Rise of the Phoenix Part 2

I had a lot of things transpire over the past week that made me really not want to write this blog today, but I have already made a commitment to this story and really wanted to push myself to stick to my word. I am always getting onto people for not following through on their word, I guess, at the very least, I better hold myself to my own standards.

I also wanted to give my mom a brief shout out. I know this is not her story, but she was also a part of it, and I just wanted to tell her, because I know she's reading this, that I love her, and I will tell our story one day, too.

Okay so, here we go:

I left off with my daddy being burnt. I can't remember when he and my mom met, but I do know that they were married and she played a part into him getting into OT school, as people in marriage work as a team. My daddy and my mom were a pretty good team. When we were little my parent's had a really good marriage, and we never wanted for anything.

but I think the worst day of my father's life (I would venture to say all of our lives), would be the day that we lost my little brother, Timothy Prescott Moore. I can't remember the exact day. I just know it was a few days shy of his first birthday. He had just began to walk and the toilet seat was left up and he fell in and drown. I don't want to get into any more specific details than that, but just want to touch on the fact that it obviously devastated my family and really put a rift between my parents. My daddy has told us before that the loss of Timmy really challenged his belief in God, because he didn't understand how he could take his son away from him, but alas he still has faith. (And that has a lot to do with why I I have faith, too) My dad says Timmy's death was his Waterloo, the thing that ruined him, but I think it's the opposite. I don't think that my dad has ever really let anything in his life ruin him, and I admire him for that. He pushes on regardless of what happens.

So my parents ended up having six children total, but after the loss of Timothy, that I had a hard time learning out to heal with one another, and I think eventually that just became too much, so they ended up going their separate ways when I was about 11 or 12, and my dad got custody of all 5 of us children. Of course we would still go visit my mom during the summer and every other holiday, but my dad had us for the majority of the time. We lived in Brookhaven MS, and lived in a tiny little duplex, all packed in like sardines in a can. I think back then we used to always wish we had more space, but now I look back at those times and think of them as some of the best times of our lives. My dad always worked super hard to be dad/mom that's what all of our friends called him at least. So he worked pretty hard during the day to provide financially for us and at night would come home and cook dinner for us and make sure we were fed.

My dad has always provided for our every need, and want (within reason), and I feel like for me at least, that sets the bar high for any guy who decides to try and pursue my heart. I remember one time he and I were talking, and I think I was talking to him again about another guy who had come into my life and left just as swiftly as he had entered, and my dad said "Misha, I dont think you will ever find anyone." and of course in my mind I get all offended and butt hurt, and I thought to myself, wow even my dad thinks I'm a loser, and I said to him "Ouch daddy, that really hurt my feelings.", and he said to me "Misha, its not because I don't think you are worth it, but because I dont think there is anyone in this world who is good enough for you". I have heard it a million times, more than I could count, you're a jewel, you're a catch, you're worth chasing after, you're worth the fight, you're worth putting time into, anyone would be lucky to have you, but when my daddy looked me in the face and told me "There is no-one in this world who is good enough for you", that tugged at my heart strings something awful, and made me realize, whoever I date, better know and acknowledge my worth and value what I have to offer to their life, and do whatever is necessary to keep me there, because they have some BIG shoes to fill. My daddy sets the bar really high, and that ladies and gentlemen is why I have had such a hard journey finding love, because I have a father who has demonstrated his love through acts of service and words of affirmation and has provided for not only me, but my four other siblings for the entirety of our lives, and his motto, and he told me this before is that "I am the one who had a part in bringing you into this world, so I owe you everything, you don't owe me a damn thing" and he means it too. There was a time in my life when I took advantage of this mentality, and I am so glad he and I worked through our struggle, and that he saw me through one of the hardest times in my life. He is a man who I look up to for so many reasons.

Orphanage trained, burn tested, and death certified. He had so many things taken from him, and yet you rarely see him without a smile on his face, and he hardly ever complains, if we could only be half the man he is, the whole world would be a better place, and I might be biased, but you can ask anyone else who knows him, that isn't related to him, it's true. Oh and don't worry, I know he's not perfect, but he really does set the bar high, if you've never had the opportunity to meet him, I hope one day you do, because everyone should get a chance to learn to walk in KC Moore's shoes. Love you daddy. <3

xoxo SLG