Roots of a Country Girl

I had to write this as part of our staff retreat. I thought I would share it!

Nanaw and Papaw’s place
An old red barn high on a hill
A loft, old toys left behind by my mother and her sister
Hay bails, a church pew, an old children’s kitchen set
An old iron bed, now mine
Smells of corn, dirt, manure, wonderful smells

An old white house
A spring fed well
Papaw asleep on the couch on the porch
Nanaw in the kitchen, most always in the kitchen
Smells of fried bologna, dog, wood stove, wonderful smells

A world of adventure waiting outside
Hours spent along the creek bank
Lunches missed at the old red barn
Blackberries picked in the holler behind the house
Smells of freshly plowed soil, fragrant wild flowers, musty garage, wonderful smells

Granny and Grandaddy Burch
The old home place, my home place
What were they like, I wonder
How did they sound, I wonder
How did they smell, I wonder

Stories told, passed through generations
Stories of a large family, an old store
Sacrifices made for their kids, and in time, their kids
Sacrifices made to insure an education
Hard work, hard times, hard lives, enduring love

Educators, Educators, and more Educators
Teachers and administrators
Passion for young children
Passion for learning
Passion for the possibility of an educated child


Independence
Learn to do things for yourself
Don’t depend on others to do for you
Make good decisions
Learn from bad decisions

Have fun, Laugh
Embrace spontaneity
Embrace life and love
Be patient and kind
Truly LOVE the ones you love the most

Be at home in the kitchen
Know a measuring spoon from a soup spoon
Be able to use both
Try new things
Cook without a recipe

Open your home to everyone
To Those you love, and those you don’t
Entertain with a pure heart
Share what you have
Welcome, Welcome

Marriage is hard, very hard
But worth it all
The fights, the tears, the sleepless nights
Worth the time
Worth it all

Marriage is great, wonderful in fact
Laughter, playfulness, smiles, intimacy, quiet
To feel home no matter where you are
Assurance, trust, longing, love
Worth it all

Kids grow too fast, way too fast
0-18 in 2 years, that is what it feels like
They grow so fast, you miss so much
They learn new things, you didn’t teach them
They teach you things you thought you knew

They are sweet, and soft, and precious
They are nerve racking, and stubborn, and precocious
They are smart, and sensitive, and kind
They are inquisitive, and independent, and dependant
They are perfect

They carry your heart with them
Into the sandbox and red clay mud
Along the creek bank and into the water
On the swings and down the slide
Every step they take

Live your life
Know that each decision you make effects someone else
Love the ones you love today, they may be gone tomorrow
Practice random acts of kindness, what comes around goes around
Respect your elders, and your unders

Trust in God
Know your imperfections by far out-weigh your perfections
Ask for forgiveness
Hold his hand
Walk with him each day