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Monday, October 10, 2011

Where I'm From

I am from the view finder on the back of my camera.  It all started out with a Polaroid when I was a child.  To this day I am the family photographer.










I am from the swimming pool.  I am from books, especially Nancy Drew, that I read under my covers with a flash light long after my parents sent me to bed.

And I am from riding my bike around the neighborhood until we would hear my dad whistle that loud ear piercing whistle.  Everyone in the neighborhood knew that was Mr. Branz and it was time for us to head home.

I am from the crashing waves of the ocean carrying me to shore over and over again as I swim back out to body surf.  I am from the power of the ocean can calm and refresh my soul.


                                                  










I am from every holiday spent together sharing huge meals and family spilling out of the dining room and kitchen finding places to eat.  I'm from Branzs and Baumanns and now, from Patricks.














I am from being at church every time the doors were open and from the home where people loved to come to have a good time and to have Bible study.  I am from going to the beach any chance we could.  I'm from summers on the Jersey Shore.












I am from "You can be whatever you want to be" and "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it at all."  I always wondered what I was supposed to do with those negative feelings that we weren't supposed to express. 


I am from nondenominational church and from Bible school and from being told from earliest memory that my heavenly Father loved me.  I am from watching my mom & dad pray together every morning.

I am from Serbia and the Tyrolean Alps and Germany and Wales.  I am an American mutt.  I am from Gnocchi and pot roast.  The pot roast was any Sunday that the Steelers were playing.  My mom put the pot roast in the crock pot before church, so she wouldn't have to cook when we got home.  We could just eat and watch the Steelers on tray tables in the family room!

I am from a good work ethic; my dad working so hard to establish his practice.  He would come home, eat dinner, spend time with us and head back out to work.  He worked hard so he could take us to the beach. 

I am from my grandma taking me to the symphony and the ballet and sitting on her front porch to watch the parades go by, while drinking root beer floats that we called "brown cows".

I am from the prayers of my mother.

I am from my grandparents summer home in Florida (a silver AirStream).  Where we would get to enjoy seeing our dad relax.














I am from my siblings, fighting, loving, catching lightening bugs, playing badminton, going to swim meets.



I am from listening to my mom's stereo and all her albums every Saturday as we cleaned house. 



Most of all, I am from love.

This is a writing excercise called "Where I'm From".  You can get the template for it here. Try it and let me know what you think!

From His Lap,
                                  

44 comments:

  1. I love where you are from! It sounds like home:) And I can smell the pot roast! :)

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  2. Thanks, Kristin. I loved doing this little writing exercise. It shows you what you really remember at first prod. I can smell the pot roast too!
    Thank you for stopping by!
    Hugs,
    ~Erin

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  3. I may have to join in on this little adventure...It looks like a beautiful story! Loved your story about where you're from! ~Hugs, Leah

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  4. Leah,
    Make sure that you go to the link I provided. It will give you the template for the link! Keep me posted. I want to read about where you are from.
    Blessings,
    ~Erin

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  5. Our childhoods sound very similar...especially a family full of love! I'm so grateful for that! Thanks for sharing!

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  6. I always enjoy reading your uplifting posts! Surprisingly, I am from so many of the same memories! Thank you for sharing your heart and love of the Lord with us! I have a couple of awards for you, please stop by my blog for a peek!

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  7. Beth,
    I had a wonderful childhood. I was so blessed. Let me know if you try the writing exercise!
    Blessings,
    ~Erin

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  8. Rebecka,
    Thank you so much for stopping by and for the awards. I am honored! Aren't childhood memories wonderful. Isn't it funny how we push the not so fun memories to the back so we can dwell on the good! I'm glad you had a great childhood.
    I'll hop to your blog right now and ck it out!
    Blessings,
    ~Erin

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  9. Thank you, Jedidja. You are always so faithful to stop by and read my posts. You bless me that way!
    Hugs,
    ~Erin

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  10. Love this writing!!!! The photos. Your mom and dad!! So sweet. And such a great family. You are blessed. And now such a responsibility to pass the blessings on. Amen!!!! Love this, love this!

    PS – my mom had ALL the Barbra albums. That one included! Dianne

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  11. Dianne,
    I would love to see what you would write if you did this exercise!! :0) I was blessed. I know I take it for granted sometimes until I participate in an exercise like this.
    Love you!
    ~Erin

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  12. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this... Cuz its where I'm from... and it says it so well! I love you sis!!!! <3

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  13. This is beautiful! I really loved reading it because it made me think about my own life and "where I am from." It must have been very uplifting to write this. I may have to give it a shot!

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  14. Tawny,
    You should do the writing exercise and see what you come up with! We are from greatness, aren't we? Human, imperfect greatness!
    Love you!
    ~Erin

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  15. Andrea,
    I really encourage you to do it!! It was really fun and brought back so many wonderful memories. Make sure to click on the link I provided so you can get the template!
    Hugs,
    ~Erin

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  16. Quite a blog post. We truly are products of our memories and so it highlights how important it is for us to create those memories too.

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  17. What a wonderful post! I think it is so helpful to think about where we are from and what shapes us to help us realize that we carry so much history, experience, and love within!

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  18. Teachermum,
    You are so right! I hope that I have made as many wonderful memories for my children as my parents made for me!
    Thank you for stopping by!
    ~Erin

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  19. Jenn,
    Our history does carry us, doesn't us. Whether it's good or bad. And how we choose to live with those memories is how we will live. Thank you so much for visiting here!
    Blessings,
    ~Erin

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  20. I just LOVE this post! Really great job on yours. I love that you sprinkled in old family photos. The last line is perfection.

    I wrote one of these posts as well, check it out if you get a free moment. http://smileandmamawithme.blogspot.com/2011/09/mama-kats-writers-workshop-where-i-am.html

    I had such a fun time writing it and remembering. My mom cried when she read it, not because it was sad, just lots of good memories. :D

    Thanks!
    Mandi
    Smile and Mama With Me

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  21. Mandi,
    I'm so glad you enjoyed it! It is fun to go back and remember where we came from! I will go ck yours out right now!
    Hugs,
    ~Erin

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  22. All of these things that have made you who you are did a terrific job molding and shaping you. You're a wonderful woman, and I'm so glad to have you as my sister in Christ.

    Playful blessings,

    Amberr

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  23. Hi Erin -

    You're from love and paying it forward. Nicely done! Happy Monday Evening. :)

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  24. Erin, this was such a nice post. I really love learning more about you and the more I discover who you are, the more I just love you, my sister in Christ. :) This statement was what I could relate with the most:
    I am from "You can be whatever you want to be" and "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it at all." I always wondered what I was supposed to do with those negative feelings that we weren't supposed to express.

    Blessings,
    Rosann

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  25. What a neat idea. It is good to be grounded and know where you are from. My Mom had the whistle, still does, when we are a family gatherings and we need to get everyone's attention she always whistles and everyone stops what they are doing.

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  26. This was truly lovely. What a wonderful childhood you had and a great family. I enjoyed reading this so much and enjoyed the photos too!

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  27. Amberr,
    Thank you for that! I am blessed to have you in my life too. This is such a fun writing exercise to do!
    Love ya!
    ~Erin

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  28. Brian,
    I am from love! You are right! I hope I am paying forward. I strive for that every day. Thank you so much for stopping by!
    Hugs,
    ~Erin

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  29. Rosann,(sister)
    We do have a lot in common! Thank you for your kind words. That's funny that you could relate to those 2 statements. Our parents generation was so different from us in some ways and in other ways...not so much.
    xoxo,
    ~Erin

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  30. Cheryl,
    I am rooted and grounded in a great heritage. That must have been pretty funny to have your mom whistle like that. My dad didn't have a whistle. He just put 2 fingers in his mouth and blew! LOL
    Blessings,
    ~Erin

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  31. Becky,
    It was a really fun exercise! Thank you so much for stopping by!
    Blessings,
    ~Erin

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  32. Michael Ann,
    I'm so glad you enjoyed it. It was fun to go back through old photos. I had 100's to choose from but I didn't want to bore everyone with my reminiscing! Thank you for stopping by!
    Blessings,
    ~Erin

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  33. What a lovely tribute to your family and your upbringing. A post I'm sure you'll treasure forever.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much. It was a writing exercise that really made you think about where you come from! I loved doing it.
      ~Erin

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  34. WOW! I love all the places you are from and the lovely photos that goes with it. I like how it incorporates your family, your values, and what you enjoy-neat idea!

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    1. Heather Lynne, you should try the writing prompt. It's really fun and I put the link to it in the post!
      Thanks,
      ~Erin

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  35. What an absolutely beautiful post. It brought tears to my eyes, these wonderful images of your parents, grandparents, and whole family. What happy, loving memories you have!!! Blessings to you and yours :-)

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    1. Thanks so much, Jenn! I loved doing this writing exercise. I was truly blessed with a wonderful family and childhood. Having that foundation has gotten me through some tough spots in life!
      Blessings,
      ~Erin

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  36. Wonderful post.
    I love that you are a Steelers fan - also love the photo of you all hanging over the pool.
    This post made me smile :)
    leigh www.oneandoneequalstwinfun.com

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    Replies
    1. Leigh, I AM definitely from Steeler country!!! I had a great childhood and the Steelers were a part of it!
      Thanks for stopping by!
      ~Erin

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  37. Erin... that was absolutely beautiful! I love where you are from! ;) Blessings!

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    1. Thank you, Carla! I love where I'm from too! Thanks for stopping by!
      ~Erin

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Thank you for giving us a little nugget of truth from your heart!

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