My name is Jamie and Roger is my brother in law. I am so proud of Roger and the way he has fought the good fight in his battle. In this last year my respect for him has increased and my love for him has depended. I first meet Roger when he was dating my sister Marcy. I was still in high school and he was in college. We didn't exactly hit it off. We never exchanged bad words or anything we just never connected. As time went by I choose not to connect with Roger. Truth be known I was struggling with addiction and choose to keep everyone at arms length, especially someone new to the family. Six years ago next month I choose to follow our Lord and that changed my life. I realized how my addiction, my walls and my poor attitude hindered my relationship with Roger. I had gained a brother not lost a sister. I missed out in years of knowing a truly remarkable man. His knowledge just wasn't in computers but he was knowledgeable in life and life experiences. I said all that to tell my story. I was nervous about seeing my family once I became clean especially Roger because I felt I had done him wrong by not taking the olive branch he extended so many times. Well the first time I saw Roger I just knew he was going to lecture me and give it to me up one side and down the other. And rightfully so i felt for my attitude and actions. I had made my mind up to take the lecture or anything he had to say with understanding because I deserved it. We were eating breakfast at McDonald's in Starkville, MS and Roger asked me to step outside. I braced myself. Here it comes the tongue lashing I felt I deserved for being an awful aunt and poor sister to his family. We went outside and he said let's go next door. I looked over and saw a sign that read Strange Brew. I thought what in the world did he plan to do to me. What's a Strange Brew? He said "Can I buy you a cup of coffee?" Strange Brew was a coffee house. Words can't express my confusion and I guess my face showed it. He said "Can I buy you a cup of coffee, I'm proud of you." I thought what? He just said he was proud of me I deserved to be disowned and he's telling me "I'm proud of you" I still can hear his voice in my ears as he said it. And instantly I knew what God's Grace felt like. It hit me with the most loving and most powerful force I'd ever felt. God's Grace. I deserved something much worse but was given the most cherished memory of my life. I lost years of my life and wasted years without having relationships with people because of my addiction. I am grateful to God for delivering me from addiction and for Him giving Roger to my sister Marcy and together them giving us Warren and Mason. I am grateful for the love and Grace Roger showed me and honored beyond belief that today I can say "I'm proud of you Roger, you fought this good fight and I love you." Roger shared his knowledge in life experiences and taught me many of my own.