Who are we? In order for us to figure that out we need to go back a few years. When our dad was born, he was the youngest of 8 children in the Steele Family. Our mother was the third youngest of thirteen children in her huge family. Let's just say by the time we arrived on the scene we had LOTS of cousins.
Mom and Dad married young. People that say young love doesn't last didn't know our parents. Mom was only 16 and Dad was 20. Yikes! They celebrate 65 years of marriage this year. I think they beat the odds of marriage lasting only 8 years by just a few decades.
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| Mom and Dad almost 39 years |
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| Carol and Penny |
Tina, my younger sister, is of course the baby of the family. I still remember the day when my parents walked in the house with a pink blanket which happened to be wrapped around my baby sister. When she got older and people would ask her her name, she would proudly say, "Tina, the weese." No, she didn't have asthma. Her name is actually, Tina Louise. There were two reasons we didn't correct her; one was because it was cute and two, it was easier if you didn't cross her. :) She's has always had lots of spunk which will do her really well through this journey. Tina was born, raised and still lives in Ontario in the little home town, just blocks away from our parents.
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| Tina at 11 month! |
I'm the middle child. I often say that I was the forgotten one. My younger sister has called me the perfect one. I know that I am neither perfect, nor forgotten. My name is Penny. My family mostly calls me Pen. My life has been full of adventures. I now live in Alberta...rose country!
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| Penny |
Growing up in our home was fun. In the winter, our dad built a rink in the backyard which sometimes had an igloo beside it. Our parents had skidoos and even a caboose for us to ride in when we were younger. Summers were full of camping, swimming and biking.
There are so many stories to tell but I promised that I wouldn't use this blog to share all the secrets. They might come out through the some of the blogs. You just never know what my fingers may type.
It seems so long ago and the years have passed all too quickly. The family increased by 7 grandchildren for our parents and 9 great grandchildren. Things haven't always been easy. There have been health scares and relationship issues and concerns for our children and grandchildren but we were left STEELE STANDING.
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| Penny, Carol and Tina - 39 years ago |
We have all found our prince charming and were looking forward to the happily ever after. Our discussion before last Tuesday was more about retirement and plans for the next week. There have been times in the past when one sister may have been upset with another. There have been times when we may have felt closer to one more than the other. These things happen in families but when the going gets tough, the Steele's get tougher. Little things don't matter so much when you hear scary news from a doctor.
Every morning at 8:15 a.m., (my time) I look forward to a video chat with my sisters. Tina brings the humour and strength for us and sometimes the agenda. Carol brings the wisdom and great questions and I just enjoy the friendship that I have with my sisters.
We are going to walk Tina's journey with her because we know that through it we are STEELE STANDING. I know the title of this blog is "I'm Still Standing" which refers to Tina but Carol and I are standing with her and I know that there are many others that are standing with her too.
When Tina asked me to document her journey I really didn't know how I could/would do it. I thought once a week I would type an update and post it. After a few nights of thinking, I decided that I would try and keep it more current. I'll drive Tina crazy with questions!
Keep praying!
STEELE strong - STEELE standing!
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