I blogged on this a while back, but I want to write it again because I have updated my "Friendstones" story.
I was born to Lorena Etter & John Phillip Dayton on July 13, 1955. Born with red hair (yes, I am a true redhead & I tan more than burn), green eyes and teeth that would one day need braces…I was a cutie! You might think I might be Irish but our Dayton ancestors come from England.
My first years were spent in a small house we called the “little house” behind my mother’s parent’s home on Nassau Street. I never knew my father’s parents although I blame my early wrinkling face to my dad’s mom! My mother’s parents, Hugh & Lucy Etter were huge influences in my life; We called them Bo & Cranny. Bo called me Pete and my brother he called Bosco…go figure that one out!
Across the street from my grandparents lived DJ & Clariece Anderson nicknamed by us kids…DJ and Anners. They had a daughter Marie who took great care of me as a young child. I spent lots of time crossing Nassau Street. You may know Marie through her kids Heather, Nicholle & David Tom from TV and movies. Marie taught me to swim at, what we call these days, the “old” Westridge pool where she was the lifeguard. I loved the smell of the cedar as it heated in the sun. I’d watch for hours as she showed kids how to love and respect the water.
I “grew up” on Irene Street in a 2 bedroom, one bath home. I shared a bedroom with my brother, John. John is 7 years older and we both lived to aggravate each other…we still do, the stories we can tell.
My mom worked in retail from the time she was 14…at the Dixie Shop, Nan’s and finally at Marse & Son. My dad worked in the appliance department of Sears for years & years & years. Everyone thought he was Porter Wagner. I grew up in these stores. I got every new record that came in at Sears and I finally grew into the Dixie Shop clothes. What fun times.
In today’s world you would call me a “latchkey kid”. Both my parents worked and so each day I would walk the mile home from College Hill to our house. We didn’t lock our doors and never thought about it being dangerous! In the springtime I had to dig a bucket of dandelions each day when I got home. I learned to fluff the bucket! I did not like to dig weeds& I still don’t!
I grew up in Girl Scouts and was a Senior Cadet Scout. My first hike I showed up wearing little gold pixie flats, like is back in style now…thin soles and comfy! Mrs. Walker & Mrs. Leach, our leaders, just laughed. I made it fine. I like cute shoes to this day!!! Through Girl Scouts, I became good friends with Suzy Leach and her dad, Alton, flew us to Knox City every other weekend to stay at her grandparents. He did all kinds of stunts with that airplane. Upside down, sideways, loops; Joy riding in the sky! I remember it like it was yesterday. That is a bad sign, when you remember the past more than the present, right?
I spent every day each summer at the Plainview Country Club Pool…unless I was traveling all over the country with my grandparents in the back of a pickup under a camper! My cousin & I grew up singing songs like Swing Low Sweet Chariot & Jeremiah was a Bullfrog at the top of our lungs as we traveled through all the Western United States and stopped at every historical marker along the way!!! One of the most beautiful places we ever visited was Yellowstone National Park. I just can’t even describe the beauty. The colors are magnificent! If you have visited there, you know.
I grew up attending First Baptist Church where I accepted Christ at a young age. I remember special teachers who made a difference in my life. My faith was very important to me as a teenager and it was through prayer that God led me to meet Clinton Wall, son of TC and Peggy Wall (who I think you might know).
Clinton and I had our first date to a PHS football game. I went to Kristi’s and bought the cutest hip-hugger, lavender, double knit-bell bottoms; a lavender turtleneck and an off white with lavender flowered crocheted belt and I was set to go! This was our senior year,1973. After graduation, I went to West Texas State & he went to Tech to play baseball. That distance didn’t work out well, and I did not enjoy college life so, I came back and worked at Gabriel’s until we were married in May of 1975. We moved to Lubbock where I worked as a shoe buyer for Latham’s while Clinton finished school. We lived in a brand new tiny efficiency apartment. I remember that when I got my commission check we would splurge and eat at McDonald’s! Clinton graduated from Tech in May 1977 and we moved back to Plainview and Aaron was born August 1st. I remember standing on the porch with him and asking myself, what do I do now? No manual came with him! Three years later, in the snow storm of November 25, 1980, we had Chrissa. We convinced Dr. Larry (Karrh) to let us go home for Thanksgiving Day. Chrissa loves to tell the story of how we laid her on the living room floor while we all went into the kitchen to eat our Thanksgiving dinner! Poor baby!
I was then the part-time children’s director at First Baptist Church. God made it very clear to me that I needed to be a stay at home mom, what a job! The hardest job I have ever had but the most rewarding!
Clinton and I have continued our journey together for 34 years. I know, you ask how he puts up with me. I get that a lot! I always say, how would you like to live with someone who is perfect? I think Clinton is. We laugh a lot and enjoy just being together. He continues to work with High Plains Concrete, a ready-mix concrete business…oh, and do you know the difference between cement and concrete? What I do these days is live each day expecting the unexpected impulses that the Holy Spirit nudges me with.
Aaron Dayton Wall turns 32 this year and works at High Plains Concrete and has one dog, a Doberman, The Red Razor. Chrissa J’rene Wall Botherton, 29 on her next birthday, married her high school sweetheart Brandon (also soon to be 29). They have a Pit Bull, Kane, a princess Maltese, Zoey Belle, and a huge black cat named Shadow that now follow the lead of Adelyn Reine, our first granddaughter!
So many opportunities have been provided to me through the years. In my faith I strive to be sensitive every day to the Holy Spirit and to those he places in my life. God has blessed my family and I owe it all to him. My gift is faith. There is a song I listened to as a youth called, I’ve Got Confidence by a group called Revelation. It starts like this, “I’ve got confidence, God is going to see me through, no matter what the case may be, I know he’s going to fix it for me”…and he does.
I love art. I am very thankful that God allows me to see. My eyesight is fading a little with age and I try to see each day all the beauty that God created. I enjoy painting and I enjoy photography. I love to read and play in the dirt and am amazed when seeds grow into plants that bloom beautiful flowers. I write poetry from time to time, maintain a couple of blogs; one personal and one for the Herald.
A couple of years ago I wrote this little story. Maybe one day I will try and get it published. I recently personalized it for our Adelyn. I hope you enjoy it!!!
Friendstones
Once upon a time there was a road that was filled with stones. These stones were many sizes and shapes. Some sparkled in the sun while others threw shadows upon the tiny ones that were close by. As people traveled this road on their way to and from their daily chores they were unaware of the stones that gave them strength in their travels. One day a young girl, named Adelyn, was traveling with her Babushka to the market to purchase a loaf of rye for tomorrow’s lunchtime sandwich. The young girl knew that if she was a good little girl that a lollipop would be in store for her. Just as she was thinking about her lollipop she noticed one of the stones on the road was moving. Startled, she rubbed her eyes and wondered if she needed glasses! No, there it was again, the stone moved! Not just one but they all were shifting. What was happening? Was there an earthquake moving towards them? Slowing, because of what her eyes saw, Adelyn knew she gave frustration to her Babushka. "Hurry dear, for the market will close soon." "But, Ushka, I think I'm not feeling well." "Oh dear child, we have no time for nonsense!" The young girl tried to walk faster. The stones continued to move to and fro, moving as if they were going somewhere. She took a closer look. "Ushka, these stones are moving!" "Child, child, it is your moving on them that causes them to shift." The girl, rubbing her eyes again, took a closer look as she felt her Babushka tug on her hand and say, "hurry, hurry, Adelyn, time is short." About the same time the girl notices something red, then green and she hears something. What is it? "Shhh Ushka." I hear something. "Listen Ushka, the stones, they are talking to each other." Her Babushka listens. Why, she hears something, as well. She slows, and looks at what the young girl is now bending to see. The stones, they really were moving up and down the road, slowly, ever so slowly, as to escape the notice of the travelers hurrying by. "My, oh my, I'm feeling dizzy now, her Babushka exclaims!" "Here Ushka, sit on this bench." As the young girl helps her Babushka to the bench she catches out of the corner of her eye the red stone gathering the other nearby stones together. With her Babushka seated on the bench, Adelyn leans down to get a closer look. She finds the stone that caught her eye, the one with the red and green. Focusing in she sees that the stone is not exactly a stone, but what is it? Adelyn now notices that the other stones have features distinctive to their shapes. She bends down close with her nose nearly touching the stones. Adelyn sees it now. The stones are not stones at all, they are people. The one that caught her attention is a woman with red hair, green eyes and big red lips. She watches for a minute. The stones appear to be people helping the travelers by providing the road for them to walk on. As Adelyn sits trying to take in what is happening before her very eyes, the redhead says, "Hi, sweet girl". Adelyn, knowing what a polite young girl should do says, "Hello, I'm Adelyn Reine, what is your name?" The redhead says, "My name is Hofulyn, the stone of friendship. These are my friendstones. We move along this path to provide support for the feet that travel upon us and to encourage those who take notice of our gift." "Well, a-oh-okay," Adelyn stutters. "So, I noticed you, what does this mean?" Why Adelyn, it means that you have a heart for people, that you care deeply for those around you and that you will stop and notice the least of these. Just look at how you have helped your Babushka. She travels with a heavy load and you are a good girl to help her by sharing the load! We watch you walk with her to the market each week and you make her smile along the way. Upon your return you carry her bag for her because you care." About this time the Babushka looks over to where Adelyn is sitting listening to the stone talk. "Adelyn, what do they say?" "Why Ushka, they say I have the most wonderful Babushka in the whole wide world!" "Oh child, what would I do without your love?" Adelyn leaves the stones and makes her way the few steps to the bench where her Babushka sits, tired from years of hard labor, and moves in beside her on the bench. Adelyn looks at the stones on the road and they are now back into their rhythm of to and fro upon the road. Adelyn sees the redheaded one as she moves along with the others. "Ushka?" "Yes, dear child." "Let me help you up. It is getting late and the market will close soon." Adelyn helps her Babushka up and her Ushka leans down, right to her nose, and gives her a kiss. Adelyn sees the stone Hofulyn and notices a quick wink. Knowing a good little girl when she sees one, Hofulyn whispers to her friendstones, “Adelyn will get a big lollipop when they reach the market; she is a good girl, a fine girl, a girl every Babushka would wish for."
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My Fresh Find is this fun cabana. Check it out.
