The Women in Me

I am so grateful for all the women who have gone before me. I know that I am who I am today, because of who I come from. I feel blessed to know just a little bit about so many of the amazing women in my family. There are pieces of each of them in me.

Of course, I know the most about my mother, and my grandmothers, because I have known them personally. But I also know about the women who go even farther back in my family line. Because of that knowledge, I feel a deep sense of understanding of where I come from, who I come from, and I feel such a strong connection to these women in my life.

I love them so much!

I am grateful for the strength that I seem to have inside of me. I know it is because of the strength that links me back through the generations; the strength of the women who have walked treacherous paths, and endured the trials of life well, and with courage.

I gain courage from these women, as I learn more about them, and what they faced in their lifetime. I do not compare the severity of our times and trials, but I do marvel at the extremely harsh circumstances that so many of these women faced, and endured with such bravery. I hope to be worthy to sit amongst their great and noble company one day.

I know that in my darkest hours, I have had angels attend me, and some of them are those women from my own family, that are now on the other side of the veil. Of course they have a great interest in me and my well-being. I know that they are cheering me on, as I face the winds of life. I know that when my handcart sometimes seems too hard to pull, they reach out and lift me up in unseen, but very real, and powerful ways. Charles is not the only one concerned for our welfare. I have a long line of people on the other side who are pulling for us, and helping when they are allowed to.

These women each have a life and story of their own. For now, all I will share are pictures. There are so many more noble and brave women in my family, that I do not have pictures of. I adore and love all the women who have gone before me. I honor them, and express my deepest gratitude for all they have done to pave the way for me to follow.

These women are the reason I am me.


Sally Post (Calamity Jane) in the upper left, is my mom. Music has always run in the family.


Sara Cram Post (Nan)

Emily Isabella Rasband 1886-1967


Grandma Nadine Kippen Lindquist 1915-2009


Isabella M. Stevenson 1878-1968


Esther Almera Johnson (Mother holding child) 1860-1919


Anna Lovisa Ekman (Grandma on the far left) 1837-1922



Emily Allsworth 1880-1949



Lovisa Augusta Osterdahl 1865-1924




Ann Steele Murdoch 1829-1909



Jane Cadwallader Brown 1832-1908




Catherine Watson Kippen  1838-1912

Elizabeth Wylie 1827-1901


Mary Murray Murdoch (Wee Granny)  1782-1856