by The Park Wife

This month’s theme is Women Who Inspire Us. As I sat down to write this, I thought, wow, this will be easy, and then as I stare at the blank page, I wonder how I could ever  convey the love, admiration, and thankfulness for the women God has put in my path to teach me, guide me, and love me unconditionally.

So, I will just give you a list and why, then I want to hear about the women that have inspired you.

FOUNDATION
My mother:  She molded me, sacrificed for me and is always there for me. She even kept a secret from me for 20 years that I found out recently which answered a lot of questions. It is the reason I am who I am today, the woman who God created me to be. Thankful.

FAITH
Lydia: When I moved to a new state park with a two-year-old and pregnant with our second, I received a call from Lydia. She had seen my husband in the paper announcing his new job and that we had a little boy. Her husband was a preacher at a local church and she said she just wanted to call and welcome us to town. We talked for about an hour about our lives. Before we hung up, Lydia said something to me that I can still hear in my head today. She said, “we would love for you guys to come visit the church, but even if you don’t, I would love to be your friend.”

I was a bit skeptical, yet excited. I am happy to say that she is exactly who her words and actions say she is. She does not live in a “Christian Bubble”, she truly lives her life trying to love others, all people,  as Jesus does.

GUIDANCE
Penny is an exceptional wife and mother, she homeschooled her three children and they are all exceptional human beings that love the Lord. I knew nothing about homeschooling, not that it even existed before Penny. Her insights guided me through some very turbulent waters. She provided me with child-rearing skills that have worked and not only am I a better mom because of her but my boys are well-adjusted, happy, loving children that are a pleasure to be around.

HOPE
Laura Hyche was my high school English teacher. She was the kind of teacher that inspired you to read a classic that you had no desire to read. She encouraged me to be on the newspaper staff and gave me the confidence to always try, even when I thought I was not good enough. Thank you Hyche, I am enough and I know that now, thank you for putting me on that path.

LOVE
We met Johnnie (aka Nana) and her husband when we lived on a mountain park and we both worked for an international development non-profit. She became my ” Arkansas mom” and our boys’ Nana. Her gentle, kind spirit permeates all things she does.

COMMUNITY
Yes, my Arkansas Women Bloggers gals. Four years ago, as I sat in rural Arkansas in a bit of a “desert”, I formed this little gathering place, a non-judgmental, encouraging place with the desire to help us be better women, wives, moms, friends, and of course, bloggers. I could not have imagined the beautiful souls that would become some of  my dearest in real life friends from this online world. If you have not stepped out of your comfort zone to be a part of this community, I urge you to try, you will be rewarded with the most honest, pure kind of friendships with some pretty cool ladies and some awesome bloggity goodness to boot!

Do you have women who have inspired you? Tell me about them!
The Park Wife