~Ciera~

If there was one person Shawn loved most of all in this world it was his niece, Ciera Angelique. She was his "baby". He was a great uncle, though he tended to act more like her father at times.

The song "Little Bitty", by Alan Jackson was what Shawn said was his son to his niece, Ciera. It was not much longer after he told her that was her song, Alan Jackson became her favorite singer. Shawn, went to Jamboree in the Hills and even took special pictures of Alan just for her.

When I was pregnant with Ciera, Shawn had hoped for a newphew. That was because he wanted a football buddy. Well, him getting a niece instead didn't stop him from trying to convert her into a Pittsburgh fan. When she was about 1 he had her going around yelling, Steelers,Football,Touchdown,Yeah!

My brother loved to watch Ciera preform and she did it "just for him". He would spend hours just watching her sing. He was truly amazed that no matter what type of music it was, she knew the words. One time he went through all the stations just writing down every song she knew. Funny though because it was because of him, she knew them all. When we would come home and if she seen Uncle Shawn's car parked in front of the house she would say, "We gotta listen to that damn rap music." She loved it though.

There is noone in this world my brother loved more than Ciera. They did a lot of things together. She loved to help him clean, which he did a lot of. She has since not let that slip away, she still organizies things in rows just as he had taught her.

When I look back on his time with her I think a lot about something that he had said. After taking Ciera to a party, he came home and told my mother that he almost started crying because some little boys had said to her that she couldn't come up and play with them. He said that it broke his heart because he was afraid that somewhere down the road people will treat her like that because she is bi-racial. I never heard my brother say he was almost in tears before, so I knew it hurt him. I had always felt as if me and him would be her protectors. I get upset a lot thinking that I am now here to fend for her myself, but I know he is watching over her especially.

Once when my brother was really depressed he had written a letter to my mom telling her to "Make sure Ciera knows how much I love her" I know she has a hard time of understanding this all, but everyday I will make sure she knows just that.

The hardest thing about my brother leaving is that he only got to see 6 1/2 years of her life. I know he couldn't wait to see all those important things that were yet to come. I hope and prey everyday that she cherishes every moment she had got to spend with him because I know he did.

Ciera drew this photo for her Uncle Shawn. The Angel (Uncle Shawn) sitting on the cross with a Dale Jarrett #88 hat and shirt is dropping hearts down to her. He is sending her his love. It says "I Love You, U (short for Uncle) Shawn. I Miss You."

Ciera and my cousin Marissa drew pictures and added sayings to a couple of Shawn's shirts and put on his hats. Both miss their Uncle Shawn(though he was her cousin, better refferred to by Shawn as "CUZ" Marissa still called him Uncle Shawn.

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**Background Music by - Alan Jackson~Little Bitty~**