What is your fondest Childhood memory?
 

And......who had the most positive influence in your life and how?

Fondest Childhood memory would be the way I felt going to sleep in my Grandma's arms. Safe & Loved. To hear her heart beat, hear her voice. I would wake up in her bed later. I had to be real young, maybe 2 or 3, too young for any other vivid memories.
The person who was the greatest influence, besides Grandma, was a lady that I worked for in 1986. It was at a bank and her job was to balance the tellers at night. I was new and making a few mistakes, everyday it seemed & I was so close to giving up. She talked me through it and helped me hang in and learn the job. I'll never forget her. Her son is the guy that does the Motel 6 commercials. She's passed on & I would really like to write him and tell him what a difference his mom made in my life. I'll get the courage some day.
Thanks for this thread, it meant alot tonight. What about you?

Mine was seeing my dad come home everyday and jumping into his arms, he always smelled good like cologne and he always brought me a surprise like candy. And also coming home to my bird...he was my bestest friend!:) I miss those times..
I guess the person i looked up to was my brother cause he is older...but other than that i dunno. I didn't really look up to anyone in particular, i really had a lot of favorite celebrities, at that time I loved Mariah Carey! lol I guess she had a positive influence cause I always wanted to do good with my life and be somebody

My older sister was definetly the biggest influence. She is 17 years older than me and I was the apple of her eye. (me and my younger sister who is 2 years younger than me). Sissy took us everywhere with her. She even broke up with a boyfriend who complained that she always wanted to take us places! Once she got married we used to love sleeping over her house. She was the one who took me to get my ears pierced. I'm nearly 49 now and we are still very, very close.

My fondest memory is laying on my parents bed, with my head on my dad's arm. We were looking out the window at a Santa Claus that was attached to the top of the garage and just talking. Simple thing, but it's always stuck with me.

My childhood was messed up, but I will say that the woman who raised me - my Mama Mary, had the most profound influence on me & my life. She was this tiny little old lady (in her late 80s now), whose son was my Dad's best friend until he [her son] passed. Long story as to how I ended up living with her -- but it was an honest to God blessing. I learned about being poor & humble, living off of the land, the meaning of family, of our God & of just always doing the right thing & living your life to help others. She was (and is) THE most incredible person I have ever met. She's in a home now suffering from advanced dementia, and it's so sad to go home and see the shell of the woman I used to know. :( I think about her every single day & try so hard to live my life the way she taught me to. She was truly amazing.

great thread :thumbup:

my fondest childhood memory HAD to be being with my brothers. when i was younger, they were my best friends. we were INSEPERABLE untill they turned 15 and 14, and i was 8. we spent every waking moment together. i would even have little sleepovers in their room from time to time :p they practiced their ''wrestling moves'' on me when they were 9 and 8 and i was 2-3 :p they were obsessed with watching wrestling and they would COVER our family room in blankets and pillows and tought me their moves as if i would catch on and become some wrestling prodigy :rolleyes: and when i was a little older (7 or 8) and my friends were mad at me or didnt want to play, they always kept me occupied or spent time with me . when they were teenagers, they had their own real friends and had activities that occupied their time. we were still close, but not as close. now that im almost 14, and they're 19 and 21, we dont fight, but were not super close. it makes me sad to know that they've moved on to bigger and better things and dont need they're baby sister anymore. on the bright side, i know they wouldnt hesitate to jump in the moment i'm feeling down, or when i bring a boy to the house. god knows they still love they're baby sister :)

hmmm....my role model... a few people are my role models :

My mommy.
she always told me that i cant get anywhere in life if i'm not determined. i need to have a goal in mind, and a plan to get it. she always said that i can get whatever i want if i put my mind to it. the most important lesson she tought me was to never let anyone tell me what i can and cant do. i can achieve anything.

My daddy.
he was always the one pushing me to do better and try my hardest. i was very into basketball and baseball and softball as a younger child. he was the HEAD coach on every team i played on simply because he wanted to be with me every step of the way. always encouraging me to have a morning catch with him, or practicing layups in the afternoon, and offering to be the catcher as i pitch to him in the local park. the most important lesson he tought me was to never give up in anything i do.

My brothers, Matthew Joseph and Michael Ryan.
they were always there for me. being the best they could be, they silently hinted for me to do the same. i've learned so much from them, and i love them both unconditionally. they always told me that all work and no play isnt healthy. they also tought me how to gamble and play beer pong at a verrrrryyyyy young age. that one's not so good...but they made me feel special when i learned :p

sorry this is soooo long =/
i was crying as i was typing the whole thing :rolleyes:

As far as the fondest childhood memory thing goes, I couldn't even begin. There have been SO many.

I've been blessed to have a lot of very influential people in my life.

My parents - everyone tells me how awesome my parents are. They've been handed a lot of not-so-great things, but they never give up or point fingers or anything of that sort. They've been married for...I think almost 20 years now. They NEVER fight - they disagree, yeah, but they never fight and they seem to be just as much in love with each other as they were in their wedding pictures.

My Aunt Joan has also influenced me A LOT. She's almost like another Mom. She supports me with everything and I know that I can go to her with anything no matter what. I love her so much.

Same goes for my Aunt Sissy (the sister my mom (teri88) was talking about above me). My Grandma (who I love very, very much, and also really influenced me) died when I was 8. My Aunt Sis is in her 60s, and she's kind of like another Grandma.

My cousin Jennifer. All of my cousins are a lot older than me (in their 30s +) except for one, my cousin Shawn, who is a bit younger than me. Jen is like a big sister to me. Everytime I see her she has something positive to say. She is the SWEETEST person I've ever known. She's so funny. She's really inspiring and I love her sooo much.

My brother. He's a bit of an idiot sometimes, but he's still my big brother and I love him a lot.

Going outside of my family, there are a lot of incredible people in my church that I love like my own family. One person who comes to mind right away is Sister Kilpack. She is the most incredible person. I love her SO much.

and finally, my aunt Joan's best friends, Patti and Ellie. They're like family, even though I'm not related to them. But I've known them my whole life and they're SOOO funny. I don't get to see them as much as I'd like, but when I do I love every minute of it.


Sorry this was so long. I could go on forever. There are so many family friends that have inspired me a lot too. (I need to throw in another one - my kindergarden teacher (who is also a close friend of the family). I knew her before she was even my teacher. She's the one who taught my to read - that was all I ever wanted to learn when I was really young. She had the patience and taught me very well. and I STILL love reading.

ack! I forgot someone! My very best friend, Jessica. We've known each other foreverrr. Our birthdays are 2 weeks apart (she's older). I swear we were supposed to be sisters. We are exactly like sisters (including the arguing lol). OMG I love her so much there are no words.
and my other best friend Emily. She's also Jessica's other best friend. The 3 Amigos. :p Emily and I are a lot more alike than Jess and I are, but the 3 of us are such good friends. Its crazy. I'd do anything for either of them, and I know that they feel the same way.

Oh, boy. I hope y'all don't hate me for being kind of a buzz kill. BUT, probably my fondest childhood memory was that it was finally OVER.

Beyond that, the few good memories I have are mostly about animals...which kinda makes sense huh? :rolleyes:

Best Memory is.... Playing with the kids in the neighborhood. We had a small group of kids that stuck together. We had forts, played in the woods... put on shows, Had a beauty paget and a parade after ward.... We has tree climbing and sledding and Night games, sllep overs, and horse rides. You name it.

The people in my life that meant so much to me was my youth group leaders at church. They were like Mom's and Dad's to me. They taught me about God's love for me and their teachings has never left me. I loved these people with all my heart and I still see them now.