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Setting the Stage
This picture is of my mom's dad and my dad's dad. Each one's life choices set the stage for our family in profound ways. My mom's dad was an alcoholic who later became a recovered alcololic, but not before the impressions of alcoholism had been made upon my mom and, in turn, me. My dad's dad, on the other hand, left his mark in another way. He sold the family land to trade commodities. This left my dad with an obsession of leaving an inheritance for us, resulting in work, work, and more work. -
Born into Poverty
This was the earliest picture I could find. I was born into poverty. My parents were farmers and ranchers who had been through hard times trying to make ends meet. While my parents were amazing parents, we had very little other than each other. In fact, there were times we had no running water or electricity and food was scarce. To this day, I find myself looking for the cheapest thing on a menu, even if we can now afford more. Obviously, living in poverty leaves lasting impressions. -
Sharing & Loving Despite Obvious Differences
This is a picture of my sister and I with our foster bother and sister. While our family had very little, my parents taught us at a very early age to be willing to share what we had. I can remember that my foster sister and I often confused people. Many thought we were twins, so the fact that I was white and she was not, bafffled many. To us, the race difference didn't matter. We loved each other as we were and our family was very sad when they went back to their biological parents. -
Birth of My Work Ethic
We were very poor during the early years of my childhood. As a result, we were all required to pitch in and help. My sister, brother and I all had chores. We lived off of the land in every way we could, so there were garden duties, duties milking the cows, gathering eggs from the chicken coup, and hoeing weeds in the cotton fields. At the time, I thought these were the worst of times, but I now think of them as the BEST of times. We learned that working hard and working as a team pays off. -
Farm Life: You Reap What You Sow
This is a picture of my little brother and I embracing in a field of sunflowers which my dad had sown. I included this picture because it reminds me of an important lesson I learned through growing up on a struggling farm. I learned to have a deep appreciation for what we had and that with hard work and dedication one reaps what they sow. -
Faith as a Driving Force
I included this picture as an example of my family's deeply rooted faith which has always been a driving force in our lives. This scripture is important to me because it is my mom's favorite scripture. If we ever doubt our ability to do something, she reminds us of this scripture. She says that she wrote this on every college test she ever took because she had extreme test anxiety. She believes, without a doubt, that it was her faith that helped her through college. -
Setting an Example to Follow
This is important to me because it is a reminder of my parents' graduation from West Texas State. At some point along the way, my parents came to a dead end with their farming endeavor and the only option they could see to be able to support our family was to return to college. At the age of 40, they both graduated and became teachers. Their graduation made a huge difference in the state of our family's finances. This set an example for me to follow. I decided if they could do it, I could too. -
Social Interaction
This picture includes my siblings and cousins at my 11th birthday. Most of my social interactions involved my siblings and my cousins getting together for a birthday or holiday. The difference between them and us was that they were not as poor and did not have to work or worry like my siblings and I did. This caused some tension as we always wondered why they had so much more than we did. It was especially obvious at Christmas time. As a result, my grandparents always did a little extra for us. -
Graduation From Valley Highschool
This accomplishment marked the end of one chapter in my life and the beginning of another, of which I would be able to put the many things I had learned from my family into practice. My dad had instilled in me a work ethic and determination that would carry me on and my mom had instilled in me the ability to make wise choices. -
Goal Oriented
I have always loved this picture because it is of my dad on the top of a mountain. It is my dad who has always encouraged me along the way to keep going, not to give up, and to keep my eye on the goal. This particular moment was important to me because of the symbolism. The experience required endurance as it took a long time to get to the top. There were times I wanted to give up and I had to overcome some fear along the way, but we reached the TOP, and the view was so worth it! -
Great Friends
This is a picture of my best friends from highschool and college. I was so fortunate to have great friends who shared many of the same beliefs as me. My mom was always insistant that I choose my friends wisely. Because her dad was an alcoholic, she had a great fear of any sort of alcohol consumption. This was one of her biggest concerns for me -- that I not "drink". Out of respect for her, I did not. I am not one of those that feels drinking must be off limits, but I can respect why she does. -
Following in Footsteps
Following in the footsteps of my parents, I graduated from West Texas A & M in August of 1997. I remember feeling such a sense of accomplishment, as the journey to the top of that mountain had been a long, slow and arduous jouney, but well worth it. I began my career in education that same year. -
Wedding Day
This was the best day of my life. I had been praying for the one I was to marry since I was a little girl, and the day had finally arrived. Mike has been a gift from God and a pure blessing. I can not imagine doing life without him. -
Defining a Mission
This picture is significant to me in that it was taken during a camp in which my husband and I were camp counselors. The camp was for underprivaledged kids. Nearly all of the kids that were there were from broken homes and were in much need of some love and support. We discovered while we were there that we had a huge heart for these kids and felt a strong call to help kids in need. As a teacher, these are my favorite. This is also perhaps why we feel so strongly about becoming foster parents. -
Disconnecting in Oder to Reconnect
I chose to include this picture because it is of my dad and nephew on one of our many vacations. We were having a family Bible study and my dad was trying to relay to my nephew the importance of disconnecting from the world in order to reconnect with God, our family and, in turn, the world. -
In It TOGETHER
This picture is important to me because it shows my family TOGETHER. One thing we have established over the years is that we are in it TOGETHER. No matter what happens, I have learned, in our family, we are there FOR each other. I am incredibly BLESSED! -
Legacy of Relationships
I chose to include this picture of my parents together because they have been such a role model for me. Their number one concern over the years has always been "relationships". They have passed down the legacy of relationships by setting the example of building and nurturing relationships with family, each other, God, their friends, and even with strangers met along the way. -
Continuance of the Legacy
I am truly blessed. After nearly 17 years of marriage, I feel just as "in love" as I did when we met over 17 years ago. I often say that I still get excited when I turn the corner to my house and realize that Mike is already home from work. We have taken cues from those around us to continue to nurture and build our relationship with each other as well as with God and those around us.
