PERSONAL CHILDHOOD WEB:

 

My Mom: She is the glue that holds our family together. No matter what her family comes first. She has been my rock during hard times and through her strength I have been able to succeed even when I thought I wouldn’t. She loves me with a fierce passion and had a determination to raise me to be the best I could be! She was there when my dad and I couldn’t even be in the same room after my TBI. She was the buffer on both ends. She selflessly gave of herself to keep our family together during some of our darkest times, and because our beacon of light and hope. Today my mom is my best friend and confident. Below is a picture of my Mom (Cathy) and I.

 

My Dad: My dad was my best friend growing up. We did everything together, even if it was just jumping into the care a driving around the block to the post office. Those were our adventures. We took as many as could. We were like Mutt and Jeff, never apart. Our relationship got strained when I had my TBI, because my dad had a hard time coming to terms that I could possibly not be his little girl anymore. He felt that he was a fault that he couldn’t get to me in time, and that stress caused a fracture to form. Over time it has healed and we are again just as close as ever. The picture below is a picture of my dad walking me down the isle on my wedding day. It was a moment that we never thought would happen as my dad is very ill, and the doctors said he wouldn't make it. He is still here, today and doing well, but this was a very special moment in both our lives for more reasons than just the obvious.

My PopPop: (Maternal Grandpa): He was a quiet man, who would sit back and just watch his family together. When he did say something it was full of meaning and love. He used to take me to his workshop where he taught me about life and nature. He was a gardener and putterer. We would light a fire in his wood stove, and just make creations for his garden; bird houses, butterfly houses and even bat houses. I got to use my artistic talents (what little I had) and would paint them once they were made while he was doing real work. He loved all of his grandchildren, but I know as his first granddaughter I had a very special little nook in his heart as he will always have in mine. The picture below is one of my grandpa (the silver fox) in one of his proudest moments surrounded by his grandchildren. I am the on hugging onto his left arm :-) I miss him every day!

My sister (best friend): I was born any only child, but my next door neighbor and I have been best friends since I was 3 and she was 2.5 years old. We had so many childhood memories as we spend nearly every day together. When we got older, we didn’t fall into the same groups of friends, but once breaks and summers came around it was like we were never apart, and we picked up right where we left off. She is the only person who could tell me like it is and put me in my place and visa-versa. She was the sister that I never had, and we even fought like sisters. She taught me that I do have someone in my life can really depend on outside my family. Even though we are miles apart today we just a heartbeat away.      Below is a picture of Megan and I.

 

 

Aunt Rie: (My mother’s sister) When I was younger my aunt didn’t have any children. I would go over for sleep over’s, and we would get up late at night to feed her sweet tooth. We would have a snack of tea and cookies or hot chocolate. I was her first niece and she spoiled me to the moon and back, mostly with her attention, but she also loved to get me things. Once she had children of her own, she would still make time to spend with just me. Then I got older and went away to college. My Aunt Rie actually worked at the school I went to and we had weekly lunch dates, where we would go out and talk about everything under the sun. She has supported and loved me throughout my whole life with no acceptations. Below is a picture of my Aunt Rie and I.