Where I'm From

I'm from the hands of God
and the serenity of his embrace
which strengthens me today

I'm from the love of my parents
who turned that love into a baby
that held my spirit within

I'm from the Baxter family
where faith and love are present
and has a never ending bond

I'm from where the green grass grows
the woods in my back yard
where the rich soil fills between my toes

I'm from my first steps as a toddler
to a teenager on her first date
and someday to walk down that isle

I'm from the great Tuscora Park,
feeding the ducks with my brother and grandpa,
and watching the fireworks of first town days

I'm from the days at church as a kid
not really knowing what the speakers say
but being more focused on coloring between the lines

I'm from the old days on the beach
spending a week with the entire VanNatter family
sharing memories and burning our backs

I'm from dancing in the front yard
as the lightning bugs come out and dance too
catching them and putting their magic on our bodies

I'm from sitting on my grandfathers lap on the porch
as he sings to me the old Groundhog Song
telling me how the Lord above created the butterflies we see

I'm from shared birthdays with my cousin
getting new presents and pretty cakes
the future changed us but we're still those little girls inside

I'm from those summer days on the farm
walking through the creek with a friend
picking ticks off each other and getting into trouble

I'm from the woods of the Appalachians
to the scorching deserts near the Rockies
both who act like homes to me

I'm from the halls of school
where friendships grow and memories fade
and learning how to live on my own

I'm from crossing that Fields Road in the dark
watching one dear pass on to the good lord above
but gaining the strength of heart to move on

I'm from walking down the street at night
being chased by men in that little white car
and hiding with a friend till her dad comes to the rescue

I'm from the party at an old friends
where getting into trouble was a way of fitting in
and, gladly, leaving, realizing I know better

I'm from the day waking up in the night
to my sister crying in the bathroom
about how she made a mistake and was given forgiveness

I'm from sleepovers and birthdays at friends'
showing them the side of me I didn't even know
capturing the moments with my Sony camera

I'm from the summer spent days in Ohio
learning my wonderful great-grandmother moved on
and having the first family reunion in years at her funeral

I'm from the day floating down the river
burning my skin and stealing a boys shirt
and having to walk two miles home. karma.

Where I am and where I will be in time
are all very important to my life and soul
because they are on the basis of where I'm from