John & Rosemary Murphy
Information
To honor my Mom and Dad.
Location: Camden, South Carolina
Members: 11
Latest Activity: Apr. 12, 2009
After comprehending what “Leaning” was all about, I thought about my family and how much my Parents; John and Rosemary Murphy, have meant - not just to me - but to everyone who has come in contact with them. My parents are truly LEANERS… They have been leaners in each community they have lived in, each job they have held, and even while bravely serving their country. My parents are two of the most honest, loyal, law abiding, faithful, hardworking people I know. They have weathered many storms together and have guided me and my four sisters thru stormy times as well. Like a lighthouse, my parents have been able to stand the test of time; their love shining through the darkness, guiding us and giving us the strength to keep moving forward. I would like to share some of my most remembered “Leaning Moments Stories” from my childhood with you:
Each Christmas morning my parents would line me and my sisters up from youngest to oldest, down the hall-way. Starting with my youngest sister, letting us one by one enter the living room where we would see if Santa came and left anything for us. I can remember listening to each of my younger sisters’ excitement. As I listened, I watched my parents’ smiles grow larger with each giggle they heard. Every Christmas meant so much to me!
The first time I went away to Girl Scout camp, after a few days I got so home sick. I went to the camp office and insisted on calling my Mom and Dad. As I cried my eyes out, I begged my Mom to pick me up and take me home. My Mom and Dad were able to calm me down and just encouraged me to hang in there and enjoy myself. They convinced me that they would be there to pick me up in just a few days. The next day came, and I knew they were right, I was so glad I stayed and enjoyed being with my friends. On the last day of camp they were there waiting on me as I walked up the hill with all my stuff. I was so happy to see them I started crying again, and as they hugged me I knew how much they had missed me, too.
During my preteen years my Dad encouraged us to play softball. My sister, Shannon, and I were on the same team. It was the sorriest team in the whole league. We had blue and white jerseys and our team was named “The Blue Bombers”. I think we lost every single game that first year. The second year came and I wanted to join a different team, but my Dad told me that the park’s rules didn’t allow you to pick a different team; we had to stay with the “Blue Bombers”. That year my Dad volunteered to be the assistant coach. He devised a plan to reward us when we made a superior defensive play or hit a home run. We would receive a star that would be sewn onto our blue and white ball caps which illustrated our accomplishments. That year we made a full come back and only lost a few games. My sister Shannon received a trophy for most valuable player and I was given a trophy for most improved player. We both made the all star team. I give my Dad credit for bringing our team together that year. He never put any pressure on me; instead he encouraged each one of us through positive encouragement and lots of practice. He helped every girl on that team regain there dignity and taught all of us how to work together to achieve our goal.
Our home was often surrounded with children from all around the neighborhood. Most summer nights when it was time for the Murphy Girls to go in for the night, the other kids in the neighborhood would also find there way back to their homes and the streets would quiet down until the next morning. As I got older and was able to make more friends outside of the neighborhood, my parents would allow us to have sleepovers. While I was in middle school, one of my classmates became my very best friend. She and I remained very close until our sophomore year in high school. Her mother relinquished custody of her and since her father was not in the picture, she was put into a children’s home downtown, which was part of another school district. I was very young and didn’t understand what led her mother to make such a hard decision, but I do remember my Dad taking me to visit her. Sometimes my Dad would even allow her to stay with us for a weekend visit. My Dad also bought her clothes and other things she needed. He treated her with love and respect. I remember how much she admired my Dad, and what a great father figure he was to her. I haven’t seen or heard from my friend since the late 1980’s. I know my father’s compassion must have made her feel loved at a very difficult time in her life.
One summer when I was fourteen years old my parents were faced with a challenging situation that involved my Grandma Rosalie. Her health was beginning to fail and they asked me to go down to Florida and stay with her and help out while my Uncle Raymond was at work. This was only supposed to be for the summer. I loved her so I was excited about spending time with her. Several weeks past and one day she wasn’t doing so well and she ended up in the emergency room. I was very upset and don’t remember every detail about that day, but I do remember calling my Mom from the hospital and her telling me she would be there as soon as she could. I also remember a priest coming into my grandma’s room and performing the last rites just in case she did pass away. I didn’t think she was going to make it, but when my Mom arrived I felt a complete calm come right over me. My Mother is a nurse and I didn’t realize how strong she was until I saw her in action. She took such good care of her mother. After Grandma recovered she left Florida and moved up to South Carolina to live with us. My father was so outnumbered; he was the only man in the house with seven women. My parents new what they had to do and they did it. They worked different schedules so one of them was always there for her. I know it had to be difficult at times, but they both seemed to find time for all of us and Grandma, too. Grandma lived another ten wonderful years.
I have many more stories about my parents that I want to share, so I will keep adding and updating this page…
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Comment by Angela on April 12, 2009 at 7:25am -
I have remembered so many things about my mother that makes me proud of her, but I haven't been able to come up with a full story. I have a few short stories about her when I was a child, but what is most important about my mom is that she inspires me to be a good person.
Ask anyone and they will tell you that Rosemary Murphy is the sweetest person you will ever meet. When I was little and still today, I look up to her and I am proud to say she is my mom.
When I was in first or second grade we had to dress up for career day. I can't remember if I wanted to dress up as a nurse or I just didn't know what I wanted to be (go figure.. I still don't). Anyway, I think my mom suggested dressing up as a nurse. So, she helped me dress in a long white jacket (I think), we hung a stethoscope around my neck and she sent me off to school. I didn't think much of it, but I received so much attention from all the teachers and even the newspaper at school. I even was one of the three selected to have my picture in the paper. Well, I am not sure but I think the combination of me dressing like a nurse and my dad chopping my hair off, made me look like my mom. All the teachers and staff at work started calling me "lil' Miss Rosemary", and I was never prouder to wear that name. I struted around in my nurse uniform and even days after because I was like my mom. (I still wasn't happy about my hair)
My mom later went on to make me even more proud of her by serving in the Army and in Desert Storm. While she was gone everyone always asked about her, and they were all just amazed at how brave she was. My teacher hung a big yellow bow out for her and another soldier in the class and a sign for the window that had Lt. Rosemary Murphy on it. I was so proud that my mom was being honored in that way. When she returned, my teacher asked if she would come talk to the class about some of her experiences over in Saudi. When my mom came to school I just gleamed with pride.
My mother is a very strong, beautiful, and respectable women. What I admire most about her out of all my childhood is her devotion to instil God and his principles into my life. I remember she would have to drag me to church most days, but I look back and I am glad she did. I believe that your power comes from God, and with out a working relationship you cannot succeed in life. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Phillipians (4:13) My definition of success and others' may not be the same. Success to me is not in this life but in the next! (That is not to say I believe it is right to be a bum.) So, I have to give some credit to my mother for dragging me to church and teaching me how important God is in your life. With out her I am not sure if I would have the same values I do today.
I am proud of my mother for so many reasons and if I am , or become half the women she is, then I will be proud.
I love you Mom with all of my heart, you will always be my hero!!!
Love Always,
Angie :)
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Comment by Angela on April 10, 2009 at 7:43am
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I am having a hard time remembering anything, but I do remember one thing from my childhood about Dad. When I was in grade school, Dad would take me to school before he went to work. On the way he almost always stopped at Dunkin' Donughts and bought me breakfast. I must have given him a hard time about getting out of the bed in the mornings because he started this competition with me. He made up a game for in the mornings when we were getting ready, whoever was dressed, clean, in the truck ready to go, would win the game. Well, we went on like this for awhile. One morning, I thought I would really get ahead of the game, so the night before I bathed and got dressed and slept in my school clothes. I thought, " This will show him, I will win tomorrow," so the next morning I jumped out of bed and ran to the kitchen to find my Dad standing there dressed and ready to go. I was so dissapointed. Later, in the car I asked him how he got ready so fast, he said, "I slept in my clothes". Now, I don't know if he was pulling my leg or what, but I got a good laugh out of it and I will never forget how he helped me get over my bad morning moods!!!
I will write later on something about Mom, she too is a wonderful women, I love them both with all my heart!
Love,
Angie ( formally known as Antangie!!)
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Comment by Shannon Ghrigsby on April 8, 2009 at 6:10pm
- Michele, you have a better memory than me. I do know that our parents did the best they could at raiseing us. They each worked very hard at their jobs and gave each of us the love and support that we needed. I do remember dad having us set goals for ourselves. Like the time we learned to swim , ride skate boards,skate and play softball. Each time we would meet a goal, I would feel proud of myself for accomplishing the goaI set for myself to do better. Dad would always know and he would make a big deal about it my telling you how proud he was of you. Mom would make your favorite meal for supper,and sometimes let you get in her secret stash of sweets. By, showing me about setting goals I was able to use that in school. Dad saw that and started paying 10$ for every A, and 5$ for every B. I did so good I did not have to baby sit so much. Accept ,for my sisters. I am extremely greatful for mom and dad showing me how to make goals ,to stay focus and to be determined and to remember I can do what ever I set my mine to do. I remember dad saying your a Murphy , and Murphy can do anything they set their mines to. Doing so good in school made it easier for me to go to college. I used those same setting of goals with my children . It has worked for two of them . We all just have to pray for John to come around. The one thing I will always remember was after I had my first child. He leaned down and whispered a secret. He said let your child know he is loved,by telling him and by hugging him as much as possible. And I still do. Thanks Mom and Dad you are the greatest parents and grandparents ever. I will love you with all of my heart forever.
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Comment by Bernice Stevens on February 13, 2009 at 9:06pm - Mr. and Mrs. Murphy, I enjoyed reading your leaner story and can now understand why Michelle is so special. I hope to get to meet you sometme
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Comment by Norm Schaffer on February 11, 2009 at 12:32pm -
Hey Michelle,
Your parents sound like pretty cool people. Great stories!
Norm Schaffer
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Comment by Marie (Murphy) Davis on February 8, 2009 at 6:37am
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Michelle, thanks for all the great memories. I have one for you. Mom use to work some kind of crazy shift, I think 3-11 pm. When she got home she would bake bread. When we woke the next morning we had a fresh loaf waiting for us. Bread and butter is like desert for me! Yumm! It was so good and as my husband would say, made with love! How did she find the time? I can still smell that fresh bread baking!
Love You!
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Comment by Christine Christiansen on February 7, 2009 at 12:03am
- Michele, thank you for creating this page for mom and dad. It's beautiful. I will try to get some stories together and add to the page. Love you!
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Comment by Corey Zink on January 28, 2009 at 7:11pm - Michele, great stories, great memories, great parents. It is no wonder that everyone loves you. As James says Leaners produce Leaners. I can't wait to meet them.
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