Wow! This last season has been a challenging one and while I'm grateful for all the joy and lessons and growth, I'm needing to get back to writing again. So...I'm easing back in with a series of journal prompts to share some stories with my kids and future grandkids.
1. Where did you grow up?
I grew up in a small town in southern Oregon called Central Point. Mom and Dad moved from Iowa City the month before I was born, in 1979, and settled temporarily in Grants Pass, where Great-grandma Spitz lived. They settled in Central Point, first in a house and then an apartment on Glenn Way across from the elementary school. The apartment had a small yard with bark instead of grass and a small tree. We road bikes around town and loved playing at the school playground.
I attended Grace Christian school for kindergarten and first grade, where we met the Fischer family. Clare was the grade behind me and became a very dear friend. Clare has remained a close friend all these years. After first grade, I was homeschooled, which was both positive and negative, depending on the day.
I was very introverted and enjoyed solo library visits and small ballet classes. Dance became a big part of my life and continued to be so well into young adulthood. I was involved at our church in choir and participated in recording two albums of children's music with our director. I also enjoyed our youth Awana clubs.
When dad left during my 6th grade year, mom and the boys and I made plans to move to Iowa to be near family. The week after my 13th birthday, I went to youth camp (which was a really bad experience) and then we moved two weeks later. We lived with mom's parents in Iowa City for three years, during which time grandpa died. We moved to an apartment in Coralville as I graduated homeschool high school early and began classes at Kirkwood Community College. I moved out of that apartment when I got married in 1998.
I call myself an Oregonian, but in reality, I've lived in Iowa significantly longer. I miss the mountains and the ocean, but I have learned to love the fields and rivers of Iowa. ❤
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