Personal Childhood Web

     My name is Troyleena Ikea Pate, and I would like to take the time to give credit to a few of the many individuals who took the time love me, train me and raise me to the person that I am today. 
                                                  
                                                     Something Special to Talk About
Kathleen Pate, who was my mom's mother loved me unconditional everyday of my life.  She was my heart, and I was granny's girl.  She helped my mom finish her education, by providing us with dependable loving care in my mom's absence.  She could cook like no other, and we never went hungary.  My grandma would sing to me, read to me, and she would share stories about her pass that only she knew.  My grandma died in January of 2010 and it was hard.  She was dropped at a nursing home and broke up and so she could not heal.  As, I think of her and all that she did to direct me, it brings both tears and smiles at the same time because her love was apparent.  Anyone who knew her, knew she was difficult, but they also knew she strived to be the best she could be.  I am proud to have had such a great grandma who put others before self.  Life has been hard, but I know that she gave me the tools to survive and that she would be proud that I have not given up.   Though she is not here, I feel her presence everyday, and I call out to her for help when I need it , and somehow God always answers.  There are days that I feel so alone, because when she was alive we had the greatest family gatherings. We would eat at everyone elses home, and by 8:00 p.m or so everyone would gather at her house for the feast of a lifetime.  Priceless memories that I have because she cared enough to lean a hand. 

A Song that she use to sing to me was:  I'm my grandma's girl, I'm my grandma's girl, I am Troyleena Ikea Pate, from out of state, and......I'm.....my. g r a n d m a's...Girl.

A favorite scripture that she use to resite is 23 Psalms

The Holy Bible: King James Version. 2000.

The Psalms

23

The LORD Is My Shepherd
A Psalm of David.
1	The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2	He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. Rev. 7.17
3	He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4	Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5	Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6	Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. To Grandma: Grandma Kathleen you were remarkable, and though your time was up, your legacy lives on in your grands, great grands and great great grands.  I am proud of what you did for me, and I know that without Christ and you, I would not have made it.

This is my grandmother Kathleen Pate, at my sister's college graduation in Texas.  She got on a plane for the first time and though she was not well, she flew the whole way there, and made the other passsengers laugh the whole time. I love her so much and she is greatly missed.            Merle Edward Casey, my step-father (now remarried), was a great part of my life and my siblings.  Merle came into our life when I was five or six, and he treated us like his own flesh and blood.  He feed us, he watched us and he trained us.  He was always polite, even when we were disrespectful, and he never mistreated us.  He would get up early help us get dressed and take us to our bus stop. On thursday'' Merle would take us out and treat us to something special, and he would always manage to take us on vacation every summer, sometimes even twice.  Merle and my mother had a son and even after my brother was born, he still loved us all the same.  I remember when they split up, he told my sister and I "that since I am not here, you all need to be their for little Merle, because he needs you".   Merle to this day, offers and lends a hand to us, and he tells us that he loves us.  It is hard not having him around, but I feel blessed that eventhough he has moved on, that he has not forgotten us. I honor him on Father's Day because someone does not have to be biological, to be worthy or constant. He was as good to me as my father and in someways better.  His impact on my life reminds me that, love is forever and that people choose to separate but a select few still have the ability to still love children even from a distance.  Merle E. Casey was and is a wonderful father, and his connection with Christ, made my life worth living and meaningful.  To Merle Edward Casey, a great father, leader, and encourager.  You trained me up, and though I struggle, you still pray for me, and support as time permits and for that I am truly grateful and I Love You.      Danette Lovejoy Casey, my mother, was a great influence on my life.  My mother was a young mother, and she was the first to graduate in her family, though my grandmother came from a very afluent family.  Determined to get off the system and make a way for us, she did so at the age of 22.  My mother brought her first car, that she called "betsy" and she sought out to get an apartment for my sister and I.  Sleeping on the floor, but content, we were so excited to be on our own with her, and it brought us closer.  We ate together, we went on a family outtings once a week together and she took the time to ask us how our day was and what we learned.  My mother never let us miss school and she always took us to our appointments.  We never had cavities, we always brushed and we were rarely sick thank God.  My mother went to work everyday, and she took us to church regular.  Though we did not have a perfect family, it was still a great example of life.  My mother loved us for who we were and not based on each others abilities.  My mother was my bestfriend, and though we have grown apart to some extent, one thing that I can say is that though she is far, her prays are near; and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt, that she prays for my family each and everyday.  Due to the loss of my baby brother, the late Merle Edward Casey II (8/2009) her son, and the death of Kathleen Pate(1/2010) her mother,  it has been hard on her and painful, but I understand and I try to do my share to show her that I am appreciative to whatever she can do, and when she can't I understand that too.  To Momma:  the late Merle E. Casey II, Love F.Pate and I all love you, and though we are going through and one has passed on, know that you are not a failure, but rather a success; for it is because of you that we learned never to give up, and to lean on the Lord, and you taught us through faith, he never fails.  A favorite scripture:  "No weapon formed against me shall prospere"(Book of Isaiah) Love  F. Pate(sister) The late Merle E.Casey II (R.I.P) my brother 6'4 who died at the age of 22, from a blood clot.    Troyleena Ikea Pate (me)