Scent or Sound

What scent or sound immediately takes you back to childhood? Describe the feeling it evokes.

I don't know that I can describe the scent, but if I smell clothing that was woven in Guatemala it carries its own particular odor no matter how old the item is! It brings back good memories of wonderful days living in Guatemala. I watched women do their own weaving many times and I still admire their beautiful, colorful work!

Sounds, rain! It rained every day in Coban when we lived there. Rain brings back wonderful memories!

Getting To School

How far did you have to travel to attend elementary, junior high, and high school, and how did you get there?

1st - 3rd I had school on my back porch! Fourth grade was in Kansas City. I think some neighbors drove us to school. I remember experiencing my first hail in the Quanstrom's car.

I started 5th grade at a boarding school in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. I think it took my parents two days to travel from the village of Senahu to get to my school. I finished fifth grade at a school in San Antonio. My brother and I had to ride a city bus to get back and forth to school at Woodrow Wilson. We moved and went to Woodlawn elementary in San Antonio. We walked to school, but it was not real close. I took 7th and 8th grade by correspondence and my classroom was my bedroom! I came to the US lacking 60 days of 8th grade and they made me repeat it! I walked to that school in Lakeland, Fl. Probably a little more than a mile. That was for 9th grade as well. I took 10th grade at Galion High in Galion, Ohio. I walked there as well. It was not real close! I took 11th at Southeast High in Kansas City and I walked to school. It was rather close. My senior year I took the same year as my junior year at Westport Evening Adult High. It was far and my brother-in-law, Don Baker gave me rides to that school!

Valentine

Describe a memorable Valentine you received.

I don't recall doing anything for Valentine's Day until I was in school in the USA for fourth grade. I don't think I was that impressed with the whole idea because I did not think the cards really meant anything! As I think about this question I have decided that the most meaningful Valentine was to get flowers from my husband and my son at school. Two separate bouquets! They were both beautiful!

First Bible

Who gave you your first Bible and how old were you when you received it? How did it influence your life?

To be honest, I have no idea what my first Bible was like. I don't know if it was an English one or a Spanish one! During our family devotions we used different versions and compared how the different ones gave meaning to the scripture read that night. Because of that I have never really developed a favorite version. I still jump from one to another. It certainly makes it interesting to read a verse and wonder, "Hmm, I wonder how this verse is written in such and such a version." I get up and get another version. Sometimes I will have three or four versions out!

Becoming A Christian

When did you become a Christian? How did your life change?

I remember going to the altar to get saved....possibly I was 6. However, my reason for doing that certainly was not because I realized I needed to be forgiven for my sinful ways. My mother had not let me participate in a communion service because I did not have Jesus in my heart yet. I was determined that the next time they served communion I was going to get some!!!! It was the following year during Vacation Bible School that I discovered that I was a sinner(boy, was I!) and that I needed to confess that to God and receive His forgiveness! I was a "me first" kind of person. After having Christ in my life I started to see other people's needs. I was still immature in that knowledge, but God has continued to mold me and I believe I have become more Christ Like across the years...but I still have some growing to do!!!!!