dad.
Fast forward several years, retirement was right around the corner and we all started looking for the perfect place to help achieve this dream. After being stationed all around the world we always knew that we wanted to come home to Tennessee. After several months of traveling back and forth to Tennessee we finally found the perfect place in the Cumberland mountains. That's where we were introduced to Mr. Watson and his wife. Mr. Watson is one of the kindest and most caring men we’ve ever met. He and our dad became fast friends even though there are several decades between their ages. They shared so many feelings of how important family was and the legacy that they would like to leave them.
Mr. and Mrs. Watson had intended on staying on the mountain for the rest of their lives. He was only selling their home, because Mrs. Watson had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's; he needed to move closer to his family to help care for her. He had parceled his property to sell it more quickly, however, during a talk he and our parents were having, Mr. Watson offered something that to this day still amazes every one of us. He offered to take all of his land off of the market just for our family! He said that he would owner finance 10 acres for four years; hold the remaining 53 acres during that time, so that our parents could buy afterwards. He told them that he would rather wait and have the land stay with our family, who would care for it as much as they did. To say how much this meant to our parents; there are no words. Here is a man, who despite being faced with the love of his life having been diagnosed with such a terrible disease, still cared about our family enough to offer such an unbelievable gift. Being very moved, and grateful, our mom and dad accepted his offer.
Here they are, on this path together, trying to achieve a dream that is so close they can touch it with their fingertips. Time passed and Mr. Watson and our dad still talk regularly and visit from time to time to have lunch at Mr. Watson’s favorite restaurant. Last summer he called to let us know that sadly, Mrs. Watson had passed away after battling Alzheimer’s for only a short time. After some delays due to the quarantine, he was finally able to lay her to rest. A few months following, Mr. Watson came to visit, but this time with a request. He asked our dad if he could buy the rest of the property now, ahead of schedule. He explained that he was getting older and wanted to take care of everything now, to ensure that he has everything needed to take care of his children. Although much sooner than what our parents had been preparing for, but understanding how Mr. Watson felt, our dad said that he would try his best. Our parents were not prepared for such a major purchase right now. While Mr. Watson is being so unbelievably kind and generous in everything he has done in trying to make sure our parents, can purchase the rest of their dream land; the reality is, our parents are just not financial ready to do so. Which ultimately brings us to the reason behind doing this fundraiser?
My brother and I would like to gift all funds raised to our parents to help them achieve their dream. We love our mom and dad, and hope that this platform can help show them that even with the world being the way it is right now, there are still people who want to help. If you would like to help or know more about our family and our parent’s dream, please reach out. We would love to get to know each of you as well, and keep you updated on the progress of the Christmas Tree Farm; how your donation has helped them come one step closer to achieving their dream. We thank each one of you, from the bottom of our hearts and we hope your dreams come true as well.
My name is Alexandra, I am a single mother to my amazing 10-year-old little girl. I would not be where I am today without the selfless acts of my parents Walter and Nicole. The extraordinary sacrifices they have made for my brother and I, are unending. They gave my daughter and I a loving home to live. Furthermore, it is because of them that I have multiple degrees, a successful career, and a little girl that has never wanted for anything. My dad gave me his Army G.I Bill to help with my education; he has been there for me in ways I am in awe of everyday. My mom is the most caring and selfless person I know. She was alone at times to raise us while our dad was on deployments. She supported our dad along with his soldiers and friends in every way she could during his Army career. From shipping personal care packages during deployments, to inviting soldiers to our home for holiday dinners when they couldn’t make it home to their own families. She and our dad always put family first no matter what their own desires were. They showed us that caring for others and giving of yourself can make a big difference in peoples lives. The kind of mother and person I’ve chosen to be, is all because of how my parents loved and raised me. My older brother Cody shares in the same admiration and thankfulness. He also served our country; in the Air Force, and with our parents love and guidance has grown to the wonderful, thoughtful and caring man he is today. Our family is unbelievably passionate and loves each other fiercely. We strive to support each other throughout life and share in all that comes with it.
Like most people our parents have dreams, and like most children we want to help with those dreams as they have with ours. As I’ve described, Cody and I grew up in the military (Army Brats). Our dad served 20-years in the United States Army with my mom serving and supporting right beside him. As you might imagine, moving all around the world can be quite hard on a family. We constantly had to find our way in new places, new responsibilities for our dad, a new job for mom, and new schools and friends for us. However, our parents kept traditions alive wherever we were, no matter what was going on in our lives or in the world. Our favorite tradition became finding a Christmas tree farm and going to pick a Christmas tree each year. Regardless of where we were, it seemed to always give us a sense of home, family and peace. It didn't take long before our parents thought it would be nice to have a farm of their own when they retired from the Army.
It was at that point, about 15 years ago, when the thought turned into a dream and they started making plans to make it a reality. Over time they kept forming their own vision of the farm and planning a way ahead. We were older and better prepared to understand, they sat us down to tell us something that they had dealt with on their own for several years. They shared that our dad had been dealing with PTSD for several years; they had shielded us from it so that we wouldn’t have to worry about him. Our dad told us how our mom had been his rock and continues to help him cope with it. He shared with us something else that had helped him fight the thoughts he struggled with. He had started woodworking a few years before this conversation when he made a cradle for my daughter. He had discovered that it helped focus and settle his mind. He shared that he found himself at peace when working in his shop. This personal discovery made him want to share with others that suffered with the same condition. Therefore, they wanted to add a woodshop to the farm, where Veterans could come at no cost and discover the joy of woodworking, in the hopes that it could help them in the same way that it helps our dad.
Fast forward several years, retirement was right around the corner and we all started looking for the perfect place to help achieve this dream. After being stationed all around the world we always knew that we wanted to come home to Tennessee. After several months of traveling back and forth to Tennessee we finally found the perfect place in the Cumberland mountains. That's where we were introduced to Mr. Watson and his wife. Mr. Watson is one of the kindest and most caring men we’ve ever met. He and our dad became fast friends even though there are several decades between their ages. They shared so many feelings of how important family was and the legacy that they would like to leave them.
Mr. and Mrs. Watson had intended on staying on the mountain for the rest of their lives. He was only selling their home, because Mrs. Watson had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's; he needed to move closer to his family to help care for her. He had parceled his property to sell it more quickly, however, during a talk he and our parents were having, Mr. Watson offered something that to this day still amazes every one of us. He offered to take all of his land off of the market just for our family! He said that he would owner finance 10 acres for four years; hold the remaining 53 acres during that time, so that our parents could buy afterwards. He told them that he would rather wait and have the land stay with our family, who would care for it as much as they did. To say how much this meant to our parents; there are no words. Here is a man, who despite being faced with the love of his life having been diagnosed with such a terrible disease, still cared about our family enough to offer such an unbelievable gift. Being very moved, and grateful, our mom and dad accepted his offer.
Here they are, on this path together, trying to achieve a dream that is so close they can touch it with their fingertips. Time passed and Mr. Watson and our dad still talk regularly and visit from time to time to have lunch at Mr. Watson’s favorite restaurant. Last summer he called to let us know that sadly, Mrs. Watson had passed away after battling Alzheimer’s for only a short time. After some delays due to the quarantine, he was finally able to lay her to rest. A few months following, Mr. Watson came to visit, but this time with a request. He asked our dad if he could buy the rest of the property now, ahead of schedule. He explained that he was getting older and wanted to take care of everything now, to ensure that he has everything needed to take care of his children. Although much sooner than what our parents had been preparing for, but understanding how Mr. Watson felt, our dad said that he would try his best. Our parents were not prepared for such a major purchase right now. While Mr. Watson is being so unbelievably kind and generous in everything he has done in trying to make sure our parents, can purchase the rest of their dream land; the reality is, our parents are just not financial ready to do so. Which ultimately brings us to the reason behind doing this fundraiser?
My brother and I would like to gift all funds raised to our parents to help them achieve their dream. We love our mom and dad, and hope that this platform can help show them that even with the world being the way it is right now, there are still people who want to help. If you would like to help or know more about our family and our parent’s dream, please reach out. We would love to get to know each of you as well, and keep you updated on the progress of the Christmas Tree Farm; how your donation has helped them come one step closer to achieving their dream. We thank each one of you, from the bottom of our hearts and we hope your dreams come true as well.