First would be my mother. She has always been the ultimate supporter in my life. She was a single parent and had to work several jobs to make it and yet still she took her job as a parent serious and so she shared the load with my grandmother. My mom influenced my life as a child by being there for me through every stage of my life and making me feel like I could achieve anything that I put my mind to. She made me understand that even when the odds are against you can make it if you work hard to achieve what you want out of life. She encouraged me to keep pressing in life when I felt like giving up. She would make special times, so special with her love and her continued expressions of how proud of me she was. She always made me feel special by announcing to all her friends and our family my latest accomplishments and the special things she would do even after I was in college and out of the house, she would send cards in the mail to the dorm stating how proud and amazed she was by the woman that I had become. My mom continues to influence me in the very same way that I am an adult. She has her struggles but she just keeps on going and seeing her look at the bright side of things helps me to do the same thing in my life.
Second, would be my oldest sister, Kajsa! We are only 11 months apart in age and she is the oldest, so you could imagine the impact of her decisions on my decision. My sister has always been my best friend and my role model in life because of those decisions. As teens we partied and then when she was a junior in high school she gave her life to Christ and because she was all that she was to me, not long after, I did the same. This was the absolute best decision that I made in my life and it's due to the impact that her decision made in my life. She nurtured me by keeping me in , sort speak, in line with my goals and the way that I handled myself and my life. She is still a great influence in my life even now with the way that runs her family, as a wife and a mother as well as a minister. I've not yet gotten married or had children, but she's being s great example of what it should look like. Now only was my biggest sister a great support. So have all of my sisters.
We all come from the same house, but we are all so different! So each one of them adds to my life in a different way and I appreciate the variety! They all show their support for me in the calls and the their presence in my everyday life, whether it's a happy occasion or a not so happy occasion. They all influence me to be my best and my little sisters especially look up to me just I do my older sister. Knowing that they are watching me and even how I handle situations keeps me on track. It encourages me to try to be my best.
The last person that nurtured me and cared about me when I was a child was my grandmother. Sad to say that she passed away this past November. 

As I stated earlier, my mother was a single mom. My grandmother took responsibility to for us just as we were her own. She took care of us while mom was off working, helping with homework, making ends meet, and providing the love and care that grandmother provides. She truly went the extra mile. I can remember how she influenced us to take care of ourselves, she taught us how to have class and take pride in who we were. She taught me so much about life that I did not even realize she had taught me until now. So in that way, she is still influencing me! She made me feel special because no matter how many things and tasks she would be juggling, she would still make time for me and talk to me and share her wisdom. These times and talks are irreplaceable. One thing that I do remember my grandmother telling all of us which is the importance of being there for each other and loving and encouraging each other no matter where we are in life and we have all carried that out. I love my family and thank them for the support through the years.
I appreciate everyone that I have listed, these are just the people that played a part in my childhood. I appreciate all of the friends and instructors that I have meet over the years that have poured into me in the many different areas of my life, for it has truly shaped me into the person that I am today!





You have a beautiful family
ReplyDeleteThank you Latoya! So do you!
DeleteTasja,I am so sorry to hear about your Grandmother's passing. It sounds like she was a lovely person. I too feel very fortunate to have had my grandparents in my life when I was growing up, they taught me many life lessons. My paternal grandmother passed away when I was a child and my maternal grandparents passed away within 3 months of each other several years ago. I'm sure you miss your grandmother as much as I miss mine!
ReplyDeleteTasja,
ReplyDeleteI adore your pictures and think it was wonderful for you to include pictures of the people you hold near and dear to you. It seems like you have a great support system and my condolences go out to you on the passing of your grandmother. Grandparents hold such specials places in our hearts and they have so much wisdom to offer. I try to soak it all in and enjoy my time with them before God calls them home. My grandparents passed about 7 years ago, but I still can feel their love and support.