her mom.' WHY am I thankful? I am thankful because I have a mom, who is also my cousin.

She is my third mom. When my mother died, my aunt became my mom. Now that my aunt passed away, my cousin is my mom. I am grateful because I am not in a foster home or an orphanage. I am with one of my relatives.

When I was three years old my mother died. She had an accident while she was riding her bike. It was night-time and it was raining so hard she couldn't see. Her bike skidded and struck the sidewalk. Luckily, someone saw the accident and called the ambulance. At the hospital my mom had surgery. Her shoulder and leg were broken. The next morning when a nurse went to check on her she was dead. At the time, my aunt was my babysitter. I am glad that she didn't give me up, instead she adopted me.

My aunt was a wonderful lady. She was a registered nurse in New York. To me she was mom. She taught me all of what I know today. I can cook, sew, clean a house and do some nursing. She also saw that I received my education. When I grow up I want to be a nurse like her. Unfortunately, my aunt who was a diabetic had her leg amputated. One year later she had a stroke. She did not leave the hospital. She died there. The day she died I was at home with my cousin with whom I am now living. We all went to the hospital. Everyone was crying when we saw her lying in the bed. Sometimes I still cry, but I'm getting over it.

I am thankful for my cousin because she kept me. She also allowed me to call her mom. I am eleven years old now and she is in the process of adopting me.

How I appreciate her! She takes good care of me. We have plenty of fun together. She has taken me on several trips to America. She has also placed me in a Christian school where I am now very happy. How can I not be thankful for my cousin, my mom? I love her very much. I hope nothing will ever separate us.

I also pray that I will bring her nothing but joy and happiness.

*** ANGELICA CHANEY BERKELEY -- Christian Deliverance Academy