So I have a BFF Sister. She is a strong and loyal person. She has had more than her share of heartache. No one should have to experience what she has experienced in her lifetime, but she continues to push forward and make the best of her life in a way that I hope I can come close to measuring up to one day.
To give you an brief understanding of what I mean by this I have to step back in time to October 1996.
She had two beautiful girls. Jessica, 8 and Jorden, 4 at the time. Jessica had the most beautiful red hair that just glowed in the sunlight with greens eyes and Jorden had the prettiest blond curly locks with the prettiest little plump lips. They were both such good girls. Jessica loved to sing (especially Celine Deon, "Because You Loved Me") and Jorden loved her Barney (oh, we so don't need to revisit that purple dinosaur). Anyway, Labor Day weekend of 1996 Jessica was diagnosed with brain cancer. It was a form that was rarely found in children so there was very little they knew about treatment for children and the only treatment at the time known was only approved for adults. She went through surgery and chemotherapy and trust me when I say this, that baby was the best trooper of anyone I've ever known especially for an 8 year old child. She has and always will be a huge inspiration for me to not only be a better and happier person, but to be grateful enough that through the worse circumstances I can always keep a smile on my face and say it's going to be okay.
So, during this 5 weeks of the most horrific time any mother and/or family can go through, my sister stayed strong. Fortunately for me she allowed me to be her rock and the Lord was so amazing during this time, because it just so happened that every time she would get bad news or any set back I was at least 2 hours away. Every time! The reason that is a good thing is because it allowed me to have at least 2 hours to cry and fall apart so I could be strong for her and help her through the next steps.
It wasn't bad enough that we were all going through this with her, but we had only been a couple of weeks out from our mom having a mastectomy and she was trying to recover from that. So as it turns out the Lord needed a red headed angel and Jessica was gracious enough to offer to fill that position for him. I have no doubt that she has been our children's guardian angel all these years and will be for years to come.
Jorden, only being 4 years old at the time, was a real trooper too and has turned into one of the most beautiful, smart, loving, caring, and loyal young lady. She is now 17 years old and graduating high school on June 12th and will turn 18 years old June 13th. She will attend college at UNC Charlotte. She has been the best student and has such a good head on her shoulders and we are all so very proud of her, but none as much as her mom. Paige has literally poured her entire life into this beautiful child and has basically lived her life for Jorden and the rest of her family, but I think more for Jorden.
I tell you all this because I know my sister is really struggling right now with her daughter graduating and leaving the nest and the one thing she has given most her focus to all these years is leaving home to start a new chapter in her life (as she should).
You might wonder why I chose this avenue to share my thoughts and my heart and that's easy. Sometimes no matter what sisters say to each other and how much we offer to do anything we can to help sometimes there is just nothing we can do to help another sister, but we sure want to. I do believe sometimes we tend to think, well, just pull yourself up, or it's just part of life so just enjoy it and things like that. Those may be true statements, but if you are the sister going through something like this it makes it hard to hear and thing it is helpful. I totally get that. I'm sure I've been guilty of telling her that she needs to enjoy this time and this is the next step in Jorden's life and you have planned for it for many years, but I also know as I am saying those words that it is truly easier to say than to live.
There are 5 of us sisters (Me, Dawn, Paige, Amanda, & Stacy) and we all love each other so much that at times (at least for me) it hurts. It's a good hurt, but hurts just the same. Trust me, this makes it sound like we are always warm and fuzzy with each other and anyone who has a sister knows this it totally not reality, but I can honestly say this for sure. We love each other and if any of us were in trouble or needed something we would be right there to do whatever we could to help.
It was just that way when Jessica got sick. Our youngest sister, Stacy (AKA Bratola) moved to NC to live with Paige so that she could help with Jessica and Paige could keep her job. There are numerous examples of that kind of "sister love" that I could give you examples of, but this is about Paige today. I know she will get through graduation, Jorden turning 18, and leaving for college and she will find a way to make this another great step in her life, but until she gets through this time and finds her "new normal" again she will feel a little loss and we sisters will rise to the occasion to make sure she gets through this and as she finds her "new normal" with Jorden moving on to the next wonderful stage in her life.
Paige always manages to fight her way through whatever situation is handed to her and she usually comes out on the other side even stronger (if that were even possible) and I have no doubt she will do the same now, but right now she isn't seeing that.
If you are a prayer warrior and reading this I would request that you put Paige on your prayer list to help her get through this next major part in her life with grace and peace. I keep telling her that this could be what she has been waiting for. She and her hubbers might just go "Crazy". LOL! This will be a wonderful next stage in her life. There is something to be said for "Empty Nesters". Tebo experienced that for almost 2 years and will experience it again in about 3 weeks and it's not so bad. It did take me some time to adjust to it as well and it will Paige, but once you adjust and enjoy it you realize you wish you could have done this first. Ha!
Anyway, I think I'm done. I just had this weighing heavy on my heart and wanted to share. I feel I need to find a way to honor Paige for all she has been through and right now this is the only way I know how to accomplish that. If you have any other ideas feel free to share. No, Paige, I can't send you to a tropical island so you can sip on Mia Ties all day.... :) I wish I could!
Love you BFF Sis! (We all do!) and we will be right there with you every step of the way (well, until you lock the front door with a do not disturb sign on it)... Now that was funny and you know it! LOL
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