Today I am thankful for...#16

Pull out your tissues, or at least hand me one.

Today I am thankful for.... my sister Sherry. Where do I even begin? I guess I could start at Once upon a time when I was 15, but it goes back further than 15. Once upon a time when I was very little, maybe 4 or 5, I remember my big sister dragging me around with her. You see, my Mom wouldn't let her go anywhere unless she took me with her. I'm sure she hated it and I don't know how well behaved I was but she was just a young teenager. She took me and my brother trick or treating and I remember watching her with her friends. I remember her cooking our dinners and folding our laundry. She was the ultimate big sister. As I got a little older, I remember her getting me involved in track, South Hill Strider's! Again she couldn't do anything if I wasn't able to go along with her. Then I remember her moving to college when I was in the 5th grade. I stopped doing track and I don't recall my birthdays after that... things just weren't the same. My big sister always stuck up for me, she protected me and took care of me. In between the age of 11 and 15 I started to really get into trouble. Hanging out with the wrong crowd and learning what the older crowd was into. I had an older brother, but I didn't go everywhere with him the way I did with my sister. Plus I had two younger sisters come along, and I ended up being with them most of the time.

My relationship with my parents were not good. At the time I thought they were against me and I hated them. Now I know it was my heart that was rebellious and spoiled. But at the age of 15 I got into some trouble. A lot of trouble. School was a joke to me and my Boyfriend was all that mattered. To make a long story short, my parents needed to get me out of my environment. They didn't know what to do with me. My heart was so hardened and bitter, they had lost all control over me. I had no fear of what was going to happen to me. I remember my dad saying "do you want to go to jail or live with your sister"? I told him jail was fine. I DID NOT want to move in with my sister. Why you ask? Well she just got married and graduated from college. She just had a baby and I knew how tough my sister was and I knew that her standards and way of living was completely different from what I was use to. My dad said he was sending me to live with my sister (which was her idea by the way) and I told him I hated him....

So I moved. 6 weeks of my junior year left. I had to re-do the 11th grade. Every moment of my waking I was with my sister. It was hard for both of us. Especially the first year. I probably hurt her in every way. The only one I attached to was her little baby girl Hannah. After the first year, year and a half, I decided I needed to quit fighting God and quit hurting my family. I decided to change. That meant cutting all contact with any of my old friends, leaving my boyfriend, whom I was still dating behind my sisters back and just let go of my past and start new.

Sherry and I became extremely close. My grades were good, I played volleyball and basketball. I still spent all my time with Sherry, but I was okay with that. She taught me that I could have fun the right way. She taught me that there are more important things in life than living for yourself. She taught me what family is all about and not to give up on them. My sister is a fighter and I have seen her endure and overcome many hard aches. She is strong and sensitive. She is honest and loyal. Funny and Real. She is a hard worker. A woman that loves God and would do anything for her family and friends. She is generous and thoughtful. She is tender hearted and tough. She is an encourager. She is my mother's cow! LOL (which means hard working hahaha) She is the one that God used to help be what I am today or where I am today. IT is because of her that my life is changed and is good. She is a blessing to all those around her. Friends that have betrayed her end up missing her. She is funny and so much fun to be around. She is my hero, my mentor, my sister and my best friend. I love you Sherry! Happy Birthday.