Be prepared for the longest, but most personal blog entry yet….
Meet my little sister Myca! You’ve seen her here many times, but I’m not sure if I’ve ever really shared that she was my sister, or how I am almost 29 years old and have such a young sister. People are always so confused or they ask if she is my daughter 🙂 Or they think I am REALLY young. So, today I’m going to do something that I don’t often do on here and share something a little more personal…my story. You know we all have a story, mine is just a little confusing 🙂
But first…I need to show my absolute favorite picture of Myca ever. This makes me so happy because it’s just her. She was laughing so hard that her little dimple showed and her crooked little smile showed. I love it. She makes me so happy when I’m around her and so sad when I leave. She is truly the funniest child I’ve ever met. I don’t know another kiddo her age that is so witty and quick and just plane hilarious. Another thing that makes me happy (side note) she actually has my crazy hair and my crazy eyes that change colors sometimes 🙂 AND she scrunches up her nose just like I do (well, and half of our family does :)).
Okay…so now to my story. Well, I guess the best place to start so this isn’t too confusing is from the beginning. My Mother had me at a very young age, so at the time, everyone thought the best decision would be for me to be with my Grandmother (who I was named after). There are mixed opinions and stories about this, but no matter what, this was the best decision. There were many times as a young child that I didn’t understand. I thought I was suppose to be with my Mom and other siblings (I also have a sister and two brothers who were raised by my Mother) in California. This is so embarrassing to admit, but my imaginary friends were this really cool family (Mom, Dad, and siblings) that traveled around and sang together. Okay…that’s hilarious, but my other dream was to be a rock star! So, it kind of all went together…right? This is all so sad considering I had the best Grandmother anyone could ask for. I called her Mommy because to me, she was my Mommy. Anyone can be a Mother, but it takes a special person to be a Mommy. And she was special. She taught me to be kind and forgiving and to love others and to have endless faith in God. Maybe the biggest thing she did for me, was give me this confidence in myself and what I was capable of. She believed I was meant to do GREAT things. She made me believe that I could make a difference. And she never questioned if I would go to college, even though the odds were against me. She always said God had big plans for me and I could be anyone I wanted to be. I also credit her for my creativity 🙂 She made ceramics. I remember sitting around with her and painting several Nativitiy sets for Christmas gifts…she made these from scratch. Every single figurine. lol. I wonder who got the one I painted.
She was the one there for me everyday to clean up my scratches (and I had plenty…I was a bit of a tomboy)…she was my Mommy. Then in, I believe, June of 1995, just before I turned 15, she passed away after a very hard life. In some ways I regret those last days. I was a teenager, worried about teenage things and I didn’t show her the love and appreciation she deserved. Sometimes I wonder if I had, if she would’ve held on longer and lived to be much much older. She was only in her 60’s.
Just when everything was falling apart…two amazing people stepped into my life. My uncle Mikie and his wife Erica. Mikie had been a constant Father figure through out my life. He would come visit often and take me to the little country store down the road, Holt’s Market. We would get a Snickers, Pepsi, ham sandwich on white bread, and a lottery ticket that he let me scratch off. Sssshhh…don’t tell, I was under age. Lots of my memories as a child seem so jumbled, but that I remember clearly. Since I can remember, Mikie and Mommy always said that if anything ever happened to her, he would take me in. And…so he did. He and Erica opened up their lives and made room for me. I can’t even begin to imagine how hard this must’ve been for them. Erica is only 10 years older than I am. So she was 25 taking in a 15 year old. She and Mikie had this new happy love and here I come rolling in. She didn’t know me well enough to know my ins and outs and why I thought the way I did. And this was a completely different life for me. I didn’t understand…well, anything. She taught me how to be a lady and how to care for myself and to take pride in myself and how to be independent and strong. She and Mikie both taught me that a B was not okay, when I was capable of making an A and they too never doubted how far I could go…even though common sense was never a strong suite of mine (at least in high school). While taking me in, they were dealing with a struggle of their own that I didn’t know about at the time…having a child together. They had many complications and many troubles. They tried for I believe 10 years and were never able to have a child together. They were given some hope, but tried for years after that and nothing. Finally, when I was off in college, I get a call from Erica saying “are you ready to be a big sister?” I can still remember that feeling. This was before Mikie’s daughter Keisha (who is now in college herself) had moved in and we had a chance to become sisters. I had siblings, but wasn’t raised with them and was never able to grow that sibling relationship. This was something I had always dreamed about. And the fact that Mikie and Erica have raised Myca as my sister, is just the most amazing gift.
So…our life today. I now have 2 sisters that I have grown so close to. Keisha and Myca are the best sisters. Even though it is completely confusing for anyone we bring into our lives, it is worth it and I wouldn’t change a thing. I am also lucky enough to have the sister and two brothers that were raised by my Mother. AND THE BEST NEWS Mikie and Erica had a huge surprise and are having another little girl!!!! Macy Grace (not sure how they’re spelling it) will be here no later than July!!!! We are so excited! I know my life and family is very confusing, but I love how everything turned out. I honestly wouldn’t change a thing. I am a very strong believer that everything happens for a reason and so far, my life is proof. I know that I would not be where I am today if everything didn’t happen exactly as it did. Although I’m not changing the world, I am very happy with my life and the woman I am growing to be.
Okay…and now for some more pictures 🙂
My second favorite from the day…
The next one cracks me up. Apparantly flaring your nose helps you jump higher!
Another one of my favorites…
And another one of my favorites….
And her “cheesy” smile…
And another one of my absolute favorites….
And since our sister Keisha wasn’t with us that day. Here’s a picture of her. Don’t worry, you’ll be seeing lots more of her 🙂 She is engaged and we have plans for lots and lots of pictures!!!!!!!!! I’m so proud of her. She is currently in Nursing school at University of Kentucky. She is turning into such a beautiful woman. So caring, so strong, and so happy 🙂
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