Day 7

7. A picture of someone/something that has the biggest impact on you

I have a few people or things, that have had the biggest impact on me so here we go!

 Ok, this picture is twofold.

First, my parents.

They gave me life. That's huge!

But they almost aborted me because they thought they were too old to be having another child, that they was something wrong with me (some might agree with them here) because that's what the quack doctor was telling my mom. But the night before the appointment, they couldn't sleep. My mom said that she wasn't going to abort me. And for that, my dad could either stay or leave. He had tears in his eyes when he said that he would stay.

From that day forward, my mother received a yellow rose each day until I was born, from a "secret admirer". I don't think it's to hard to figure out who that was!

My parents taught me well. I have been blessed to be born to "old" parents. A lot of things that take others a while to learn at an older age, I was taught from a young age.

I had to grow up fast and help take care of my parents because of their poor health, but that's ok.

That just means, I put my time in as a kid, and now it's Duane's turn to take care of them.

LOL!

I kid.

Thanks Mom and Dad for keeping me, for teaching me and for guiding me into this adult that I am now.

Second from that picture, Shell.

He's the one with the beard.

If you don't know, my brother died of AIDS when I was 10 years old.

And yes, he was gay. But that's besides the point.

Because of his death, I started asking all the death questions I think most children ask when then experience a loss at such a young age.

Is there a heaven? Is there a God? Why are we here? Will I see Shell again?

All those and more.

That is when I learned that a long time ago, before I was born, my parents had joined this church. The Mormon church.

I had never known that I was suppose to be Mormon. That they had laid the foundation to the next biggest impact in my life.

I truly believe that I would have never joined the church if my brother had not of died.

Because of his death,

I sought out the church.

So the third impact in my life was when I was baptized a member of

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

I was 12. We had just moved to Sunnyside.

I had told my parents that I was going to join our church and go to it, and they could either come with or not. But I was going to do this with or without them and they couldn't stop me.

I was a little brat, huh?

So I did it. In one week I took, what we then called, the discussions (there were 7 or 8 of them at the time) and was baptized that Saturday. September 15, 1995 changed my life forever.

For the better.

I have not been perfect in my time as a member. I struggled to gain the testimony I needed to stay faithful in high school. Boys were all I cared about.

There were a lot of people, or people who I thought were my friends, that hurt me and I let them drive me away from the truth.

Only a few girls, stuck by me, and in my senior year, tried really hard to befriend me and encourage me to come back.

Amiee, you have no idea how much that meant to me. You, I think, were the only one who cared for my salvation and wanted me to come back. Thank you!

After I broke up with my boyfriend at the time, after graduation, I started praying. Like really praying. 

I read the Book of Mormon in a month! I repented, or started the process of doing so.

I went to church, to institute, I was active.

I made amends with those girls that hurt me.

I listened to my institute teaches, Brother and Sister Weaver, and let them help me build the testimony I had so longed for.

Which leads me to the last person that has had the biggest impact on my life.

This guy.

I went to Western Washington not looking for anything serious. 

I wanted to date around. I had boyfriends all through high school and that didn't turn out so well.

So I wanted to make friends, date and have fun.

This guy, had other plans.

I met Steve my first Sunday in Bellingham.

We were on the same team for Family Home Evening the next night.

He was smitten, I was not.

He stalked pursued me that week at all the activities and hung out with me. Until the next Sunday, where he asked me out on a date.

How was I to know that by the end of that week I would have found my eternal companion?

Our first phone conversation went something like this,

"I was a slut in high school. I'm still a virgin, but I need to repent and you need to know my past if you think that we are going to be a couple. I want you to know everything, so there is no shock of what I was later."

I was upfront with him.

I guess I didn't scare him off.

But he helped me through the repentance process and helped me gain a strong testimony and helped me learn and grow in the church. More than anyone else.

I married him by the end of my freshmen year in college.

Steve has helped make me into who I am today.

He has made me a wife.

He has made me a mommy.

He has helped me grow in ways I didn't know I could.

Steve has been there for me from the very beginning.

All these things and people have had the biggest impact in my life.

I wouldn't be here, where I'm suppose to be, if things had gone differently.

Looking back, I can see Heavenly Father's hand guiding me to where I'm suppose to be.

Even in my mistakes, He knew I was going to make them. But forgave me for my short comings and blessed me immensely for returning to Him.

I am so happy for everyone that has had a hand in my life. I can't list everyone. But my friends that have stuck with me, that have taught me so much about myself and life and everything, you all should be up here as well. I love you all so much and I am truly blessed to have had you in my life when I needed it the most.

can we say roller coaster in my thoughts and feelings on friends on this blog?

I had a wake up call last night when so many of my friends on FB let me know that even though we are out of touch and not close anymore, that they still care for me and love me. I really needed that. And just wanted to take a moment to say that I do have many wonderful friends in my life that continue to be there for me. Even though we have moved on and aren't close enough to be what I think a BFF should be, but maybe my definition of what a BFF is wrong. I love each and every one of my friends. You guys are amazing and I'm a lucky gal to have so many people in my life that actually do care of me! Know that I will ALWAYS be there for you!