LU'S SWEET ICE TEA

WE ALL HAVE TIMES THAT WE JUST NEED TO GET SOMETHING THAT IS GONNA DO US GOOD. WELL CHRIS AND I TALKED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST ABOUT LOOKING AROUND FOR ANOTHER RIDE. THE MOTHER SHIP -ARMADA- IS SUCH A GOOD RIDE. SHE STILL LOOKS GOOD AFTER 3 YEARS. WE WANTED SOMETHING THAT GIVES US BETTER GAS MILEAGE AND WE CHOSE TO GET AN ALTIMA (YES ANOTHER NISSAN). THE ALTIMA IS SMALLER AND THE KIDS LOOKED SO CRAMPED BUT THEY LIKE IT. SHE WILL BE USED FOR LONG TRAVELS THAT WE HAVE PLANNED TO DO. WE WELCOME HER WITH OPEN ARMS AND OPEN BANK ACCOUNT. LOL THINGS HERE HAVE BEEN GOING WELL. THE TWINS ARE PLAYING SOFTBALL AND SEEM TO ENJOY IT SO MUCH. EMILY IS THE CATCHER AND I SEE HER LEARNING MORE AT EACH GAME. SHE WILL THROW THAT MASK OF AND GRAB THAT BALL AND HOLD IT LIKE SHE DARES SOMEONE TO TRY HER. ERICA IS PLAYING THE FIELD. LITERALLY. SHE HAS BEEN PLAYING OUTFIELD, AND INFIELD. COACH DENNY IS MAKING HER VERSATILE. I ENJOY WATCHING THEM PLAY. IT MAKES MY HEART JUST BURST FROM EXCITEMENT AND JOY....

I OFTEN WANT TO WRITE ON HERE BUT SELDOM DO I FEEL I HAVE MUCH TO SAY THAT IS WORTH SAYING. DONT GET ME WRONG I CAN TALK AND I CAN TYPE BUT I FEEL THAT WHAT I AM THINKING ISNT WHAT SOMEONE WOULD WANT TO READ. I LIVE MY LIFE AS EASILY AS I CAN AND LOVE MY FAMILY AND MY FRIENDS. I DO THE NORMAL EVERYDAY STUFF. I WAKE UP ( WITH THE BLESSING OF THE LORD) AND I GET THE KIDS UP FOR THEM TO GET READY FOR SCHOOL. I CARRY THEM TO SCHOOL. THE GIRLS STILL RIDE WITH ME. MATTHEW, WELL HE HAS STARTED RIDING THE BUS BECAUSE HE THINKS THAT WE GIRLS ARE TOO SLOW AND HE WANTS TO GET TO SCHOOL EARLIER. THIS DOES NOT BOTHER ME IN THE LEAST BECAUSE IT GIVES HIM A RESPONSIBILITY OF GETTING UP AND BEING READY BEFORE A CERTAIN TIME. THE GIRLS ..WELL THEY STILL SLACK A LITTLE SOME MORNINGS BUT SO DO I. THEY SO THEIR THING AND WE MEET AT THE BACK DOOR. I NEVER HEAR ANY COMPLAINTS UNLESS ITS ME RUNNING LATE. I STILL NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHY IT IS THEY ARE SO INTENT ON GETTING TO SCHOOL SO EARLY. I HAVE...

WELL, TODAY ITS BEEN A YEAR THAT CHRIS AND I HAVE OFFICIALLY BEEN TOGETHER. WE STARTED TALKING MONTHS BEFORE (LIKE 4-OCTOBER 08). WE SETTLED ON FEBRUARY 26, 2009 DUE TO THE FACT THAT THIS WAS THE DAY THAT HE STARTED STAYING WITH ME AND THE GIRLS. I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAD BEEN TALKING BUT WE NEEDED TO GET THE PAST IN ITS CORRECT PLACE. IN THE PAST. I NEEDED TO MAKE SURE THAT MY PAST WAS FINAL AND I WANTED TO GIVE HIM TIME TO DO THE SAME. ALL OF THAT IS IN THE PAST AND TODAY IS A GOOD DAY. I HAVE LOVED THIS MAN SINCE THE BEGINNING. I KNEW ..WELL MY HEART KNEW THAT HE WAS MY SOUL MATE. MY HEART IS TAKEN FOR LIFE. I KNOW YOU MUST SAY "ARE YOU SURE?" WELL YES I KNOW THAT HE IS MY BEST FRIEND. HE IS THE ONE HAT I DREAM WITH, LAUGH WITH LIVE FOR AND LOVE. WE SHARE KIDS FROM DIFFERENT TIMES IN OUR LIVES BUT OUR LOVE HAS BONDED THEM AS IF THEY HAD BEEN BROTHERS AND SISTERS ALL ALONG. I PROMISE YOU THAT THEY FIGHT LIKE IT, BUT LOVE EACHOTHER WHEN ONE IS DOWN. IT SEEMS LIKE ...

I HAD A HARD TIME WITH THE PICTURE I WANTED EVERYONE TO SEE. YOU KNOW THE "SIGN" PICTURE. I HAVE FINALLY GOT IT WORKING I HOPE AND I THINK YOU ALL WILL GET A GOOD LAUGH AT ME FOR THINKING THE WAY I DO. OK HERE IT IS! THIS BOY IS AFTER MY HEART. WELL HE KNOWS I LOVE HIM AND HE ALSO KNOWS I LOVE HIS DAD. THANKS MATTHEW THIS MADE MY DAY.!!!!

SOMETIMES I WANT TO WRITE ABOUT ALOT OF STUFF BUT THE OTHERS I JUST DONT KNOW WHAT TO WRITE. THATS THE THING, I HAVE ALOT OF IDEAS ON WHAT TO WRITE BUT TO PUT THEM ON PAPER TO ME SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE. I FEEL LIKE WHAT I HAVE TO SAY ISNT THAT IMPORTANT SO WHY WASTE THE TIME. I KNOW THAT ONE DAY MY KIDS WILL WANT TO KNOW ALL OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND HOW I WAS FEELING AND WHAT THEY WERE DOING AND SO FORTH BUT HOW TO MAKE SENSE OF IT ALL AND JOT IT DOWN INTO WORDS...MAN MY BRAIN IS SMOKING ALREADY...LOL THIS PAST WEEKEND IT SNOWED HERE IN JOHNSONVILLE. IT DOESNT DO THAT MUCH HERE SO THE KIDS WERE LIKE A KID IN A CANDY SHOP. THEY WENT OUTSIDE FRIDAY NIGHT IN THE DARK AND PLAYED. THEY APPARENTLY DIDNT REALIZE THAT SNOW IS ICE AND ONE THING IT IS COLD AND ANOTHER THING IS ITS DOES MELT. THEY CAME TO THE DOOR "WOO ITS COLD...MAN OUR CLOTHES ARE WET" WELL "DUH". WHAT DID MOM SAY? STRIP AT THE DOOR. THEY LOOKED AT ME LIKE I HAD LOST MY MIND. I DIDNT STUDDER SO THE...

DO YOU EVER WONDER WHY? WHY WE DID THIS, WHY WE DIDNT DO THIS, WHY DO WE ASK WHY?, ETC. I JUST SOMETIMES WONDER WHY IT IS THAT I SIT HERE AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO TYPE IN THIS BLOG. I WONDER IF MY KIDS WILL SOMEDAY LOOK BACK WHILE READING THIS AND PICTURE ME ..THIS NIGHT, SITTING ON THE BED, JUST LOVED THEM GOODNIGHT AND LOVING THEM WITH ALL MY HEART. I DO LOVE MY KIDS. WE ARE A FAMILY AND I HAVE LEARNED TO LOVE MY DAILY LIFE. I HAVE FOUND A POINT IN TIME THAT I AM VERY HAPPY. I THANK CHRIS FOR THAT. HE HAS SHOWED ME THAT LOVE IS NOT JUST ANOTHER EMOTION. IT IS MORE THAN A EMOTION, IT IS A FEELING THAT NOTHING CAN COMPARE TOO. I WANT EVERYONE THAT READS THIS TO KNOW THAT I NEVER THOUGHT I'D BE THIS HAPPY. I WILL NOT ASK "WHY" ME AND I WILL NOT ASK FOR ANY ANWERS.

ITS BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I HAVE EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT POSTING. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE MORE I WANT TO DO SOMETHING THE LESS I DO. SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED AROUND HERE THAT I HONESTLY DONT THINK I HAVE ENOUGH SPACE TO TELL IT ALL. I THINK THE BEST THING TO DO IS JUST TELL WHAT I CAN THINK ABOUT AT THE MOMENT AND JUST HAVE A CONTINUATION LATER. ALL IS WELL HERE TO START OFF WITH. WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY SINCE THE LAST TIME I WROTE. THANKSGIVING HAS COME AND GONE, CHRISTMAS HAS COME AND GONE, THE NEW YEAR HAS COME IN AND ALREADY THE TIME IS PASSING BY SO QUICKLY. ITS ALMOST THE END OF JANUARY AND I FEEL LIKE I JUST GOT OFF THE ROLLERCOASTER RIDE CALLED THE HOLIDAYS. JUST A NOTE THOUGH; THE HOLIDAYS WERE GREAT. I COOKED THANKSGIVING DINNER AND WE ALL ATE TIL WE WERE ABOUT TO POP. CHRISTMAS WAS HERE BEFORE WE KNEW IT. MATTHEW WENT TO HIS MOMS FOR CHRISTMAS SO IT WAS LIKE A PIECE OF THE PIE WAS MISSING BUT WE CONTINUED ON AS BEST WE COULD. THE NEW YEAR CAME IN AND CHRIS AND I SAID OUR FIR...

I DONT HAVE ANY GOOD REASON FOR NOT POSTING FOR AWHILE. I HAVE BEEN BUSY. SIMPLE AS THAT. I WILL NOT APOLOGIZE FOR WORKING, COMING HOME, CLEANING, COOKING SUPPER AND SPENDING TIME WITH MY FAMILY. I JUST SEE THINGS A LITTLE DIFFERENT NOW AND I WANT TO SOAK AS MUCH AS EACH DAY IN AS I CAN. THINGS HERE IN THE MIDDLE OF MY TOWN HAVE BEEN GOING GREAT. THE ECONOMY SUCKS BUT IM NOT THE ONLY ONE SUFFERING BECAUSE OF IT. EVERYONE IS SHORT ON MONEY AND SHORT ON HUMOR. NOTHING IS FUNNY ANYMORE. ITS STRESS PILED UP WITH MORE STRESS. I DONT SEE HOW PEOPLE EXPECT YOU DO WHAT CANT BE DONE BUT THEY DO. I JUST LOOK AT THEM WITH THE "WHATEVER" LOOK. AS FOR MORE HAPPIER THINGS. CHRIS AND I ARE DOING GREAT. HE HAS BECOME SO IMPORTANT TO ME. THE GIRLS HAVE BECOME ATTACHED TO HIM AND MATTHEW. MATTHEW IS LIKE ANOTHER CHILD OF MINE. WE ALL HAVE OUR MOMENTS BUT AT NIGHT ITS LIKE THE WALTONS AROUND HERE. ITS GOODNIGHTS WITH LOTS OF HUGS AND KISSES TO GO AROUND. WE HAVE ALL SAID THAT WE...

Recently I have been very busy with all the sports that are being played. Its really hard to sit still for too long due to the fact that when I get off of work, I come home, do some cleaning and its off to the ballfield or track field. Matthew(Chris's son-ya know my new man...hee hee), is such a great athlete. I think I have told you that in an earlier post, but he is really commited to sports. This past week he went to lower state playoffs in Charleston. He ran so good. He ran his race and qualified to go to State. We head off this coming weekend to Lower Richland County High School for him to compete. We all will be there to cheer him on. GOOD LUCK MATTHEW!!...( I will post later with an update on the results) The girls have a game tonight. Im not exactly sure who we play but what does that matter. It never does. They play and I cheer them on. This post is short but I have to go clean a little before its time to head out again. Have a Great Day.

This morning as I was doing my normal morning talk with Hope, I made a comment about her not posting as often as she use to. Well, she replied "What about you?". So..I figured I could not let another day go by that I didnt blog. I have been very busy lately. The softball, baseball and track games have been keeping all of us on the road and not at home. I love ball season. It has always thrilled my soul to see all the kids out there enjoying themselves. It doesnt hurt that Emily and Erica are playing and they just are great. Matthew (might as well say he mine too) is running track and playing baseball. The track meets and baseball games and practice have so far fell into place so we could do it all. All the kids have been doing their best. They get out there and are so headstrong. Emily and Erica have been juggling positions this year. Emily, last year, played catcher all year. She got use to it. This year with all the "newness" with different positions...

I HAVE OFTEN WONDERED WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO BE REALLY HAPPY. IF ONLY FOR A MOMENT I AM THAT. HAPPY. CONTENT. AND ONLY A LITTLE STRESSED. EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT THEIR OWN ROUTINE IS OF SPRING CLEANING. WELL I HAVE INVENTED MY OWN CLEANING. W---I---N---T---E---R (SEASON THAT I DECIDED TO DO AWAY WITH SOME "ONE") I CLEANED IT OF ALL THE NEGATIVE ( MY EX BOY-FRIEND OF 9 LONG YEARS.)I GOT RID OF THE OLD ONE THAT WAS USELESS AND ALL THE OTHER STUFF I JUST DIDNT WANT ANYMORE AND MADE HIM LEAVE. I HONESTLY AND TRULY AM GLAD I DID THIS. IT TOOK ALOT OF DETERMINATION. I HAVE TRIED TO DO THIS FOR AWHILE BUT SOMETIMES ITS HARDER TO DO THAN TO SAY YOU WANT TO. I WAS TIRED OF WHAT MY LIFE HAD BECOME. I THINK ALOT OF NERVOUSNESS WAS DUE TO INSECURITY, THE LACK OF KNOWING, AND JUST PLAIN SCARED. I HAD GOOD FRIENDS TO GET ME THRU THE FIRST COUPLE OF DAYS. TO MY SUPRIZE EACH DAY HAS GOTTEN EASIER. ANOTHER THINGS IS IS THAT I HAVE FOUND SOMETHING THAT MAKES EACH DAY A LITTLE MORE ENJOYABLE(...

THINGS HERE ARE GOING GOOD. EMILY AND ERICA HAVE SIGNED UP FOR SOFTBALL. EMILY IS MORE EXCITED THAN ERICA. ERICA IS SCARED OF THE BALL SO SHE HAS A TENDENCY TO BACK OUT OF THE BOX. LAST YEAR THE GIRLS AGED 9-12 WERE ON TEAMS. EM AND ER TEAM WERE ALL NEW PLAYERS. THEY WERE SCARED AND WHEN THOSE OLDER GIRLS GOT UP THERE AND THREW THOSE PITCHES, IT REALLY FRIGHTENED THEM. THIS YEAR WILL BE A LITTEL DIFFERENT. THEY ARE HOPING TO SEPERATE THE 9-10 YEAR OLDS AND THEN THE 11-12 YEAR OLDS. I THINK THIS IS A WONDERFUL IDEA. IT GIVES THE YOUNG ONES TIME TO ADJUST. WE WILL BE TRAVELING THIS YEAR DUE TO THE CHANGE. ITS NOT LIKE WE HAVE TO GO FAR BUT SOME OF THE PARENTS DONT LIKE THAT IDEA. ME..I GO WITH IT BECAUSE I ENJOY SEEING MY GIRLS MINGLE WITH THEIR OWN TEAMMATES AND THE OTHER TEAM ALSO. I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED BASEBALL/SOFTBALL SEASON. WE HAVE A SMALL TOWN AND IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYONE IS SO INTO THIS SEASON AS WELL. SO MANY FAMILIES ARE OUT THERE. SOME OF THEM I HAVE NEVER SEEN. I...

I WONDER HOW IN LIFE YOU PASS THINGS BY JUST TO HAVE THEM COME BACK AROUND IN A DIFFERENT LIGHT. I REALLY CANT ELABERATE ON WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT. I WILL TELL YOU THAT SOMETHING IN MY LIFE THAT I HAVE PUSHED AWAY SEVERAL TIMES PRESENTED ITSELF TO ME A COUPLE OF MONTHS BACK AND FOR SOME REASON I WAS INCLINED TO JUST SEE IF IT "FIT" OR NOT. WELL SO FAR SO GOOD. I REALLY HADN'T NEVER TOOK THE TIME TO SEE THE TRUE "FIT" BUT NOW THAT I HAVE PUT IT ON AND AM STANDING IN FRONT OF THE MIRROR IT LOOKS LIKE IT MIGHT JUST BE A KEEPER. IM NOT QUITE SURE YET SO I THINK I MIGHT JUST STAND HERE FOR A WHILE JUST TO MAKE SURE BEFORE I BUY IT. ONE THING IS FOR SURE....IT LOOKS NICE, FEELS GOOD, AND MAKES ME FEEL BETTER ABOUT LIFE IN GENERAL. ISNT THAT WHY WE GO SHOPPING FOR NEW THINGS. ISNT THAT WHY WE STAND THERE AND TWIRL IN FRONT OF THE MIRROR? SOMETIMES ITS WORTH THE WAIT TO FIND THAT PERFECT "FIT". COME BACK LATER TO FIND OUT WHAT THE HECK IM TALKING ABOUT...

ITS HARD FOR TO ME IMAGINE WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS. I HAVE BEEN WONDERING FOR SO LONG THAT I JUST HAVE MADE UP MY MIND TO RELAX AND LET THE DAYS COME DAY BY DAY. TO START OFF WITH THAT IS EASIER SAID THAN DONE. ITS THE OBSTACLES IN THE WAYS THAT MAKE IT HARD. SOME THINGS HAVE CHANGED SINCE MY LAST POST AND THE CHANGES HAVE MADE MY LIFE ...COMPLICATED. I HAVE THOUGHT MANY TIMES TO COME AND POST BUT GOT SIDETRACKED...BAD.. THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS WERE TOUGH. THIS WAS THE FIRST CHRISTMAS WITHOUT MY MOM AND TO THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE PARENTS STILL WITH YOU...TAKE IN EVERY MOMENT YOU CAN WITH THEM. IT WAS SO HARD LOOKING AT THE HOLIDAYS THE SAME. I DID IT THOUGH. I HAVE TWO LITTLE GIRLS THAT WERE LOOKING FORWARD TO ALL THE GLITZ AND GLAMOUR. THE REAL REASON FOR CHRISTMAS HAS FALLEN SO FAR BEHIND THE BOWS AND PRESENTS THAT HOLIDAYS ARE NOTHING BUT ANOTHER REASON TO COMPLAIN ABOUT NOT HAVING ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY BILLS COME JANUARY. WE ALL (INCLUDING MYSELF) NEED TO FOCUS MORE ON WHAT WE H...

ITS BEEN A COUPLE OF DAYS SINCE I WROTE SO I WANTED TO JOT A FEW WORDS. AT LAST POST I WAS PATIENTLY WAITING THE DEPARTURE FOR THE CRUISE. WELL, IT HAS COME AND HAS GONE TO BE ONLY A MEMORY. WE LEFT HERE AT AROUND 5:00 ON FRIDAY(21ST) MORNING. I WAS EXCITED ABOUT THE TRAVELING BUT ALSO BECAUSE I WAS GONNA GET TO SEE HOPE(AND FRED). I SPEAK WITH HERE ALMOST EVERYDAY BUT SEEING HER IN PERSON IS JUST A BREATHE OF FRESH AIR. WE ARRIVED IN GEORGIA SOMETIME THAT MORNING...LORD I CANT REMEMBER THE TIME. WE ATE AT SHONEYS. IT WAS A SHORT VISIT BUT IT WAS WONDERFUL. THE GIRLS GOT TO SEE THEIR AUNT HOPE AND CAT NAVY AND I GOT TO SEE MY BEST FRIEND. WE THEN HEADED SOUTH AGAIN ON 95. WE HAD A LONG WAY TO GO. WE WERE WANTING TO GET TO WEST PALM BEACH BEFORE DARK. IT WOULD NOT HAVE MATTERED TO ME AS LONG AS I GOT TO STOP BY THE HARLEY SHOP IN DAYTONA. THAT HAS BECOME A LITTLE TRADITION OF MY OWN. THIS WAS MY 3RD CRUISE AND ON BOTH OF THE OTHERS, THE TRAVEL DOWN WE STOPPED. I GOT A SH...

WELL, FOLKS, IT WONT BE LONG NOW. ITS ONLY FOUR DAYS TIL WE SET SAIL FOR THE WESTERN CARIBBEAN. I HAVE WAITED SINCE LAST YEAR FOR THIS TRIP. IT IS NOW RIGHT ON TOP OF ME AND I FEEL LIKE MY NERVES ARE PULLING ME EVERY WHICH WAY BUT LOOSE. THANK THE LORD FOR THE GOOD MEDS..LOL I STARTED PACKING DAYS AGO AND STILL HAVENT GOT EVERYTHING STRAIGHT. I PROBABLY NEVER WILL. THERE WILL BE SOMETHING THAT I WILL FORGET. GUESS WHAT ...THERE ARE WALLY WORLDS ALL UP AND DOWN INTERSTATE 95..WHEW.. I LOVE TO CRUISE. THE FIRST TIME I WENT I WAS SO NERVOUS. I WAS KINDA AFRAID OF THE "OCEAN". I DONT SWIM IN THE OCEAN. NEVER HAVE. NEVER WILL. SO WHY GO ON A BIG BOAT IN THE MIDDLE OF ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IM AFRAID OF. WELL, I DONT KNOW WHY I DID BUT I AM SO GLAD I DID. I LOVE IT. MY THOUGHTS NOW. IF YOU GO ON VACATION. YOU GET A ROOM, AND GO OUT TO EAT, THEN HAVE TO DRIVE AROUND FOR ENTERTAINMENT. ON A BOAT ITS ALL THERE. YOU JUST GET THE LUXURY OF GOING TO PLACES YOU'VE NEVER BE...

I REALLY HAVE ENJOYED THE FACT THAT THE GIRLS ARE LEARNING HOW TO SPEND MONEY. THE MONEY THEY GOT FOR THIER BIRTHDAY, AS I SAID IN AN EARLIER POST, WAS ABOUT TO BURN HOLES IN THEIR POCKETS. WELL, NOW THAT THE PURCHASES HAVE BEEN MADE SOME REGRETS ARE COMING. EMILY IS STILL VERY PLEASED WITH HER AMERICAN GIRL DOLL. SHE TOTES HER AROUND AND TREATS HER WELL. I GUESS WHEN ITS YOUR OWN MONEY YOU TEND TO TAKE BETTER CARE OF THINGS. NOW ON THE OTHER HAND ERICA IS REGRETTING GETTING A CAMERA. SHE LOVES HER CAMERA BUT JUST CANT STAND THE FACT THAT EMILY HAS AN AMERICAN GIRL DOLL. AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE AND AFTER ALL THE SUBTRACTING ERICA STILL HAD MONEY. SHE HAS HELD ONTO THAT. SHE ALSO HAS BEEN SAYING SHE WANTS AN AMERICAN GIRL DOLL. ME, AS THE MOM, SAYS TO HER, "WORK HARD AND EACH WEEK ADD YOUR MONEY TO WHAT YOU HAVE AND SOON YOU CAN BUY ONE". FOLKS LET ME TELL YOU HOW SNEAKY THIS KID IS. SHE HAS LISTENED TO THINGS SO WELL IN LIFE THAT SHE CALLED HER DADDY AND LEFT HIM ...

IT IS NOW 11 DAYS FROM THE DATE THAT MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS ARE LEAVING TO GO ON A CRUISE. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT NO MATTER WHAT PLANS SOMEONE MAKES THERE ARE GONNA BE TREES ACROSS THE ROAD. WELL AT THIS POINT ITS A LIMB BUT MOMMA CUT THAT LIMB QUICK LIKE IN A HURRY. YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IM TALKING ABOUT SO ...MY FAMILY HAS BEEN SUFFERING FROM STUFFY NOSES. ALONG WITH THE NOSES RUNNING, THERE ARE THE COUGHS AND THE YUCKS. I DECIDED TO GO AHEAD AND GO TO DR. A. (MIND YOU I HAVE KNOWN THIS DR. FOR 10YEARS AND HE IS MORE OF MY FRIEND THAN DR.). WELL, HE SAYS ALL SOUNDS GOOD BUT WE NEEDED AN ANTIHISTAMINE. HE WROTE A RX FOR US AND SAID HE WAS GONNA BE THERE THIS FRIDAY AND NEXT MONDAY JUST IN CASE. I FELT KINDA BAD FOR GOING SO SOON BUT I REALLY NEEDED TO TRY TO GET THIS TAKEN CARE OF. SO HERE WE GO. HOPEFULLY THE DR. WILL NOT HAVE TO SEE ME AGAIN. WELL AT LEAST FOR THIS. I WILL CONTINUE TO PACK AND DO AS USUAL BUT I GAVE HIM FAIR WARNING TODAY. IF I GET SICK ON THIS CRUISE I WILL ...

AS I WAS GROWING UP I HAD CHORES. DID I HATE THEM...WELL YES ...BUT I DID THEM. I KNEW THAT IF I DID I MIGHT AND I STRESS MIGHT GET A LITTLE REWARD AT THE END OF THE WEEK. IT MIGHT BE IN THE FORM OF DOLLAR BILLS OR A NEW RECORD TO LISTEN TO. MIND YOU IT HAD TO BE APPROVED BY MY MOM FOR ME TO GET IT. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO KNEW HER..WELL MOST OF THE RECORDS WERE NOT SUITABLE FOR ME. WELL, I AM TRYING MY BEST TO INSTILL IN MY GIRLS THAT YOU WORK..YOU EARN. THEY COMPLAIN AS I DID BUT ARE DOING TUMBLES AT THE END OF THE WEEK. THE GIRLS KNOW EVERY FRIDAY IS "PAY DAY". THE PAST NUMBER OF MONTHS THEY SAVE UP FOR WEBKINS. I DONT SAY A WORD. THEY EARNED IT. WELL LADIES AND GENTS...THE BIRTHDAY MONEY. I THINK IT COME OUT THE CARD FLAMING. THE HOLES IN THE POCKETS WERE SO BIG THAT A BOULDER COULD FALL THROUGH. EMILY..HAD HER MIND SET. SHE WANTED AN AMERICAN GIRL DOLL. I EXPLAINED THAT THAT WAS ALOT OF MONEY FOR A DOLL. SHE KNEW IT WAS. SHE IS BUYING THIS DOLL BECAUSE I HAD...

EVERY CHANCE MY DAUGHTER (ERICA) GETS SHE TELLS ME HOW MUCH SHE LOVES ME. (EMILY TELLS ME TOO BUT ITS LIKE SHE IS DRAGGING A DEAD HORSE AROUND FOR HER TO "HAVE" TO TELL ME...) SHE IS MOMAS GIRL. ALWAYS HAS BEEN. EACH NIGHT ON MY WAY TO BED I ALWAYS; EVEN AFTER ALL THE GOODNIGHT KISSES AND HUGS HAVE BEEN GIVIN, GO BY THE GIRLS ROOM FOR SOME SPECIAL HUGS AND KISSES. EVERY NIGHT I GET MY " I LOVE YOU'S" UNTIL THE EYELIDS ARE SO HEAVY THAT NO OTHER WORDS CAN BE EXPRESSED. WELL, LAST NIGHT, AS USUAL, I GO TO THE GIRLS BEDROOM AND A NEW LITTLE PHRASE CAUGHT ME OFF GUARD.."MOMA, I LOVE YOU SO BAD" IT STRUCK ME AS SO LOVING THAT I HUGGED AGAIN JUST TO HEAR IT. WELL THATS MY THOUGHT FOR TODAY....THAT NO MATTER HOW YOUR KIDS TELL YOU THEY LOVE YOU...ITS HOW THEY EXPRESS IT SOMETIMES THAT JUST MAKES OUR HEARTS JUST STAND STILL. P.S. DICUSSION HAVE BEEN HAD AND PROMISES MADE. IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THE NUMBERS TODAY. I HAVE KNOWN FOR AWHILE WHO I WAS VOTING...