The Best of the Worst (30)

The year 1999 stand out as one of the best years and one of the worst years of my life. The year started out wonderful. I was the beloved little sister of two big brothers. I had just started school! I was a big girl even though I was only nine years old. My family was healthy and happy, healthy until March. That’s when we got the news my Mom was sick. She had live cancer. No worries though, my Mom was strong, and she could do anything, including grow wings a fly, or so I thought. In April I had a birthday party, and my Mom baked me an apple pie, my absolute favorite. Did I say a birthday party? I mean I had about five of them. All of our church members were throwing me parties, it was amazing! Several days later my Mom went to sleep while my brother Jered sang to her. She never woke up. Kody and I were at school and we were brought home soon. I couldn’t figure out why we were going home so early, and nobody would tell me why. The thought never crossed my mind that my Mommy wouldn’t be there to welcome me home. Several Aunts greeted me on the doorstep and then reality hit… Several months later my Dad started communicating with some ladies. We spent our first Thanksgiving without my Mommy at my grandparent’s house. Dad spent most of the time on the phone, while I spent most of the time with my cousin in our playhouse making delicious dishes out of marbles and plastic toys. Sometime around there Connie came into our lives, she came up to visit us for the first time. I thought it was quite odd that she was there, but the food improved dramatically so I didn’t think much of it. My first Christmas without my Mom we spent at Connie’s mom’s house. She was very sweet and decided that she was okay. That Sabbath afternoon we went for a family walk. My Dad told my brothers that he and Connie were engaged. Somehow I totally missed that one and was informed while listening in (as usual) to my brother’s conversation. I didn’t know what to think, and I was definitely not ready for more changes the next year would bring. Connie didn’t turn out to be the typical fairytale stepmother, and I thank the Lord for sending her into my life. I would have grown up a little barbarian if she hadn’t of come when