I AM FROM

I am from dust, tornado's, and rain , from days filled with heat so dry that you feel like you stepped into the oven and all you want to do in go inside and rest in the cool air and drink a tall glass of ice cold koolaid.

I am from the stucco, two story home filled with love, nestled in a quiet neighborhood, where the kids play out in the yards, hiding behind the giant evergreen trees and riding their bikes until you hear the parents calling to come home.  No cell phones then. Only the smell of the Gardenia bushes in full bloom and honeysuckle blooming on the fences.

I am from a strict family that believed in God and believed that a family always ate around the kitchen table together. There was no way that you could get away from not tasting everything on the table  from spinach, boiled squash and boiled okra and mother and daddy never took sass off anyone.  If you did sass, you knew that the belt would be taken off and your sweet little bottom would be stinging soon.  If you were lucky, you only got one spanking, that is if Daddy wasn't gone.  For when he returned home, you could count on another stinging on the bottom.

I am from the holidays spent traveling to six hours to grandparents homes to savour the sweets that you knew would always be there and hugs and kisses from your aunts and uncles.  If you were bad on the trip, as soon as you got out of the car, you would run into grandma's arms.  For there was protection there.

From a house that only has four children to a house filled to the walls, our cousins were just as excited to see us as we were them. Knowing that in a few more months we would be back and then perhaps the Zoo, Six Flags.   Or could it be miniature golf while our mother's went shopping?

I am from a Pentecostal home, where there were strict rules and if the church doors were open, you would find my family there.  So what if a Revival lasted for ten weeks, no complaining in our home.  Living for the Lord was at the top of the list and we were expected to act right.

I’m from Lubbock, Texas.  Born in the big city of Dallas to a family that sometimes could come up with the corniest jokes.  We still had family left in Switzerland and Germany. You never knew who would be hamming it up.  I had one uncle that had a great voice and then one that loved to turn his upper eye lids up and then scare  the kids.  There was never a shortage of fresh corn, tomatoes, peas and fruit when we went to our grandparents home.  They believed in healthy eating and  sodas were called, "Belly Washers".  Ice Cream was only Neapolitan, never just vanilla or chocolate. 

I am from a family that loved to play games at the big kitchen table, where my cousin and I would play like we were princesses and  play with our dolls.  The television set was not found in the living room, but in the back den.


I am from a family that loved each other and tried to be there when the going was good or bad.  Pictures were not taken very often as I grew up.  That is until the first grandchild came along and I got to be the first one that presented my parents with grandchildren.


I am from a family that had only one son and that was my Daddy, who was my knight in shining armour.  I knew that he would always be there for me, but now has gone to live with the Lord.  I know that one day I will see him and my grandparents.


I am from a family on my Mother's side that always made the holidays a joy.  My Mother was always one that looked after others.  She could never just stand by and let someone that she knew do without.  She taught me the gift of giving to others, just as my Daddy did.  She grew up in a large family that did not have alot of money, but what they lacked in money, they made up in family time.


I am from a family of two brothers and two sisters.  I have a relationship with my two sisters, but not so with my brothers,    But my youngest one is coming around and I think that the Lord is going to heal that relationship.  Family is very important to my life.  I have four lovely daughters and I never want to get to the place that they could do without me and their Dad.


I am from a family that has lost both parents, all the grandparents, some uncles and aunts, but will look forward to the day that I see them in Heaven.  Some of our family members may be gone, but will never be forgotten.  I feel honored to have been raised in this family of different temperaments, personalities and stages of life.  But one thing is for sure, we love each other.

This a second writing assisgnment from www.mamakatslosinit.com/2011/09/where-im-from-2/

A TIME YOU FELT WRONGED BY A TEACHER

It was in the year 1963.  I was now in the third grade.

On this particular day, the nurse was calling each child to the office for an eye exam.  I was so scared, I knew that I needed glasses, but I didn't want to be called "Four Eyes".  So when my name was called, I walked across the hall as slow as possible.

After the testing, the nurse handed me a slip of paper I was to give to my teacher, letting her know what the findings were.  I am sure that there was a paper to take to my parents, as well.  As I walked back to my classroom and handed the papers to my teacher, I went to my chair and set down.


My teacher, after reading the paper, called me up to her desk and had me stand beside her, in front of the class.  This is so planted in my mind, even to this day.  As I am standing there, she begins to tell the class:


"Class, Sherree is going to need glasses.  But I know that she just wanted glasses, so she failed to pass the eye exam."

I remember looking up at her, because the nurse had not said anything to me. Returning to my seat, I heard the kids laughing.  So the rest of my day, was made up, of my classmates making fun of me.


Upon returning home from school, I gave my mother the note.  She was surprised, because, I had not said anything to her about not seeing well.  That Saturday, I was taken to the Eye Doctor and after examining me, he found that I really needed to have glasses.  My first pair were blue cateye glasses, with little stars on the edge.  I thought that I was so pretty, that is until I got to school.


It has been many years since I was in the 3rd grade.  I never told my parents what my teacher said that day.  Why?  I think that I didn't want my parents to know that I was made fun of at school.  For besides, the glasses, I was never able to wear the style of clothes the other girls wore. Not because of finances or beliefs.  It was because I was so slender and very awkward.


Today, I still wear glasses and have at times worn contacts.  I really don't know why my teacher felt that she had to do what she did, but I have forgiven her long time ago.  She really was a great teacher and I do remember good times in her class.  That was also the year that I had Hepatitis and was out for 1 month.


Today, I am appalled at the things that teachers have said to my girls.  Does it do any good to go the school and say anything?  It hasn't in the past, all it does is make my girls a target for the teachers.  Teachers don't realize that sometimes, they are the only person the students have to look up to.

My post is part of Mama Kat's Weekly Writing.  If you are interested in joining in on the fun, just jump over to http://www.mamakatslosinit.com/2011/09/where-im-from-2/

Mama's Workshop - If You Really Knew Me

If you really knew me, you would know that I don't have alot of close friends.  I have a friend from high school that I consider a great friend and she is Roxanna.  We don't talk much anymore, but when I get the chance we talk forever. 


If you really knew me, you would know that I place what God's Word says above all else.


If you really knew me, you would know that I love to read and keep a clean house.


If you really knew me, you would know that my rooms in my house get painted quiet often.


If you really knew me, you would know that my heart's desire is to move back to San Antonio, TX, so that I can be close to my Mandy and grand-daughters.


If you really knew me, you would know that I will do whatever possible to never hurt or disappoint you.


If you really knew me, you would know that I am a giver and I don't accept help easily.


If you really knew, then you would know that my family means the world to me, please don't be ugly to any of them, I would hate for my mean side to come out. That is if I even have one.


Last but not least, if you really knew me, then you would know that my Mandy is my dearest best friend and my oldest daughter.


This is a weekly writing assignment from
http://www.mamakatslosinit.com/2011/04/writers-workshop-breaking-rules/

Mama's Workshop - You Have An Hour To Kill...

You Have An Hour To Kill On The Telephone... Who Do You Call And Why?

If I ever find myself with an hour, with nothing to do, my automatic response is to call My Mandy.  You see, she is my oldest daughter and she just happens to be my very best friend.  I know in the past, it was not the norm for mother's and daughter's to be best friends.  But I believe as the times have changed that saying has also.

My Mandy lives alittle over 800 miles from me and if I don't get to talk with her every day, I feel like someone that has caffeine withdrawals.  Except that mine are, Mandy withdrawals.

 We talk about everything.  From how we slept the night before, what we are going to do that day, and everything in between.  Now My Mandy works at a very stressful job, so I love being able to be her sounding board.  I feel honored that she can call me and just let it all out and then go back to work.  That way, I can be praying for her the rest of the day, that whatever has bothered her that morning can get resolved.  My Mandy is a very hard worker and great with people.  She is very good at telling when something is not quite right.

Now sometimes she will call and she has gone by the bookstore, and she needs to see if I have a book.  If not, then she will read the back of the book to me.  And, then we decide that of course, we need that one.  Sometimes, it is the other way around.  I am out and I have found some books and I want to share the back of the book with her.

That is not all though.  My Mandy got me hooked on succulents and now when I travel to see her, I find the most interesting places to stop for restroom breaks.  Places like, Lowe's and Home Depot.  Then I have to call her at work.

 Me:  "Mandy, do you have this certain type of succulent?"

To which, she replies: "Mother, where are you?  You are suppose to be on your way to see me, not shopping!"

Me:  "I am on my way, but I had to stop for a restroom break!"

Last time, I think I ended up getting around 25 new plants on my way.  It really helps to have alot of space for plants and of course books.

I really don't think that there is anything that I could not share.  We are both known to take pictures of plants when we are out shopping and send it to each other.  So the cell phone has been a blessing to us.

It is great to have someone that I can share my day with, even if they are miles away.  Tears, laughter, just to hear her voice can make me feel better.  And when she sings me her funny songs, I can't be happier that she is my very own Mandy.

This post was inspired from Mama Kat's Weekly Writer's Workshop.

Pickup and Move

WHAT WOULD IT TAKE FOR YOU TO PICK UP AND MOVE?

All it would take for me to move would be for someone to knock on my front door and tell me that they wanted to buy our place.

I would love to move from Alabama back to San Antonio, TX.  Now I do have family here, but my Mandy and her family live in Texas and that is where I am from.  As of right now, both of our oldest daughters live in San Antonio, but as of the end of May, our Bridgett and her new husband to be, will be moving back here.  So this would need to happen very soon.  But who knows, right? Believe you me, I could move in a New York minute if needed.

Come on over to Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop and join in on the fun.  Each week we get to choose from at least four prompts to think about and write on.  It is amazing how it gets your creative juices flowing.  It has made me think of episodes in my youth that I had forgotten about.

Writer's Workshop: A Vacation to Remember

Writing assignment from Mama Kat'' Weekly Writing Assignment

It has been a number of years ago, but one of the unforgettable vacations that came to mind was, when we went camping in the Summer of 2004.

We had not had our motor home for very long and I was really green.   Before this, we did have a camper that was permanently stationed at one of the military recreational facilities, but this was one that I got to drive.  Believe me when I say this, it is not as easy as they say it is, but I did not side swipe any vehicles on the road. I just had to have a focal point to guide me by.

This time was much different than any other time.  I had the most precious load in the motor home, my granddaughters.  Now two of them were my daughters that were born to be grandchildren but ended up with us adopting them.  Oh, but the other two were my Mandy's little girls.  Everyone was so excited to be going camping.  We had not put in the pool yet, so it was going to be fun to play in the water.

The famous bike

Everything was going just great, the girls had met some other children and we had  parked by the playground.  Bikes, golf cart, toys, books, and even a little grocery cart was found around the camper.  We even had Lacey, our little westie.  The little one, Shelby, enjoyed walking Lacey around, so it was a great surprise when she decided that she wanted to ride her bike.


Equipped with training wheels, Shelby takes off and has a great time.  That is until she realized that the road started going downhill.  At this moment in time, I look up and there she is flying! ( I know not really flying, but to this Nana is seemed like it)  What is a Nana to do, but start running for all I am worth.  Just as she is not sure what to do, she hits the piece of concrete.  You know the kind, the ones that keep the car from going any further in a parking space.  Oh, yes that kind.  Well, she hits the curb thing and flys over the handlebars.

Now at this time, my mind and heart are racing.  What am I going to tell Mandy and Bob?  Will they ever trust me with their children again?  What if she is really hurt, where do I take her?  Where are the other girls at this time?

I tell you now, that the Lord certainly has me covered with a lot of insurance!  At the very moment that Shelby decides she wants to fly over the handles, the Lord already had a nurse on hand.  I am not kidding.  The campsite that Shelby decided to visit had a lovely lady that turned out to be a NURSE.  She took over and examined Shelby and pronounced her okay.  She did come away with some scratches, but noting earth shattering.  So with a popsicle in hand and me pushing the bike home, I had to decide how much to tell Mandy.  Trust me when she reads this, I will get a call.  Because, I chose not to tell her just how scared I was, when I called.

Our Alexis

Our Gabrielle

Our little Shelby

Our Caitlin

Our Shelby and Lacey

Shelby, Lacey going shopping for pine cones

Caitlin is not sure of the water

Gabrielle and Alexis enjoying the water

Is she just the cutest?

This will be as far as I go

Right before the famous ride

Now years later , I can look back at this and say it has a deep place in my memory.  I always look forward to the month of June.  I load my car and head out to get my precious load again.  But these summers, we stay home and enjoy the pool.

Writer's Workshop- Why Are You Burned Out?

When I was 18 and looking forward to being married and having a family, it turned out to be a little different than I had pictured.

I remember asking the Lord for a husband and that I wanted to get married before May of the next year.  I also asked that I would have 2 girls.  Well, I did get married before May, actually the 12th of April and we had 2 beautiful daughters that are 15 months apart.

My Tommy and I have been married for 36 years at this date, still married to each other, in love and enjoy our time together(what little time that is).

My Mandy & Bridgett

Now to the present day, I have 2 more daughters that we adopted when they were born.  Our 2nd daughter, is the birth mother of both of them.  One is 17 and the other 14.  Add to that my mother-in-law that has lived with us for the past 16 years.

I find myself so burned out, that I don't enjoy doing the things that are important to me.  The last 2 daughters are much more vocal and definitely try my patience almost daily.  I realize that the times have changed and children are different, due to media, music and such.  But it seems no matter what I say, they say different.

My mother-in-law, which is a jewel(at times) is now experiencing Alzheimer's.  My days are beginning to not be my own.  I really try my best to remember to treat her as if she were my own mother.   And with God's grace I am surviving.

Now take all this and add two trailers that I am trying to get painted by the end of this month, Thanksgiving coming up and will be getting the house in order for company, my life is just not a little stressed but loads of stress.  My body tells me that I just need to stop and let each day come as it will.  But I am one that likes to get things done and I really hate to put things off until the last minute.

I thought that when my Tommy and I got to the retirement age, that the children would be gone and that it would just be the two of us.  So now I just burn the candle at both ends and continue to try my best to get past the BURNED OUT stage.

But don't get me wrong, I love my 4 daughters and mother-in-law.  My daughters especially, are the bright spot of my life, not to mention my grandchildren.  I just keep remembering that the Lord will continue to give me the strength as I need it.

My Alexis & Gabrielle

This post was part of Mama Kat's

Writer's Workshop-Describe A Job That You Would Never Want To Do

Writing Assignment for Mama Kat's Weekly Writing Assignment

Thinking of all the possibilities of a job that life has to offer, the one that stands out most would be the President of the United States.
Looking at the beginning of each president's time in office and then looking at the end, let's me know that the pressure would be too much.  They go in looking young and come out looking so tired.  The pressure that they have to carry each and every day would crush me.
For every move that you make is measured.  Not only for you, but  your family.  Can you really be who you are, when so many people are watching every minute of your life?  Although the children have the time of their lives, they still have to be so guarded in their actions and their friends.
Knowing, that even if the decision you make would be for the best, there are going to be those that will oppose you.  I am a peace maker.
My hat goes off to each of our President and their families.  The life that they have to uphold is not an easy one.  There will always be those that will want to tear you down and destroy your character.  Only the strong are able to come up against the slaughter each and every time they speak.  I can't even begin to think how the traveling would grow old and always having to be on my best behavior.
Where have we come as a nation, that we have to try to tear down our men and women in office.  I may not always agree, but with God's help, I hope that I can learn to keep my opinions to myself.  The Lord admonishes in His Word for me to pray and to lift the people in office before Him.  I am so thankful that there are people that want and desire to step up to office.  For they want to speak for the people of their states and country.
I am blessed to live in the United States and am happy to be a mother and housewife.

Writer's Workshop - A Time That I Should Have Listened To My Mother

Writing assignment for Mama Kat's Weekly Writing Workshop

Now don't get me wrong, but looking back, I wonder if my mother was not right.


Almost seventeen years ago, we adopted our first grand-daughter.  When our Bridgett asked us if we would adopt her child when it was born, of course my response was YES!  How could I let someone else raise our first grandchild?  I remember sharing this with my mother and she was most adamant in telling me that we would be doing Bridgett and the child wrong.  At that point, all I could see was that our Bridgett was not ready to become a mother.


Now  years later, not only do we have a seventeen year old daughter, but we also have a fourteen year old daughter.  The road has been a lot of ups and downs. Times when I thought that I was going to lose it.  I have come to the conclusion that perhaps my mother was more wise than I gave her credit.  I think now, it would have been wiser to have been their legal custodians and let Bridgett have remained their mother.


At this time is my life, I have four beautiful daughters and they are my life.  But would the last two have been happier if we would have remained their grand-parents?

Mothers should always be listened to.  We should never disregard what they have to share (even if we have to step back and think on it awhile).  Remember, the Lord has placed them to help guide and to protect us when our emotions run away.  My wonderful mother has since passed and how I would love to sit down and let her know that perhaps in this case, she was more than right.