40 years ago

 What were you doing 40 years ago?  I was graduating from high school!  40 years seems so old!  It's hard to believe I am even 40 years old much less out of high school for so long.  

Being brought up in all the secrets & oddities  of my life made school at times a challenge.  I was in gifted/high classes but so incredibly bored I did the least possible.  Luckily for me I didn't need to study much to make passing grades because I didn't study at all!  In high school "back in the day" it was very easy to skip school and I did it on a regular basis. In all of that I only got caught one time!  In my heart I had goals but no idea of how to make them come true.  There was no one in my life that "had my back" my family basically ignored me because there was a lot of medical things going on.  My great  uncle had passed away, my great aunt had Alzheimer's and my other great aunt had some mental health issues (looking back) .  Several of my friends had parents who loved me and wanted the best for me but I was not their focus.  There were some sweet folks who cared for me in my church but again there was only so much they could do for me.  

None of my teachers (except one who might have been a little inappropriate in this day and age LOL)  paid me much attention and I didn't try to get close to them.  I never liked "brown nosers" Living in a small southern town, somebody like me who didn't have many personal connections wasn't one that teachers paid alot of attention to.  No one was mean don't get me wrong but I wasn't "pushed forward" or encouraged much.  In fact as a senior I had a mandatory meeting with a guidance counselor and told her I wanted to go to college.  She totally discouraged me and told me all the reasons it wouldn't work out for me.  

Looking back I realize how incredible that I am where I am now.  But God.....

On my graduation night no one came to see me graduate.  Of course my friends' parents were there but I didn't have any one person who came to see just me graduate. I went home with my friend because her family were giving us a graduation party.   And then some of my plans went awry for that night (thank God LOL that's a story I'm not ready to share)

How did things change for me?  God God and God!  After graduation I started a secretarial class....yeah...that was NOT for me!  One day I got a mailing from Southeastern University  I had no idea where it was located but in my heart God spoke to me that I'd go to college there.  Again there was NO support!  In fact I was told over & over how I would not be able to go to college.  Mostly because I didn't have the money.  My family told me not to be silly and to "go get a job at the K-mart"  They also didn't like SEU because it was another denomination's college.  But God helped me.  That situation taught me and was a turning point in my life.  Having to support myself  and do it all on my own (not one penny from anyone) taught me to be independant and realize all I need is God.  It's a lonely place.  Thankfully there were some folks here and there that helped me.  A lady from our church and her daughter dropped me off at college which was one of the most important things anyone has ever done for me.  It was a 4 hour drive and I barely had enough to get started at college- it would have been more stressful if I had had to ride a bus!  

After I was dropped off, the whole situation overwhelmed me but I was there and I wasn't giving up no matter what.   Looking back at that little girl, I'm impressed & sad for her.  For years I lived with my heart in my throat wondering how I was going to make it but somehow I always did! There were times I did some stupid things but overall I kept my eyes on God and my goals.  

June 3 1983

See those heels???  My favorite shoes and the reason I just had foot surgery LOL

Dang no wrinkles.....

So if you ever get a chance to help someone out who is trying to do something with their life- help them!  You may be the person that makes the biggest contribution to their life at a pivot moment.  There were those folks who were there for me like that- sometimes it can just be a word of encouragement- doing something practical- being kind.....

Because of how alone I was -I was determined my kids would never experience that feeling as they grew up! Once I was past elementary school no one ever came to anything I was involved in.  There was no one in the audience for me.  And honestly there were times someone could have come...it just wasn't important enough for them to do it.  Of course life can be hard but sometimes a person has to push through and do what needs to be done. Things mean alot to kids.  Just remember that!

So we will be having our 40th year class reunion in the fall during the Pine Tree Festival.  The Festival is my hometown's big yearly celebration of the Pine Tree!  We are the Pine Tree Capital of the South:)  None of my family have ever gone to the festival- it has always fallen on our oldest son's birthday and/or our college's university's homecoming even I haven't gone since my freshman year in college so it's been a few minutes.  My husband is coming and our big kids are "thinking" about coming...we will see.  It's going to be fun.  

Remember to be an encourager and a practical person in other's lives!