My Sister, My Friend

This blog is about one of my most dearest friends...my sister.
This is a relationship that I cherish with all my heart and yet it is one that I never thought would be. Of course as children we were very close. We shared toys, a room, and clothes AND we fought over toys, our room, and clothes. ;-) When I was a teenager she used to tag along on my dates. I would "style" her as if she was my doll. And I genuinely loved her...she was my baby sister. But as I left the nest and flew off to California to start my new life with my husband...her life started to spiral out of control. Not long after settling into our 1st apartment I received a shocking phone call from my mother...my baby sister had not only got caught sneaking out of the house she went to a party and was discovered unconscious with alcohol poisoning. She had to have her stomach pumped and then was later sentenced with community service for underage drinking...I prayed she would get back on track after all of this. But sadly she did not. It was just the beginning of a life that went spiraling out of control with the outcome looking very bleak. I was worried, I was sad, and then I was mad. I reached out...and I begged...but yet she clinged to this life of pain. My heart broke for her. Our relationship came to an end after trying for the "last time" to help her. I was pregnant with Kambry and she moved in with us and was trying to attend college. But after only a few months the realization of her troubling issues soon came to light and I knew that "I" could not save her. She left and so did any hope of ever having my "sister" again. I feared that my next phone call I would receive about her would be about her funeral.
Not long after this I receive word that she is pregnant. And needless to say "anger" didn't even begin to describe what I was feeling. I struggled for so long to get pregnant and here this girl who could care less about herself let alone a baby gets pregnant?! And then God stepped in and changed everything. My mother who was the one trying to keep us all together got sick. And my sister pregnant and struggling to get her life together needed me...and my heart missed her so much and ached for all the pain she had been through and now to be pregnant and watching our mother die...I had to step in and help. God allowed me to open my heart back up and because of that I was able to hold her hand through her labor...it was just the two of us at the hospital and it just happen to be one of the most memorable times of my life. I was the 1st to hold my precious niece...how great is God to allow all of this to happen in a time of such grief. We continued to cling to each other over the next few months. As I stepped in to help her with her new little one and spending time taking Mom to the city for treatments. It was a sad time but we were able to pick each other up when it was getting too rough to bare...whether that be blasting the radio and singing in the car or just crying it out with each other.
But this moment was short lived. My mother got very ill and I think it was too much for others to handle...especially a young new mother trying to work and go to school to support her new baby all on her own...so I was left pretty much alone to care for my very sick mother (with the occasional help from family and a few friends) (let me add that I am grateful for this time I was able to renew a wonderful relationship with my mother and would not take away one minute painful or not of being with her)...at this point treatments were stopped and she was sent home to suffer and to eventually breathe her very last breath...with that came immense pain for all of us but sadly it completely swallowed a few of us. Our relationship became off again on again over the next few years. I was desperate to "help" her. And then "I" found HIM and realized that it wasn't help from me she was searching for it was all about HIM...she needed to find Him because He was the only one that could heal her heart...to save her!
And here we are...Christ is thriving in both of our hearts and we are thriving with each other. She is on a path of healing and she has grown into such a beautiful person. She still struggles with past issues but is able to recognize them and is continuing to reach out to her Father for guidance. He is the great provider, the amazing healer, and the giver of strength. For I am grateful for all He has given me...including a beautiful sister...and friend.