My Early Childhood the Formative Years II

    There were so many good memories of childhood I can't resist sharing. I think I was in 3rd grade when I made my most memorable Bird Book. I loved this book! My class was instructed to create a book about birds. I think each student was given the same format for the book but were given freedom to choose the type of bird we would write about. I chose a Robin because they were so prevalent in my family's yard. I wrote about how the Robin's ate worms for food, that they built nests to live in and that they lived in trees. They also had a beautiful song and then I drew and colored my Robin on each page. I continue to love birds through present day feeding and watching birds while using my Audubon books while in the backyard and on occasional walks in various settings. I always have my binoculars on the ready. I also keep a life list of the birds I have spotted. My first book, my first real attempt at creating artwork and the beginnings of a passion that I still enjoy!

   I loved reading as a child and continued through my middle years mostly during summer. As a family we caught fireflies and watched the stars while laying back and eating popcorn. This is one of my first experiences of noticing the rotation of the earth and star formations. Fireflies are my favorite bug. I find it so amazing and incredible they light up! Now, who would think to put a nightlight on a bug. I am not only amused but impressed and inspired by our maker, our creator and the finisher of all the earth! Life perfected.

   One time while spending a family day on Lake Erie my dad and I walked along the breaker. I held his hand while we walked because I was a little frightened by the crashing waves. As we walked, I looked down and suddenly found something to my delight! It was a heart-shaped flat stone! I remember thinking I had found something very special. My dad was just as delighted as I. When we got home my dad asked if he could have the stone for a little while. I hesitated but then relented deciding to trust my dad. A couple of weeks later he gave me the stone back which he had strung on a gold necklace to my surprise. It was beautiful! I still have and cherish this necklace thinking back to this day. This day was pivotal as it taught me a lesson of trust, patience and love. Character traits of good virtue and also that sometimes it pays to look down in life! You may find good things.

   Psalm 56:3    When I am afraid, I will trust in you.

   2 Timothy 4:2   ...be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction.

   1 Corinthians 13:4   Love is patient, love is kind...

   I remember on one particular occasion as a young girl waking up in the middle of the night not feeling well. I had an earache and went to my mom. I remember how she put medicated drops in my ear and comforted me by rubbing my back as I laid my head on her lap. Coming from a large family there are times that physical demonstration of affection is not as available as you would like and need but mom had her ways of showing her care and love like braiding my hair and taking time to hand sew my dresses when I was younger. She read many books to my younger sister, brother and I. She was busy keeping a house and raising a family and her attention to detail was not missed.   

      While there were times, I did not receive the one-on-one attention from my parents, it was well made up from having many brothers and sisters. I had many and constant playmates. I loved how one of my older brothers taught me how to build a dam in our creek. My older brothers and sisters taught my younger brother, sister and I to throw a baseball over the roof of our ranch home while half of us waited on the other side to catch the ball. We tossed it back and forth over the roof many times before tiring of it. We played ghost in the graveyard at night and chased one another around in the dark which surprises me we did not have more injuries in our family due to the possibility of running into the many trees in our yard. Most of our play time was outdoors and I loved every minute of it!