Personal Childhood Web

Here is a taste of a few people who have had tremendous impacts on my life so far:

Grandma with D

 Grandma Yoder is a very lovable, huggable, caring person.  She is my greatest prayer warrior.  Grandma is a great wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.  She is also one of best cooks around!  During my adolescent years I worked with Grandma in her catering business.  I learned the ins and out of food service, cooking, presentation, and interactions with people.  She has taught me much about cooking, food preservation, and life in general.  As a child we also went Birthday shopping once a year - I was allowed to pick out anything I wanted as long as it was in her price range.  We spent the rest of the day eating, driving, and chatting; I knew she saved this special day for a special person - me!.  Grandma always made sure I knew she was praying for me.  She called (and still does) periodically to check in and see how things are going.  I know I can always pick up the phone to share a prayer request to to request a recipe!

Abby was a childhood friend and neighbor of mine.  Abby was a fiery redhead; the youngest of three sisters.  In the winter we went sledding, built snow forts and snowpeople until we couldn't move our fingers; then we came inside for hot chocolate and graham crackers (her mom always got the cinnamon ones!).  We spent many long summer days at each others' homes.  We loved to ride bike together, build hideouts in the woods, "cook" soup made of mashed mulberries, flowers, and mud in my playhouse.  At her house we spent lots of time in the pool; we made up games to play all afternoon in the water.  Some nights were spent swimming under the spotlight dodging bats that swooped down to eat bugs on the surface of the water.  We spent nights out under the stars with a trampoline for a bed.  As we grew older we floated in the pool on rafts for hours sunning ourselves, picked blueberries, figured out ICQ, AOL IM, and email.  We entered 4-H clubs and learned to drive.  Eventually we entered high school and the world of field hockey, basketball, school clubs, and homework.  We attended different schools, her public and I private, and our time together slowly grew minimal.  Busyness took over and we occasionally chatted about life online.  Now we see each other in passing and email occasionally about our sons who are only weeks apart and our very similar jobs as teachers.

Charity with D

Charity is my best friend.  She has been since Kindergarten.  My family as 'adopted' her as another child, sister, granddaughter, cousin... well you get the picture!  She shares all birthdays and celebrations with us.  Charity introduced me to the world of music; there was and is always music on that we sing along to when traveling together.  We share everything with each other and know that it's between us.  We've known each other so long and so well that we can communicate via mental messages when we are in the same room.  It's great!  (My husband may beg to differ...!)  Major life events are always more fun or easier to get through when you have a friend like Charity.  Someone to share the special moments, laugh and cry with you, or just sit and understand when that's all you need.  BFFs.  That's what we are. 

Mrs. Glenney was my kindergarten teacher.  She was the most energetic teacher I have ever had; ironically, she is also the oldest teacher I have ever had.  I can only hope to be that kind of teacher someday!  Mrs. Glenney made you feel special and loved as soon as you walked in her door.  It didn't matter that 17 other kids walked through that door with me - I was Amanda and I was special!  I don't remember specifics of how she made us feel welcome, accepted, and special; I just remember that feeling when I was in the room with her.  She taught me that it's okay to get excited over the small things; like circle time.  One circle time Mrs. Glenney actually jumped up and danced on her piano bench she got so excited.  And that was ok!  (She also fell off of it that day.  Broke her arm.  But that was okay too because she had fun and it healed!)  She taught me simple choruses for everything that I did and continue to do.  There's a song for everything.  I now pass those songs on to my students and even my son.  We have a song for when we change his diaper because of Mrs. Glenney!  Someday I hope I am and old teacher with gray hair and tons of energy!

Dad with D.

Dad.  We are a lot alike.  He passed on his more quiet and listening self to me.  He also passed on his bad back and shoulder.  (Thanks a lot!)  My dad is a truck driver; always has been.  The song "King of the Road" comes to mind when I think of him.  He is very thoughtful and when he has something to say you had better listen.  Dad has passed on a lot of wisdom and he only wants the very best for  me.  He's a great, loving, and caring father, husband, and grandpa.  My earliest memory is waiting by the front windows for dad to pull in the driveway after being out on the road for almost a month; as far as we can recall, I was around 3 years old.  My dad taught me geography; while he was out on a run somewhere across the country I would follow him on the roads in my atlas.  I learned the United States by driving across it vicariously through my dad.  It was great!  When I was old enough I actually got to go with him.  First I went for day trips.  Later on I got to go for an entire week, and sometimes even two.  One summer between college years I worked for him; that summer I spent 3 months on the road.  We sat and talked for miles and miles, listened to classic country music, talked some more, and sometimes just sat in silence.  That was one of the best summers of my entire life.  Dad always called after a sporting event that he missed.  He wanted all the details.  He was and is quick to encourage in any situation.  My dad (and mom) have passed on great parenting skills as well as life skills.  I couldn't be where I am today without the influence of my dad.