Remembering My Cousin

Today is a date that will forever be cemented in my mind. I lost my cousin, at only 20 years old, to cancer. She was a new mom, and in my opinion, just starting to live her life. Her name was Angie. She was outgoing and funny. Oh boy was she funny. Between our birthdays there is 4 months and 2 days. That's not much, but to us growing up, it meant she would be able to do everything first. First and foremost, driving. And driving meant the mall! You know what comes with going to the mall, why shopping of course. She always used to tell me that when she got her first car, the license plate would say, "Foxy." That still makes me laugh today, not what she said, but how she would say it. She always knew the coolest clothes to wear and the "in" hairstyles of the day. Which back in the day was good to know, and even cooler because she was my cousin and I could borrow things! The "mosquito" faces we always had to make in our pictures. Ahh those mosquito faces. She LOVED horses. When she lived up north she lived near a horse ranch and every time we'd go up there, we always had to check them out. Of course, my sisters and I always had to watch either Annie or The Sound Of Music before venturing outdoors. She was always pretty patient with us. As we grew up and began making our own choices, she took a different path. Probably making choices that weren't the healthiest or the wisest. But that was her. She was a free spirit. Not that that was always good. But that didn't make me love her any less, just made me pray for her more. I remember a time when she was home after being on her own for sometime and jumping back into life like it had never changed. Of course she had some pretty interesting stories to tell. The last time she came home, it was to stay. She was pregnant and determined to be healthy for her baby. I was so proud of her. And what was the best news, she was living her life for God! During that time she was diagnosed with cancer. She was really upbeat about the whole thing, I think that's what I remember the most during that time was her attitude about it all. She was determined to beat this thing! God had other plans. As hard as it was to take in, He always knows what is best. I'm thankful He took her when he did. She had a relationship with Jesus and was at peace with everyone in her family. Plus, God has blessed us with a daily reminder, her son. He is the spitting image of her! There is so much of her that we see in him. God is so good, even in times of sorrow. In a video tribute made for her, there is one sentence on there that I find the most peace in: Cry Not For Me, For I Am With The Lord. Angie may not be here with us today, but where she is right now is where I'll see her again!