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Childhood Web
This is me!
This is my mom, Susie, and dad, Mike. They are just plain, God loving and fearing
people who are trying their best every day to show their children that when the
world gives you lemons just smile and tell the world not worry God got your
back! They have taught me though example that loving your family in bad and
good times is what life is all about. I am their oldest and they tried to
prepare me for the world by showing how to not just do the basic stuff like
cooking, cleaning, yard work, but how to love. They still show me today that
staying together and making it though the hard times might not be easy but it
is worth it. They must be doing something right they have been together for 36
years.
This my papa on my mother’s side. I wish I had
a picture of my grandmother but I do not have one on my laptop. They both have passed
and I am proud to say that I and my brother right under me were their
favorites. (I think I might need to explain my dad in the picture is my step
dad but raised us as his own since I was 11 years old.) They would come get us
for the summers every year and we would have a blast. They instilled in me the
old fashion values of hard work and discipline would pay off. They would often
have big family Sunday supper were all the family on my mom’s side would come
over and eat and visit. My grandmother taught from an early age how to country cook.
See at these gatherings the women would go the kitchen the men and children
outside. Of course if you were six that meant you were in the kitchen washing
dishes if you were a girl and the boys learn garden and farming. The lesson
they taught still hold a place in my heart and fawn memories of them.
This my aunt, Peggy, on the left, Bobby, and
my uncle on the right. Now these two man oh man they would get your hide in a
minute but when mom was not looking everything was okay. I loved going to their
house and seeing my cousins. We would get into so much trouble with each other but
you know we would never tell on each other. My aunt and uncle taught me how to
love my family even when we did not get along. They still teach me every day that
no matter how long it has been since you have seen each other family is still
family and one call is really all you need.
The young man on the left is my brother Dan. Now,
him well he taught me to fight, love, and hate all at one time. We would get
into so many fights and he would always tell our parents he was teaching me to
stand up for myself. (Yeah right he was just trying to not get a whipping!) Dan
has always shown compassionate when it comes to family. He would always say we
had to stick together. I will say I have compared the guys in my life to him. He
was always trying to make a dollar and help the family. Dan would also call me
on something he was my little voice in my ear and still is. (But I will tell
him that!)
These to munchies are my sister, Dorothy, and
younger brother, Michael. Michael is up front and Dorothy is in the back. These
two taught and still is teaching what beaning a big sister all is about. I do
not know if you can tell in this picture but I just spent all day raking leaves
when they decide they want to jump right in the middle of the pile. To say they
taught me patience is an understatement. They would remind me how to be a child
and to stop taking the world so serious. Dorothy and Michael still to this day
will call me up and ask me about helping them rake leaves and clean the yard. I
believe this is their way of still reminding me to laugh and that it is okay to
have sometimes.
I will say that the reason I only included their child pictures is because they all hate them. I mean come on a BIG SISTER has to have fun any way she can when it comes to her siblings.
As a big sister myself, I understand the need to get back at little brothers and sisters. Well done. I remember always being told that you need to take care of your little sisters and brothers. I didn't like it then but that taught me to care for and love my siblings. My nick name in high school was mom, long before I even gave a thought to having children of my own. It became natural to take care of others.
ReplyDeleteAs a middle child I have come to appreciate the bond of siblings and while we may not always get along we are family. Now we are all grown up with children of our own. When we come together and our children are with each other we can look back on ourselves while our parents remark "now you see how we got all our gray hair." Man were we rambunctious and accident prone kids.
ReplyDeleteHi Elaine,
ReplyDeleteYour last comment made me think of my older sister! She would totally do that to me haha. She is always posting pictures from when I was younger! I find it interesting that both comments comment on the different position they were in the family. Barry as a middle child, CDillon as a big sister herself and me as the baby. As the baby of the family I can truly tell you that I am sure your baby brother and sister adore and look up to you. When I look at the picture of you guys in the leaves it makes me think of my older brother and sister. At the time, I always felt like I was bothering them. Now we look back and laugh and cherish the memories that we created. I know that I can always go to my older siblings for things just as I am sure your siblings could too!
Kristin
Hi Elaine ,I love the photos you put on your blog. The family support system you had growing up is phenomal. You had the love and support a family gives and teaches the traditions to their children.My husband grew up in a loving family much like yours and he visits them often and have family functions.I can see the love in the pictures.
ReplyDeleteHello Elaine,
ReplyDeleteI understand what you talking about because, I am the oldest girl when you are the oldest you have so much responsibility being the oldest. My sibling is the reason I wanted to be a teacher, I love the support you had growing up.
Wonderful Post!
Elaine,
ReplyDeleteThe way you talk about your sibling relationships really touches my heart. Siblings are some of the only people you can yell, scream, and fight with but still know they will always have your back. My brother and I could literally go from a screaming match one minute to playing a game and laughing the next.