Today is a day where the federal government has asked us to set aside a day for a pivotal human being, Dr. Martin Luther King. Dr. King a significant person who opened our eyes to our own human and cultural ’blindness’. However, this blog is not about Dr. King but about remembering. Most individuals have moments in their personal history which are never forgotten or were pivotal moments which became life changing in their life. These moments may not be known or important to others, but is probably important to you and who you are today and will continue to become in the future.
There was a moment in my life that happened that set the course for who I am today. The interesting part is – is that I didn’t know it at the time. Why you ask? I was only 3 weeks from being 3 years old. However, I remember this moment very well. This moment was actually the 2nd memory I have of my life. This moment stands out because it was a day I almost died.
It was much like any other day in May of 1971. My Mom put me down for a nap, started dinner, and then went outside to help my Dad and my brother with getting the cows in the barn ready for milking. After I don’t know how long, I awoke to a house filled with clouds. I got out of bed looked in all of the rooms upstairs while the clouds continued to swirl above my head. I walked down the stairs and towards the back door to the mudroom. Looking at the door, I saw a big fire. I knew at that age, that probaly wasn’t a door I should go through even though it was the door we used every single day. I started to walk back through the kitchen, dining room, and reached the stairs at the back of the family room. I looked around and through the clouds (now we know was smoke), my dad came down the stairs picked me up and rushed me back to my room. We climbed out the window and got onto a ladder where my Dad gave me to my mom who was waiting with open arms at the bottom of the ladder. I remember my mom taking me to the mailbox where she sat just holding me in her arms. I don’t really remember what happened next, but over the years my parents filled in what they experienced on their end.
My parents looked out from the barn to see smoke coming out of the house. The fire department was called, but living on the last road in the county, you can only imagine that the fire department wasn’t going to show up in just a few minutes. My Dad ran to the corn crib, grab the tall extended ladder, and put it up to my bedroom window. My mom knowing she had just put me down for a nap was hoping I would still be there. As my Dad entered my room from the window, he paniced because I was not in my bed. He called and called and finally found me at the base of the stairs in the family room. Rushing, he was able to go back out the same way he entered, thus…saving my life.
Picture of house on fire.
Thanks to my grandmother’s quick thinking since my grandparents lived to the north of us, she grabbed her camera and took a quick picture after I was safe and sound. This is the picture the local newspaper ran about the house fire. After much time the fire department finally got there to put out the fired. They yelled at my dad for going in and saving my life. Quote:” Do you know 90% of all people who go back into a burning house never come back out?” My question is, what about the 10% who do? What about all the things in my life that were accomplished because my dad saved my life. The lives that I have impacted because I have been an educator. God’s hand was at work that day in knowing the future.
A Total Loss
(My bedroom was on this side of the house at the top of this picture on the 2nd floor.)
Rebuilding was very hard and took a very long time. The new house was rebuilt by the end of that summer, but as anyone who has been thr0ugh such a loss knows it is so much more that needs time to restore.
Many of you are asking, what does this have to do with sewing. Great timing with your question. Slowly, but surely the new house became a home. A few years later, my mom was able to finally afford to buy herself a new sewing maching after my dad worked hard on the farm to try to pay for all of the rebuilding. Each side of my family from generations back new how to sew and make quilts. (I now proudly own my paternal grandmothers first quilt she ever created). Sewing was central to the history of the women on both sides of my family.
Bernina 707
The sewing machine – a Bernina 707. This machine was the first machine I learned to start sewing on just a handful of years later. This machine now proudly sets in my new, yet still developing studio. I hope to be able to use this with young students who are interested in learning to sew. I hope they are able to feel the love that flows from the history that is wrapped up in “The Little Bernina That Could”.
Berninas continue to be a part of the history of our family. The next machine purchased was the original Bernina 830. While my mother has purchased many models since then, this model has become part of our family’s DNA. Each household in our family has at least 1 original Benina 830. One of these particular 830 machines has been used by 4 different generations. My maternal grandmother, my mother, my sister and me, and now my niece. Rather than starting something like a lemonade stand, my niece started her own sewing business last fall using this particular Bernina 830. She is fortunate to have such a cherrished piece of history to use. I hope it is around for many years to come.
As for me, the next 2 machines that will be moved into my studio are 2 original Bernina 830s. As I continue to grow my sewing studio, the history of where these machines came from and how I got to this point will never be far away.
While we are taking time off today. I would like to encourage you to remember….What does your history say about you and how you got to where you are today. Cherrish the good and the bad and remember to always perservere.
“…we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who was given to us.” Romans 5: 4-5 (NKJV)
