The Story of a Father Daughter Bond

My friend David and I were sitting on the front porch enjoying a star-studded twilight evening. Suddenly without warning we heard roaring thunder, and lightning; with the wind swirling into a funnel headed directly at us.

We barely made it into the house when the wind angry and furious torpedoed through the front yard. After the storm, David left to go home. A few minutes later he called; he couldn't get through the driveway. A monstrous tree had fallen and blocked the exit.

The following morning I called a local tree service for an estimate to clean up the damage. Much to my surprise a young woman driving a huge black truck stopped just south of the drive way. She told me her name was Erika. She gave me the estimate and said that her company would be back later that day to remove the tree.

About two hours later, I received a text message from David. He said I'm watching two young women remove these trees! I walked around the bend and to my surprise I saw the women working a job that looked as if it would take four men to carry out.

After Erika finished the cleanup I paid her, asked her how on earth she had learned this trade. She said "had been in a "bucket" removing trees since she was thirteen years old. And now she managed her father's business with success. And she was her father's caregiver because of his illness

We scheduled an interview about two weeks later because she is a Remarkable Young Woman and I wanted to share her story.

I learned that she is a survivor of divorce at an early age. Her mother acquired custody and re-married a man who was extremely abusive to Erika.

Erika about the age of seven years old told her mother that she knew in her heart that God had called her to join a certain Christian Religion.

Her mother no longer wanted Erika in the house; if she attended this church. Erika went to live with her father. She loved being with her father because he was active in the church, a loving father and taught Erika his tree removal business.

At eighteen years of age this young woman has learned to live with drama, pain and illness. Her faith in God is strong and she gives God praise for saving her.

There are so many remarkable people I meet on my journey. Each and every person has a story. I challenge you to share your story; you never know whose life you touch in a positive way.

One of my biggest goals in life is helping as many people as possible understand that they have the power to make their life as they want it to be. You can become whatever you set your mind to. And just like many of you, I have spent years searching for a fulfilled happy life. Join me in team spirit and meet some of the most amazing people who have experienced the good and the bad choices and moved forward