About
everything that could be wrong with a family seemed to happen in 1975.
Maybe this is why we chose to drive back over the miles to spend a day
around Dad's old rock wall. These children had never seen the old home
place. Rodney and I on this fall day decided to make an excursion over the
Osage Hills in order for the children to experience "The Old Jones Place."
Leah on the far left and
her sister Kemy were my sister's children. Their parents were involved in
a divorce. Their mother was striving to support them as a single working
mother. Leah had a break on her leg as can be seen as she wears this cast.
Rodney Flood, my husband,
as usual, was always there for the children. With no great flourishes or
of asking no special thank you he simply easily and steadily directed the
children. These were inherited or learned traits from his family I am
sure. Most of that Flood family was involved in education as teachers.
They were gifted with an ability above the norm.
The different situation as
to our having a disabled child may have been thought of at the time as a
thing to protect well children from having to face. As it has turned out
these children whose mother, my loving sister, saw to it they took extra
patience with Rhonda have developed greater character. The circumstances
they themselves have had in their own lives they have been able to work
through. I believe the problem solving skills they developed as they
worked around Rhonda's disability helped give them the will and ability to
shoulder their own responsibilities.
Leah has three daughters,
the oldest of which is nineteen. Leah holds a position with ConocoPhillips
at Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Kemy's husband is an accountant, and they have
one son. My son, Mark, on the far right has three children. He is a
licensed electrician. Mark's wife Kathy is a working mother and is a
dedicated person.
With humility we are aware
life sometimes have sudden and harsh turns. However, we believe with love
all things can be met, and that of all, love is the greatest thing. |