Deep Texas Roots in Wide Open Spaces!

Texas is my native state, and I love it: rolling hills, flat plains, open prairies and tropical coasts are home to me!

Howdy, y’all! I’m Melody G., and I was barn and raised rat cheer in Texas.

Now I’m sure you’re thinking that every day when I get up, I tie chaps over my blue jeans, put on my fringe vest and pull on my cowboy boots, and head out to the stalls for a mornin’ ride… but the truth is, though I do know some cowboys like this, they’re in Oklahoma, and that’s a different article. J I do love to ride the horse next door whenever I get the chance, but I ain’t never owned one—not yet, anyhow!

Let me paint you a picture of the real Texas that I know and love…

In my lifetime I have seen tumble weeds, cactus, roadrunners, coyotes, poisonous snakes, bobcats, foxes, horses, ranches, and a bunch of cowboys. Our family lives on a small farm, even if it isn’t exactly a real ranch. Our town population is about 1,000; our neighbors are about 500 yards away from us, if that tells you anything. Even though Texas is known as a place of wide open spaces, my father moved our family further out into the country when our old neighborhood was getting a little too crowded.

The weather here is described in one word—unpredictable. You never know what to expect from day to day! One day I’d be wearing a bathing suit and the next, a coat. For example, last year about August, it was in the 90°. I went out to the barn to tend to our goats when a cold front blew in. A 60° wind came blowing in around the barn doors in a matter of minutes! Personally, I am fond of unpredictable weather. The spontaneity and element of surprise is so thrilling when watching a big storm cloud roll in on a blazin’ hot day when you’d do anything to go swimming. God’s wonderful provision has literally ‘showered’ on us when out of no where the rain comes to water our thirsty vegetable garden!

Our family has been in Texas for quite a while. My great-grandfather, Walter Jay G., was born in San Antonio in 1894; he married Mary Bessie Stowe, who was also born in Texas in 1899. She is a distant cousin of the famous author Harriet Beecher Stowe.

John J. G., my grandfather, was born in San Antonio, where he and my Nana (who was from Iowa) met and married in 1952. There she gave birth to my father, John J. Jr., the following year. When Daddy was 6 months old, the family moved to Dallas, TX where my uncle and aunt were born in the next few years.

My mama was born in California, but her family moved here when she was very young. She too was raised in the suburbs, but when she and Daddy married in ’86, they both had a yearning for the country. Living in a “country” suburb eight children later, they thought about having more land. So, nearly five years ago, we really moved to the country—the part of Texas that is truly beautiful! We love the life we live now—a few goats, some chickens, a couple of rabbits, two dogs and plenty of cats! And all the adventures that go along with a chicken snake in the eggs, a cottonmouth underneath the pumpkin patch or the chicken-eatin’ bobcat that my brother shot with his new .22 Rifle! J

We Texans are proud of our state—which is practically still a nation in itself—a republic! We are down-to-earth, friendly and believe in parents’ God-given right to teach their children at home (that’s why Texas is the freest homeschoolin’ state in the UnionJ).

I hope y’all will come for a visit to our Lone Star State sometime! When you do, come look us up. You could feed some goats, go fishin’ in the crik, or hunt some bobcat with a .22 (if John will let you!).

Melody G. (19) lives in wide-open Texas with her family of nine and enjoys reading, writing, being with family, helping build the home addition, and playing in the family bluegrass band. She wishes to glorify the Lord through her writing. Feel free to contact her with constructive critique at melody@thefullquiver.com. She writes at Literary Maidens Publishing (girls’ novels): www.literarymaidens.webs.com