Sisters

I have two very wonderful, precious, awesome sisters--Sheila and Karen.  I am so thankful for my sisters, my friends.

Sheila and I are three years apart.  She is so talented musically.  Sheila has the most amazing voice, a true gift from God.  She graduated from Dallas Baptist University with a degree in education and a minor in voice.  She was a teacher in the Dallas Independent School District for 29 years.  She always taught in schools that had the "least fortunate students" in the district.  I believe that she was a tough teacher, but Sheila loved her students and just wanted them to succeed because she know how rough the road would be for them.  Several of her students have succeeded beyond words and have come back to thank Sheila for all she did for them.  How many teachers have this happen to them?  Very few I would think.  We had the honor of attending her retirement celebration several years ago.  Former co-workers and principals all gathered to shower Sheila with praise and thanks, which was so deserved.  She was a hard worker who spent many, many hours preparing for her students.  Students in Dallas are better because of her.

When Sheila retired she took on another very important position, one that pays only in hugs and kisses.  Sheila and her husband have four grandchildren and 2 step-grandchildren.  Sheila has taken on the responsibility of caring for three of these babies....a pretty tough job.  Their mother is a single mother and works various shifts and needs the help taking care of them.  Sheila and John have gone beyond basic grandparenting rules to be mentors, educators, care-takers, providers, and love beyond words for these children.  How fortunate they are to have grandparents like these two.  K and T have won first-place awards at the science fair many, many times because Nanna has taken the time to help them.  Nanna has read to them and K and T excel in reading.  

Sheila has many health problems, any one of which would be disabling.  She has, however, managed to continue caring for her babies.  There are numerous days when she really needs to stay in bed or just lounge around; however, she is there, ready and willing to care for those babies.  Pain is a constant companion for Sheila.  I worry about her daily.

It is just in the last six or so years that Sheila and I have been able to really get to know each other as adult women.  When we are together we have so much fun and laugh continually.  It is sad that we were not able to get to know each other this way earlier in our lives.  I have learned to love and appreciate her more and more.  She has become a most precious friend as well as sister.  I am very thankful for Sheila.  

My "baby" sister, Karen, is ten years younger than I am.  I can remember the day she was born. Sheila and I went door to door in our neighborhood to announce her arrival.  We were so proud of our new baby!!  From just a few days old until I moved away from home, Karen slept in my bed with me.  I was very protective of her.

Karen, like Sheila, is a school teacher.  She has been a speech therapist and now a reading specialist.  She plans to retire at the end of this school year.  We, all three of us, have so many plans.  I hope our husbands understand!!  A few years ago the three of us met our Aunt and Uncle in Seattle to go see another Uncle who lived in Aberdeen.  We stayed three days in Aberdeen and visited and had a wonderful time; but, then the three sisters went back to Seattle and had the time of our lives.  We laughed and ate and saw as many sites as we could in just a few days.  Memories, memories.  How special they are.

Karen and her husband, David, had a son, a true gift from God.  Joshua came into Karen's and David's lives one Thursday just before Mother's Day.  He was 2 years old when God sent him.  What a blessing he was.  He was a special young man who went home to be with the Lord when he was just 19 years old--a massive heart attack.  I saw my Karen and David hurt more than words can explain.  But, during that time what a witness they were to others.  I learned a lot about death during that time.  I learned that I am no longer afraid of it because earthly death is just the beginning of eternity!!!  Karen and David allowed so many--co-workers, neighbors, friends, family and total strangers--to be a part of this and were witnesses to everyone.  

Karen is a slim--unlike her two sisters--and very beautiful lady.  She wears elegant clothes (you should see her closets!!) and perfectly groomed.  She has always been this way.  I can remember the days when she would "set" her hair in cleaned out juice cans!!  I remember the times I tried to teach her to drive my stand shift Mustang!!  I remember her trying to get Sham, her Irish setter, to let her bathe him and he got away and ended up in the back seat of her car!  I remember the day she married David and was so happy!!  What wonderful memories of my little sister.  I am so thankful that I have been blessed with Karen in my life.

Thank you, Lord, for my sisters, my friends.  I pray that we only become closer and have many more adventures together.