The becoming of Me...
Tapestry is defined as "A heavy cloth woven with rich, often varicolored designs and scenes..." I define it as "The many people and life experiences that weave together to form ones memories, personality, and moral code."
My tapestry began when I was born the youngest of three children to a Pastor/Cattleman and a Nurse/Saint. (My Mom would strongly protest such a title, but those that truly know her find her to be the sweetest, most purely motivated person that I know...more on that later!) My Dad was called to the ministry shortly after I was born. He left ranching to his parents, and returned to college for a degree in theology. My Mom supported the five of us by working as a nurse, and we returned every chance we could get to help out my Grandparents on the ranch.
When my Dad graduated, we would move from church to church about every 2-3 years. It taught us to make friends quickly, not let too many possessions build up, and how to adjust to new circumstances. We got to live in some truly beautiful places. My parents always bought places with acreage, out in the country. I grew up as a complete tomboy living out my wildest Indian dreams of being a warrior Princess, or a captured settler. We also always had horses, and my love affair with what I consider to be the most beautiful animal ever, began.
When I was six years old, I took my place as had all the kids in my family. I started earning my keep. We always attended private school, and us kids earned our tuition by working summers on the ranch, the family enterprise. This meant saying goodbye to my parents for 2-3 long months, and going to stay with my brother, cousins, and grandparents in Idaho. My Sister who is 7 years older than me, had been invited to join the other side of the family in their business of commercial fishing in Alaska. So I didn't get to see her that much. But God provided a way later for us to reconnect and build a solid, close relationship.
I remember being so homesick. Man did I ever miss my parents! My Grandparents were extremely hard workers, and that seldom left time or inclination to worry about the yearnings of a small girl. I remember wishing so much for just a hug. I know that my Grandparents loved me with their whole hearts, but they were very burdened, and I'm sure adding another grandchild to train up in shouldering part of that burden wasn't always easy. So I created my own safe little world. I LOVED frogs. And they were everywhere on the ranch. There was a window of time in the late afternoon that I had all to myself. I would go catch a few frogs and take them to the elaborate "mansions" that I had made them out of wood scraps and grass that I picked. I crafted landscaping and swimming pools complete with diving boards. Fun times! :) I also turned to my Brother for comfort. He and I forged one of the closest relationships I have ever seen between a Brother and Sister. It was born out of necessity, but remains out of choice.
I know that my parents' decision to send us kids away to work must have been made carefully and I'm sure with no small amount of angst, and I respect their decision even though there is no way I could've done that with my own children. Even though I had long days of mourning not being with them, I know that I learned a lot about growing up, and the value of hard work.
My happiest childhood memories were from the ages of 10-13. I had it MADE!! My parents moved the family back to the ranch because my Grandpa had fallen ill, and managing 4,000 acres was impossible for him. So we sold our small ranch in the Methow valley and moved to Idaho. Guess what this meant? My summers would be spent with my family!! :) I still remember the day that I realized this. It felt like the hugest weight had been flung from my shoulders. I remember being flooded with feelings of safety, and comfort, and peace.
My days were filled with learning more about animal husbandry, field work, and raising our 60 feeder calves. Oh - and a few hours of home school thrown in for good measure. ;) And anytime I wanted, I could go to our house and my Mama was there. I know it probably sounds silly, but it was a kids paradise. I was a wild child. My Dad has forgotten more about raising cattle than I will EVER learn, and he passed it on to me (as much as I could remember). I learned how to spot when a cow was getting close to birthing, which ones would have trouble and need assistance, how to milk 6 often grumpy cows morning and night, how to feed a cat milk directly from the udder (!!), how to gentle a horse without breaking his spirit, how to tell when a field of hay was ready for harvest, and when best to bale hay so all the leaves would remain in the bales, not blown away as dust. And above all, I learned how to approach a problem, stick with it until a solution was found, and to never give up. Who else was there to solve the problem but you?
When I was 13 my Dad took a pastorate in the greater Seattle area. Wow - talk about a culture SHOCK. I had lived in small rural towns my whole life, and spent my summers not talking to anyone outside of my family for weeks at a time. Now I was living in TOWN where not only could you see the smoke from your neighbors fire, you could hear their rock music??? Circumstances dictated that I start the 8th grade ahead of our moving date. So arrangements were made for me to live with my distant Aunt and ride the community transit bus to school until my parents could move. This arrangement lasted for about 2 1/2 months. I started school about 6 weeks after my classes started, so I had a lot of work to make up. Now it was time to realize what holes there had been in my home schooling (back then home schooling programs were just beginning and not nearly as comprehensive as they are today).
I still remember my daily life during those months alone. My Aunt was so very gracious to let me stay with her in her little one room apartment. I know it was a huge undertaking. She smoked, and was always so apologetic about the smell, but I was grateful just to have a place to be. She made every effort to make me feel welcome, and to show me around my new city. But once again, missing my family took up a lot of time at first. So I threw myself headlong into adapting to this new world. I went on long walks. I ventured into conversations with the kids at school (I felt SO hopelessly backwards). I discovered, and quickly undiscovered After School specials on TV. And I grew up a little bit more. By the time my family finally moved to the city, and we were all together again, I was able to fully define and appreciate how much they meant to me. Before, I had known that I missed them and didn't feel whole by myself. Now, I loved being together because of the memories and values that we all shared. I CHERISHED them. I was a mature little 14 year old for sure! :)
I will continue this vein another day. By the age of 14 I had had the opportunity to really figure out who I was, and what I was about. Looking back, I see how I was tested, and how I learned to be the person I am today. I feel like those years were my foundation. In future posts, I will go into just how that foundation steered me to where I am now. Thanks for reading!
Make it a great day!
My tapestry began when I was born the youngest of three children to a Pastor/Cattleman and a Nurse/Saint. (My Mom would strongly protest such a title, but those that truly know her find her to be the sweetest, most purely motivated person that I know...more on that later!) My Dad was called to the ministry shortly after I was born. He left ranching to his parents, and returned to college for a degree in theology. My Mom supported the five of us by working as a nurse, and we returned every chance we could get to help out my Grandparents on the ranch.
When my Dad graduated, we would move from church to church about every 2-3 years. It taught us to make friends quickly, not let too many possessions build up, and how to adjust to new circumstances. We got to live in some truly beautiful places. My parents always bought places with acreage, out in the country. I grew up as a complete tomboy living out my wildest Indian dreams of being a warrior Princess, or a captured settler. We also always had horses, and my love affair with what I consider to be the most beautiful animal ever, began.
When I was six years old, I took my place as had all the kids in my family. I started earning my keep. We always attended private school, and us kids earned our tuition by working summers on the ranch, the family enterprise. This meant saying goodbye to my parents for 2-3 long months, and going to stay with my brother, cousins, and grandparents in Idaho. My Sister who is 7 years older than me, had been invited to join the other side of the family in their business of commercial fishing in Alaska. So I didn't get to see her that much. But God provided a way later for us to reconnect and build a solid, close relationship.
I remember being so homesick. Man did I ever miss my parents! My Grandparents were extremely hard workers, and that seldom left time or inclination to worry about the yearnings of a small girl. I remember wishing so much for just a hug. I know that my Grandparents loved me with their whole hearts, but they were very burdened, and I'm sure adding another grandchild to train up in shouldering part of that burden wasn't always easy. So I created my own safe little world. I LOVED frogs. And they were everywhere on the ranch. There was a window of time in the late afternoon that I had all to myself. I would go catch a few frogs and take them to the elaborate "mansions" that I had made them out of wood scraps and grass that I picked. I crafted landscaping and swimming pools complete with diving boards. Fun times! :) I also turned to my Brother for comfort. He and I forged one of the closest relationships I have ever seen between a Brother and Sister. It was born out of necessity, but remains out of choice.
I know that my parents' decision to send us kids away to work must have been made carefully and I'm sure with no small amount of angst, and I respect their decision even though there is no way I could've done that with my own children. Even though I had long days of mourning not being with them, I know that I learned a lot about growing up, and the value of hard work.
My happiest childhood memories were from the ages of 10-13. I had it MADE!! My parents moved the family back to the ranch because my Grandpa had fallen ill, and managing 4,000 acres was impossible for him. So we sold our small ranch in the Methow valley and moved to Idaho. Guess what this meant? My summers would be spent with my family!! :) I still remember the day that I realized this. It felt like the hugest weight had been flung from my shoulders. I remember being flooded with feelings of safety, and comfort, and peace.
My days were filled with learning more about animal husbandry, field work, and raising our 60 feeder calves. Oh - and a few hours of home school thrown in for good measure. ;) And anytime I wanted, I could go to our house and my Mama was there. I know it probably sounds silly, but it was a kids paradise. I was a wild child. My Dad has forgotten more about raising cattle than I will EVER learn, and he passed it on to me (as much as I could remember). I learned how to spot when a cow was getting close to birthing, which ones would have trouble and need assistance, how to milk 6 often grumpy cows morning and night, how to feed a cat milk directly from the udder (!!), how to gentle a horse without breaking his spirit, how to tell when a field of hay was ready for harvest, and when best to bale hay so all the leaves would remain in the bales, not blown away as dust. And above all, I learned how to approach a problem, stick with it until a solution was found, and to never give up. Who else was there to solve the problem but you?
When I was 13 my Dad took a pastorate in the greater Seattle area. Wow - talk about a culture SHOCK. I had lived in small rural towns my whole life, and spent my summers not talking to anyone outside of my family for weeks at a time. Now I was living in TOWN where not only could you see the smoke from your neighbors fire, you could hear their rock music??? Circumstances dictated that I start the 8th grade ahead of our moving date. So arrangements were made for me to live with my distant Aunt and ride the community transit bus to school until my parents could move. This arrangement lasted for about 2 1/2 months. I started school about 6 weeks after my classes started, so I had a lot of work to make up. Now it was time to realize what holes there had been in my home schooling (back then home schooling programs were just beginning and not nearly as comprehensive as they are today).
I still remember my daily life during those months alone. My Aunt was so very gracious to let me stay with her in her little one room apartment. I know it was a huge undertaking. She smoked, and was always so apologetic about the smell, but I was grateful just to have a place to be. She made every effort to make me feel welcome, and to show me around my new city. But once again, missing my family took up a lot of time at first. So I threw myself headlong into adapting to this new world. I went on long walks. I ventured into conversations with the kids at school (I felt SO hopelessly backwards). I discovered, and quickly undiscovered After School specials on TV. And I grew up a little bit more. By the time my family finally moved to the city, and we were all together again, I was able to fully define and appreciate how much they meant to me. Before, I had known that I missed them and didn't feel whole by myself. Now, I loved being together because of the memories and values that we all shared. I CHERISHED them. I was a mature little 14 year old for sure! :)
I will continue this vein another day. By the age of 14 I had had the opportunity to really figure out who I was, and what I was about. Looking back, I see how I was tested, and how I learned to be the person I am today. I feel like those years were my foundation. In future posts, I will go into just how that foundation steered me to where I am now. Thanks for reading!
Make it a great day!
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