The Little Girl From 4th Ward

Who was this little girl from 4th Ward?  This tiny, little girl, with the infectious smile?

At camp ready for swimming in 1940

 She was my Mom.

She was raised with her two sisters, by her mother during the Great Depression of the 1930's and WWII in the 1940's.  She and her sisters and mother all together standing strong during very tough times when sometimes there was not much to smile about.  

Yet they were always smiling in photos.  They had joy!

My Grandmother had an inner strength, peace, and joy due to her faith.  She helped to instill a love of Christ in her girls.  She taught them how to handle adversity and how to live with little and yet be thankful for all that they had everyday.  She promised them, that no matter their circumstances, the Lord was taking care of their every need.  They lived that out during those depression years.  I can hear my Mom's voice in my head, echoing Grandmama's motto of  "Doing the best that you can in everything you do and having faith the Lord will take care of you!"  Mom and her sisters' refrain to those words have always been to this day, "That's right!"  All four of them supported each other during these times, in the way a family sticks together for better or worse.

When I think how far we've come, what an inspiration Mom has been to me all my life,  tears come.  I admit it.   These photos I've never seen until just a few days ago of my mother as a child..... what a treasure to see them.  

She went to camp just like me.... loved her dolls, like I loved my stuffed animals,  wanted to be a mom one day,

Was in the garden....loved her siblings and much, much more.

 My Moma, so precious, and not even knowing what a beautiful life that was still before her.  The love of her mother and sisters carrying each other through the current times would lead one another onward to that life of "love" waiting for each of them, in more happy years to come!  She had not met my Daddy yet....oh my goodness what love was waiting around the corner there!  She didn't know she would have a life long illness with Type 1 Diabetes in a few years, but would live with it in grace.  She didn't know so many things that were in store for her.....like being a Mom to Tom and I!  So many blessings to unfold, life's gifts to unwrap, adversity overcome, and joy abundant.  So much life to experience! 

This little girl would teach ME one day how to love!  She'd wrap her arms around my heart, never letting me go. 

So very amazing.... truly wonderful the Lord is!