Recognizing Inspiring Women
Recently, Wind River invited all of you to share stories about the inspiring women in your lives -- women who’ve made a difference with their love, their sacrifice, their mentorship, their loyalty. The winner was awarded a set of chimes from the Wind River "Mom's Love" collection.
We were deeply moved by the overwhelming response! From every corner of the country, heartfelt stories poured in about Moms, grandmas, sisters, aunts, nieces, cousins, co-workers, friends -- each one a beautiful testament to the strength, compassion, resilience, and quiet heroism that women bring into our lives every day.
Below you can read just a few of these amazing stories, including an extraordinary one from our Giveaway winner:
Our Giveaway winner, Patricia from Washington, nominated her friend, Debbie:
My friend Debbie is a truly inspirational woman, words can't say enough to fully capture how much of an impact she has made on me and the people of our community. We live in a small impoverished rural community on a Native American reservation.
The first time I met Deb, she welcomed me with a warm smile and friendship. When her boys were young she worked as an at-home mom, raising her family in a beautiful craft log cabin that to my amazement she built herself by hand. Her husband was a horse logger and the family lived off the grid. She matter-of-factly explained to me that when they first married her husband had to work to bring in money and they needed a home to live in. So, he cut the logs and as she said, "I could pound a nail." So she built the house during the day while he worked to provide for the home.
Upon entering her home you will be greeted by delicious smells coming from her kitchen. She prepared her meals on a nickel-plated wood stove. If you're lucky you will get a slice of her amazing bread. In the evenings the family would be found reading by solar powered lights. She explained that they didn't have a TV and that they did have one years ago. But the boys didn't want to do their homework, so she got rid of the TV.
If you have to use the restroom while visiting her, be prepared to go outside. Because the privy is a well-kept cottage style outhouse at the end of a trail leading from the house. Her house is like a house straight out of a cottage living magazine, complete with laundry hanging on the clotheslines, whimsical gardens, antiques in just the right places all perfectly designed by Debbie.
When she wasn't building her house, designing outdoor rooms, building a fire to cook or preparing meals or any other of her many tasks, she was the mom that was involved in every committee and activity. She organized game and activity schedules, provided rides to practices or games, collected materials to hand sew sports bags for the teammates, raised funds to purchase food and drinks to feed kids whose family didn't have money for meals or money to send with their kids so no one would go hungry. She prepared and packed the meals. And never made anyone feel less or obligated.
As the chairperson of the school board she fought for the children in our small school to have the best, and maintained integrity and ethic on many other boards that she was a member of. She transported kids to countless games, drove herself to community events, performed her shopping and errands and delivered mail as the alternate rural mail delivery person in a Jeep Cherokee over 15 years old.
One day her Jeep broke down and she again told me in her matter-of-factly manner that she didn't have the money to take her Jeep to a shop or hire a mechanic. However she did have a Chilton and a wrench. So again she amazed me as she rebuilt her engine right in her yard all by herself. By the end of the week her Jeep was back to giving kids rides to games and attending board meetings. She drove the Jeep for over another 5 years.
When you visit her home, the first thing you will notice is her beautifully well planned and maintained cottage style garden. Every garden room looks whimsical yet perfectly planned and lush. Her garden secret is composting to create rich healthy soils.
One spring day I arrived for a visit to find her working on something in her yard. I asked her what she was working on. She explained to me that she always wanted a lawn area, so she cleared an area to plant potatoes in a giant open bottom planter that she built. She explained that she was going to green compost potatoes all summer by adding soil to her containers all summer and when it's time for harvest, she will cut the ties to spread the rich fertile soil to plant her lawn and will have 2 tons of potatoes. Her lawn is so rich and lush looking. I truly believe that Debbie can do anything she puts her mind to.
Another day I arrived to find her clearing another spot in her yard. I thought oh, she's creating another outdoor room. No, to my surprise when I asked her what she was building, she told me since her mother-in-law is now a widow, she comes to visit more often and longer. And it's not ideal for her to sleep in the kids' room for that length of time, so I am building a mother-in-law house. Within a week a tiny house was standing where this once vacant spot was.
I am constantly in awe of her. This is just a few highlights of the amazing things this marvelous woman has done.
Within the last year she was diagnosed with breast cancer. When I heard of her cancer diagnosis and went to visit her, she of course was gracious as always and told me that it wasn't anything to be worried about. She told me her plan to have her breasts removed and that would be that. However, that wasn't the end of it. The cancer has been very aggressive, yet she continues to greet everyone with her warm welcoming smile and friendly demeanor.
Years ago after her kids were grown she began working as an e-hire at the wildland fire center and has been working her way up to Lead Dispatch Supervisor. Even with her cancer she continues to take care of the firefighters.
She has always been an inspiration to me as she humbly creates and maintains her home and continues to give and serve her community without expecting anything in return except friendship. The world would be better with more people like Debbie in it. I know I am a better person by having her as my friend and seeing all that she does for others.
Jodie from Oregon nominated her sister, Deborah:
Deborah's contributions go beyond the classroom or therapeutic sessions. She has consistently gone the extra mile to ensure that underprivileged children feel a sense of belonging and confidence among their peers.
My sisters lifelong commitment to children with disabilities, and her efforts to bridge the gap for underprivileged youth, make her an exceptional candidate for this prestigious award. She stands as a true role model, transforming lives with every step she takes.
My sister, my hero!
Alejandra from Wisconsin nominated both of her great-grandmothers:
My great-grandmother (on my maternal grandfather side) was from Italy, she lived in San Vicenzo town and during WWII they had a Nazi camp as part of the "friendly occupation" from Germany in Italy, one day a soldier came (fully) and took her donkey, she chased the soldier, screamed "Rossina vieni qui" (Rossina come here) and the donkey came to a full stop and didn't move until my great-grandmother retrieved the leash from the soldier's hand, she walked away with the donkey and unharmed having stood up to a Nazi soldier during WWII.
I live to honor the legacy of strong, independent, empathetic women in my family,, today I am preparing to have an operation to repair an aneurysm and all I can think is of them and how they fiercely faced everything.
Shirley from West Virginia nominated her friend, Crystal:
My dearest friend, Crystal, has been a constant source of encouragement, laughter, sister-hood, and spiritual strength for 30 years. We are both the mothers of sons, and we met when our sons, very close in age, were in school, so we commiserated throughout the teen years, shared each others burdens throughout those early twenty-something years of their lives, and rejoiced when they found love and began their own families.
While my husband and I moved out of state, we continued to keep in touch over the last 25 years, visiting each other as we were able, but remaining in contact with long phone conversations and text messages, and we have delighted in growing older together (although she certainly doesn't appear to be aging)!
Crystal was recently diagnosed with a life-threatening disease, and our monthly phone calls have become weekly phone calls, as we joined together in a faith-based book study, connecting us at a deeper level than ever. Her unwavering faith, her steadfast commitment to encouraging me while she receives sometimes painful and uncomfortable treatments, as well as her beautiful, loving and caring character, has inspired me as I stand in awe of her strength and faith in the midst of her health struggles.
While she had to take a medical leave of absence from her employment at her local school system where she has worked for many years as an Educational Support Professional for Special Needs students, Crystal has continued to hold her students in her heart and is eager to return to work, hopefully by the end of April/May where she can share in their achievements for a successful academic year.
Thank you sincerely for your consideration for this wonderful woman who has helped so many students complete their high school education and go on to become independent and productive and honorable citizens in their communities.
Naomi from Pennsylvania nominated her mom, Darlene:
Biff from Louisiana nominated his wife, Nina:
Daphne from Tennessee nominated her sister, Diane:
