Week 3 Assignment

Here are pictures of my Class Mates and some of my closest friends

 

 

                                 Here are some of my closest family members that inspired, cared and loved me through the good and bad times. Unfortunately, my great-grandmother, uncle and nanny are deceased. May their souls Rest In Peace.

What can I say about this little boy here? He was like my brother but he was only my cousin. If you saw him you had to believe I wasn't far behind him. He taught me how to ride my bike and play basketball. I would always enjoy our time together because I was his little and only cousin on this side of the family. I remember when I was five, he got into trouble because he took my Pac-Man game. From that moment on he was best friend. As an adult now, he encourages me to do my very best and not to give up. He is always there to listen and give advice if I am having a hard time.

 My great-grandmother was the best story teller. She would always tell us stories and gives us her Almond Joys if we just laid there and listened. I would say it was a treat for the both us. It was her quality time with us and we would get candy at bedtime. If you caught her on a good day she would let you play in her beautiful silky gray hair.

These two little girls has grown up to be the most inspiring women I know. We may have not gotten along when we were children. We would go skating, riding our bikes to the parks or even go to school functions together. We were always around each other. As a child I thought we were more like sisters than cousins. They always found away to make me feel special as a kid. I was so blessed to be able to call them my older cousins. As adults they continue to give their words of wisdom and encouragement. Yes, we have had our share of difference but I can truly admit these are my role models.

 My mother has an always and will be the apple of my eyes. I never understood growing up why she worked so hard for one child. It cost us alot of time. she did her very best as a single mother. I appreciate all that she has done for me. She has a warm and calming spirit. Her smile brightens up any cloudy day.
She always would tell me, "I prayed for a daughter and how much she loves me." She is the strongest woman in the world. Even though she wasn't around much because she worked and provided for us.

This brave and loyal man was called UNCLE. Even though, he was really my great uncle but the title uncle was just fine for him. He was a soldier in World War 2 and he retired from the United States Postal Service after 35 years due to an illness. For him family, being a well round indivial and well educated was his main focus for us. My world stopped in 2006 when he died. Just two months before I graduated from college.
I can still remember clearly living with him during my early childhood and teenage years. Because education was so important to him, I remember waking up to the smell of home made pancakes in the morning before school. Everything was already prepared for me for school. He was yell, "Geraldine get up and get ready for school so you can be on time." Everything was done at his house in a timely and orderly fashion.
Since family was so important he encouraged my cousins and I to get along. We would also have to play together. If one couldn't do, no of us could. And it made as better. He used to say "cousins were your first friends so you had to learn how to play and get along with them before you became friends with other people." I don't think my cousins agreed but they wasn't never going to tell him no different. It wasn't until I was old enough to understand why he used to say "A family that prays together stays together."

It has been almost seven years since he died and I miss him so very much. The times that we shared together are special to me because no matter what he made sure that I was happy. He would go without to make sure I was happy. As you can see I was smiling on this picture because I was always with him. I was his shadow. I remember that cold Tuesday when he died. He smiled and said,  "Geraldine if you try your very best at whatever your heart desires and you fail try again. Don't be a failure and don't lose to the game of life!" And that day was the last day I saw the most beautiful smile in the world take a deep and long breathe and died.


Nanny
This woman was truly an amazing person. The love she had for her Creator was pure and it never changed. I remember sleeping over there on the weekend and attending Church on Sunday was mandatory. After church we would visit the sick and shut in that were mentioned in service that day. She would prepare their meals and tidy their homes. As a teenager I felt that was cruel and unusal punishment. But at 31 years old I realize she was passing down wisdom. It has opened my eyes over the last five years and now I appreciate it. Some of my daily prayers are ones that she taught me to pray. She would always say, "Prayer changes things so continue to be thankful through the storms. Her worlds of encouragement has helped me face the battles in my everyday life with victory. Some nights before I go to sleep I can still hear singing Victory is yours.