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Melissa Ellen Wagoner was sent to us by God, on March 18, 1981. She was supposed to have been born in May of that year, but God had so much work for her to do, she came almost 2 months early. Needless to say, we weren't prepared for her sudden arrival, but very quickly we realized she was destined to change our lives forever. As small as she was, 4 pounds and 3 ounces, she ruled the roost. Her pappa Steele, called her "Sqeaky", because she didn't really cry...her sounds resembled a sqeak. I don't remember him ever calling her anything else but "sqeaky." As she got older, she often would act as if she didn't like being called Squeaky, but secretly, I believe she really loved it. Even the smallest diapers would swallow up her small body up. That many years ago, there weren't "premie" clothes for little ones like there are now. But she soon gained weight and, by the time she was a year old, one would never have known she had been so small.
Early in her life, it was evident she was going to be very, very close to her family. As a baby, Melissa rarely would let anyone hold her, with the exception of me (her momma), her dad, grandma Steele and, of course her brother Jason. She loved her brother so much and tried so hard to keep up with him. But Jason was 4 years her senior and she had a difficult time keeping up with an older brother who was always on the move. That certainly didn't stop her from trying though. She did her best not to let him out of her sight and I remember well Jason just wanting, just a little private time...a respite from his meddling little sister. But, as time went on and they grew up, the two of them became the closest of friends and rarely would you find one without the other. I believe they shared the deepest and darkest of secrets. Much more than most brothers and sisters ever enjoy.
In elemetary school, Melissa would go to religion classes on Wednesday after school at St. John's Catholic Church. As she got older, Melissa joined the youth group, loved going places with the group and would look forward to their weekly Wednesday evening meetings. Later, in her high school years, she would travel with the youth group to Mexico, making multiple trips to a mission a couple of weeks each summer. She would often tell me this place in Mexico was her most favorite place on earth. A church there, named Mt. Tabor, was her sactuary during their trips and she often could be seen there reflecting and in silent prayer. I believe she found real peace there, away from the troubles of life and it was there she came to realize her calling was to help others who were less fortunate than her. She would save her money each winter to pay for her plane ticket to Mexico and would later write in her journal, how wonderful it made her feel to give of herself to the children there. That was the way she was...always giving of herself, in small and big ways...never wanting to take credit of the beautiful gift of herself. She always had a smile and a hug for everyone and her big blue eyes melted all who knew her.
To be continued..... |
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| 1981 |
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Born in Indiana on March 18, 1981. |
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