HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!! (JULY 29TH)

YESTERDAY WAS MY MOMS BIRTHDAY. I COULDN'T DO MUCH FOR HER EXCEPT TAKE HER OUT TO EAT. WE WENT TO ONE OF THOSE CHINESE BUFFETS WITH THE CRAB LEGS. WE LOVE GOING TO THOSE. WE SIT AND EAT CRAB LEGS FOR LIKE TWO HOURS. ITS HARD WORK BUT BOY ARE THEY WORTH IT. EVER SINCE I CAN REMEMBER SHE AND I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED SEAFOOD. I REMEMBER AS A LITTLE GIRL ONE TIME WHERE SHE HAD BOUGHT A TON OF SHRIMP. SHE CAME HOME AND COOKED THEM AND WE SAT ON THE FLOOR AND ATE THEM TILL WE WERE READY TO BURST. WE MAY BE SMALL PEOPLE BUT WHEN IT COMES TO EATING WE SURE CAN EAT MORE THAN OUR WEIGHT IN FOOD.

MY MOM IS MY HERO IN MANY WAYS. SHE RAISED MYSELF AND MY TWO YOUNGER SISTERS ON HER OWN SINCE I WAS 8 AND THEY WERE 3 AND 1. SHE WAS BORN IN POLAND AND WHEN SHE WAS ABOUT 12, I THINK, HER MOM SENT HER TO AMERICA TO LIVE WITH HER AUNT AND UNCLE. THEY WERE VERY MEAN PEOPLE WHO MISTREATED HER. WHEN SHE WAS 16 SHE WAS LIVING ON THE STREETS. SHE SOMEHOW MANAGED TO MAKE IT THROUGH ALL OF THAT TO BECOME THE WOMAN SHE IS TODAY. MY MOM IS ONE OF THE MOST HARDWORKING PEOPLE I KNOW. MOST PEOPLE THAT SHE CLEANS HOUSE FOR TREAT HER AS IF SHE IS FAMILY. THEY SAY ALL THE TIME THEY WOULD NOT KNOW WHAT THEY WOULD DO WITHOUT HER. SHE IS ALSO ONE OF THE MOST KINDHEARTED, LOVING PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD. UNFORTUNATELY, PEOPLE SOMETIMES TAKE THAT FOR GRANTED, SO THEREFOR SHE HAS HAD HER SHARE OF HEARTACHE. IF NOT FOR MY MOM I WOULD NOT BE THE PERSON I AM TODAY. SHE HAS TAUGHT ME TO NEVER GIVE UP ON ANYTHING AND TO ALWAYS LOVE THOSE AROUND ME. SHE HAS ALSO TAUGHT ME TO BE A STRONG SELF EFFICIENT WOMAN. WITHOUT HER I DON'T KNOW THAT I WOULD HAVE EVER COME TO KNOW THE LORD. I THANK HER FOR ALWAYS TAKING US TO CHURCH AND INSTILLING CHRIST IN OUR LIVES. I KNOW THAT THERE WILL PROBABLY COME A DAY THAT I WILL HAVE TO LIVE WITHOUT HER AND BELIEVE ME THAT IS GOING TO TEAR ME UP. SO FOR NOW I JUST WANT TO TREASURE EVERY MOMENT I HAVE WITH HER. I HOPE THAT SHE KNOWS HOW MUCH I LOVE HER AND JUST HOW MUCH SHE MEANS TO ME. I HOPE SHE KNOWS THAT DESPITE WHAT SHE MAY THINK, THAT SHE WAS AND STILL IS THE BEST MOM EVER.

THANK YOU MOM FOR NEVER, EVER GIVING UP AND ALWAYS LOVING ME. I LOVE YOU!!!

BRITTNEE'S 1ST DAY OF SCHOOL!!!

TODAY BRITTNEE STARTED 4TH GRADE. SHE WAS EXCITED AS WELL AS HESITANT. THE OLDER KIDS GET THE LESS THEY WANT TO GO TO SCHOOL. ITS SAD TO SEE THEM GOING BACK SO SOON. I REMEMBER HAVING THREE MONTHS OF SUMMER. NOW THEY ARE LIMITED TO JUST BARELY TWO MONTHS. SO FAR BRITTNEE HAS DONE REALLY WELL IN SCHOOL AND WE HOPE TO KEEP HER AS EXCITED ABOUT SCHOOL AS POSSIBLE. I WAS NEVER ONE THAT ENJOYED SCHOOL. I HAD THE GET TO SCHOOL, DO WHAT I HAVE TO AND GET HOME ATTITUDE. I WAS NOT PART OF ANY CLICK OF ANY KIND. I GOT ALONG WITH ANYONE THAT GOT ALONG WITH ME. I CAN ONLY HOPE THAT BRITTNEE WILL HAVE A BETTER ATTITUDE AND BETTER OUTLOOK ON HER SCHOOL LIFE. SHE IS VERY SENSITIVE AND LAST YEAR WE HAD PROBLEMS WITH SOME GIRLS BEING MEAN TO HER. IT WAS HER FIRST YEAR IN PUBLIC SCHOOL AND SHE HAD NOT EXPERIENCED THIS KIND OF UGLINESS BEFORE SO IT HIT HER HARD. WE PRAYED ABOUT IT SEVERAL TIMES AND SOON THE GIRLS LEFT HER ALONE. IT IS HARD TO HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO YOUR BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER THAT GIRLS CAN BE MEAN. I TRULY BELIEVE THAT THE ONES THAT ARE MEAN ARE EITHER JEALOUS OR HAVE OTHER ISSUES AND THE ONLY WAY THEY KNOW TO MAKE THEMSELVES FEEL BETTER IS TO BE UGLY TO OTHERS. THAT IS WHY I ENCOURAGE HER TO PRAY FOR THOSE THAT ARE MEAN TO HER. IT WORKED LAST YEAR. SO, HERE WE ARE STARTING ANOTHER YEAR IN HOPES THAT THIS ONE WILL BE A BETTER ONE AND THAT SHE WILL NOW KNOW HOW TO HANDLE THOSE HARD SITUATIONS.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!! (HUGH)

TODAY MY DAD WOULD HAVE TURNED 63 YRS OLD. MOST OF YOU THAT READ THIS ALREADY KNOW HOW I LOST MY DAD, SO I DON'T REALLY WANT TO FOCUS ON THAT TODAY.

AS A LITTLE GIRL, I DID NOT HAVE MY DAD AROUND. THE LAST TIME I SAW HIM WAS WHEN I TURNED 2 YRS OLD. I DON'T EVEN REMEMBER THAT. THE FIRST TIME I MET HIM WAS WHEN I WAS 28 YRS OLD. GROWING UP, I ALWAYS WONDERED ABOUT HIM. I WOULD SIT IN MY CLASSROOM AND DAYDREAM ABOUT THE DAY THAT I WOULD MEET HIM. SOMETIMES I WOULD DREAM THAT HE WAS OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM WATCHING ME AND THEN AFTER CLASS HE WOULD SURPRISE ME. I HAD ALWAYS HEARD THE PHRASE, DADDY'S LITTLE GIRL, AND WONDERED WHAT THAT WAS LIKE. DON'T GET ME WRONG, I HAD A WONDERFUL MOM GROWING UP. SHE WAS ALWAYS THERE. SHE NEVER GAVE UP EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS RAISING 3 KIDS ON HER OWN. FOR THAT I WILL ALWAYS BE THANKFUL. BUT STILL, HOW CAN ONE NOT WONDER ABOUT THAT OTHER PERSON THAT IS PART OF YOU? HOW CAN ONE NOT WONDER WHAT THAT PERSON IS LIKE? WELL, I GOT THE CHANCE TO MEET MY DAD AND SPEND TIME WITH HIM FOR 3 YEARS. THOSE ARE THREE YEARS THAT I WILL FOREVER BE THANKFUL FOR. NOT ONLY DID I GET MY DAD, BUT I ALSO GAINED AN OLDER SISTER, TWO OLDER BROTHERS, A YOUNGER BROTHER, A GRANDMOTHER AND AN AUNT AND UNCLE AND ALL OF THEIR FAMILIES. GOD HAS TRULY BLESSED ME WITH MORE THAN I EVER THOUGHT I WOULD HAVE HAD. GROWING UP IT WAS ALWAYS MY MOM AND MY TWO YOUNGER SISTERS. NOW I HAVE AN EVEN BIGGER FAMILY. I LOVE SPENDING TIME WITH THEM, WHICH I REGRET TO SAY IS NOT OFTEN ENOUGH. I HAD ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT MAYBE I WOULD MEET MY DAD ONE TIME AND NEVER SEE HIM AGAIN. GOD HAD MORE FOR ME. I NEVER DREAMED I WOULD GAIN MORE THAN THAT. I NEVER DREAMED THAT I WOULD GAIN A WHOLE NEW FAMILY THAT TOOK MINE IN FROM THE BEGINNING WITH NOTHING BUT OPEN ARMS AND LOVE FOR ME. BE THANKFUL FOR ALL YOUR FAMILY. NEVER TAKE FOR GRANTED THAT THEY WILL ALWAYS BE THERE. DON'T HOLD GRUDGES. ALWAYS LOVE THEM. THAT IS HOW GOD INTENDED IT TO BE. WE ARE NEVER PROMISED TOMORROW. YES, WE WILL SEE EACH OTHER AGAIN ONE DAY IN HEAVEN, BUT THIS WORLD IS HARD ENOUGH TO LIVE IN AS IT IS. FAMILY IS GODS GIFT TO US TO HELP US MAKE IT THROUGH THIS WORLD UNTIL THAT FINAL DAY. LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS IF THERE IS NO TOMORROW. MY TIME WITH MY DAD WAS SHORT, BUT I AM GRATEFUL FOR WHATEVER TIME I HAD BECAUSE I MIGHT NOT OF EVEN HAD THAT TIME AT ALL.

OUR CAMPING TRIP!!!

CHRISTMAS IN JULY!!!

I KNOW, I KNOW, IT'S NOT CHRISTMAS YET. WE PLANNED ON WAITING TILL CHRISTMAS TO GET BRITTNEE A 4WHEELER. WELL, IT HAPPENS WE GOT A DEAL ON ONE NOW AND RAY COULD NOT WAIT TILL CHRISTMAS TO GIVE IT TO HER. I'M MEAN, I WOULD HAVE WAITED, NO MATTER HOW HARD. BUT, AS IT GOES, SHE IS NOW THE PROUD OWNER OF A BRAND NEW 4WHEELER. SHE LOVES IT. THE ONLY PROBLEM IS THAT SHE WAS ALREADY ON RESTRICTION SO WE ONLY LET HER RIDE IT FOR A SHORT TIME.(NOT TO TORTURE HER TOO MUCH) SHE UNDERSTANDS THAT THIS IS HER CHRISTMAS PRESENT FROM MOMMY AND DADDY AND SHE WILL NOT BE GETTING ANYTHING ELSE COME CHRISTMAS TIME. I'M SURE ITS WORTH IT TO HER THOUGH.

7-15-07 - TY IS 14MOS.

OK, THIS IS SO FUNNY. WE WERE ON OUR WAY HOME FROM CHURCH WHEN TY WAS HALF ASLEEP AND EATING. YES I WAS DRIVING BUT COULD NOT HELP BUT TAKE SOME PICTURES AND SOME VIDEO. OFCOURSE THE VIDEO IS GOING TO BE A LITTLE MESSED UP BUT REMEMBER I WAS DRIVING.

7-14-07 - JOHNNY'S 50TH B-DAY PARTY!!!

7-14-07 - CLARA'S 1ST B-DAY PARTY!!!

FRIDAY THE 13TH

OK, I AM NOT SUPERSTITIOUS BY ANY MEANS, BUT THE LAST WEEK OR SO HAS REALLY BEEN WEIRD. LAST WEEK OUR FRIENDS CHRIS AND BETH ASKED US IF WE WANTED TO GO CAMPING NEXT WEEKEND (JULY 13-15). THEY WANTED TO GO TO HARD LABOR CREEK STATE PARK IN SOCIAL CIRCLE GA. I TOLD THEM I COULDN'T GO THAT WEEKEND DUE TO MY NIECE'S (CLARA) 1ST BIRTHDAY PARTY AND MY BROTHER IN LAW'S (JOHNNY) SURPRISE 50TH PARTY ON SAT. WE DISCUSSED IT AND DECIDED WE ARE GOING THE FOLLOWING WEEKEND (JULY 20-22). LATER BETH PROCEEDED TO INFORM ME THAT THE MOVIE FRIDAY THE 13TH WAS FILMED AT HARD LABOR CREEK. SOMETHING I REALLY DID NOT NEED TO KNOW. DON'T GET ME WRONG, I GREW UP WATCHING SCARY MOVIES AND STILL LOVE THEM. NEEDLESS TO SAY THAT WHEN WE REALIZED THAT THE ORIGINAL DATES THAT THEY WANTED TO GO WAS GOING TO FALL ON FRIDAY THE 13TH WE THOUGHT THAT WAS CREEPY. I'M NOT DONE. TODAY ANOTHER FRIEND OF MINE AMANDA CALLS ME AND SAYS THAT SHE JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I WAS OK. SHE PROCEEDS TO TELL ME ABOUT A DREAM THAT SHE HAD LAST NIGHT THAT WOKE HER UP IN TEARS. IN HER DREAM RAY AND I HAD PURCHASED A HOUSE ON THE LAKE. SHE CAME TO SEE OUR NEW PLACE. I WAS OUT SWIMMING WHEN A FREAK ACCIDENT HAPPENED AND A CAR ENDED UP IN THE WATER ON TOP OF ME. APPARENTLY THAT DID NOT HURT ME BUT INSTEAD I WAS TRYING TO GET THE CAR OUT OF THE WATER BY LIFTING IT WHEN ANOTHER CAR CRASHED INTO HERS WHICH CRASHED INTO THE FIRST CAR AND SMUSHED ME BETWEEN THE TWO CARS. SHE SAID IT WAS AWFUL AND SHE WAS LITERALLY SCARED FOR ME AND JUST HAD TO MAKE SURE THAT I WAS OK. (WHAT A SWEET FRIEND) OK, SO NOW I'M NOT SURE IF I DO WANT TO GO CAMPING NEXT WEEKEND. ALL OF THESE WEIRD COINCIDENCES HAS GOT ME FREAKING OUT. OF COURSE ILL GO, BUT I WILL DEFINITELY BE VERY CAREFUL.