I am hoping to pay tribute to my wonderfully talented, beautiful, intelligent and loving wife, Lisa, in this writing. I am tremendously blessed in innumerable ways through her life intertwining with mine and I am so very thankful to my Lord and Savior for allowing she and I to be husband and wife, to be one flesh in Him. She is a remarkable lady of exquisite country charms and a down to earth personality that everyone loves. She also possesses all the power and elegance of a queen. She is the Queen of our home and the Queen of our Pure Water Hollow!
I've written about my personal "homesteading" experiences, or lack of them, previously. I have so much to learn! It seems that Lisa, on the other hand, was destined to be an ideal "homesteader" from her early days being brought up as a "hillbilly" in the mountains of southern Kentucky! I hope no one is offended by the term "hillbilly". I realize that the term has been used very derogatorily in many places and I truly do not mean any disrespect toward her family. Many mountain folk take a certain amount of pride in the term "hillbilly", even though it was originally meant as an insult. The term conjures up for me images of self-reliant people dependent upon the land where they live; folks having strong family and community values and who pick and grin (music) with friends and family; people who will not take any nonsense from any outsiders and will stand up for their rights and protect their homes. The term also brings with it pictures of poverty and superstitions and lack of education. Some "hillbillies" ran moonshine stills and were cutthroats but others were honest, hard working, God-fearing people.
It seems Lisa grew up with most of the stereotypes of the hillbilly all around her. Thankfully, however, none in her immediate family were moon shiners or complete cutthroats! Education was very important to her family, also, even though her father did not go to high school himself. Most of the eight siblings went to college and all of them became successful, affluent people in their fields and communities. This fact is most remarkable when you understand that theirs was a true "hillbilly" family in many ways.
The term "homesteading" today is used for the state of mind of being self-sufficient. To many, homesteading is kind of like a hobby, and it is a wonderful hobby! I guess we would fall into that category today; we want to live closer to nature but life has not yet forced it on us. For Lisa's family, the homesteading movement would have seemed very funny to them, because country living was a necessity for them, not a hobby. Lisa grew up skinning squirrels and rabbits and other game that her brothers would bring in and she was known as a good fisherman and a pretty good shot as well! She learned how to butcher and prepare chickens for the table and learned about many wild herbs and plants as well as the garden vegetables they would grow and preserve. She drew water from their well every day to drink and to keep them clean and helped her mom make clothes and quilts to keep them warm. Her dad played the guitar and perhaps some other instruments and Lisa learned, too. She and her brother and sister would sing on the front porch and in church. She did not have much as far as the world looks at things, but a "hillbilly" upbringing has its own advantages!
While Lisa was away at college, a silly "city boy" swept her off her feet. God was in the arrangements and we were talking about marriage just a month after we met. Even though she could maybe have been classified as a "hillbilly girl", she has always been very much a classy lady in my eyes. Lisa has all the charm and class of her country upbringings tucked down inside her royal persona as the “Queen of Pure Water Hollow”. Most importantly she is my Queen and I love her wholeheartedly!
5 comments
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Homestead Originals... on September 25, 2006 at 6:02 pm
You ARE Blessed!!
From Another Hillbilly (who takes pride in that term) named Lisa
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mc2rwe on September 25, 2006 at 6:10 pm
You are very blessed indeed to have your wife. I think she probably is very happy to claim you as her husband too.
Blessings
Kathy
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Suze on September 25, 2006 at 6:10 pm
What a wonderful tribute. Thank you so much for sharing it with us. Blessings!
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HSB Front Porch on September 26, 2006 at 11:02 pm
It's great to have you join us. What a precious tribute to your wife. May you alll be blessed.
~Nancy
Senior Editor
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Livin'theMontanaDream on September 26, 2006 at 11:42 pm
The description you gave of a "hillbilly" is exactly what comes to mind when hearing the word. I like it! Sounds like I would like your wife too Thanks for introducing her to us. I am enjoying your blog.
Darcy
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