Looks, Brains and Growing Pains

Craving Connection

2011-04-13T07:43:00.000-07:00

Craving Connection
13 Apr 2011
Renee Swope

“Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25 (NIV)

Devotion:
Do you ever catch yourself checking email repeatedly? One morning I checked my email as soon as I woke up. Then I made breakfast and checked it again. Had my devotional time and checked it again. Ran some errands and when I got home, checked it once more.

Now, I admit I have a thing about keeping white space in my inbox, but this was about more than managing emails.

I was going back for a reason. I sensed the Holy Spirit nudging me to pause and ask myself, “Why do you keep checking your email?”

I sat there and let my heart respond honestly. I wasn’t sure if it was God or me answering, but my thoughts intertwined with His Spirit whispered: You keep coming back because your heart longs for connection with a friend.

Yet no matter how many times I checked email, it was never enough to satisfy my craving.

Somewhere in the busyness of life I had let many of my friendships reduce to quick connections via email. Over the past year my schedule had gotten so full with kids, school projects, family needs, investing time in my marriage, and new responsibilities at work that something had to give.

I didn’t want it to be my family, so I asked God to help me find balance.

I had sensed Him leading me to cut back on the amount of time I spent talking on the phone, socializing with neighbors and hanging out with friends. Although I hadn’t completely cut out my friendships, my face-to-face connection time with friends had been reduced to a minimum.

That morning as I sat at my computer, I realized I had not found balance. The pendulum had swung too far.
Here I was checking email repeatedly, trying to fill a God-created need for relationships with a white screen and black alphabet keys.

My heart was craving more. God had revealed the source of my incessant email checking and shown me that I needed to fill the lonely place in my spirit with friends I could talk to and share life with — in person.

That day I called one of my closest friends. She happened to be available so I turned off my computer and took a break from work to spontaneously meet her at a coffee shop.

It was just what I needed: face-to-face, heart-to-heart, eye-to-eye connection and conversation.

I know friendships are not easy to build. They take time. And time is limited with lives that keep us so busy. But in this age of technology, it’s important to evaluate things in our lives that create a false sense of connection like email, television, text messaging and overboard activities.

Although these things are okay in moderation, they can’t substitute real-life relationships.

So what about long-distance and internet friendships? Aren’t they important, too? Yes, they are. But God created us for relationships where we can see each other, hug each other and talk to each other face-to-face.

We need to pull away from our computers and televisions to intentionally carve out time for friends that are in close proximity. Times where we can meet face-to-face to share what’s going on in our lives. Today’s key verse instructs us not to give up meeting together to worship and encourage one another. As we see here and throughout the Bible “meeting together” is important to God.

Jesus needed face-to-face connections, too. So He surrounded Himself with intimate friends — first His Father, then His close friends John, Peter and James and then the other nine disciples.

He also had friends like Mary, Martha and Lazarus. People He spent time with sharing meals and having conversations about spiritual truths that applied to their everyday lives. Through His example we see how important it is to satisfy our craving for connections by spending face-to-face time with friends.

So, who will you connect with face-to-face this week?

Dear Lord, You created me with a need for friends. Yet, I find myself rushing through my days with little time for heart-to-heart connections. Help me to seek You first as my ultimate Friend, and then reach out to others so I can have and be a close friend. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Related Resources:
Visit Renee’s Blog and enter to win her “Friendship Gift Pak” that includes an advanced copy of Renee’s upcoming book A Confident Heart as well as a Starbucks gift card to share with a friend.

Girlfriends RoadTrip message on CD by Renee Swope Learn how to connect to the heart of God and other women by looking at and learning from Jesus’ closest friendships.

Find more encouragement through Renee’s Resources.

Application Steps:
Make a list of one or two friends you enjoy being with. Call them on the phone to encourage them and set up a time to get together.

If you’re not sure who to call, ask God to show you someone you can begin a friendship with. Invite them to join you for lunch or to go for a walk together this week.

Reflections:
How often do I check email or my Facebook page? Do I crave connection?

What are some steps I can take this week to develop a new friendship or strengthen an old one?

Power Verses:
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!” (NIV)

“I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” John 15:15b (NIV)

New Beginings

2011-01-26T12:58:00.000-08:00

I'm back! It has been awhile since I posted anything, over a year to be exact. A lot has changed in my life since then. I am living in Virginia now. I have always loved this area and the change of seasons. My boys are all living with their father now in Alabama. The twins said we have lived with you for 14 years and now it is our turn to live with our Dad. It might be true but I am wishing I was selfish at times because I miss them so much it is hard to breath. I have never been on my own in my entire adult life as I had Alexandria when I was still in high school. Had to grow up fast and that I did. I wouldn't change it if I had the chance to do it all over again either. Since I am on my own i don't know what to do with myself at times. I read a lot and hang out with my grandmother and her friends. I do have a job I really like a lot and I love the people I work with. That is so important since you spend most of your time with these people. The Holiday's were lonely but I know with time it will get better. Life is so funny and it changes like the wind. You just never know what is going to come at you and from which direction it is going to come from. This year I plan on keeping up with my blog the ups and downs of what I am going through as a Newly Single Adult. I hope everyone has a fantastic year. Annetta

Update!

2010-01-13T08:28:00.000-08:00

It has been along time since I entered a new post. So here is a brief summary of what has been going on in the past month or so. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Everyone came over to our house it was the first year I have been able to entertain in my home since it is big enough to have people in it. The boys have gone camping with the boy scouts a few times. They went to Alabama for Christmas to visit with their dad and his family. They had a great time meeting family they haven't seen since they were very little. Now Dylan wants to move to Ohio to be near his cousin. The boys got Ipod Touches and Paintball guns for christmas from their dad. I am having so much fun trying to have conversations with them since they block everything out except what is on that ipod. The joys of children.
On Christmas Eve we had a party at the house. We played Charades and had a white elephant gift exchange along with lots of great food. Before the boys left for their dads we were able to take some family pictures around the tree. It was lots of FUN since I was dropped several times trying to get in position for the picture before the camera took the shot. I hope everyone had a great Holiday season and here is Hoping 2010 is wonderful.

My Favorite Time of Year!

2009-11-18T04:48:00.000-08:00

I just love cooler weather, the change of seasons, all the holidays. You can smell it in the air even here in Florida at times. This is when I really wished I lived north of here because there is just all those wonderful smells of the season. Fresh cooler air has its own wonderful aroma, wood burning, chestnuts, baked goods, hustle and bustle of the holidays. People seem to be more peaceful and happier. I love to decorate for the Christmas. I am in love with snowmen.they are so cute and cuddly (or at least they look that way).We can't forget about all the great food that is made during the holidays. I will probably gain all my weight back in the next month. LOL! Most of all I love getting together with family and friends. I hope everyone has a wonderful season no matter what is going on I encourage all to stop and just take a big whiff of the air. Take in all in and SMILE! What is your favorite thing about this time of year?

Boys Photos

2009-10-30T04:40:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago after church on the way home I stopped at the Baily Riverbridge Park at the foot of the Ormond Bridge. The boys weren't as happy about this as I was but I wanted to take some pictures of them dressed in their church clothes. As you can see I got some really good pics some weren't as good because there were sour faces from the fellas. It was really hot and sticky out along with the fact that Jacob and Jared don't like to have their picture taken so you will see more of Dylan who really likes to have his picture taken. I have printed most in Black and White. I love B/W pictures the one you will see are all in color. The third pic is Dylan doing his Michael Jackson move. I took about 200 pictures so by the time I was done the boys were cranky and hot. I hope you enjoy the few I have posted.

UPS AND DOWNS

2009-10-27T09:46:00.000-07:00

I haven't had a post lately because I have been really down on everything and decided not to post anything unless it was something positive. You know don't say anything if you don't have nothing nice to say. The month of October has had many ups and downs for me. As everyone knows I am in the process of JOB HUNTING which is really sucking. On the brighter side This month has been full of Birthday celebrations in the family and with Friends. It is the busiest month of the year for me. I turned ???, my beautiful daughter turned the BIG 21, my sweets Mark had a birthday. A lot of my beautiful peeps had birthdays also. Out of state family celebrated birthdays as well. Some I was able to share in a celebration with and some I could only send birthday wishes to. I hope everyone of you had a wonderful birthday and many more.

The boys in school, now this is a sour subject since my boys don't like to ask for help, like to study, think they should not turn projects and reports in if they have to get up in front of the class to present. I feel like the only parent that goes through this or at least the only parent were all the kids are giving her a hard time about it.I wish for one child to do what is needed. So now they are all on restriction since I have a ZERO TOLERANCE policy stating that everything is to be turned in on time NO exceptions. That sound easy to me. I need some advice on this subject. What else can I do to them because we already have the rule no television or video games during the school week. This has worked in the past but now they don't even get to have television or games on the weekends. They complain but don't really seem to care. I am open please give your advice.

I had a yard sale a couple weekends ago that is a lot of work but was very successful. I was tired and sick of my allergies on Sunday when we were done with the sale but had to prepare for Marks big birthday dinner we had that evening with all his family and my mom. We had the FLU going around as well. So I woke up Sunday morning sick. The boys got their flu shots in return Dylan and Jared both were sick. Jared more so than Dylan with the high fever. I was so scared it was the SWINE FLU. that is the last thing we need around here especially since Dylan's asthma and allergies have been really acting up lately.

Marks dad and his girlfriend Caroline had a Luau party this past weekend. That was really nice. I went to a thrift store and found a dress that was perfect. The food was great. Caroline loves to entertain. We had a great time.

Dylan is playing baseball this fall. We made him sit out a couple of games but he went with his homework and had to do it there. Trying to show him how he is letting his team down by not doing what he is suppose to do. He is doing great and he has started pitching.

I have done a couple of photoshoots this past month. One with the boys and the other of Wayne and Caroline. It was a lot of fun. Now I just want to bigger and better camera.

All in all life is great with all it little and big UPS and DOWNS. I know in the end everything will work out perfectly. Having a little/lots of Faith and lots of Patience. Giving it all up to our FATHER. I hope everyone has a great day!

On a new Path!!

2009-09-20T14:30:00.000-07:00

I am in the lines of the unemployed now with all the other Americans that are out of a job. This is so scary for me. Since I quit on Friday I have been having so many anxiety attacks. I know I did the right thing! I know Heavenly Father will be with me through it all. In the morning I will redo my resume and start on the great hunt. In some ways I am looking forward to seeing were it will lead and what wonderful things will happen through all this. I just really worry about the boys. I know they are going to like me being home more. Maybe I will find a great stay at home JOB, maybe one that has me home on the weekends, Who knows maybe there will be a way I can go back to college. There are so many possibilities and I am excited about them. Please send prayers!!

Jacob and Jared's Weekend!

2009-09-16T08:37:00.000-07:00

On the 4th of September my babies turned the BIG 13. They are teenagers and no longer little boys any more. You know they will always be moms babies. We had a great FUN weekend. I took a couple of day off so we could celebrate this big event in their lives. Here are a few pictures. This first picture is of them together in the car on the way to eat HOT WINGS AND WATCH THE COWBOYS PLAY Jacob is a big fan and that is the only thing he wanted to do Friday evening was watch them play so we had to go where they had it playing since we don't get many channels at home. This also an unusual picture since they hate their pictures taken, eyes are always closed or look closed in their pics, and they are close together (which never happens).

Here is Ali with her brothers. Jared, Jacob and myself went to Ali and Cords house in Jacksonville, Saturday evening so they could celebrate with them since Ali had to work all weekend and couldn't come to Daytona to celebrate with us.

Here are the boys and Keith entering Daytona Lagoon for a fun day in the water and SUN! I was in bad need of a day to relax and get some SUN. My body hasn't seen a great day in the SUN in a looonnnnngggg time. I was a ghost out there.

Lazer TAG was a big hit with the boys.

Dylan is THE HOOLA HOOP KING He enters every contest they have and he loves to hoola hoop. He has won several contests but today was not that day. That is one of the things I admire and love about him is his willingness to join in on everything even when he doesn't even have a clue as how to do it. He just wants to have fun and experience everything life has to offer him.

WATER SLIDES are always a big hit even with me. Climbing up those stairs now is another thing since I am out of shape and scared of heights but I do it anyway. I might be huffing and a puffing, completely out of breath by the time I reach the top but I love water slides.

Jared has WON the race as you can see his feet coming out the slide.

Jacob coming down on the tube

Jared coming down the one next to Jacob

Jacob is my messy eater and as you can see he is a real mess as he is eating all those WINGS AND WATCHING FOOTBALL!

DOUBLE RAINBOW

2009-09-11T12:41:00.000-07:00

ON THE WAY TO THE BOYS BIRTHDAY BREAKFAST AT BURGER KING (their pick not mine) THIS IS WHAT WE SAW. JACOB TOOK THESE OUT THE JEEP WINDOW AS WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS A DOUBLE RAINBOW UNTIL I UPLOADED THE PICTURES. I JUST LOVE RAINBOWS AND I CRY AND HAVE GOOSEBUMPS EVERYTIME I SEE THEM. IT MAKES ME THINK ABOUT HOW WONDERFUL OUR HEAVENLY FATHER IS!!!! WE ARE SO BLESSED WITH ALL THIS BEAUTY AROUND US DAILY THAT MOST OF US TAKE FOR GRANTED.

chess

2009-09-11T12:26:00.000-07:00

This is what the boys do in the mornings before they are off to school. Dylan is already gone and out of the house by 5:30am for Seminary and High School starts at 7:26am. Jacob and Jared don't have to be at school until 8:50 so they have lots of time on their hands to do something constuctive. We don't allow television or video games during the school week. there is so much going on like: HOMEWORK!!, CHORES!!, FAMILY TIME, SPORTS, SCOUTS, CLEANING ONES SELF (this is a big one if you have boys like mine that don't want to take a shower and get clean), READING A GOOD BOOK,etc. I am sure when I am not home they are sneaking on the television in my room. I was just impessed on this particular morning they were getting along and not fussing with each other. I love to see them playing together.

catching up

2009-08-21T06:18:00.000-07:00

This summer I haven't been updating my blog much so this is a catch up post. For the first part of the summer the boys were busy with going to different camps but the second half of the summer we haven't don't anything. I work most of the time so when I get off it is just the normal routine of making dinner, cleaning up after dinner, maybe playing a game with the boys, reading books, doing house chores that have not been done during the day or on my day off. I am so glad school is starting this coming week. It will at least give the boys something to do during the day. Baseball is starting soon and so is flag football they want to do.

Emotionally this summer has been really tough on me. Mood swings left and right, up and down. Just fighting to except my circumstances since I have such a strong desire to stay home with the boys and I really wan to go back to school to further my education now that I have grown up. Still not knowing what I want to be but I want to go to school. I will keep praying and smiling.

My daughter and her husband moved to Jacksonville this July. So that has been really exciting. She has gone back to school and will graduate in May of 2010. I love being able to see her weekly.

Last week Mark bought a rotisserie at a yard sale. It was the best thing that has been purchased this entire summer. So far we have used it 3 times and the meat has turned out YUMMY! Some of the best tasting meat I have had in a long time. I will make a post on this. I did take pictures. Mark find some really great things at yard sales. Most of my house is furnished with stuff from them.

The boys didn't go to visit their dad this summer. I am sure this makes them sad since they haven't seen him since last November. Hopefully they will get to see him at Christmas.

Well that is it all my summer excitement. I hope everyone has had a great summer with their families.

Feeling Like a Kid in a Candy Store!

2009-07-25T08:14:00.001-07:00

The other day after church I went to Barnes and Nobles while Mark and the boys were at Best Buy helping Mark's brother Chris with something he needed. I decided to go to the bookstore fro a couple of reasons. 1. My Dogs were KILLING me in the heels I was wearing and I could sit and relax them. They aren't used to heels anymore since I started working at the motorcycle dealership. I only wear sneakers or flat sandals. 2. I never get to go to a bookstore and explore since I am always working so my store exploration is a fast run in and run out during lunch 3. I just LOVE BOOKS! I don't know if it is just me but I found that on my way walking from Best Buy to Barnes and Nobles a spring came into my step. I was so Full of joy to be going I felt like a kid going to a candy store. I didn't have to rush just take my time exploring what is new. I don't' know if it is just me that feels like that in a book store just the thought of being able to get a new book or learn something EXCITES ME! My feet were still hurting so I took my shoes off and sat right on the floor in front of the SALES Bins. Just to let you know I was still in my church clothes and was wearing a white skirt. I didn't care or have a care in the world just the excitement of rummaging through the books.

My last stop and this is were I always land is in the KIDS Book section of the store. I had a Chance to help a lady and her two sons. She had one SON that loves to read and the other SON that doesn't. I can relate to this because Dylan loves to read but Jacob and Jared you have to push or just make it mandatory reading in the house for the most part. This past year they did find a couple of series they enjoyed reading so I shared them with her and she purchased them for her son. At the end I wound up sitting and reading an old Nancy Drew Mysteries book. I had them all when I was a kid and remember loving them.

On my way out of the store I stopped to read Cook Books, I can't remember which book it was but I got a recipe out of one of them. So easy and simple I went home and made it. It was called EASY CREAMY BEEF STROGANOFF! It was interesting that I came across this because I had set out stew meat to make Beef Tips and Rice for dinner. I will go back find this book and purchase it. I MIGHT SPEND HOUR FINDING THE EXACT BOOK BUT I WILL FIND IT!

Here is the recipe for all to try.

EASY CREAMY BEEF STROGANOFF
1LB OF STEW MEAT
1 CAN OF CREAM OF MUSHROOM SOUP
1 PKG. OF ONION SOUP MIX
4 0Z CREME CHEESE
EGG NOODLES

IN A CROCK POT (I PUT IT ON 4 HOUR HIGH)PUT THE STEW MEAT, CREAM OF MUSHROOM (I DID ADD A CAN OF WATER) AND ONION SOUP MIX. COOK THIS FOR 3 HOURS THEN ADD CREME CHEESE THE LAST HOUR IT COOK KEEP STIRRING UNTIL IT IS WELL BLENDED. Cook EGG NOODLES AS DIRECTED ON PACKAGE. THAT IS IT AND IT TURNED OUT WONDERFUL, MEAT WAS SO TENDER AND FULL OF FLAVOR. IT WAS EVEN BETTER TWO DAYS LATER FOR LEFT OVERS AND I DON'T EAT LEFT OVERS. WHEN I COOKED IT I ALSO DOUBLED EVERYTHING TO FEED US ALL.

PAY IT FORWARD!

2009-07-23T05:55:00.000-07:00

It is time to play PAY IT FORWARD!

I played and was picked on my friend MERRIANNE's BLOG. Here are the goodies I received in the mail yesterday when I got home. My son Jacob was just as excited as I was. That is becasue he sniffed our CHOCOLATE. Before I got it in the door he was trying to open MY PACKAGE, The nerve of some KIDS! Look at what I got and at the end I will tell you how you could be just as lucky as I was and recieve a gift in the mail from ME!

I LOVE NOTECARDS! As all my friends know I love to send personal notes to my friends so I love to receive them as well. Thanks Merrianne.

LOOK AT MY WONDERFUL GOODIES!

I ALWAYS NEED SEVERAL OF THESE TO KEEP UP WITH EVERYONES SCHEDULE/APPTS.

FRIENDS ARE WONDERFUL

I am going to PAY IT FORWARD all you have to do is leave a comment letting me know you want to be put in the drawing. I will pick three names on Monday, August 3. Once you are picked I will let you know your name was drawn and then you will receive a package in the mail, you'll blog about it and then you will figure out a way of choosing three people to send things to...etc... etc....

SO NOW IT'S TIME TO PLAY THE GAME
IT HAS A WONDERFUL NAME
LISTEN CLOSELY HERE IT IS
" PAY IT FORWARD"

HAPPY 1ST ANNIVERSARY

2009-07-17T13:05:00.001-07:00

Today is my Boo(Ali/Nikkole)and Cord's 1 Anniversary. I don't know what they have planned for today but I hope they have a great day together and take some pictures for future memories. Next year on their 2nd anniversary they will be having the BIG WEDDING as she puts it since they didn't have one before Cord we out to Sea. She is married to a wonderful guy that spoils her rotten and is very good to her. She picked a winner in my book!

I am so happy they moved to Jacksonville three weeks ago. I have missed her so much over the past three years. Now I can go visit often and she can come see me.

Love you guys!
MOM

My little mechanic

2009-07-14T11:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was riding around with Mark doing errands after we dropped off my car to get fixed. So I wound up at the YOU PULL IT! junk yard looking for a power steering pump for his work van that he has been driving around in for a while without power steering. I really like going just not when it feels like 100 degrees out and sweat is already dripping off every part of my body because there is NO A/C in this van either. It took a while but we were able to get one off another van in the yard. The only good thing that came from it besides we found the part we were looking for is I GOT SOME SUN, I have been trying to make it to the beach on a day off without any luck. The main point of this post is that when I went home at lunch today this is what I found. My 12 year old son Jacob under the van installing the Power Steering pump. He looked so grown up under there and very serious like he knew exactly what he was doing. I thought is was so cute I ran into the house to get the camera. Now everyone who knows Jacob knows he HATES his picture taken. As you can see in a couple he was trying to cover his face so I couldn't get the shot. So now I know if Mark isn't around for some reason and my car breaks down I have atleast one mechanic in the house to help me fix it. How did I get so lucky!

4th of July

2009-07-03T09:50:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th of July!

Let's get this started now,
So it will be out there on the fourth!

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE
FLAG, OF THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA ,

AND TO THE REPUBLIC, FOR
WHICH IT STANDS,

ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE,

WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL!

KEEP IT LIT!

For all of our other military personnel, where ever they may be.
Please support all of the troops defending our Country.

And God Bless our Military who are protecting our Country for our Freedom.
Thanks to them, and their sacrifices, we can celebrate the 4th of July.

We must never forget who gets the credit for the freedoms we have, of which we should be eternally grateful.

I watched the flag pass by one day.
It fluttered in the breeze.

A young Marine saluted it,
And then he stood at ease.

I looked at him in uniform;
so young, so tall, so proud.
With hair cut square and eyes alert,
he'd stand out in any crowd.

I thought how many men like him
had fallen through the years.
How many died on foreign soil;
how many mothers' tears?

How many pilots' planes shot down?
How many died at sea?
How many foxholes were soldiers' graves?
No, freedom isn't free.

I heard the sound of Taps one night,
when everything was still.
I listened to the bugler play
And felt a sudden chill.

I wondered just how many times
That Taps had meant 'Amen.'

When a flag had draped a coffin
of a brother or a friend.

I thought of all the children,
of the mothers and the wives,
of fathers, sons and husbands
With interrupted lives.

I thought about a graveyard
At the bottom of the sea.

Of unmarked graves in Arlington .
No, freedom isn't free.

Enjoy Your Freedom

and God Bless Our Troops.

When you receive this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our servicemen.

Of all the gifts you could give a U.S. Soldier, prayer is the very best one.

Boy Scout Camp

2009-06-25T06:19:00.000-07:00

It started off great. The boys were really excited about going. All packed up and ready to leave on their week long adventure of Boy Scout Camp. For Dylan this is old school but for Jared and Jacob this is going to be a new adventure. This is their First year at Boy Scout Camp so lets be on our way

See they are all smiles and ready to GO!

The drive was about an Hour and twenty minutes not to bad. Finding the camp site that was another story. I got lost driving on those dirt paths to site #23. Cell Phones didn't work out here either so I couldn't call for help. I drove into several different camp sites asking how to get there. Finally we were made it.

Dylan was all smiles as he had his same tent buddy Jacob Brewer he has had for the past three years. Lets go back to Dylan's first Boy Scout camp. He was miserable and HATED IT! He called several times wanting to come home. I thought this was weird since he loved Camp Winona. When I got to family night it was terrible as Dylan whined, cried and begged to go home. MOM was mean as he had to stay. Since then he has started to enjoy it. This year he earned all of his badges he took classes for from camp. Dylan had a great week. Thank You Lord, at least there was one!

Now here is were the problems start. Jacob and Jared do not like to share anything together. Now they are assigned to be tent buddies. Jared is the first to start being very vocal about this. It escalates from there during the week. Now I left them at camp for the week. Not knowing if I could make the family night since I work late.

I didn't make it to family night and lets just say Dylan was fine but Jared and Jacob had a few rough patches during the week. It started the first night. They kept everyone up. I don't know exactly what they were doing but it was talking,yelling, fighting, etc. I still haven't got the clear picture of that night yet. Now there is Jared mad because he doesn't have a fan and can't sleep in the activity center but Dylan gets to. So he slams or throws his cot in his tent not sure how that went down. They were both not listening and being very disrespectful to the leaders an others in their troop. Lets just say it was a disaster first year at Boy Scout camp. I was very embarrassed,disappointed and mad to hear of everything that went on at camp. I would have sent them home if I were their leaders. Now this summer is going to be a big learning experience for them to understand several things. Respect, Authority, Listening skills, when to speak and not to speak (Jacob has a habit of thinking he knows everything!), Caring about someone else besides themselves, Consequences for your actions and how they effect others not just yourself. My kids aren't perfect and I don't expect them to be but I do expect them to use their manners. This past week they must have forgot themselves and about MOM. I hope next week at camp Winona will be better. They have been there for the past three years without any problems and I hope that continues. I hate putting bad post on here but I was told I only post the good things and I should post good and bad. So here it is.

PS. I want to apologize to the Leaders, their troop and everyone who was at the camp with the boys.

SMILE!

2009-06-20T06:17:00.000-07:00

Smiling is infectious,
You catch it like the flu,
When someone smiled at me today,
I started smiling too.

I passed around the corner,
And someone saw my grin,
When he smiled I realized,
I'd passed it on to him.

I thought about that smile,
Then realized its worth,
A single smile, just like mine,
Could travel round the earth.

So, if you feel a smile begin,
Don't leave it undetected.
Let's start an epidemic quick,
And get the world infected.

Don't you have a similar experience before? Where you saw a stranger having a happy smile on her face and before you knew it, you were grinning for no apparent reason too. Then someone saw your grin, and he smiled too. You probably felt a little silly for smiling without any reason at first, but when your smile brought a smile to someone's face, you knew that it cost nothing to brighten up someone's day. May you freely give away your beautiful, happy smiles!

FLAG DAY!!!

2009-06-13T13:25:00.000-07:00

TOMORROW IS FLAG DAY! LETS REMEMBER WHAT IT STANDS FOR AND SHOW THE RESPECT IT DESERVES. THE LINK AT THE END IS THE HISTORY OF FLAG DAY. HAVE A GREAT DAY!

The Pledge of Allegiance
The Pledge of Allegiance was written in August 1892 by the socialist minister Francis Bellamy (1855-1931). It was originally published in The Youth's Companion on September 8, 1892. Bellamy had hoped that the pledge would be used by citizens in any country.

In its original form it read:

"I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
In 1923, the words, "the Flag of the United States of America" were added. At this time it read:

"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
In 1954, in response to the Communist threat of the times, President Eisenhower encouraged Congress to add the words "under God," creating the 31-word pledge we say today. Bellamy's daughter objected to this alteration. Today it reads:

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
Section 4 of the Flag Code states:

The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag: "I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.", should be rendered by standing at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. When not in uniform men should remove any non-religious headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Persons in uniform should remain silent, face the flag, and render the military salute."

www.usflag.org/flag.day.html

FREEDOM!

2009-06-11T06:27:00.000-07:00

I receievd this in an email and wanted to share it with everyone. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did and since I am emotional YES, I CRIED.

Great story - worth your time - worth every American's time It's hard to believe that most of the WWII Vets. I know are only 3 or 4 years older than we are.

Six Boys And Thirteen Hands...

Each year I am hired to go to Washington , DC , with the eighth grade class from Clinton , WI where I grew up, to videotape their trip. I greatly enjoy visiting our nation's capitol, and each year I take some special memories back with me. This fall's trip was especially memorable.

On the last night of our trip, we stopped at the Iwo Jima memorial. This memorial is the largest bronze statue in the world and depicts one of the most famous photographs in history -- that of the six brave soldiers raising the American Flag at the top of a rocky hill on the island of Iwo Jima , Japan , during WW II.

The original picture that the monument was created from.

Over one hundred students and chaperones piled off the buses and headed towards the memorial I noticed a solitary figure at the base of the statue, and as I got closer he asked, 'Where are you guys from?'

I told him that we were from Wisconsin . 'Hey, I'm a cheese head, too! Come gather around, Cheese heads, and I will tell you a story.'

(James Bradley just happened to be in Washington, DC, to speak at the memorial the following day. He was there that night to say good night to his dad, who had passed away. He was just about to leave when he saw the buses pull up. I videotaped him as he spoke to us, and received his permission to share what he said from my videotape. It is one thing to tour the incredible monuments filled with history in Washington , DC , but it is quite another to get the kind of insight we received that night.)

When all had gathered around, he reverently began to speak. (Here are his words that night.)

'My name is James Bradley and I'm from Antigo, Wisconsin . My dad is on that statue, and I just wrote a book called 'Flags of Our Fathers' which is #5 on the New York Times Best Seller list right now. It is the story of the six boys you see behind me.

'Six boys raised the flag. The first guy putting the pole in the ground is Harlon Block. Harlon was an all-state football player.. He enlisted in the Marine Corps with all the senior members of his football team. They were off to play another type of game. A game called 'War.' But it didn't turn out to be a game. Harlon, at the age of 21, died with his intestines in his hands. I don't say that to gross you out, I say that because there are people who stand in front of this statue and talk about the glory of war. You guys need to know that most of the boys in Iwo Jima were 17, 18, and 19 years old - and it was so hard that the ones who did make it home never even would talk to their families about it.

(He pointed to the statue) 'You see this next guy? That's Rene Gagnon from New Hampshire. If you took Rene's helmet off at the moment this photo was taken and looked in the webbing of that helmet, you would find a photograph... a photograph of his girlfriend. Rene put that in there for protection because he was scared He was 18 years old. It was just boys who won the battle of Iwo Jima .. Boys. Not old men.

'The next guy here, the third guy in this tableau, was Sergeant Mike Strank. Mike is my hero He was the hero of all these guys. They called him the 'old man' because he was so old. He was already 24. When Mike would motivate his boys in training camp, he didn't say, 'Let's go kill some Japanese' or 'Let's die for our country.' He knew he was talking to little boys. Instead he would say, 'You do what I say, and I'll get you home to your mothers..'

Arizona . Ira Hayes was one who walked off Iwo Jima ... He went into the White House with my dad. President Truman told him, 'You're a hero' He told reporters, 'How can I feel like a hero when 250 of my buddies hit the island with me and only 27 of us walked off alive?'

So you take your class at school, 250 of you spending a year together having fun, doing everything together. Then all 250 of you hit the beach, but only 27 of your classmates walk off alive. That was Ira Hayes He had images of horror in his mind. Ira Hayes carried the pain home with him and eventually died dead drunk, face down at the age of 32 (ten years after this picture was taken).

'The next guy, going around the statue, is Franklin Sousley from Hilltop, Kentucky .. A fun-lovin' hillbilly boy. His best friend, who is now 70, told me, 'Yeah, you know, we took two cows up on the porch of the Hilltop General Store. Then we strung wire across the stairs so the cows couldn't get down. Then we fed them Epsom salts. Those cows crapped all night.' Yes, he was a fun-lovin' hillbilly boy. Franklin died on Iwo Jima at the age of 19. When the telegram came to tell his mother that he was dead, it went to the Hilltop General Store. A barefoot boy ran that telegram up to his mother's farm. The neighbors could hear her scream all night and into the morning. Those neighbors lived a quarter of a mile away.

'The next guy, as we continue to go around the statue, is my dad, John Bradley, from Antigo, Wisconsin , where I was raised. My dad lived until 1994, but he would never give interviews. When Walter Cronkite's producers or the New York Times would call, we were trained as little kids to say 'No, I'm sorry, sir, my dad's not here. He is in Canada fishing. No, there is no phone there, sir. No, we don't know when he is coming back.' My dad never fished or even went to Canada . Usually, he was sitting there right at the table eating his Campbell

'You see, like Ira Hayes, my dad didn't see himself as a hero.. Everyone thinks these guys are heroes, 'cause they are in a photo and on a monument. My dad knew better. He was a medic. John Bradley from Wisconsin was a caregiver. In Iwo Jima he probably held over 200 boys as they died. And when boys died in Iwo Jima , they writhed and screamed, without any medication or help with the pain.

'When I was a little boy, my third grade teacher told me that my dad was a hero. When I went home and told my dad that, he looked at me and said, 'I want you always to remember that the heroes of Iwo Jima are the guys who did not come back... Did NOT come back'

'So that's the story about six nice young boys. Three died on Iwo Jima , and three came back as national heroes. Overall, 7,000 boys died on Iwo Jima in the worst battle in the history of the Marine Corps. My voice is giving out, so I will end here.. Thank you for your time.'

Suddenly, the monument wasn't just a big old piece of metal with a flag sticking out of the top It came to life before our eyes with the heartfelt words of a son who did indeed have a father who was a hero. Maybe not a hero for the reasons most people would believe, but a hero nonetheless.

We need to remember that God created this vast and glorious world for us to live in, freely, but also at great sacrifice

Let us never forget from the Revolutionary War to the current War on Terrorism and all the wars in-between that sacrifice was made for our freedom.

Remember to pray praises for this great country of ours and also pray for those still in murderous unrest around the world...

STOP and thank God for being alive and being free at someone else's sacrifice.

God Bless You and God Bless America ...

REMINDER: Everyday that you can wake up free, it's going to be a great day...

One thing I learned while on tour with my 8th grade students in DC that is not mentioned here is . .. that if you look at the statue very closely and count the number of 'hands' raising the flag, there are 13. When the man who made the statue was asked why there were 13, he simply said the 13th hand was the hand of God.

A Great story - worth your time - worth every American's time

THE END OF MIDDLE SCHOOL!!

2009-06-05T07:54:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Dylan's last day of Middle School. Sometimes I can't even believe he made it through. Dylan is a very good test taker but HE doesn't like to study, do classwork, turn in work even if he has it done, homework but loves to socialize. He gets mad at me because he thinks I want him to be perfect in school. He just doesn't see I just want him to do his best and doing nothing is not your best. Well my baby is on his way to HIGH SCHOOL! Going to hang with the BIG KIDS. This really scares me to death. He has started going through puberty in the past couple of months. Sprouting up at every turn, putting on weight, filling out, getting hair in places he has been praying for years he didn't want any of it (HAIR) at all (LOL), acne on his face (but hates to be told to keep his hands off or go wash your face, attitude and the dreaded GIRL factor. It seems like yesterday my little Turtle(his nickname) was just crawling around and jumping out of his crib. He was walking at 8 1/2 months and hasn't stopped for a moment since. I am very excited for him, all the new adventures he will be experiencing but very scared for me having to deal with all those new hormones he and his brothers will be developing. Before I know it they will all be grown up and I will be very lonely. I keep trying to convince them to stop growing up and stay a kid but they are not listening to me like LIKE ALWAYS! Isn't he getting to be a handsome fella. Dylan is a lot like his mom. Cares about everyone and isn't afraid of showing his emotions. I just love the sensitivity he shows towards everything.

The Turtle is trying to stay in his shell and not get up.

The Worm is trying to stay in his spot and not stir around

My bumblebee is not buzzing anywhere. He is trying to sleep in>

As you can see they are all trying to sleep in, hoping that I will let them sleep and not have to go to school. This is funny to me since NOT one of them has ever slept in a day in their lives until now. The longest I have ever experienced my kids sleep in is 6:30am/7:00am. A normal day is 5:30 in the morning for these fellas. Now all of a sudden it is I want to sleep in they all have been trying to convince me all week that I should let them sleep in and skip school. RIGHT like that is going to happen. They better be ready to go get a shot from the doctor or dieing before I let them stay home.

My other problem this morning was trying to get a good picture of all of them to send to their Grandma Evans. This is what they gave me. Dylan loves his picture taken but the other two hate it.

I just love their silliness they seem to have all the time but I would love to get the perfect serious picture sometimes. Have a great SUMMER!

Luau

2009-06-03T06:29:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday evening my old Ward had a Luau. We were fashionably late(45 minutes) since I have to work every Saturday and Jacob wasn't feeling good. He had a cough for a couple of days, we just thought it was taking a tole on him. He really wanted to go so we went under the condition that if we thought he needed to he would go lay down. So we weren't there very long because he just became very HOT and couldn't stop coughing. The food was great and the entertainment (What I was able to see of it) was great. I was able to take some video of the Hawaiian Dancers before I left. Here is a sample of the dancing. I want to Thank everyone at the Ward for sharing the Luau with us and everything all of you guys did to put it together. It turned out wonderful! I wish everyone could have been there to enjoy in the food, activities and entertainment.

Tennis Season Comes to an End.

2009-05-30T06:41:00.000-07:00

Last night was the end of the boys spring tennis season. We didn't win but did come in second place by two points. The boys old Middle School won first place. Dylan thought he should be in their team picture with the trophy since he did actually go to that school for half of the tennis season but we made them play for their new school OBMS. This was the first season for Middle School Tennis that was actually put on by Tennis Center in town and not the schools system. It went very well and was pretty organized for being the first season. They made the scoring pretty fair since some schools like Creekside had 23 players and others like OBMS only had 6 players. Half of the OBMS team was my boys. This was a great opportunity also for students that have never played before to try something new. Since our school system in Volusia County and all over Florida is doing away with all sports in Middle Schools, Ninth grade sports and Jr. Varsity sports in the up coming year unless we raise $100,000.00 to save Jr. Varsity. We need to keep our children active an involved in sports and activities that are positive for them or they will be left to themselves to get into trouble and be idle.

After the games last night they had awards and food. Over head the sky was turning black and here came the rain. At first the kids and adults were scurrying to get under cover then all of a sudden the kids started playing in the rain and having food and ice fights. They were having so much fun. I was enjoying watching them laugh and have fun in the rain. It brought back memories of playing in the rain myself as a kid. I was trying to get pictures without getting my camera wet or ruined in the process. I was only able to get a couple pictures of the boys in the rain. Enjoy!

500 cupcakes

2009-05-25T07:57:00.000-07:00

A couple months ago I received this cookbook called 500 CUPCAKES at one of our lady's nights out. My son Jacob loves to bake so he went through this book. One night he came to me and asked if we could make these lovely little ICE CREAM CONE CUPCAKES. I said we would when Mark and Dylan go to Ohio. So the next day I also looked them up online to see other ways to makes them. Some said to make the cupcake and them fill the bottom of the cone with surprising treats, then add the cupcake with frosting as glue to make it stay, some had you cook the cupcake in a cupcake foil and put the cone upside down on the batter and cook it that way or you could do it the way I chose which is fill the cone almost full with patter and let the cupcake bake all the way through the cone. I really think these would be cute for any kind of kids party or get together with children. There are so many ways to make and decorate them kids would have so much fun making them. WARNING! They are easy to fall over, I have to perfect that one as I will tell you after you see the pictures.

The cones in a mini cupcake pan

Yummy Batter, My favorite. I just love batter of any kind and my hips are showing it!

The cones filled. I thought I overfilled them.

See I filled them just perfect.

Decorated Perfectly!

Can't only have just ONE.

As you can tell I didn't mention Jacob because for some reason he had attitude and did not help. So I had fun all by myself. At the end of the evening I went to move the cupcake and half of them landed on the floor and counter. I would have taken a picture if the batteries hadn't died and I didn't leave my rechargeable ones at work recharging. So that is why I said be careful. I wish I had younger kids and parties to go to or have so I could have fun with little girls making some more of these.

To My Surprise!

2009-05-21T07:54:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago to my surprise I came home from work and found my little fellers reading books. It was so cute. They were in my living room (mine because they aren't suppose to be in there since they have their own)but it was cute anyway. One was on my couch and the other on the love seat READING!!! I was so surprised and excited I got my camera out right away and started clicking away. I just had to get this for evidence that One, they were in the same room together not fighting and Two, they were reading especially Jared. He has professed to hating this activity loudly. When I went o download the pictures something happened with the computer and my camera. They have been completely erased off the camera and disappeared on the computer not to be found. For the last couple of weeks they both have really been into reading these books. The James Patterson Maximum Ride series and the Alex Rider books. Since there is no television being watched or XBOX games during the week. Only homework, studying or family games and even reading allowed. You can find a book in there hand often lately. After two years of this rule in the house you would have thought they would have picked up a book before now but that wasn't the case. So I am so happy to see this going on since I love to read. Dylan started really reading a few years ago when he would want to see a movie and I made it a rule to read the book first if it was based off a book. Now Dylan loves to read and enjoys them greatly. It was so cute to hear Jacob laughing as he was reading the other day. I was in awe. I was able to take a couple of pictures last night of them reading. They hate their picture taken so I have to sneak the camera in the room with them and CLICK!

Jared reading in the Florida room. Not wanting me to take this

Jacob reading in the massage chair getting a massage.

Alex Riders book series

James Patterson's Maximum Ride Series

Rain, Rain and More Rain!!

2009-05-21T06:02:00.000-07:00

I know we really needed all this rain. I was even doing a rain dance in my head/imagination that is how bad it war really needed. I/We got a lot more at one time than needed. So far over 20 inches in 3 days. The boys school was evacuated on Weds. for the flooding on school grounds. They were bused to the High School on beachside which didn't make any since to me. Why would you take all those kids and move them from the mainland side to the beachside that is sitting between the river and the ocean? I will never know there logic in it. We had a lot of car problems all day yesterday. Starting first thing. Dawn, Mark's sister-in-law her tire blew in this mess and needed a ride which Mark was on his way there to help when the mini-vans brakes locked up and couldn't move. Later that afternoon Mark, had another problem getting stuck in flood waters trying to get to Kenny my step-father who had just had surgery and can't get out of the house. The streets were all closed from flooding and the rain was still coming. On my way to work yesterday I took some pictures of the beautiful river view I get to drive by every morning it wasn't the same view I normally get. Docks underwater, yards flooded, houses flooded, streets underwater. Everything is in a terrible mess. My work place was completely flooded in the parts and service department from the streets outside being underwater and people driving crazy through the water making waves that would go directly into the shop area. I still love the rain just wishing we didn't get so much at once.

Allergic Reaction

2009-05-18T09:33:00.000-07:00

Saturday after work I met all my guys to go eat dinner. After dinner the boys wanted to go play tennis. They all have improved so much in the past month and it seems that is all they want to do. As I was on the sidelines watching Jacob and Jared play against each other. I felt a sting on my right foot. When I looked down there wasn't anything there but a couple of ants. So I swated them off my foot. Then all of a sudden on my big toe, on my left foot landed a big mosiquito. I had never see one that big or those colors before. After that my foot started itching, swelling up, turning red and hot. I had to leave the tennis courts to go home to take care of my feet. Sunday when I woke up I could barely fit my feet in shoes. I found some big ones so I could go to church in something other than flip flops. I couldn't bend my toe and my foot hurt all day. I have never had a reaction to a mosiquito bite before last year when I ended up in the hospital because it took over my entire thigh of my right leg. It turned Hard, red and hot. It was spreading fast and scared me to death. Since I have lived in Florida most of my life and been bit many times.Now I have medication handy just in case it happens again. My feet are starting to go back to normal in size but still itch, are bright red and very sensitive. Just remember to be careful becasue you never know when you will get an allergic reation to something.

This thing bit me on Saturday!

This is what my feet look like Monday morning.Better than Sunday I should have taken a picture then.

Big Fat Toe

Swollen foot

My Tennis Boys

2009-05-12T08:04:00.000-07:00

It has been awhile since I have updated everyone on what the boys have been up to. Since we don't live in Port Orange anymore the boys were unable to play baseball this season as Ormond starts their season earlier than Port Orange. So the boys are playing Tennis. They are loving it even Jared who is so upset that he hasn't been able to play football the last 2 years because he is under-weight. He is trying to put it on so he can possibly play this next season. I don't see him putting that much weight on. The boys are growing so much Dylan is just under 5'5 (5'4.75"). He will be as tall as me (5'6) by summer. He is taller than Ali since she is only 5'1. Jared is 5' exactly and Jacob is 2 inches shorter than Jared. I don't know how that is since they are identical twins. He even weights 9 lbs more than Jacob as well. I just can't believe my babies are almost as big as me and will be grown soon. This saddens me deeply. Dylan is already talking about colleges! I can't believe it he will be in high school in the fall. Where does time go?

My visit with Ali in Va

2009-05-09T06:49:00.000-07:00

This was a short visit with my Boo after getting off the Tiger Cruise. I was able to visit for a couple of days before heading home. I hadn't see Ali in over a year so it was very exciting to me to be able to stay a couple of days. I miss her so much daily and wish we could be close by each other. I know she gets tired of me calling but she is still my baby girl! Enough of that now back to the visit. We were so busy running around after getting off the ship. Ali had already booked our rooms so we didn't have to do that. She had it in her mind to go shopping in Williamsburg at the outlets, so that is were we went after eating at a Japanese Steak house which I just love so much. Cord and I were really starving after eating what they had on the ship. I really like the show they put on while you they are cooking. The next morning it was off the Busch Gardens in Williamsburg. Before I go any further I am afraid of heights so roller coasters and I don't really mix well but I love amusement parks and go every chance I get to. When Ali was 13 we went to Halloween Horror Nights in Orlando. I got on all the Roller Coasters with her and her friends just to prove I could do it and so I didn't look chicken in front of all her Friends. I don't mind them so much at night when I can't see how high up I am. We had a lot of fun goofing around, eating and shopping for a couple of days.

TIGER CRUISE 2009

2009-05-01T08:30:00.000-07:00

THE MIDDLE OF APRIL I WAS ABLE TO GO ON THE USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT AIRCRAFT CARRIER FOR THREE DAYS. MY SON-IN-LAW IS IN THE NAVY AND WHEN THEY COME BACK INTO PORT THEY DO A CRUISE WHERE FAMILY MEMBERS CAN COME ABOARD TO LIVE AND EXPERIENCE WHAT THEIR SAILOR DOES OUT ON THE SHIP WHEN THEY ARE AWAY. CORD WAS GONE THIS TIME FOR 8 MONTHS. DURING THIS TIME THEY VISITED DIFFERENT PORTS AROUND THE WORLD FROM LONDON, TO DUBAI, TO SOUTH AFRICA ETC ALONG WITH BEING OVER IN THE WAR ZONE. THERE IS ALWAYS A DESTROYER ALONG SIDE THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER TO DEFEND IT. IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE TO SEE HOW THEY LIVED ON THE SHIP. THE SLEEPING QUARTERS (BERTHING) ARE TIGHT AND COLD AT ALL TIMES. YOU HAVE TO WEAR LAYERS TO SLEEP OR YOU WILL FREEZE. THE RESTROOM/SHOWERS (HEAD) ARE NOT CONNECTED TO THE SLEEPING QUARTERS SO YOU HAVE TO WALK DOWN HALLS TO GET THERE. THEY ARE NOT THE CLEANEST OF PLACES. IF YOU WERE TO BE ON THE SHIP FOR ANY PERIOD OF TIME YOU WOULD BE AS SKINNY AS A RAIL THE WAY YOU HAVE TO WALK UP AND DOWN STAIRS ALL THE TIME. JUST TO GO TO YOUR ROOM/AREA, I HAD TO WALK UP 3 FLIGHTS OF STAIRS. TO GET ANY WHERE YOU WALK UP AND DOWN TIGHT STAIR CASES. THE FOOD IS NOT VERY GOOD AND THEY SAID IT WAS GOOD COMPARED TO WHAT THEY HAD BEEN EATING. THIS IS A SHAME SINCE THEY ARE THERE SERVING OUR COUNTRY AND FIGHTING FOR OUR FREEDOMS WE HAVE HERE. THE AIR SHOW WE HAD WAS GREAT. I TOOK VIDEO OF SOME OF IT. I AM GOING TO POST IT ON HERE IF I FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO IT. I MADE A SLIDE SHOW OF SOME OF THE PICTURES I TOOK. TAKE A PEAK AND TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK. I WANT TO THANK CORD FOR HAVING ME ON THE SHIP AND GIVING ME AN EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

A WONDERFUL MAN!

2009-04-30T07:22:00.000-07:00

Kenny, has been my Step-Father for the past 14 years and has been the best thing to happen to my mother. He always has a positive attitude in all things even when things aren't going so well. In the past 6 years he has had to fight cancer three times. Today he is going in for the third time so they can remove part of his lung. they are not sure if it is Colon Cancer or Lung but will test it when they get in there today. He is 70yrs old and works non stop. He is an English Brick Mason by trade from England which he has papers to prove it since over there you have to go to school in order to be a mason. he is very proud of these papers. He thinks and states he is as healthy as all of us. Maybe that is how he keeps beating this nasty thing that keeps infecting his body. He still gets up for work at 4:30 in the morning and works a hard day. In the past couple of years he hasn't been able to work as fast as the other younger fella's (as he would say) so he doesn't get as many jobs any more and keeps a positive attitude through it all. This year He has started a small garden in their back yard with a bunch of yummy vegetables. We gave him a pond that we never did anything with at our old house. he was so excited that he installed it right away and now is building a bench seat to go with it. He builds the bricks and stones himself. Which he build their entire patio piece by piece and wrote all the kids and grand kids names in all the stones. He is a very special man to all of us. He will be in our prayer today! KENNY WE LOVE YOU!

Kenny and I this morning before he was leaving for the hospital.

THE POND

THE BENCH SEAT HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING

Kenny's garden has carrots, cabbage, green onions, beets, bulb onions, tomato's, Brussels sprouts. He had corn in another spot but the squirrels ate them and only left them one ear of corn. He would catch them climbing up the tree with the corn. LOL!

LOVE, APPRECIATION AND A BIG THANK YOU!

2009-04-11T05:43:00.000-07:00

What do all these words have in common? MARK! I have all these for him. This weekend he is spending it with my little fellas camping with the Stake boy scouts. He gave up his time, his Friday and Saturday yard saling to go there with them. This means so much to me because he isn't a member of our Church but supports and stands by me and the boys at every turn. I am sure it is uncomfortable for him being around allot of people he doesn't know since Brother Lowry is the only other person that is there from our old Ward. This week we are going to go to our new Ward for the first time and it is scary even for me. I just want to tell him how much I love and appreciate everything he does for me and the boys on a daily basis and has done for us over the past 4 years. Mark has had a lot to deal with in our relationship because I was a single mother of 4 children. A teenage daughter, and three young boys that really needed a man around or they would have turned out to be girly. Mark has had to put up with cranky, moody, stressed out, crying on the shoulder mother, EX-Husband, mouthy teenagers trying to spread there wings and see how far they can push, actually he is still putting up with the mouthy teenagers. etc. and he is still around. Not only does he put up with these things but these are some of the things he does. Laundry, cooks everything, cleans everything, yard work, taxi driver for the boys, etc. I am a lucky girl but I don't say it enough THANK YOU SWEETS FOR EVERYTHING! I LOVE YOU MARK.

Daisy's new home!

2009-04-04T10:35:00.001-07:00

Daisy has a new home and has been there for a week now. A great guy name James and his fiance Angie are Daisy's new owners. She is their only child, so she is getting lots of attention and going on lots of walks. We have spoken several times this week and plan to see her in a few months after I know she is settled in with her new home. I am so happy she has a great new home but miss her terribly and the boys want to go kidnap her and Summer daily.LOL
THE END!

PUTT PUTT

2009-04-03T06:36:00.000-07:00

Still playing catch up on my postings. We went to play PUTT PUTT a few weeks ago and here is how it went. Mark was awesome, making a few HOLE IN ONES. Way to go Sweets. The boys in the end were neck and neck finishing only one point differences. Last but not least ME. I really do stink but as the game went on I started doing great. I really did miss that very close shot several times. It takes me a while to warm up and get going. It was a lot of fun for all of us. After golf we went to Merk's in New Smyrna to eat. We like to go there because there is a game area for the boys. We play a table game like shuffle board. We actually have tournaments playing it when we go there. Now I am really good at that game!! All in all we had a great day. I forgot to add we had coupons for both Putt Putt and Merk's. LOL

Going down the river

2009-03-26T12:52:00.000-07:00

I am playing catch up with my posts. A few weeks ago we took a lazy afternoon an went cruising down the river behind Mark's dad Wayne's house. Mark recently accuired a digy boat. So that he and one of the boys can go fishing. Since we are moving not far from Tomoka State Park and will live across the street from the river. It is so easy to navigate the boys just love it. I think it is so cute and I can handle it myself. Lately Jacob has accuired a taste and patience for fishing even though he doesn't eat fish he really wants to catch fish for dinner. The day we were out he wanted to catch a couple for Wayne to have for dinner. I thought that was so thoughtful. One day he will enjoy the taste of Seafood. Here are just a few pictures of our lazy day on the river.
Jacob trying to get away.

Jacob fishing

His fishing FACE!!

Here comes Mark and Dylan

And their they go!

Dylan the Gondolier

Mark trying to kill something

And ME!! This is the life>

Enjoy

I CUT IT OFF!!

2009-03-23T07:46:00.000-07:00

I HAVE A NEW HAIR STYLE, WHAT DO YOU THINK? I DECIDED TO CUT ALL OF MY HAIR OFF. I WAS AFRAID IT WOULD MAKE ME LOOK REALLY FAT BUT I WANTED TO DO IT SO BAD THAT I JUST TOOK THE PLUNGE. I REALLY LIKE IT. HERE ARE A FEW PICTURES TAKE A LOOK. IT IS GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME TO GET THE STYLE DOWN THE WAY I REALLY WANT IT.

DAISY CONTINUES

2009-03-23T07:36:00.001-07:00

ON FRIDAY I RECEIVED A CALL FROM ANNETTE THE LADY WHO TOOK DAISY. ANNETTE AND HER FAMILY HAVE A COUPLE OF CATS THEY HAVE HAD FOR OVER 10YRS. WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW DAISY WOULD REACT TO THEM SINCE WE DON'T HAVE CATS. I GUESS AT FIRST SHE WAS FINE WITH THEM BUT AS SHE BECAME COMFORTABLE IN THE HOME SHE STARTED HUNTING AND CHASING THE CATS. LETS JUST SAY DAISY THINKS THEY ARE SQUIRRELS AND I HAD TO GO GET HER. NOW THE HUNT IS ON FOR A NEW HOME FOR DAISY. ON TUESDAY WE ARE DRIBING HER DOWN SOUTH TO MET A LADY AND HER HUSBAND. THEY HAVE A FENCED IN YARD, NO KIDS AND NO OTHER ANIMALS. IT IS HARD TO SAY HOW SHE WILL REACT TO THAT BUT ATLEAST SHE WILL GET ALL THE LOVE AND THAT IS WHAT DAISY THRIVES ON. PLEASE PRAY THAT WE FIND HER A WONDERFUL HOME THAT SAME AS WE DID SUMMER. SUMMER IS DOING GREAT IN HER NEW HOME.

DAISY HAS A NEW HOME!!

2009-03-19T06:23:00.000-07:00

Even though it is very sad that we got rid of our beautiful girls. We did find them terrific homes with great families. Daisy left our homeon Sunday. It was very sad but at the same time I was very happy we found her the same kindof home we found Summer. Both are doing great in their new homes so far. I have spoken to Summer's new family this past week and she is doing wonderfully. Settling in nicely, enjoying her daily walks, new companion Marley, and Haley the 3 yr old little girl she lives with and she sleeps at the foot of her bed nightly. We will recieve new pictures of her soon. Daisy's new family doesn't live far from us and says we can visit when we would like. I want Daisy to get used to her new family before we visit and disrupt her new life. Sunday evening was very hard onthe boys, especially Jacob he cried for a couple of hours for the dogs. I try not to think about it to much or I would be a blubering fool crying all over everything again. I know once we move to our new home and the boys will be okay. It is really hard coming home and seeing the back yard empty without the girls trying to show off for you every time you pull in the drive way. We will miss them very much. We love you girls!!

WE ARE MOVING!

2009-03-14T06:47:00.000-07:00

Bike week is finally over and now I can get to packing. I am so excited loads of fun headed my way. Really I am excited just not about the packing part but because we did find a great house. Our new home will be away from all our friends on the other side of town but I am looking forward to the new adventure it is going to bring us. We are moving to Ormond on April 1st. This means the boys are switching schools (Jacob is the Guinea pig. We have already switched him 2 weeks ago). the other boys are not excited about it but love the house. We will have to change Wards, which is going to be hard/scary for me since I have never been to another Ward since I have become a member of the Church. I will miss all my friends but look forward to making new ones. The boys have already let me know I have to bring them to Port Orange every weekend to visit their friends.
Our new home is on N Beach St. not far from Tomoka State park. It is almost 3 times the size of the house we live in now. I am really looking forward to having the extra room. So we won't be right on top of each other. The boys will have their own living area that is separate from the main living area. I even get my own BATHROOM!! Woo Whoo!! I have been living with one bathroom for the past 6 1/2 yrs. Sharing it with the boys the last couple of years has been hard since they are getting older, it seems messier not neater and NEVER lift the seat up so they pee all over the seat and don't wipe it up. YUK!! Not only do I get my own bathroom but off the master bedroom is a 5 person HOT TUB just for me since the house is older and doesn't have a tub in the bathroom. I had certain requirements our new house had to have 1. 2 bathrooms each with a tub (I love my HOT baths) 2. a garage 3. 2 living rooms 4. at least twice the size of the house I have now 5. a walk in closet in the master bedroom. My new home has them all except the tub in the Master bedroom but the HOT TUB more than makes up for it.
I will miss all my friends but look forward to being able to entertain and invite them over to our new home. I can't wait for you all to see it!

MY HEART IS BREAKING

2009-03-05T06:49:00.000-08:00

Today I will have to let go and say goodbye to my Summer girl. We are giving up our dogs since we are so busy with activities and it is only going to get busier as the boys are getting older and going in different directions with different activities. this has been a hard decision one that I have been pondering for almost a year now. I know this is the best thing for both Summer and Daisy. It was hard explaining to the boys why we were getting rid of the girls but they understood when I told them we weren't home enough to give them the love and attention they deserved. Sometimes loving animals means letting them go if it is going to be the best thing for them. We are all heart broken but we love them enough to let them go. As I am writing this I am crying at work like a baby and have been all morning when I heard the family that is taking Summer is coming to get her today around 2 this afternoon. It broke my heart as I was leaving and she gave me a look as if she knew what was happening. She didn't wag her tail and give me kisses as I left. She is going to a good home in Vero Beach. Where she will have a companion by the name of Marley a chocolate lab to play with, a big yard to run and go for lot of walks and runs which Summer loves. Summer we will miss you and will always love you! Mom, Dad, Dylan, Jacob and Jared.

We still have to find a great home for Daisy. So if you know of anyone in need of a wonderful companion/pet. She is your dog. She even plays basketball. I didn't believe it myself when the boys told me but then I witnessed it for myslef. It was so adorable. Please let me know if you know of anyone, Thanks

Bike Week 2009

2009-02-28T14:12:00.000-08:00

Bike week is here till March 8th. I will be working everyday till it is over and then some. So it will be all work and no play for me. I will stop by frequently to put bike week pictures up to keep you all informed of all the excitement I get to see everyday. You should have smelled the food stands this morning. I was drooling at 8:30 it smelled so good LOL. I love the pork chops on Main St. during bike week. You eat them with your hands but they are so big, thick and juicy. I wish I was having one of them for dinner tonight. I might walk over the bridge one day this week when I get off work just to go buy myself one. That sounds like a plan! Talk to you soon. Have a great week everyone!

Dylan the Tiger!!

2009-02-18T08:22:00.000-08:00

A couple weeks ago we went to Beef O'Bradys for dinner. It happened to be school appreciation day for one of the elementary schools in the area. Each day of the week they sponsor a school and give discounts to student from that particular school that come in and eat at their establishment. Several of the restaraunts in the area do this and give back to the schools also. I think this is really great for our schools since so much is being taken away from them lately and our kids have to suffer because of it. That is another subject that I could go on and on about that just really gets to me. Well that evening they were offering face painting along with other things and Dylan being like his mom (ME) joined in to the crowd to get his face painted. I love doing that just as much as I love to put goofy hats on. It is part of the kid in me. So here are a few of Dylan's scarest faces he could come up with.

Make a Smilebox postcard

I'M A LUCKY GIRL!

2009-02-16T11:53:00.000-08:00

AFTER WORKING ALL DAY ON VALENTINES DAY, I CAME HOME TO THIS!

THEN WE WENT TO A FABULOUSE MEXICAN RESTUARANT CALLED SALSAS MEXICAN IN ORMOND ACROSS FROM DESTINATION DAYTONA. NOT EVERYTHIGN WAS AS WONDERFUL. I DO HAVE TWO OF MY THREE LITTLE GENTLEMAN SICK AND NOW ARE RUNNING FEVERS. I HAVE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE LATELY NOT HAVING TO DEAL WITH ANYONE BEING SICK. I STILL HAD A WONDERFUL DAY, THANKS TO MY GUY!!

SOMETHING SPECIAL COMNG YOUR WAY! HURRY

2009-02-16T11:40:00.000-08:00

Read This Quick!
Okay, I thought this "tag" sounded fun so if you want to play along...here's the deal: Be one of the first three to comment on this post and I will send you a handmade gift sometime in the next year.

What's the catch? You also have to post the same thing on your blog. It's a chain letter gone WILD!

So if you're not interested in this "chain letter" do not respond! - At least not until 3 other people do first.

(And if you do respond, I'm going to hop over to your blog and try to be one of your first 3!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA EVANS

2009-02-11T14:15:00.000-08:00

Today is the boys grandma in Ohios birthday. The boys don't get to see her but we want her to know we are thinking about her on her day. She is such a wonderful, kind, caring person and I am so blessed to know her. We love you, hope you have a wonderful day and a great year ahead.
MUCH LOVE WITH HUGS AND KISSES COMING YOUR WAY!
DYLAN, JACOB, JARED, ALI AND ANNETTA

Finding that perfect place to live!!!

2009-02-07T05:46:00.000-08:00

Trying to find the right place is so stressful. I set out on this mission saying that I wasn't in any hurry just wanting to find the right house with all the specific requirements I had laid out that it had to have and it has turned out to be the most stressful mission. I am loosing sleep thinking about the houses I have viewed that day. Is this one in a safe area for the boys to play in, does it have all my requirements (which you know none of them fit that description to a tee) but is it something I can live without if it is missing something. Last night after looking at 4 houses I came home took a bath and passed out before 8:30. I am so drained. Not only am I on the hunt for the perfect place to lay my head at night but I have to start packing the entire house before hand so I am not doing it at the last moment. Also at work this is our busy season so I will be working 6 to7 days a week until the middle of March. With all this and other things going on in my life I have been in an avoidance mode, just keeping to myself which isn't the right thing to do. I try not to do this but it is a hard habit to break. So to all my friends I haven't seen or spoken with I am sorry I haven't been around. Please pray for me, Thanks and much love, Annetta

LOST AND FOUND!

2009-01-26T13:28:00.000-08:00

IN MY HOUSE OLD LOST ITEMS ARE LIKE BRAND NEW TOYS WHEN WE FINALLY DO FIND THEM. WHAT I AM GETTING AT IS WE FOUND MY SON JACOB'S CAMERA WE THOUGHT WAS LOST ON A BOY SCOUT CAMPING TRIP LAST YEAR BUT IT WAS REALLY STUCK UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT OF MY CAR. WE BOTH RECEIVED CAMERAS A COUPLE OF CHRISTMASES AGO AND BOTH WERE LOST LAST YEAR. MINE WAS TRAGICALLY LEFT IN NEW YORK CITY ON A FERRY WHEN MARK AND DYLAN WENT IN MAY AND LESS THAN A MONTH LATER JACOB'S WAS MISSING. WE JUST ASSUMED IT WAS ON THE CAMPING TRIP AS THAT WAS THE LAST TIME ANYONE HAD SEEN IT UNTIL MARK MY WONDERFUL BOYFRIEND FOUND IT UNDER THE CAR SEAT. I WAS SO UPSET BY THIS BECAUSE NOT ONLY WAS MINE LOST BUT NOW HIS IS MISSING AND I HADN'T TAKEN THE PICTURES OFF OF IT FROM MARK AND THE BOYS TRIP TO WASHINGTON DC, OUR DAY AT UNIVERSAL, A DAY AT THE BEACH WHICH IS RARE SO YOU HAVE TO CAPTURE IT ON CAMERA/VIDEO TO SHOW THEM THEY DO HAVE FUN ONCE THEY GET THERE BECAUSE MY BOYS ARE STRANGE IN THAT THEY DON'T LIKE GOING TO THE BEACH (IT IS THE SAND THEY DON'T WANT IN THEIR PANTS! OUCH)SO IF WE GO IT IS A HASTLE. AND FINALLY CAMPING PICTURES. sO WHEN HE SAID HE FOUND THE CAMERA I WAS SO EXCITED THE FIRST THING I DID WAS TAKE THE PICTURES OFF THE CAMERA. HERE ARE A FEW OF THOSE LOST CAPTURED MOMENTS!

I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS COMMON IN YOUR HOUSE BUT IT IS VERY COMMON IN MY HOUSE WITH THE THREE BOYS AND ESPECIALLY WHEN MY DAUGHTER WAS AT HOME STILL. MY STUFF WOULD ALWAYS COME UP MISSING AND THEN REAPEAR IN HER ROOM. EVEN AFTER ASKING IF SHE KNEW WHERE THEY WERE AND SHE WOULD ACT LIKE SHE WOULD NEVER HAVE TOUCHED OR WORE SUCH A THING. THE BOYS ARE ALWAYS FINDING GAMES, TOYS, MOVIES THEY HAVE LOST IN THE HOUSE OR LEFT AT GRANDMA'S, ETC. SOMETIMES IT IS LIKE CHRISTMAS ALL OVER AGAIN. THESE ARE THE GOOD OLE DAYS. IT IS SO EXCITEING RIGHT NOW WHAT AM I GOING TO LOOK FORWARD TO ON A DAILY BASIS WHEN THEY ARE ALL GROWN UP AND GONE. I AM SURE THE PEACE AND QUITE WILL BE NICE FOR A MOMENT BUT I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A MOM MY ENTIRE ADULT LIFE I DON'T KNOW IF I WILL LIKE IT SINCE I HATE IT AFTER A DAY OR SO WHEN THE BOYS LEAVE FOR THEIR DADS TO VISIT.

We're Back!

2009-01-17T07:03:00.000-08:00

We had such a great time in Virginia going from one side of the state to the other. We started off in Seaford which is near Yorktown. So we visited the battle fields, monuments, caves and historic districts of Yorktown and Williamsburg. I also showed the boys were I went to high school and lived growing up. We visited my daughter's grandparents while we were in town. They live in Newport News down the street from where I grew up.Then we went to visit my high school friend Carol and her family in Virginia Beach/Norfolk. We haven't seen each other in approximately 17 yrs. She has two of the cutest kids. New Years eve we went to my aunt Michele's home in Richmond. Where she was having a New Years eve party. Dylan was in heaven playing man hunt with air soft riffles with his 2nd cousins they had just met On this trip. Trevor and Brandon are the boys ages so it was really nice that they finally got to meet and got along so well. New years day we were off to Uncle Craig and Louanne's house in Floyd. Floyd is about an hour from Roanoke in the mountains. Since I am used to Florida weather and really don't have proper clothing for the cold lets just say I was freezing my tush off. The boys were having the time of their lives. Building bomb fires, riding four wheelers, hiking, learning to split wood, planting a Christmas tree and just getting dirty without getting yelled at. I loved visiting family I haven't seen in many years and hopefully it won't be that long again before we all get together. Here is a brief slide show of our trip to Uncle Craig's there are so many pictures I had to pick a select few to share. I hope you enjoy.

Make a Smilebox photobook

Talk to you soon!

2008-12-27T12:09:00.000-08:00

We are going on vacation to Va. so I will not be posting for a while. I wanted to say I hope everyone had a great Christmas. Here is a couple of cute pics I took of the boys. Will post more when we get back.

Jacob dressed all in his military/camo gear. He just loves to wear his camo.

. My Dylan elf!

Hope you have a Merry Christmas

2008-12-24T06:37:00.000-08:00

Make a Smilebox postcard

My boys are amazing!

2008-12-16T17:21:00.000-08:00

It started with me being sick last week. I really wanted to get my tree up but didn't have the strength to do so I asked Jacob if he could at least put the White tree up. You don't have to decorate it just put it up. He put it up for and continued on to put up the Christmas village. We didn't have the display case to put it up so he decided to put it up in the entertainment center. I tried to help but wasn't much good. The next morning he got up and before school decorated my tree. We have two trees for the house but the other was going to the Ward to be decorated for the Christmas party there that was absolutely wonderful with great food (especially the deserts were Yummy!) and a satellite video of Santa from the North Pole for the kids. The just loved it! . It is home now and up. I have never put lights up around the house before and wasn't again this year even though we have the lights for the house. So when I came home with Jacob yesterday evening after work Jared had started putting lights up in the back of the house. Jacob sick wanted to help his brother so he got up on the roof with Jared to help him finish. It was going well until the lights blew because they had them all on the same plug. Mark came over the next day and helped Jared figure out the light problem. When I brought Jacob home from school. Jared and Jacob finished the wonderful lights around and on the roof. The boys put in white lights HOHOHO, blue and pink lights a present, and green w/multi colored lights a tree. They were so good to me while I have been under the weather and I just wanted to share how great I think my boys are. Thank you, Jacob and Jared.

I can't forget about Dylan because he was always checking on me because I barely got out of bed for two day. Taking my temp, trying to feed me and just staying close by making sure I was okay. Thank you, Turtle.

I love you all so much, MOM

AMAZING GRACE

2008-12-11T12:16:00.000-08:00

I received this in my email today from Mark's dad Wayne and thought I would share this with all of you. One of my favorite songs. This version gave me goose pumps. I hope you enjoy itas much as I did. Annetta

www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtrnB4FZ-yc

Family picture day at Princess Place Preserve

2008-12-08T13:43:00.000-08:00

Here are the family pictures we took at Princess Place Preserve. We are trying to get the right Christmas photo of the family to send out this year in our cards. We wanted something different and thought we could take some unique pictures here at the preserve. As you can see we did and as always one of us is not doing the same as the others. Enjoy the slide show and lets see if you can pick out the one we will use. Good Luck! Annetta

Dear Boys!

2008-12-05T10:57:00.001-08:00

I want you to know how much I love you guys and I am so happy you are back home. I just have a few requests/wishes for you adorable young men. I know you can do these things for your mother.

Homework, please do it so I don't have to take your entire weekend away because I get on Webgrade and see big fat ZERO'S where there should be nice wonderful grades.

Chores, when doing your chores please take pride in doing them and before saying you are done ask yourself will MOM think this is done correctly so when I do get home from work and they are not started, completely done or just shoved to another spot trying to hide the mess I won't make you do it again, give a speech to you at the top of my lungs and you won't have to write hundreds of sentences and you know I mean hundreds because I am so tired to talking about the same things over and over again.

Fighting with each other. I know there is one of you that loves to bug the other two and get them going because you know you can. At times ther ohter egg it on also. I don't want to make you hug each other for hours telling each other that you love one another looking each other in the eyes not being able to move. I am going to do this very soon if you guys don't stop. The yelling and picking needs to stop. I know sibling spats are normal to some degree but at times you guys go overboard over everything you are fussing about.

Picking up after yourself is not hard to do. When you are done with whatever it may be you are using at the time Please! I am begging you to put it away or dispose of it properly. Let me give you examples of what mom is talking about. Clothes, put them in the laundry baskets not on the floor where you take them off. Put clean clothes away properly not shoved in corners, under beds or back in the laundry room so you won't have to open a draw and put them away correctly. It takes more energy to do the things you are doing to pretend they have been put away properly than it would have to put them away properly. Dishes, how many times do you go to the kitchen sink and you can't pick them up off the counter or table and walk them to the sink and clean it. Games/toys, leaving them in the living room not in there proper case is going to get them scratched or broken (as you well know, many have been destroyed for this reason). You have to go into another case to get another game out anyway so why not put the one you are done with in its proper case before you get next game out. I could go on for hours giving examples but I won't bore the world with all my venting on this subject when there is more you can do for your poor loving mother.

Hygiene: Not all of you have the same issues but you know who you are when I bring these up. Brushing your teeth. WHY? OH WHY? do I have to remind you all on a daily basis to do this task that you have had to do your entire life. Washing your hands, wipe you face, don't wipe your hands on your shirt, brush your hair, change your dirty shirt/pants (I have a child that just doesn't like to change if he is wearing his favorite clothes, he just doesn't care if it is dirty he wants to wear it over and over again). Air your shoes and feet out!! etc.

Sorry boys for venting on the blog but maybe you will see how desperately I am pleading with you to help your mother in these situations. You all are growing up to be wonderful little men and I only want the best for you all. I can't go on strike and since I have tried that knowing it doesn't work is not an option. So I am going to take drastic measures. THIS IS YOUR WARNING!! BEFORE IT HAPPENS SO DON'T SAY YOU DIDN'T KNOW I WAS GOING TO TAKE THESE GREAT AND WONDERFUL STEPS WHEN THE CONSEQUENCES BECOME HARDER THAN THEY ARE NOW ON YOU!

HUGS, KISSES AND SCRATCH BACKS

LOVE YOUR STRESSED OUT MOTHER THAT IS COUNTING HER BLESSINGS NOT HER PROBLEMS!

HAVE A WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING!

2008-11-27T06:47:00.000-08:00

Today we will be pondering on all the blessings we have in our lives and I hope all of us will be thinking about the little simple things that we take for granted on a daily basis. Like the people we see everyday or that are miles aways (family, friends,The Prophet, Church Leaders, cashiers, co-workers, school teachers, police officers, firemen, doctors, and The soldiers that protect our great nation on a daily basis that give us our freedom, and etc), the oxygen we breath, the trees that provide it for us, the sound of the ocean waves, the singing of the birds, clean water we have to drink, the food on our plates to eat, and so many more lets lift them up in prayer and give Thanks for these wonderful things we are so fortunate to have in our lives. With all this said have a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving.

With Love,
Annetta, Mark, Alexandria, Cord, Dylan, Jacob and Jared

Goodbyes and Departures

2008-11-24T14:08:00.001-08:00

Yesterday my little men left to go spend the Thanksgiving Holiday with their dad, Jeff, his wife and their kids in Alabama. Each time the boys leave it seems to be getting harder instead of easier as the years go by. The anxiety seems to really start the week before they leave with all the preparations going on for them to go. Making sure they have everything they need, packed and that the luggage isn't overweight or you will have the extra charge. It seems like the boys start acting out around this time as well, maybe they are excited about going or they are just feeding off my stress and anxiety over the whole situation. This entire experience might not be so bad if their dad and I had a better relationship but reality is we don't. I am always praying that one day we will become the mature adults we need to be and have a better relationship for all the children involved in this matter. I know it bothers the boys even though they don't speak of it often. At the airport is when I feel it the pain/loss the most. Watching them walk away from me to get on the plane. It is like someone hit me in the gut, all my air is gone and I can't breath. I try to hold back the tears but they always seem to come. After they are gone I try not to focus on their absence but when I am at home alone I start moping around wishing I could see them, hear them fight with each other, laugh, love/squish on the dogs (Summer and Daisy), fuss with them about homework and chores. I just really hate goodbyes and departures. They tear at my very being. I know my Heavenly Father is always with me to give me comfort in my time of need. While the boys are with their dad they will be celebrating their Christmas with them in Alabama. So this year I have decided we will be making all gifts that will be handed out. So we had a day of baking before they left and this is what we made. I really do want my boys to have a great time with their dad and his family. I want them to have a great relationship with them as well but I just really miss them so much when they are away. I want to be selfish at times I do look at it as I didn't have them to be a part time mom and for that I ask forgiveness. Thanks for reading about my woes.

I have messed this blog up!

2008-11-22T12:40:00.000-08:00

Today I was trying out new templates and backgrounds all the while I messed this blog up completely and lost most of my favorite things on it. Give me a couple of days to figure out what went wrong and to get my blog back up and working properly.
Thanks for your patience in all my confusion.
Annetta

School Projects

2008-11-17T11:48:00.000-08:00

This past week has been about doing science projects that the boys had due. I have three boys and they decided to wait till the last minute to accomplish these big project. I decided this year since they are in middle school now they had to do them (any projects that came up) on their own unless there were dangerous tools or chemicals involved. It just seems like when big projects are handed out it is more work for the parents to get it accomplished along with a bunch of money out of pocket. With that said I am on strike from these projects and unless we absolutley have to buy certain things they will use what we have in the house to complete the project. Jacob who is in 6th grade advanced Science has known about his project for over a month. He didn't have an option not to due one. The option he did have was to do a report project or a display project. He chose to do a report. Either way the experiment had to be done. It was driving me crazy that he was just acting like he had all the time in the world to accomplish this. I stuck to my word and didn't lift a finger to help. Jared is in regular science so he had the option to do one or not. He chose not to do a big project. Dylan is in 8th grade science. He had the option to do a poster and draw his FE Iron atom diagram or make a 3D model of the atom. He chose the model because it would earn him more points. He had a week to do it. Since I like things done neatly and in a certain order it was stressing me out how scattered he had everything. I still stuck to my word even though by now I really wanted to help get it done. I know they will feel better about doing it by themselves and not having mom doing it or making them do it her way just becasue I see it one way and they see it another. I am growing up and letting go. It is so hard because they are my babies. Here are a few picture of Dylan's model.

TO SHAVE OR NOT TO SHAVE THAT IS THE QUESTION?

2008-11-10T13:23:00.000-08:00

Let me tell you the reason for this question. This past weekend we had a yard sale. You know getting up earlier than you normally do to haul stuff outside and set it up so a bunch of strangers can come by and rummage through your old stuff. At this moment you don't care what you look like. You are not trying to win fashion show and you don't have to be pretty to have a yard sale either. So with my hair shoved on the top of my head. sweat pants and sweat shirt on(it was cool first thing in the morning, no make-up just natural ole me running around at least I put a bra on or I really would have been a site to see. After we were set up and the crowd slowed down I needed to change into something a little cooler since it was 83 degrees out now. Sometime later in the day as I went to sit down and prop my legs up to relax for a few minutes. There it was I noticed my legs they were as hairy as a gorilla and I had been strutting them around day in my shorts I never wear. The hair was longer than the hair on Mark's legs (my boyfriend). I made a little joke about it but left it at that for the rest of the day until my nice HOT relaxing Bath! Why hadn't I notice these hairy thing before. Well first thing the hair on my legs is blond (Thank You God for that nice feature you gave me!) and it doesn't bother me since I wear long pants all the time. so I started thinking while I was relaxing should I or shouldn't I? Am I the only one or are there others out there just like me? I had to decide whether to shave or not since unless you are really closely looking at my legs or touching them will you notice the hair that you could brush. Then the thought came to mind I have church in the morning! I have to shave my legs are likely to be hanging out and I can't have that. So I shaved. Now for the second question. Am I the only one out there that lets life get so busy that they forget to shave and are just very thankful that they even get to clean themselves or are you like my daughter that states she can feel the hairs growing on her legs. So she has to shave everyday and some days a couple times a day. Let me know your thoughts on shaving!

JARS OF THANKSGIVING

2008-11-02T15:49:00.000-08:00

I just love this time of year. The weather is cooler and the holiday season is just beginning (my favorite). Keeping Thanksgiving in mind I wanted to do a positive project with the boys this month. So I decided to do the Jars of Thanksgiving. Every evening before bed we will write on a slip of paper one thing we were thankful for that day and slip it into our jars. I want us to stay focused on the positive things in our life. Sometimes it is so easy for think about the negative side of things when the positive always out weighs the negative. Since my boys will not be home for Thanksgiving as they will be spending it with their father Jeff and his family in Alabama this year this is how it is going to work. During the month of November we will put our slips of paper into our jars every night and on Sunday evenings we will each read what we were thankful for that week. I will keep each slip of paper all month and at the end of the month make a poster of all the things we gave thanks to our Heavenly Father for and so we can see the many wonderful things we do have each and everyday in our lives that sometimes we forget and take for granted on most occasions. I hope Everyone has a wonderful Holiday season and I will keep you posted on how this is going. I am very anxious to see all the wonderful and interesting things the boys can come up with to be thankful for.

TAGGED!!

2008-11-01T10:57:00.000-07:00

I have been tagged. So here are 6 random interesting facts about myself!

1. I love being a MOM! My 4 children are the most important things in my life after My Lord and Savior.

2. I really love working on cars. Not that I would let Mark know this. I have always wanted to take a mechanics course. I don't like the getting dirty part of it but love the part about being able to work under the hood of a car, figuring out the problem, fixing it and it working properly. The satisfaction of being able to say I DID IT!

3. I am a true optimist. Always having Faith, Hope and a true belief in everything is possible and can happen even see it when it looks really gloom and impossible. I always see the positive. I do have breaking moments but the Lord is always there to guide me letting me know I am not alone. All things are possible in Him!!

4. I am an Adventurer/World Traveler (at least in my mind). I would love to travel the world to expereince new cultures, beliefs and ideas. I am always telling my kids that when they grow up I want them to spread their wings and fly. There is so much to see and expereince. My kids have been very fortunate to have been able to experience traveling on a regular basis. My daughter has been to most of the states and overseas. The boys travel to visit their father and his family where ever they are living at the moment.

5. I want to go to college and finish when I GROW UP!! I think I am almost there.

6. I AM IN LOVE WITH THE MOST AMAZING MAN!!

If you have read this you are Tagged!! Annetta

TOE SOCKS

2008-10-30T08:18:00.000-07:00

Do you remember toe socks girls? The knee high, designs on each toes, rainbow stripes, funky socks. I always received them for Christmas as a little girl along with the pretty night gown and robe or cute little silky PJ's. I could always count on these things at Christmas. Well back to the socks. Today was funky socks day at the boys school. Part of the RED RIBBON WEEK CAMPAIGN. I had one pair left that my daughter didn't take from me. Dylan was all over them when I told him I had a pair of striped toe socks with candy canes on the toes. The other boys wouldn't wear funky socks to school. Dylan doesn't care what people think and loves to participate in all activities at school or contest. The Hoola Hoop is his favorite. He beat all the girls at Daytona Lagoon one day and on his birthday in 2007 we went to the Disney Street Festival the was Downtown New Smyrna. The Bue Sister were there. I was able to get them to bring him up on stage and sing to him. He was in Love. Well back to the point that day he won the Hoola Hoop contest being able to use the most hoola hoops without them falling down. 15 Hoola Hoops!! I love his adventurous side willing to try different things. Here are a few pictures of his Socks this morning.

MY LITTLE BAKER

2008-10-29T07:11:00.000-07:00

My son Jacob loves to cook/bake. He is always looking for something to bake even if we don't have all the ingredients the recipe calls for he will improvise. I came home from work one day and he had made a whole platter of sugar cookies. He had to improvise because we didn't have all the ingredients. I don't remember what we didn't have but whatever he used instead did the trick. To me they turned out to be the best sugar cookies I have ever tasted. I wasn't supposed to be eating them but they were so good I couldn't stop. I told myself they were only quarter size and it was okay to indulge. Jacob wasn't fond of them. I keep asking him to make them for me again even for my birthday. He wouldn't but he did make my birthday Cake. It was Yummy. A recipe (Strawberry Cake) I got off my girlfriends blog Chocolate Monday. You should check it out. There are some great recipes and crafty ideas on there you're bound to love. At least once a week he is baking something. So yesterday I pick him up from school and all he want to do is make brownies. Of course we don't have the stuff for brownies but we do for Chocolate chip cookies. So as a project together we started baking chocolate chip cookies then I decided I wanted some No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Peanut butter Cookies YUMMY!!Here are a few Pictures I took of Jacob and baking skills.

My Birthday Cake Jacob made!

Jacob frosting my birthday cake

Jacob stirring the mixture for the chocolate no bake cookies

finished product, I can't wait to eat them!

Waiting for them to get done. So impatient

Jacob trying to eat them off the pan

Showing his cookies off! Goofy

Sampling his product. Yum Yum Delicious

RED RIBBON WEEK

2008-10-27T06:28:00.000-07:00

While the boys were getting dressed this morning Jared asked me where his ties were. I thought this was unusual since he had on a t-shirt and shorts. So I asked why? October 23 thru October 31, 2008 is RED RIBBON WEEK! Say "NO" To Drugs Campaign. The boys school, Creekside Middle is showing support by having the kids wear ties to school. I think this is very cute and I got a couple of cute pictures in the process. I love when the schools show support for campaigns like this. It teaches our kids to be pro active in their beliefs and values.

" />

It is hard sometimes to get them all together for a picture without them being goofy. Makes for some cute and unusual pictures.

Having fun with the pictures, this is a coloring book page!

Cartoon characters!

Dylan, he loves to have his picture taken!

MANY TRUTHS IN THIS EMAIL

2008-10-19T11:00:00.000-07:00

David Letterman wrote this; it's the David we don't often see...

'As most of you know I am not a President Bush fan, nor have I ever been, but this is not about Bush, it is about us, as Americans, and it seems to hit the mark.

'The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some Poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source, right?

The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the President. In essence 2/3 of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change. So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, 'What are we so unhappy about?''

A.. Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 Days a week?

B.. Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter?

C.. Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job?

D.. Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?

E.. Maybe it is the ability to drive our cars and trucks from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state?

F.. Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter?

G.. I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough either.

H. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.

I.. Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home.

J... You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames, thus saving you, your family, and your belongings.

K... Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss.

L... This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90% of teenagers own cell phones and computers.

M.. How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world?

Maybe that is what has 67% of you folks unhappy.

Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S. , yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have, and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.

I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me?

Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad? Think about it.......are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the 'Media' told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day. Make no mistake about it..

The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an 'other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable' ' discharge after a few days in the brig.

So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans?

Say what you want but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells, and when criticized, try to defend their actions by 'justifying' them in one way or a nother Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O..J. Simpson to write a book about how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way......Insane!

Turn off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as country. There is exponentially more good than bad. We are among the most blessed people on Earth and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative.' 'With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, 'Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?'

David Letterman

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEETS!

2008-10-15T09:01:00.000-07:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Today is my Mark's Birthday. My wonderful, loving,caring, supportive, smart, funny, and humorous boyfriend. He is the most excepting person I know. To love me for who I am with all my extra baggage and kids that I come with. He just stepped up with no questions asked. He stands by me in every situation and is so supportive of anything I want to do or try. He is so great with the boys. Playful when it is time to play (which is most of the time), Stern when they need it, Supportive, Encouraging in all things, a great roll model and example of all of us to follow. I am very blessed to have him in my live. Happy Birthday Sweets. Lovs Ya, A

Happy Birthday Boo!

2008-10-13T06:19:00.000-07:00

Today is my little girls 20th birthday. I can't believe she is all grown up, living away from home and married. It just seems like yesterday she was keeping me up all night, teaching her to pick up her toys and share them with others, ride a bike, skate, taking her to school for the first day, getting her first hair cut (that I cried at because her hair was past her butt and now it was all gone. I still have it braided), etc. I could go on for days just reminiscing. I just want to tell her how proud I am of her for the wonderful woman she has turned out to be. I love you Boo!

Make a Smilebox photobook

New Blog

2008-10-10T11:06:00.000-07:00

I have started a new blog for book lovers. I love to read so I started a Family Book Club Blog with my reviews and opinions of the books I have read or are reading. Please stop by, leave your comments on a book or just share new books to read with me. I am going to get my kids involved in this so there wll be reading materials for all ages.

www.annettareads.blogspot.com

How To Really Live!

2008-10-09T07:18:00.000-07:00

HOW TO REALLY LIVE....If you can manage it

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.
2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to.
3. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My purpose is to __________ today.'
4. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
5. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.
6. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
7. Don't waste your precious energy on energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
8. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.
9. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
10. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
11. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
12. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
13. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
14. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
15. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
16. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'
17. Forgive everyone for everything.
18. What other people think of you is none of your business.
19. GOD heals everything.
20. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
21. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch!!! 2
2. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
23. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for _______. Today I accomplished _______.
24. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

The End of a Great Season!

2008-10-08T19:21:00.000-07:00

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Dylan and the boys had a great fall season in South Daytona. Most of the boys on his team along with Dylan came from the Port Orange rec league. This league was alittle more competitive for the boys and gave them great expereince. I hate to see it come to an end as I love watching the boys play ball. I am looking forward to relaxing for a month until Basketball season starts and I am going in three different directions again.

Lets Celebrate!!

2008-10-04T09:31:00.001-07:00

October is a busy month for birthdays. I want to acknowledge loved ones and friends that are celebrating their big day during October. I am very fortunate to have two big days this month not only was I born October 5 but I was baptised on October 21. I want to Tell the following people Happy Birthday and I am so greatful they are in my life. Wayne (Mark's dad), Mark my sweetheart, Ali Boo my grown baby girl, Christina (Ali and her were born on the same day three years apart. Ali always said Tina was her birthday present), Jeanie and JP (Ali's sister and brother), Aunt Louanne, Celeste Child, Janet Harrison, Liz Beville, Lynne Lowry, Audrey Hnederson, Matt Schreck and to anyone else I might have missed that is Celebrating this month.

Have a Wonderful Day! Love, Annetta, Mark, Dylan, Jacob and Jared

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WAYNE

2008-10-01T05:27:00.000-07:00

TODAY IS MARK'S DADS BIRTHDAY. hAPPY bIRTHDAY WAYNE!! I HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT DAY IN ST. AUGUSTINE AND WE LOVE YOU! MARK, ANNETTA AND THE BOYS

NAFTA Super Highway! READ

2008-09-30T08:04:00.000-07:00

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=15497

My daughter brought this to my attention. I wanted to share this with all of you since in the article it states that most of America is asleep on this subject. This is very alarming to me. Please pass this on so that we all become aware of this coming event that has been passed without most of us knowing about it.

My Family Fun Book!

2008-09-22T10:23:00.000-07:00

If you are a bargain hunter like we are or just like to get a good deal then here is a couple fgreat deals for you. Every year our family buys the Family Fun Book for $20.00. This is a great book of coupons. It not only saves you money on dinning out but golfing, bowling, go-karting, Daytona Lagoon, Museums and many more places to gowith the family and have fun. It also supports our schools. You can purchase these from your local school or from this website www.myfamilyfunbook.com These books are good all year more like 15 months. We don't go anywhere without it and it gets you to try new places that you probably would never have tried.
The next bargain is at www.myhometownnews.net on they have 50% off gift certificates to all different places. It changes from week to week what gift certificates they have. On friday monrings between 9:30 and 10:15 am they update with the new ones. The really good places do sell out fast so you have to check out the site to see what you want first and then be on there when it is updated so you can get them. Great gifts/presents for any occassion. This is for Brevard, Indian River, Martin, Palm Beach, St. Lucie and Volusia Counties. So if you have family or friends in any of the other counties let them know about it.
Enjoy!

Please watch

2008-09-08T14:19:00.000-07:00

Good Afternoon,
I received this in an email today and wanted to post this so everyone/anyone can view it. It brought me to tears (I am so emotional) and really made me think.
Would you stand up or would yo be afraid? I would hope that we would stand up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piuoGb-Nhfw

Have a great day! Annetta

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACOB AND JARED

2008-09-04T05:53:00.000-07:00

Today my little men turn 12 years old. They are growing up so fast. I know they are excited to be tweens and being in young men's now. They have been waiting for the day to get out of Primary.We are going to have Football Parties with Jacob on Friday evening and Sunday afternoon with Jared. Jacobs favorite football team The Dallas Cowboys are playing Friday evening and the Philadelphia Eagles are playing Sunday afternoon. This year they didn't want one celebration together they wanted to have their own. Their morning started off wonderful. Mark came over and took them to breakfast. They had a blast this morning laughing and playing around with each other and everyone. Happy Birthday Boys I Love you!

J & J Made Second Class

2008-09-03T18:32:00.000-07:00

Jacob and Jared are moving up in the Scout world. Tonight they had a Court of Honor during Boy Scouts. The boys received their second class rank. Dylan, didn't receive anything this evening since he missed board of review last week for a baseball game. I am so proud of all the boys accomplishments. Great Job Boys!
I Love You, MoM

1 lb, YES!

2008-09-03T06:20:00.000-07:00

THAT IS A TOTAL OF 10.4LBS LOST.

Now let me tell you how I got on this journey. I am such a people pleaser (the stress that comes with this) and wanting to make everyone happy all the time, I don't like confrontations (I am shy by nature until I get to know you), my relationship with my EX and his wife wasn't/still isn't very good, being a single mother of 4 children. At the time a teenage daughter trying to push her limits finding her way and three young boys dealing with their parents not getting along and being ADHD, just trying to make ends meat with no real support system finally got to me. So about 3 years ago the summer of 2005, I got really depressed and finally had to go on medication for depression for about year. I gradually gained 40lbs. I had always been a size 1 to 3 my entire life never weighing over 115lb except during pregnancy. As I gained weight people say you are looking healthier because I was really skinny for my 5'6 frame. So I didn't think about how much I was/had gained until someone took a picture of me and I couldn't believe what I saw. Other people thought I was pregnant because I gained most of it in my stomach area. I felt bad but not bad enough to really do something about it until one of my boys started saying things to me about it. I tried detox diets, not eating still no getting off my lazy hind end and moving. So when I found out a couple of my girlfriends from church had started Weight Watchers (about 12 Weeks ago) and were going to meetings on Tuesday evenings and walking in the evenings. So I asked if I could join them on their walks and the next week I joined WW and started going to the meetings as well . I needed accountability and a support group. I have stuck with it through the ups and downs. I go weigh in even when I think I have just gained 5 lbs that week. I want to be held accountable with a reality check. So I am so excited to have reached the 10lb mark. We all need to take care of our selves because we deserve it and our families deserve us to be in the best shape for our health. So on daily basis I pray and thank My Heavenly Father for my friends who brought Weight Watchers into my life and pray for the strength that I need to do what is needed on this journey because it is not and overnight journey it is small steps you take to make your goal and to keep your goal for a lifetime. Thank You Girls!