My Roots…
We call my dad, “Diesel” or “Deez” for short, because he is the gas that keeps us going. He comes from a family of Christian athletes. His family is all about God and sports. He is old enough that I am not allowed to say his age, but young enough to still shoot even par on a great day. Seventeen years ago, God asked him to step out in faith and establish a church whose pastor practices what he preaches. The Deez has faced more difficult decisions in seventeen years as the pastor at Milestones Church then most men do in a lifetime. Somehow, God has stayed first in his life. God continues to bless both him and the church. The only worldly addiction that I am aware he struggles with is being obsessed with every sport at The University of South Carolina. So like I said, he’s a really good guy. He admits when he’s wrong and does not boast when he is right. He may not always be in the right, but he wants to be. If I had to think of one word to sum up the life of Diesel, it would be Integrity.
I personally call my mom, “Sweet Thing.” She’s seven years younger than the Deez (weird). My mom is my biggest fan. From every broken bone, hurtful word, suspension in school, sports games, break up and mess up, my mom was there to love me through. “Yes you can…,” she would always say. We have a weird heart connection. No matter where we are in life, we always know when we need to pause and pray for each other. Often times, this follows with a phone call that is always in perfect timing. She comes from a family tree of strong leaders. She is the Women’s Minister at Milestones Church where she teaches Women’s Bible studies. Most of the curriculum she uses the Spirit has given her the copyright on. By that I mean, God has published five books now with her name as the author. She is also extremely gifted when it comes to music. She has a C.D. titled, “Audience of One” that’s pretty awesome if you’re into Christian music. She makes the most beautiful music on the piano and with her voice; well, it’s a gift from God! If I had to sum up one word for my mom it would be Kindhearted.
My brother Hub III is 16 months older than I am. We were very close growing up and did everything together. He graduated from a small private school. Going into 9th grade, the Hubby and I started growing apart. After leaving the private school and getting to public school is when I started straying away from Christ. Hub tried correcting me in the early stages. After he realized how hard my heart had become, he gave me distance to figure it all out. To this day, we still do not know who is better at basketball. I believe I am and he still says that he is. The problem is every 1-on-1 we have ever played ended in a fight. What’s worse for me was I never won the fight either. He’s an older brother so he enjoyed humoring me when we were kids. One of my first memories as a kid was my brother spitting on me from the top bunk and then going to sleep. One spit ball is not that big of a deal. However, I would try to spit back at him not knowing he was asleep. It wasn’t until after a year of receiving my own spit back in my face that I realized the hubby was actually a pretty smart guy. He’s a mirror image of my dad. He also graduated from The University of South Carolina and now works at WACH FOX in Columbia, SC. He just recently got engaged to the lovely Anni McNulty, who we are all excited about adopting into this messed up family. I keep telling him not to wait on me to get back to get married. I just know if I met someone like Anni, I wouldn’t be waiting on him for a whole year. Since my sobriety, God has started to rebuild our relationship that he is still learning was so damaged by my sin. He’s a generally nice guy and I respect a lot about him. One word to sum up the Hubby would be Successful.
My sister Bec is the “FAR above average” 18-year old. I have to say first, that she is Beautiful. There’s “hot” and “pretty” and there’s “cute” and “good-looking.” Bec is Beautiful. Sorry guys, she has an awesome boyfriend named Connor Mason that I like a lot, so look but don’t touch. I didn’t always treat Bec well growing up. I remember saying things to Bec that I didn’t even know what they meant, but she did. There was no excuse for this behavior, but somehow Bec would always find a way to turn all that hurt over to God at a young age. She just graduated from Spartanburg High School and is going to be attending North Greenville University on full scholarship (She’s really smart). For those of you who do not know about this school it is “where Christ makes the difference.” Like the rest of us in this family, she too was born to lead. Bec was the captain on her lacrosse and volleyball teams in high school. Parents of preschoolers seem to have a waiting list they keep to try and book her to babysit their kids. She struggles with pride like the rest of us but I have seen God use her in BIG ways. She is very involved in EVERYTHING she does, school, home and church. Kids love Bec. Sometimes I think Bec wrestles with coming back to the reality of an 18-year old after playing with kids for so long. It’s in these times that Bec and I get along the best, when we both have the attitudes of kids (an openness to truth) and hearts of children (loving love). If I had to sum up one word for Bec it would be Secure.
Bre is the baby. However, she is anything but a baby now. She is 16 and gorgeous. Bre is the full package but doesn’t fully know it yet. She is hilarious, athletic (when she wants to be), sings, dances, acts, has a dog named, Rudy, and a room full of zebra patterns on everything. Breezway is often times shadowed out by the older siblings “stories of success.” I know she feels this sometimes when people talk about us (I felt it just being behind Hubby, I can’t imagine all of us). Hubby set the bar really high for the rest of us to follow after being pretty close to perfect growing up. I danced my dance enough for her to learn about grace but I also sang my song loud enough to show her how to learn from it, instead of living in it. Bec kind of raised the bar a little higher after her annual awards and recent recipient of a full ride to college. But Bre is starting to realize that she is not us. And that God just might be calling her in a different direction (in a better direction). It’s so exciting watching her life. Out of three years in youth ministry I have only seen one other youth who came close to as much spiritual potential to further the Kingdom on earth than Bre. She has a voice that can change a Nation. She is starting to realize this and it is exciting to see her use it for Christ. Bre and I also have a weird heart connection that has just developed over the past two years. If I had to use one word to sum up Bre it would be Influence.
Bre,
I love you with all my heart. I need you to know you are going to mess up. Please know that when you do, God has already forgiven you. I will be the first one to love you through it all, because I was the first one in this family who has been there.
Family,
Thank you for loving me unconditionally. Thank you for guiding me here. You were right all along. Friends do come and go, but this family will always stay together. I love you each in your own special way. Let’s continue to pray for each other so if the Lord wills for me to come on home, when I return we will only be stronger.
Followers,
Pray for me as I leave my family again for 11 months.
