My Sisters My Friends...

This morning I woke up in a unusual good mood. I first thought I must be dreaming cause this "sister" does not do mornings... But then a smile came across my face as I thought about my sisters ~ my friends...

     Growing up you never realize just how special sister's are, you don't take the time to really know each other, their thoughts, their dreams.  Through the years we have grown apart, grown up, grown together. I think each and everyone of my sisters and I can say that we have shared some wonderful memories and yet at the same time some terrible ones as well.  I know that I have regrets.  I know that at times I wish time would have stood still. As I walk this journey of my life I have realized what is important to me, and that is my sisters.  Their dreams, tears, smiles, heartache and laughs mean so very much to me.

     Although for years most of us have lived miles apart, in this family that means nothing... We are always there no matter what and that is a bond that can never be broken.

     I would like to start with Tami our "oldest" sister ( I know I know big trouble for that one).  Ok Tami may be the oldest but good lord she looks like the youngest (see how I made that right LOL). Tami or as we all like to call her "Grandmother" has always been the rock of the family, she is the "official" mediator for the entire family, when no one can find the anything good to feel, you turn to Tami for she is the most amazing sibling anyone could ever ask for.  Through our younger years, I would not have admitted this at all, for she oh so got me in trouble with daddy... Yep always ratting us out "for our own good" however at that moment I did not see it that way. Tami was our "mother hen" and when I say that I really mean it. We all had to ride to school with her (she always had the car ) and I will never forget those LONG morning drives to Collierville High School, if the speed limit was 35mph our sister drove 24mph.  If a bird hit the wind shield our sister ducked with her eyes closed... YES PEOPLE she was driving. So many things I could share with you about Tami, but the most important is that she has been my BFF Sister for many many years, she has always loved me unconditionally (and I wasn't always lovable), she has always stood in my corner, and she never fails to tell me I was right or I was wrong, she tells me what I need to hear and not what I want to hear and that isn't always easy to do with me either.    I love you Tami!!!!!!!!! "My sister My friend"


Tami and Paige

Now I would like to tell you about my sister Dawn.  Dawn is just below Tami in age (hehehehehehe).  She has lived her entire life in Memphis Tn.  Oh how I miss her. Dawn has always been career focused, she works way to many hours. We have a love for dogs that we share, so you can imagine when we talk there will always be talk of our sweet baby dogs. We have had our fair share of rocky roads but it never fails we find our way back to one another. Dawn and her husband bought the house were we shared so many memories growing up.  I believe my sister forgave me for wrecking her Volts Wagon, however not so sure she has ever forgiven me for wiping my red lipstick and boogers on her Volts Wagon seat. Yep I got busted and boy was she mad.  Dawn and I lived together in NC for several years and we had a blast we would dress up when scarfs were cool to wear around your waist and go out dancing.  Dawn's favorite move was bobbing her head to the music she would not even move her shoulders. We have shared countless hours on the phone trying to catch up with our busy life's. 

I love you Dawn, "My sister My Friend



           Paige and Dawn                                          
                                                             I would like to tell you about my sister Amanda. She lives the closest to me and although she and I live fairly close I barley get to spend time with her. She is a mother of twins and she is so very busy.  She is the master cook and a wonderful homemaker for those children. She and I grew up together and shared so many memories. I will never forget our mom and my "bonus" dad going out of town one year when we lived on Hwy 191. Amanda decided to have a wine cooler (ok ok I gave her the wine cooler) well we were having a great time until the next morning when low and behold we woke up to a cigarette burn in the coffee table that sat between our parents chairs in the living room. Yep what a mess we were in.  Me the bright one decided we would just turn the table around and make the burn be on Don's side (he was always making burn marks), well that was a great idea until we realized that it was one of those tables with the lamp attached and there was no way to turn the table around due to the dang cord... So we were busted. You probably know the rest of the story.  Amanda was my baby sister who followed in my foot steps she really put me high on a pedestal where I am sure I did not belong. I am so thankful to be blessed with this wonderful sister, she is the most forgiving, loving and caring person to me. She is always there through good and bad.                                      
                                                                                                   I love you Amanda, "My sister My friend" 


Amanda and Paige

                                                                                                          

Now on to Stacy (aka Brat-O-La, Facey) my baby sister. I really believe that Stacy did not realize she had legs and could walk until she was about 9yrs old (LOL) we carried her where ever she wanted to go.  She and I are very much alike in so many ways. We share a common love for horses and out doors. Stacy is not afraid to speak her mind, sometimes she and I have been accused of speaking before thinking (IKR go figure).  Stacy and I share a bond that I at one time let slip my mind. My baby sister packed up and moved from TN to NC to be with me, support me and help me when my daughter Jessica was diagnosed with cancer. Stacy left her friends, her boyfriend to live with me so that I may continue to try and work. She traveled with me to Duke University and sang and danced with the clown for Jessica. The night I lost my daughter it was Stacy who lie in the bed below us at the hospital, she was so strong for me as I held my daughter as she took her last breath. Never leaving my side, helping to notify our family staying close by my side just to let  me know that things were going to be OK.. I am not sure I ever really thanked my baby sister enough for all that she was to me and did for me. I thank you Stacy and I love you with all my heart.

I love you Facey "My sister My friend"



Paige and Stacy



My Sister's My Friends,

I love you all so very much!!!!

                                                                         

Where man sees but withered leaves, God sees sweet flowers growing.

     As I sit here today thinking of Easter Sunday, my heart is full of so many scrambled emotions.  For I am thankful my daughter will be home today and in my arms, I am thankful for my family and my friends.  I am
saddened by the loss of my Nephew and the loss of my Daughter. 

Father,
Now the sun is risen,

I thank Thee for Thy silent strength
Given me in my hour of despair--
When the darkness
Seemed to smother,
And the tears
I selfishly shed
For my own pain
And trivial troubles
Shut out the light,
And I rendered myself
Alone.

My heart is heavy and let me explain why... The loss that a mother feels on every holiday, every birthday, every day, is nothing compared to the "Firsts". The first holiday you feel without your child.  Although I know my sister Tami felt that first on Christmas this year, it is still her First Easter without her baby boy.  I can speak from the heart on this because I too walked in her foot steps. The only difference for me is that I had my sweet Jorden, so forgive me if I feel saddened for my sister as I go through this weekend.  I handled Christmas a little better because my sister was here with me, we didn't have to speak a word or make eye contact for me to know just what she was feeling, thinking and missing, but for some selfish reason I had her with me and that seemed to make it just a little more bearable.

 If I could take all these Firsts away from her and place them on myself once again "I WOULD" for I have been there and I would take that pain away from her to bring her son back.

As I hug my daughter the minute she walks through my front door I will be wishing that my daughter could also walk through her "Ammy's" front door and give her that same hug.  I know that my sister will be surrounded by our beautiful family, for she will get to see Lilly and Connor and have the honor of celebrating Lilly's birthday, as I know that will put a smile in her heart, the pain is only covered with a blanket for that moment.

As I sit in Church on Sunday morning, my God lay his hands on me and give me the words to say to her, the love to give to her and the strength we all need to think of only wonderful, funny, priceless memories of Chad.  May God touch my sister as she lays her head down and comfort her only in the way that God can do.

On Easter Sunday, I shall think of my beautiful Jorden sitting beside me, and thoughts of happiness will fill my soul for my beautiful daughter Jessica is not alone on this Easter this year, she has her Chadman by her side, I have no doubt that they will have their own amazing meal, and then the biggest Easter Egg hunt in the world.

We all know that our kids loved to hunt eggs, so as I celebrate Easter Sunday may God give me strength and the sight in my heart to see our babies hunting those eggs, laughing, and loving one another once again.

This may not be a great blog, but it is truly what I am feeling right now...

Chad and Jessica Easter 1991


I love you Jessica and I love you Chadman... Find that golden egg in heaven you sweet Angels!!!!
Mom/Aunt Paige






"We are Family" by All Stars - We Are Family Foundation

This song says so much.  I wanted to take a minute to tell the world what a wonderful family I have.  My mother and I are very close.  I have lived closer in miles to my mother and my wonderful Step Father than I have my Father and wonderful Step Mother... So of course my children grew up around them.  I could not have asked for a better Granny and Paw Paw they were and are amazing to my children. Jessica once wrote a letter in 3rd grade she wrote "The apple of my eye is my Paw Paw" that touched my heart and his.  We have so many memories that I will treasure for a life time. Then came Jorden, oh lord she was and is all about her Paw Paw and Granny and now even with Jorden in College, they never seem to amaze me.  They call her just to hear her voice, they make sure when she comes home to visit that she is loaded up with drinks, snacks and they always seem to slip her a little cash even if it is $10 or $20 they let her know that is just for her and whatever she wants to spend it on. I know that I joke a little about being the favorite, however I know in my heart they love each and everyone of us so much. Miles between families are hard, our lives are busy but that never stops the love this family has for one another.  I would like to mention that in 1996 when we found out that Jessica had cancer and had to go to Duke my mother was going through her own pain and sorrow, for she was just 2wks post op mastectomy, that is right 2wks, my mom was selfless, she did not hesitate to travel during that time to be right by my side... She was there she was my strength she is my world. I love you mom for sacrificing what you were dealing with to me right by my side.... Amazing Love...


                                                              

Granny and Paw Paw at UNCC

Then you have my wonderful father what a wonderful father we grew up with, again I have lived so far away from him for so many years it breaks my heart, but I can honestly tell you that when I hear his voice or I see him for a visit, we pick up right where we left off.  That is how my daddy rolls.  He never holds a grudge, his loves his kids more than life. Again "Amazing Love", that same year when Jessica was diagnosed, my father (aka Bo Bo) did not hesitate jumping in his car traveling from Memphis Tn to be by my side, he went back then returned quickly to travel to Duke to comfort me.  He made Jessica smile every time he opened his mouth, never letting her see him weak..... My wonderful Step mother "Barbara" she along with my Step father have never seemed like "Step" parents they love just as our mother and father love.  My kids always loved Barbara (aka Nana) she always made them smile, she loved to cook for them.  Her heart is huge and she showed that so many times. After having heart problems and we were so worried about her she did not hesitate for a second to drive from Disney, OK to be here for Jorden's special day, she made sure she was here to watch her baby graduate and turn 18...Once again "Amazing love"                                                                                                                                                          

                                                                                                

Nana helping Jorden with her graduation cap






Me and My daddy at Jorden's party





Now, I would like to take a moment to introduce you to the most wonderful mother and father -n-law a family could ask for.  When I met my husband almost 9 years ago God did not only bless me with a fantastic friend and husband he blessed me with the most perfect bonus parents I could have ever dreamed of. Kenneth and Gladys Banks.  Since day they invited me into their home and in their hearts. They love me and my precious daughter as if we were born into their family. I do not have the words to express what these two people mean to me or have done for me. Kenneth is the most precious man, I love him more and more each day. He never hesitates to take on any task that involves helping me or Rodney. He tends to my horses when I am a slacker. He never fails to make me smile and not for one minute does he stop making me feel  love like a father should. Gladys, I am not sure they make women like her anymore. What an amazing lady, I only have one complaint it is due to her fabulous cooking that I am now larger than life LOL...This lady never stops, she cares for this family like you could never imagine. Since the day I met Rodney T. Banks we have attended the Church that his grandfather and father help build to a mighty powerful church, after church service on Sunday's we head off to Gladys house where she has prepared us our lunch, and I am not talking about a sandwich people I am talking a 4 course meal (hence the larger than life), the only time we have not been to Gladys for lunch on Sunday in the past 8 years would be to attend a birthday or something special that was planned on that day. What a tradition she has brought to our family...



Gladys, Gracie and Jorden



                                                                                                       



Kenneth with my Sweet Husband



                      

Now you see where my handsome husband gets his great looks..... :)

I feel so blessed everyday I wake up to know that God has placed 3 wonderful mother's in my life along with 3 of the most wonderful father's a girl could dream of.

My family is larger than life stay tuned I have many more wonderful family members to tell you about. Get ready because they are amazing.  I am honored to be apart of such a loving, caring beautiful family. We laugh together, we cry together, we fight together but make no mistake

WE ARE ALL TOGETHER!!!!!!!!!

A daughter is a gift of love....



The love between a mother and her daughter is special. A mother takes her daughter under her wing and teaches her how to be a woman. In order to do this, you have to ask yourself what it means to be a woman of today. How do you balance care for others with your own quest for meaning and joy in life and how do you pass on these lessons to your daughter?

Me and My baby girl

I was blessed with an amazing daughter born June 13, 1992 her beautiful name is Jorden Nicole Holcombe.  She is the apple of my eye. I had two amazing baby girls for 4 1/2 years.  During that time these babies loved to play together, well until Jessica would have her friends over and fuss that Jorden was in her room too and she needed some friend time without her baby sister. I still have on cassette tape, Jessica, Jorden and Jess best friend Briana Worley singing their favorite song "Can you come out and play" then after that they recorded each of them telling what they would like for Christmas... That year Jorden wanted a Pocahontas Tent (yes she got it).  Jorden was very independent as a baby on up to her teenage years. She was and is very self-sufficient. She has always known what she wants and where she wants to go. I admire her for this. She loved her sister very much she wanted to go and do everything Jessica did and never really understood why she wasn't always allowed. I was so very lucky to have stayed home with her for the first year of her life, it was so very hard to leave her and go back to work.  I will never forget the first day of Kindergarten Jorden badly wanted to ride the big yellow school bus and mom well I wasn't to excited about that. She looked so dang cute, her little rain coat, hair all big and pretty, and had her elephant lunch box in her hand, so I let her but I followed the bus the entire way to school, parked where the buses parked (yea school didn't like that all to much) and jumped out of my car and ran over to the kids getting off the bus so that I could take my babies first bus ride picture, needless to say that was her last. hehehe sorry Jor Jor. 

Sure wish I had my photos scanned and not just in books, but I didn't really know how to do any of that until her middle school - college years. I have so very many baby pictures I would love to share. My BFF sister said the next time I get to visit with her, she will help me so maybe you will be able to see someday what a beautiful baby girl I had. 

Jorden weighed 10lbs 10oz and was 22in long, yepper I had a toddler, but I thank God everyday for that 10 pounder as some of you know she was born with an ovarian tumor.  Yes both of my babies had cancer. The took my baby girl by c-section and 3 days later we were off to Boman Grey in Winston Salem NC.  The people we met with were amazing, the McDonald House set us up so that we did not incur any more expense so we were able to just walk over to her everyday, when one of us wasn't sleeping on the floor in the waiting room. Due to Jorden's weight it was possible for the surgeon to remove the avocado size tumor from her left ovary and tube and her appendix. She came through the surgery just fine, and again why I thank my God is that this tumor was benign so after some check ups my baby girl was going to be just fine.

She progressed on to elementary schools oh so many wonderful memories. She hated mommy fixing her hair (well she hates it now looking back at old pictures, she sure didn't seem to mind at the time) but she hated how BIG I made her long beautiful blond hair... She says to me "Mom, Really you had to make my hair so big" oh how I loved that child. Jorden has some very special friends, friends that she has had since kindergarten. There are so many to mention I will focus on my sweet Kaleb Hines he has been in her homeroom since kindergarten  through 12th grade and now they are both at UNCC in Charlotte NC together and share some classes, to me that is just amazing. He is like my own child.  They can fight like brother and sister, and have each others back at any given time.

I am going to jump to high school where Jorden really came into her own person, from being a tom-boy all through middle school and never thinking I would ever see my baby girl out of a "hoodie" but we did and at that point I wasn't so sure I should have wished that (LOL). She attended A.C. Reynolds High School and she has played sports her entire life. Jorden played Basketball, Softball, Volleyball and Track throughout her high school years. She maintained wonderful grades, graduated with 3 honors and I could not be more proud of her. I want to cap a few pictures from the 4 years my baby became the sweetest little women I had ever met.  Freshman year the beginning of so many new things for Jorden, and one that is still by her side to this day is her very first boy friend Will Davenport.  This picture was taken at a church camp they both attended.

She really enjoyed her Sophomore year, she was so glad she was not a Freshman any longer, she was not the low man on the pole, she was oh so happy.



On her "16th" birthday I was fortunate enough to take my sweet baby girl to Cancun Mexico... It was the most amazing time spent together ~ I had decorated the room full of fun stuff, and I woke her up on the day of her birthday in our beautiful ocean side room with a "Fog Horn" yepper I did it was so fun. We swam with the dolphins, shopped, hung out at the pool and soaked up the sun.

Me and Jorden Cancun Mexico



Cancun Sweet 16

 This was the first time Jorden and I traveled alone, I enjoyed every single min with her Thanks to my wonderful husband who made this trip happen.

My sweet Jorden, Cancun Mexico "16"

Then came my babies Junior year of high school, Oh lord how grown she seemed. Still in her life is Will Davenport, more dances, driving, staying out later... Running track, going to prom, the year seemed to go by so quickly. She was an amazing young lady. Rodney and I enjoyed raising her so very much.  At this point she never gave gave us any trouble.. Oh yes the occasional smarty mouth but she was a great child, she made wonderful grades and had the best friends a mother could ask for. Her are a few pictures from her 11th grade year...                                                            
 She was amazing at Volleyball....... Loved to watch her play, so aggressive...  
                That baby girl loves her 'purple"...

As her momma, I did not want her to do hurdles during track.... But I did not win that fight, and I am really glad I didn't because she did great and she loved it

Junior year prom with Mr. Will.... She looked amazing.  Rodney and I got to go with her (and buy LOL) her beautiful prom dress... Just like our girl she wanted a non-traditional dress and she picked out a beautiful one... I was so very proud of them both...They came back to our house after prom with 4 of their couple friends, Rodney had built a fire pit that morning, and my sweet friend Dawn Greene and Rodney fixed them all breakfast. I got to sit around the fire and hear all the wonderful stories... It was amazing.

I always dreamed of her senior year, graduation, preparing for college, growing up. The dream seemed allot better once that day arrived, I felt like I was loosing my baby... She did a fantastic job on her Senior Project, still involved with Will Davenport, had so many dreams, met new friends ~ some I liked some I wasn't ready for. Parties, dances, staying out even later.... My baby was growing up right before our eyes. Rodney and I really enjoyed watching her mature into a beautiful young lady, we even enjoyed the alone time we seemed to have so much of, LOL...  Just a few pictures of my babies Senior year, her graduation, her "18" birthday.  What wonderful memories we will have a life time

You go girl with your RED boots....

She is my pride and joy!!!

Her senior prom shared memories with Will for another night of magic......

Enjoyed taking pictures in our back yard... She is growing up way to fast.......Will and Jorden took time out of their special night to go visit her Granny in the hospital, this was so very special and the hospital staff just loved her.

That baby girl loves her Granny and Paw Paw

Then comes my beautiful Jorden's graduation day, most of my family and friends made it to this very special day. The last time I would experience my baby graduating after all her hard work, turning "18" the very next day and preparing to leave home for college... Thank you to everyone who made this weekend so special.

Graduated with 3 honors

I know this one is blurry but I just loved her looking up at all of us and waving with both hands, YIPPIE goodbye high school.... She was so excited it made us all smile...

And then it was off to her party, my baby just

graduated and turning "18" .... I was happy, sad, scared, excited all balled up in one.  I wanted her party to go off with a bang, I wanted her to remember this time in her life as she traveled to make her new mark on life as special as I could make it... everything did not go just as I had dreamed it would, but for me and Jorden and Rodney it was the most amazing time in our life.  My sister's Amanda, Lisa made the party room just amazing, with the help of my sweet Jennifer and her dad, my sweet friend Nikki while while we were at the ceremony these wonderful people in my life made sure that room looked incredible when we all arrived, I will never be able to thank them enough.

This was the decorating and list making crew, minus sweet Jennifer, Gary, Jeff, and many others who made this day possible...

Yes that is Jorden with her Ammy.  Ammy is very very dear to Jorden and she made this weekend all about JORDEN...

This day was special because my sister Amanda, my wonderful mother-n-law, and Tebo made all the food... My mom and so many others supplied the party favors all in an effort to make this day so very very wonderful.



Paw Paw and Granny, Nana and Bo Bo made this a wonderful day........

My sweet Tebo worked his booty off all for  "Jorden"

My daddy knew I wanted him here more than anything, he traveled a very long way to be here to celebrate the ending and the beginning of a new life for his granddaugther............

My sweet Aunt Frances and momma danced the night away......... This was an amazing time in our life. I have truly been blessed with an amazing family. I have married into the most amazing family... I do not know what more I could ever ask for.... Thank you from the bottom of my heart!!!!