Yavette Chivon Carter November 14, 1985-April 4, 2013

I have always been so lucky in my life, not losing anyone close to me. In an instant, that all changed. I was sitting at home on a Friday afternoon watching the Discovery Channel with Cierra. Woody was napping on the couch. My phone rang, it was my Mom. When I answered, it was clear that she was crying and very upset. My first thought was that something had happened to my Grandpa. She said to me, "Yavette is dead." I could not, for anything, comprehend what she had just said to me. She had to say it to me again and again. Finally I got it. I was so confused. I had just talked to her the day before. She had called me about my guinea pigs. I had posted on Facebook that I needed to get rid of them, and she asked me to save them for her until my Mom could come pick them up at the end of the month. She wanted them for her 2 year-old Brayly. I told her that I would, for sure. We talked about the Zumba video she had been doing and the Wii that I was going to send with the guinea pigs. Addy started crying, so I told her I had to go. I always ALWAYS say "I love you" when I get off of the phone with family. So I told her I loved her and hung up. I didn't know that that would be the last conversation I would have with my little sister. The little sister I grew up sharing a room (And a bed sometimes)with, who I shared clothes, who had just come up a couple of weeks prior to visit me in Billings. Our last conversation was about guinea pigs. Anyway, my Mom was sobbing into the phone, and all I could get is that Yavette and Trent (her boyfriend) were murdered. The girls (She has a 2 month old and a 2 year-old) were safe, but their Mommy was gone. I could not wrap my head around it. I still cannot wrap my head around it. I lost it. I was screaming and crying. HOW?! I had JUST talked to her 24 hours ago. It didn't make sense. I hung up. The next few days are a blur. I called my Mom so many times trying to figure out what had happened. I will not go into detail, but I do know that her boyfriend and his dad (who was also murdered) were involved in some bad, illegal stuff. The cops tell us that Yavette was a bystander. That she was loose ends. That whoever was there was after the men. That my little sister died protecting her tiny newborn. Yavette was not perfect. None of us are. What she knew, what she was actively involved in, I will never know. But I assure you, she was a fantastic Mom. She loved her two baby girls. Yavette and I fought like most sisters do growing up. I remember throwing all of her stuff out of our bedroom window. But we also had a lot of fun times. Like watching Liar Liar over and over again as teenagers and laughing our hineys off. We weren't as close in our early adult years. However, right before she found out she was pregnant with her oldest, we started working harder on our relationship. I remember being at a gas station when I received the text message with a picture of her positive pregnancy test. I couldn't believe it. I was so happy for her. From that point, we got pretty close (Yes, there were a few arguments...C'mon, we were sisters!) We text each other regularly, and there were times we would spend an hour or two on the phone talking. She always called me if she had a question about pregnancy, and after Brayly was born, she would call about any questions she had about the baby. In June, 2012, I came back to Idaho for my high school reunion. I was fairly certain I was pregnant, but it was still too early to tell. Yavette and I went to dinner and shopping. We had a blast. Just her and I. No kids. It was a lot of fun. She then asked if a faint positive test was still a positive. I said, "Yea probably". She was worried, because she was struggling with her relationship at that point, but had just gotten that faint positive. I started asking about dates, and confided in her that I was pretty sure I was pregnant and that if I was, we would be due at the same time. After I got my positive, we discovered we shared a due date. We spent the next 9 months talking about pregnancy, and joking about the babies being born on the same day. She went in to have Havyn on the 1 of February. I was so jealous. I was miserable!! (Addy came a month and a day later!) A couple of weeks after Addy was born, my Mom, her boyfriend and my sister came to see me in Billings. A visit I will forever be thankful for. That was the last time I saw her. It was a nice, pleasant visit. Yavette even went with me to Addy's first well baby visit. Yavette adored her baby girls and her nieces and nephews.Dear Yavette,There is so much to say. First, I still can't believe you are gone. I miss you everyday, which is funny, cause we didn't see each other everyday or even talk everyday. But now I don't even have the option. I am here in Idaho with Mom, helping take care of your two beautiful, sweet baby girls. I love them so much. And they break my heart so badly. I am sad that they will grow up without your physical presence. I am sad that you will not be here to see them grow up. (Yes, I know you are watching...But...) Sis, I do know that Mom and I both will do everything in our power to make sure they know how much you love them. And we will also make sure they never go without feeling loved. I am so proud of you. You are my personal hero. You laid down your life for your baby. You amaze me. Thank you, for that. I swear to you to take the best care of these girls as I can, and I know Mom will too. I love you. More than you ever knew.