The Saga Begins

Once upon a time in the small rural community of Glidewell, Missouri, there were two families who were instrumental in my appearance in this world. Glidewell is about 6 miles north of Springfield. It sets on Highway 13 and Glidewell Road. That is...old highway 13...the one that is 2 lanes but was the main state highway before the four lane one was built. On the Northwest corner was Gamblin's Grocery and Gas...on the Southwest corner was Dilley's garage...on the Southeast corner was Keiner's Korner Grocery and Gas. I'm not sure what was on the other corner, but just up the hill east on Glidewell road was the school house. Glidewell School. I think at that time it had 8 grades in four rooms, then the kids went to Willard High School. Glidwell Baptist Church was just south of the intersection. The activity in this community centered around the church and the school.

At the north end of Glidewell, on the corner of Hiway 13 and O Hiway, lived Paul and Ruby Squibb and their two daughters, Anna Lee and Wanda. They had two children who died at birth before Anna Lee was born and one daughter after Wanda...Mary Lou, who died at 9 months of age. Paul was a farmer and carpenter. Ruby was busy with the children, the house, garden and feeding farm hands.

At the south end of Glidewell, lived Carl and Elsie Murray and their four children, Jerald, Billy, Max and Ollie Mae. Carl was a farmer, and land owner. Elsie was also a homemaker with all the duties that come with a family of six.

It just so happened that Jerald Murray married Anna Lee Squibb and Billy Murray married Wanda Squibb. Max Murray married Ella Sue East (from Willard) and Ollie Mae Murray married Don McQuarter (from Willard).

Billy and Wanda were married on January 1, 1949. They didn't waste any time starting a family, because I (Donna Mae) was born on October 17, 1949. Their son, William Jerald (B.J.), was born April 21, 1952 and another daughter, Karla Kay, was born October 7, 1953.

Billy and Wanda lived on a farm of 160 acres on North Grant Street Road (today it's Farm Road 145) in a rock house. About a quarter of a mile south on the same road lived Jerald and Anna Lee and their four children, Carl David, Jeanette, Mary Lee (my age) and Andy (B.J.'s age).

When Anna Lee went to work at Commerce Bank, our cousins got on and off the bus at our house and stayed with us in the summer. When my mom went to work at Sears, we all stayed with Grandma Squibb.

Grandpa and Grandma Squibb had the best barn to play in. We climbed up to the loft and made tunnels, or forts or houses out of the bales of hay. They turned their old chicken house into a play house for us. The kitchen had a cupboard and a table and chairs. The living room had a sofa and chair and rug on the floor. There was a bookshelf with lots of books and, I think, even a lamp. We played and played in that house. They used a big part of it for storage, but we didn't even notice. That was our house! Grandma would fix lunch and bring it outside for us--always with kool-aid to drink.

Grandpa and Grandma loved to fish and sometimes took us with them. They got a boat and I can remember going to the lake with them. They also had a pond that we fished in sometimes.

Grandpa and Grandma Murray built a swimming pool and filled it with spring water (soooo cold). We learned to swim there and usually went as a family on Sunday afternoons along with the cousins. Sometimes momma would take us swimming during the week. We would stop at Gamblin's store and get a popsicle for a treat.

Grandpa Murray took us to pick walnuts one time. Then he sold them and gave us the money. He also had some horses. I think they were all Walking horses or Foxtrotters. He gave the boys each a colt to raise.

I have a scrapbook that momma put together with old family pictures and pages of family history..."Organization of Glidewell Baptist Church"; "Founding of Glidewell Community"; and "History of Glidewell School". They are so interesting to read.



To be continued.....

Why?...Because I want to, that's why.

Did I mention the reason I started this blog site? I was watching the DVD for the new Scrapbooking Bible Study, and Lisa Welchel, who wrote it, was talking about how we really need to write things down for our children and their children and on and on. "Be careful never to forget what you yourself have seen the Lord do for you. Do not let these memories escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren." Deuteronomy 4:9 NLT

And, my goodness, what the Lord has done for me! I guess I first started thinking about it when I did the Bible study, "Experiencing God" by Henry Blackaby. I had to think about spiritual markers in my life. Most of them were things that, at the time, didn't seem like a God thing. But as I looked back on them, I could see that God was moving in my life...moving me to something or away from something, for His purposes.

I hope to record here some past memories and memories in the making. I have a stack of journal books that I have written in over the years. I just take spells of jotting things down. Maybe journaling in this blog will be more accessible to the grandchildren.

That's not to say I won't get sidetracked once in a while. Things just happen.... Like the fish and racoons.

Those pesky racoons...

Update on the fishponds.........Sure enough, when I checked on the ponds Sunday morning, the four big goldfish were gone. The three baby ones are still there. Probably too small for those grubby racoon paws to keep ahold of. I don't know about the four black fish in the other pond. They are hard to see in that black pond unless they are swimming around. They are probably hiding in the corner if they are there. I don't blame them a bit.

The man from the Department of Conservation called me back a few minutes ago. He said it could be a Blue Heron. They have been getting into koi ponds, but since the ponds are close to the house and we have seen racoons around, it's probably the racoons who are the culprits. He said we can legally shoot them or borrow a live trap from the DOC and catch them. But if we catch them, where would we release them? He said at least 5 miles away, because they are very smart and now that they know we have the ponds, if we restock , they will just keep getting our fish. So, I guess I will talk to Gary tonight and see if he wants some target practice.

Where Are The Fish?

Today was a beautiful October Saturday. Since there won't be too many of these left this year, I decided to winterize my fish ponds. That means I need to clean the pump filters, cut back the plants, etc. I had noticed that the plants had outgrown their pots and kept tipping over. Well, in the Koi pond, everything was moved around. Pots tipped over....pump not working...fountain had fallen off...waterfall moved out of it's spot...and...Horror of horrors!!...the Koi fish were gone!  All three of the big, white, beautiful (in a manner of speaking) fish were gone! I'm sure the biggest one was 12" long. The other two were maybe 6" and 8". The four black ones were still there. I just couldn't figure it out. Did someone steal them? Why just the white ones? Did an animal get in there and eat them? The goldfish were still in their pond swimming around like nothing had happened. Did they hear something? Do they know what happened? We went to Jadon's birthday party at his house. We had a great time. I'm sure Heather will have pictures on her blog and I can't wait to read it. When we got home, I turned the outside light on over the deck I had just varnished today. I opened the patio door to check it and....a mama and baby racoon went running off into the woods. I just want to know. Did they get my fish? I'm calling the Department of Conservation on Monday.

All About me

I’ve never been a blogger…..never thought I could be a blogger. I’d have to start off writing about myself. I’m never any good at those quizzes about yourself…”what do you think about this?....what do you like/dislike?...what would you do in this situation?” Makes me think too much. But…our Pastor’s wife, Tammy, asked me to lead a Scrapbooking Bible Study after the first of the year. In my quest for a study, I found one that is called “This is My Story”, a scrapbooking legacy of faith. I am so excited about it, however, it means a lot of journaling about events, feelings,…..me. A lot of thinking… Well, I turned 58 yesterday and did a lot of reflecting about my teen years, twenty’s, thirty’s, forty’s, fifty’s……….and what will my sixty’s be like. I realized that’s a pretty long time and surely there are stories there to be remembered. Surely there are things my kids and grandkids will want to know about me that they never asked and I never volunteered. So, here’s the first installment. What I am not:

• A gardener, who grows wonderful tomatoes, corn, green beans to give away to family and friends (like my sweet, generous cousin, Jeanette, does)
• A quilter, crocheter, needlepointer, seamstress (like my gifted mother who was always making something and has left her memories everywhere in my house) Oh, sure, I made the kids some clothes when they were little, but my sewing machine has only done hemming for the last twenty-five years.
• A pianist who can play anything beautifully (like my friend, Cozy). (I played the clarinet in school from 5th -10th grade. Last time I tried, I couldn’t even make a sound come out of the instrument)
• A world-champion barrel racer (like I dreamed of being when I was young)
• A runner, biker, hiker, tennis player, golfer (my faithful treadmill has been my athletic skill for the past few years. Just recently joined a fitness center) I did play volleyball and softball in my younger years – just for fun. And sometimes play a round of golf with my husband.
• A gourmet chef – my man likes meat, potatoes, and gravy. If I try anything new, it’s for my Bunco buddies.
• Poet, writer, painter (unless you count painting the rooms in our house and the floors, [accidently] )

What I am:

• A child of the King. I gave my heart to Jesus when I was 9 years old.
• A wife – to my husband, Gary, for 39 years and counting. Our story is another blog in itself.
• A mother – to our children, Gary Todd, born April 19, 1970; Matthew Paul, August 26, 1972; and Wendy Rebekah, March 28, 1975.
• A grandmother – to our grandchildren, Lucas Andrew Bischoff, born May 3, 1999; Bailey Rebekah Bischoff, November 29, 2000; Micah Steven Bischoff, May 20, 2002; Ruth Ann Bischoff, October 9, 2003; Gavin Matthew Wallace, August 1, 2001; Karis Rose Wallace, Stillborn August 29, 2003; Jadon Creed Wallace, October 17, 2004; Haven Elizabeth Wallace, June 3, 2006 and Jude Ezra Wallace, due February 13, 2008.
• A scrapbooker – I have books started for all the grandchildren. Started is the key word. Keeping them up is the hard part.
• A 1st Grade Sunday School Teacher and Awana’s handbook counselor for TNT (3rd – 6th grade)
• Administrator/Ministry Assistant for Bob Caldwell and Global Encounter Ministries – fortunately I have an office in my home which allows me to babysit whatever grandkids need me. At this time it’s Jadon and Haven for 3 ½ days a week.
• Caretaker of the ponds and the frog – I have two fish ponds with 7 goldfish in one and 7 koi fish in the other. Inside we have a Fire-bellied Toad named Poison who eats crickets. I know there are ????’s in your mind.
• A collector – dishes and quilts from my mother and grandmother, four chests full of memories, not to mention the tubs in the basement full of 1) Pez dispensers, 2) band-aid boxes, 3) old toys, - I really have trouble throwing things away.

What I love:

• Long drives with my husband
• Shopping with my sister
• Watching the deer graze in our backyard
• Going to the zoo, or park, or Silver Dollar City, or anywhere with my grandchildren
• Snuggling under the covers when it’s raining outside
• Sitting on the deck drinking a cup of tea, reading a book and listening to the birds, squirrels, and anything else that’s residing in our yard.
• Reminiscing with my brother ....he knows so many stories about our grandparents
• When my kids share their hearts with me
• Swimming
• A restaurant with great ambiance and food
• Second service worship at our church - the band, the praise team, the songs.....
• Making the perfect scrapbook page
• Christmas!!! I love, love, love Christmas!! Buying presents for everyone…..the Nativity Pageant….The whole family being together on Christmas morning…..everything!!!
• Family Game Night (This happened for a very brief period a few years ago. And the kids know that anytime we are all together, I am going to drag out some games. The girls are all for it. The boys …well, there is usually some kind of ball game on TV)
• Playing Bunco with my girlfriends

I'm sure I will think of more things to add to these lists, but this is a pretty good start and it wasn't really so hard. I will add pictures and stories about my family when I figure out how. We'll see how often I post. I may be lucky to get one a week.