Well my last column I told you about my youngest daughter Rhonda. This time in all fairness I am going to tell you about another young lady in my life whom I love dearly. 

A young lady who has been through so much and has conquered so much as well. A young lady who has had 2 miscarriages, been through rape and abuse and a lot of things no 29 year old woman should ever have to go through. A young lady who shared so many years with me while I was being abused and was there to wipe my tears away when the abuse was over for the day.

A young lady who has owned and operated 3 businesses in her search to find herself and what she wants to do in life.

This young lady is my eldest daughter Tonya aka Voodood. 

Tonya was a perfect baby from the second she was conceived. I remember feeling her first kick and the wonder of the little butterfly feeling inside my tummy. I remember bringing her home from the hospital and putting her in her crib. She slept from 10 p.m. that first night until 11 a.m. the next morning. I would go over to her crib and check to be sure she was alive and breathing. (her father used to laugh at me) She never cried and was always smiling and cooing. I think she was one of the happiest babies I have ever seen.

 I remember her first steps - they were from her Grampa to her Gramma. I remember how my tears flowed as I watched her toddle across that kitchen floor and fall into my Mother's arms. I remember how she would sit for hours amusing herself with blocks and toys and she would invent little games to play with her dollies and her pets. Darn she was cute!!!  Her head full of natural curls and a smile that lit up my  whole world.

Tonya grew up to be a beautiful woman with a very intelligent view on things. She is a published writer and is at this moment in process of writing her first book. She is refreshing and has a great sense of humour. She will phone me up and leave me howling in laughter after she has long said good-bye and hung up the phone again

Now she is a single mother of two gorgeous little girls and a dog named Shakarm and a cat named Voodoo. She takes care of one of my mentally challenged brothers as well.

There is so much we have shared together--from the tears of deep sorrow to the gales of belly rocking laughter. We have shared being angry with each other and disappointed in each other to feeling pride in each other over the years.

 We went a few years where we were not close at all. We butted heads a lot when she was a teenager but now that she is a mother herself and has experienced so much of the same things in life that I have the tables have turned and once 
again we are close.

 The most important thing we share is friendship. 

There are the days she will call me and need me to be her Mommy and there are days she will call and just need a good friend. I am so glad it is me she calls for both reasons.

I watch her as she raises my two granddaughters and it is so wonderful to share in everything they do and say. Tonya calls me throughout the day with the latest report on what this one said or that one did today. More often then not the conversation has us both cracking up in giggles over the situation we are discussing depending on the child. 

Ah yes my Tonya has grown into a beautiful woman and never fails to amaze me with her incredible thirst for knowledge. I look at her and wonder if the wonderment of being a mother ever ceases or if our children will forever be an adventure 
waiting to be discovered for us.

until next time, 
hugs
Misker