I want to let it be known that I have had a different life than most...I have grown up in a mixed family.  Very mixed.  My real mom got re-married to a great man, whom I consiter to be my dad.  Sadly I don't really keep in touch with my real father.  I am close to his parents and they have taught me so much about my herritage.  In the family that I grew up in, I was the youngest.  Tara was adopted, she is black.  There were Eric and Cari, Tom's real chidren. Last but far from least me, and I am a native american.  I don't want to get into it, but things were rough...to say the least.  We had lots of foster kids in and out for a while who taught me SO much.  Specially how lucky I was, God tends to do stuff like that to you.

I have been blessed with some great parents. My step dad have taken the roll as my dad. He has treated me the same as his other kids with the typical dad rolls such as coaching...oh lord did he ever coach me. I am lucky that my mom remarried such a strong person. He is one of my heros. There would be no other person I would be with if I were in need, he is strong, a paramedic, an awesome driver....and as if it will ever come in handy...he can dispose of hazerdous chemicals. I always feel safe with him. He has so much wisdom, and well...I love him. And now for my mom. If there were to be one thing I learned from her, it would be persiverance. If you stick with something long enough, and you want it bad enough...it will be yours. But that is not the only thing I learned from her. She has taught me to be myself, cause if you aren't true to yourself in the end...you are cheating everyone. My parents have always respected my ideas, and have treated me like an equal. Now I am seeing that not everyone does that. I thank them for treating me like an adult so I was able to become a stable one.


Cari, I know that you don't exactly like the things I believe. I am not going to apologize for them. they are part of me. Just as you are. You are always making me question the things I believe, because of you...my faith is stronger. I love you, and I always have your back.

I had the chance to spend some time with a family member from the past. My cousin April is the same age as I am. She lives on the reservation with all of our family. Things always seem to be chaotic up there. I was worried that things would be awkward between us, but they weren't...in fact it was nice to talk with her again. She is someone who has been in the midst of the storm, and had the presance of God to help her through.