Earliest Memories (2-4)

Me at 2 or 3



I think my very earliest memory is of a ride at Disneyland that was very scary to
me. I now know it to be called Space Mountain. At 16 I rode on it again and it still was a bit scary but at 2 or 3 just the sound of it was so terrifying I wouldn’t even go in. Mom tells me that they (Mom and Dad) had to take turns going on the ride because I refused. I have a recollection of them stuffing little pieces of tissue paper in my ears because the screeching sounds were so frightening.

My second earliest memory was of the cake that mom made for me for my 3rd birthday. It had my name written in M&M’s and was decorated with this gel frosting. I remember being so excited to be able to take a bite of that cake. I knew that it was going to be so delicious because it looked so wonderful. I was so proud that my name was on that cake and it was made with me in mind.
One more very early memory is of Grandma Terry and her vitamin organizer. I loved vitamin E capsules. Whenever she opened the refrigerator I wanted one. (she must’ve kept them in the fridge.) I have a distinct feeling of anticipation of that cold vitamin E capsule straight from the refrigerator. (I still love them by the way)

During my early years we lived in Hawthorne, California. I have no memory of our house or much else during this time but I do have one memory that actually stems from Mom’s pregnancy with Josh. Of course my view is something entirely different. We were visiting her midwife, Tanya, and her daughter was there at the office with her new doll. This doll was amazing; she ate food, brushed her teeth, combed her own hair and came with all the accessories to do so. She also came with little packets that you could mix with water and it looked like baby food that, like I said, she could really eat! As a little 2-1/2 year old I experienced my first case of covetousness. I really, really wanted a doll like that!!

After this time we made our big move to Surprise Valley from Hawthorne. I don’t remember the details of the move or even the move itself but once we were settled into our lovely home on Cedar Pass Summerland, a lot of my memories are clear. I do remember our home, partly from photos and partly from my mind. It was spacious and bright. Josh and I had a play area that was so big (to me anyway) and had lots of shelves to put our toys on and even a chalk board Mom set up to draw on. I have a very vivid memory of playing there with my ‘little people’ and wooden blocks that I used to make houses and furniture for them. I also had a lovely pink trimmed cradle for my dolls, that I thought was so beautiful and perfect. And my special favorite was a stuffed Winnie the Pooh bear. I guess it makes sense that my distinct memories would be of toys since that’s what I was focused on at the time.

It was while we lived here that I remember getting a doll that helped make up for the fact that I never got the amazing, "do everything" doll I had seen in Hawthorne. (a Mother’s nightmare I’m sure, can you imagine all the "food" going in and getting stuck inside that doll?) This doll could drink a bottle and then when she wet her diaper she would get a diaper rash. When the diaper rash appeared you could wipe her with this special solution that made it all better. Plus she had her own little diaper and wiping cloth! I thought that she was really great.

Our time on Cedar Pass seems to me that it was idyllic and sweet. Mom took lots of walks with us on the forest roads. There was a pond nearby with frogs that we sometimes got to look at. Everything was so beautiful and peaceful. One time in the winter the VW bug broke down on our way home. Luckily we had made it off the main road and over the bridge but we had to walk the rest of the way home. We had just been to the store for groceries and Mom had bought ice cream. Since the snow was piled up everywhere (and her hands were freezing!) Mom put the ice cream in a snowdrift to get later when she came back with Dad to fix the car. It felt so exciting to think of that ice cream hiding in the snow like a buried treasure! The anticipation was even tastier than the ice cream, since I clearly remember that but who knows what flavor it was!

There were several neighbors in the area. Mom was always very friendly and eager to share her new-found love of Jesus and His power in her life. I remember one incident where a man who lived in the area had been in a bad skiing accident and had damaged his knee irreparably. She was visiting and asked if she could pray for it. When she put her hand on his knee and prayed he said it felt like hot Ben Gay had been poured into his knee. He was shocked and amazed. Later the doctors confirmed that his knee was completely healed! To me the power of God was never in question. I was always surprised if he didn’t do something amazing rather than the other way around!