People come and go all throughout our lives.  Some leave strong lasting impression's, some leave a valued place in your heart, some you learn something valuable from, other's are just mere acquaintances.  To me my family and very dear friends have made my life much more enjoyable and valuable because they have showed they care and they have left lasting impressions and have fulfilled my life and my heart just when I thought I couldn't possibly hold any more love in my heart, or couldn't handle anything else in this world.  My family is so important to me, I know that I am very blessed to have such strong family values, and equally blessed with a wonderful blessing with my family. 

I have so many fond memories of my childhood.  My parents, bless them, they have always been such wonderful blessings in all my life!  I sure could have never overcome so much in my life without them.  They seen me thru all my adjustment years, and have helped me overcome so many obstacles in my life.  When I was ready to give up on myself, they never gave up on me, and that is so important!  They believed in me even when I didn't believe in myself.  Now that I'm grown, my parents are not just family, they are my very dear and closest friends.  I love you so very much Mom & Dad! 

My darling sister Sue was always there for me anytime, sadly I learned all too soon how extremely important your siblings are.  I took many many things for granted.  One was that I would always have my sister by my side.  All my thoughts and thinking came to a sudden halt in July 1978, when Sue was killed.  I miss her so very much, I am envious of people who still have their siblings, and don't appreciate them.  I would give anything to have my sister back here on earth with me as the person she was.  The night before my sister was killed, we had a argument, and now that's the last memory I have of our time together.  How I wish I could change that, and I will when I join her in Heaven.  I love and miss you so much Sue.  But for now, I've learned yet another valuable lesson.  Watch what you do and how you treat people, because it just might be the last time on earth you have with that person.  I do believe she knew how much I loved and cared for her, because we were always close growing up, she looked out for me, and I looked out for her.  I hated it when people took advantage of her kindness.  I sure wasn't going to let anyone treat my sister badly, she was far too kind for that.  Sue had a very close friend Glenda W.  Glenda and Sue were actually more alike than Sue and I were.  When I was blessed with my son Billy, I choose Glenda to be his God Mother, of course I would have had my sister had she still been alive, however, since Sue had passed onto Heaven, the choice was very easy and clear for me to have Sue's best friend Glenda.  I am blessed that thru my precious sister I gained a memorable friendship and strong bond with Glenda, she's been a great blessing my  life and also in Billy's life. 

When I think of all the glorious blessings you can have in life, the blessing of a child is the greatest!  When my son Billy was born I fully understood the true meaning of unconditional love.  I use to wonder how on earth my parents could continue to love me when I had at times put them thru so much heartache and grief.  Well, now I know, I have been given the greatest blessing and gift of all, a child, and along with this blessing comes yet another gift;  the gift of unconditional love!  I can't even imagine my life without my son, although there is now hundreds of miles in between us, we will always be close in heart.  I am so very proud of my son!  He's such an exceptional child, (nope, he's a young man now) he has had to overcome so much in his life.  Billy's natural Dad (if you want to call him that) and I divorced when Billy was very young.  Billy's heart would be crushed and broken many times in life caused by his Dad.  I had to learn how to teach a child his Dad loved him, when his Dad showed no love or interest in him.  That was one tough lesson to learn too.  When Billy grew older we had our own differences to deal with, he has taught me so much, I never ever dreamed that a child can teach you as much as Billy did.  I learned so many different things from Billy, far too many to list,  but I am forever grateful to him, for giving me the chance to learn and grow with him.  I'm also grateful that Billy never gave up on me, when I didn't have a clue at times just how to be both Mother and Father.  My Dad tho; for many years became Billy's Father figure in his life, which Billy so desperately wanted and needed, now my Dad finally gets to be Grandpa!  While he was young he unconditionally accepted me as his Mom, now that he's grown, he's allowed me into his heart as not only his Mom but also as his friend.  What an honor it is to have two such special blessings in life with your child, now I get to be both Mom and friend to Billy.  And now Larry fills any voids Billy has in his life as a special caring & loving Dad to Billy.  I love you so very Billy, I'm so glad I got the honor to be your Mom and friend as well.

I am very blessed also to have my wonderful husband Larry in my life!  I don't see how on earth I could have handled these past years without Larry, he has given me hope when I had none, and light where there once was darkness.  Larry is such an inspiration to me, more so than I ever thought anyone ever could be, he is without a doubt my soul mate in life both here on earth and for eternity.  Larry has also accepted Billy so greatly!  When I divorced, I didn't remarry for a very long time, because I just didn't think any man could love and accept my son as much as I loved and accepted my son.  Larry sure proved me wrong!  I wish I could have known Larry when Billy was young and Billy was struggling wanting a Dad in his life, but I'm glad to have Larry now, and I know all my family is glad to have Larry in the family also.  I pray Larry and I have many wonderful years together.  He's such an inspiration to me! I love you very much dear!  We have overcome many trial's in our time together but we've weathered each and everyone!  Larry and I have both also learned that at times in life, you have to just cut the ties and use tough love, and NO we've never had to do this with Billy.  The one thing Larry keeps trying to teach me is patience,, hmm,, at times I think his patience will run out first!  I don't have much patience at all!  But I'm learning and Larry is so patient with me also.  I'm so glad Larry is part of my life and part of my son's life!  He truly is a perfect husband, friend and love of my life!  I love ya so very much baby!!! We'll forever be together thru all eternity!

I'm also blessed with another family that I now have with my marriage to Larry.  I'm very blessed with several nieces, Megan, Jamie, Amber & Mandi,  (I enjoy being an Aunt again!).  I've also been so very blessed with a wonderful sister in law Lois and her family, and a wonderful brother in law Lance and his family.  I was briefly blessed with a wonderful brother in law Leslie.  I'm also blessed with Mom & Dad Hanawalt.  I am enjoying my somewhat new and wonderful family!  It's a true blessing and joy to be part of the Hanawalt family, and to have them love and accept me into their family.  I also have been blessed with many of Larry's wonderful cousins.  I haven't met them all yet, but prayerfully one day I will, but for now I enjoy the phone calls, chat's and emails from them all! HUGS!!!

I also am blessed with a precious Granddaughter Laycie!  It's so wonderful being a Grandma!  With my marriage I gained two daughters as well, Mel & Jenn, it's very trying at times to be a step-Mom but I hope I can teach the girls something of value and add to the fulfillment of their lives.

I pray that each of my family members will forever have a very blessed life!  I love you all so very much!