Today we went to Kemah and had lunch at Crazy Alan’s Swamp Shack.  We [Donovon, the girls, and me] and my Mom, met Donovon’s parents [Pop and Mom Julia], sister Cortney and her kids, Carson and Caroline there.

If you haven’t been, the food there is ridiculously good – best seafood gumbo for miles and miles.  If you have been, well then, you just know.  Anyway, it was such a fun afternoon, and to be surrounded by so much family just made me feel so loved.  I’m so grateful that we could all get together and share memories, good times, and of course….good food. 🙂

Although I lost my mother at a very young age, I have been blessed with three “moms” who have all found a place in my heart and have filled the loss with their unconditional love and support.

My Mom Julia is Donovon’s step-mom.  As soon as Donovon and I started dating, she welcomed me into her family with open arms and has never let go.  Since I joined their family, throughout every triumph, joy, challenge, and pain in my life, Mom has been there.  She has fervently given her love, encouragement, and friendship.

My heart ached for her when she suffered the loss of her son, Kyle, and again years later when she lost her Daddy.  Today she was there for me.  She ached for me as I shared my pain over missing my Daddy so much.  I could not be more thankful for my Mom today.

I love you, Mom, and I’m so grateful you are a part of my life.

My sister, Crestina, is 3 1/2 years younger than me.  And although we’re quite different in just about every aspect – she, a bubbly extrovert, I, an analytic introvert; she, a die-hard Titans fan, I, a die-hard Cowboys fan – we have a bond that is impenetrable and infinite.  To really know each of us is to wonder how we’re even related, but ever since she was born, we have been inseparable.

We can blame our younger brother for our chosen term of endearment for each other – “Toot”.  There’s a story there, but suffice it today that it stuck and we can’t really help but call each other “Toot”.  If we happen to use our given names, it pretty much means we’re being very serious or frustrated with each other.

And oh man, can we get frustrated with each other.  I can recall fights when were were kids where we were throwing things at each other across the hallway from our bedrooms.  We’ve definitely had our ups and downs.  We’ve been through a lot together.  We’ve had more than our share of bad times, but we’ve had more than our share of good times too.

I cannot begin to express my love and admiration for My Toot.  She perseveres through life with an uncompromising determination.  She graduated college Summa Cum Laude.  She forged a successful career in broadcast journalism.  And she lovingly raises three little girls (soon to be four) with an unmatched enthusiasm.  Her love of laughter and life is infectious.  Throughout our lives, she has been my friend, my rock, my responsibility, my voice of reason, my connection to my past, and the brightness in my future.  I sincerely would not be who I am without her.

I love you, Toot.  Always.  And forever.