The Strength Within Us All

I remember the stories, I’ve seen the pictures, I marveled at the women who the stories were about and admired the women who told the stories. All of them, blood of my blood, strong, enduring, persistent, and never giving up. 

During the unestablished and fearful times in my life, I’ve said, “If she could do it, if they could do it, then I can.” 

A grandmother who gave birth to 14, lost 7 and then her husband became a land-owner, worked the land, had several businesses and without a man in control. 

Darthula Adeline Denny Wade

Her daughter watched over by older brothers but encouraged her desire for education.  She left the Ozarks for a university in New York  that had just begun to accept women.  She forged ahead, a woman in a man’s world.  She was active in the suffrage movement.

Leila Alice Wade

Another grandmother widowed and then remarried in an abusive marriage. Divorced in 1914 or so and never looked back.  Ran her own business and was the most decisive woman (even after re-marrying) I’ve ever known.   

Dora Ellen Brown Wade Smith

My mother, gave birth to a child during the depression, worked picking tomatoes while dragging my brother on a blanket beside her and many other jobs she could find to help my dad out.  They lived in a car for quite a while.

My mom also traveled alone across the United States, following my dad who was in the Army.  Worked at jobs mostly held by men who were now in the war. The most memorable, driving live ammunition trucks on Army bases. She could back those big trucks right onto a dime. 

Geneva Vincent Wade

Ft Bragg North Carolina

Women not deterred by the expectations of men or the government. Simply strong, decisive, unstoppable women. 

Never forget the women of strength and courage, women who deserved to be their own person and not any part of their lives determined or controlled by any other human!   Look back into your heritage, the women of your blood. Those women had so much to overcome physically, emotionally and mentally to have the strength to pave the way for us.  Remember, we have progressed, let us keep progressing and honoring those brave women who won us the right to vote!  Ladies honor yourselves by voting!

Ladies in 1848 fighting for the right for women to  vote and for the emancipation of slaves

Here is a believe it or not!  Oklahoma gave women the right to vote 100 years ago today, November 5, 1918!   It wasn’t until 1920 that the constitution was amended for the right to vote for women!  

My Strong Women

I’ve listened to the stories of women.

Women of my heritage and blood,

Enduring and persevering,

Forging a path for generations

Not yet born.

Women always told, education is not for women,

But going where no women had been before.

Women owning their land, and making their living,

With men saying,

You’re a woman

You cannot,

We won’t allow it.

Women doing a “man’s job”,

While the men were fighting for OUR freedom.

Women of my blood.

Women of,

Endurance,

Courage,

Perseverance,

Women who, in their own way, fought for the

Rights of all of God’s creation.