This Little Light of Mine....

My sweet nephew, Dayton, all dressed up and ready for church. He has such a heart for his Jesus! Oh the faith like a child!

Dear Jesus,

Dear Jesus,

Where does a mother begin? You have given me one of life's most amazing blessings - my daughter. I look into her eyes and I see a reflection of me; it's amazing how much we look alike yet how different we are. Each uniquely and wonderfully made by the hands of the Father. Parenting is one of THE hardest jobs we "sign up" for, but honestly, it is not a job I would trade for anything. You have seen me through a fair share of heartaches, hurt, disappointments, and moments of weakness, but You have never left my side; in fact, You have truly carried me during the storms I have faced (and will face) in my life.

With the recent loss of my job, did I question you? get angry at You? and ask You how could you let this happen to me? Yes, Father, I admit I did. I am guilty. But, though guilty as charged, I know My Father will take care of me. And, so far, I have seen it once again firsthand. Father, I worked a job that placed a tremendous amount of stress on my shoulders, which in turn caused me to neglect many other things and not to truly live life to the fullest. And, with this information, what did You do, took the job away, literally lifted the weight of stress off my shoulders, and have allowed me to nearly stress-free since August 9th, the day I lost that job. Yes, I lost the job, but I gained a new sense of renewal.

Due to the stress, I really think mine and Amanda's relationship was strained, even though we both really love each other. I didn't have the time to listen, the time to do things the way a mother should, etc. My life was always sorry I have to work...several hours of the day and night. But now, as I embark on this new journey in my life as a full-time student and mom and wife, I am amazed and the sense of peace I have, even with $0.15 to my name.

My Lord, You are faithful and You have allowed there to be a change; a change that I can see/feel between Amanda and me. Wow!

Oh yes, parenting a teenager is really, really tough, Father, but, how could I not love her in every way?

She is my mini-me. She is my little girl. She is my friend. She is Your Princess. She is a beautiful young lady and has a heart for You.

Father, thank You for journeying with me and my life...I really could not do it without you! Even if I do have to listen to Amanda go on, and on, and on, about P.E. class (hmm, I wonder where she gets her gift of "nonstop talking") I love her, Lord...and thank you.

Love,

Your Daughter

Are you ready for some Football? High school football?

Amanda's school had their first game of the season tonight. Yes, on a Thursday night! But that aside, Amanda informed me she wanted to go to the game. Hello? The girl who HATES football wants to attend the game?!? Crazy.

Larry and I dropped her off at the game (she didn't want mom there) after spending next to what seemed like F O R E V E R trying to find where they were playing the game (no it is not at her school) and maybe it didn't really take forever, but when I didn't know where exactly I was going, forever seems like the best adjective :)

At 10 minutes til 9 p.m., Amanda texted me and said game over, ready to be picked up. Great! My bubbly young lady gets in the car, says hi, and when asked about the game, she says it was fun. Um, any other details?? She said yea we lost. How about a score? ya know the thing that determines the winner or loser of the game? Her response: I don't know what the score is and I asked a football player if we won or lost.

OH MY GOODNESS. I had to laugh! She said it was fun though being with her school friends. That's the real reason girls go to high school football games right? :)

20 toes, lots of giggles = BFF

For Amanda's 13th birthday, her best friend, Hailey, spent the night with us on Saturday (29th) at our house and the following day after church, I took these two giggly girls to get their toes done. They were just too cute!! Love you both very much!

*Amanda and Hailey - BFF's since 2 years old


*Sweet Hailey!


*Sweet Amanda

*Hailey and Amanda....LOVE THESE GIRLS!

*finished! 20 beautiful toes, 2 sweet girls

*birthday card from Albert (our doggie)

*inside the card from Albert

AMANDA TURNS 13~ teen years are upon us

LOOK WHO'S 13--------

A little behind in all my posts, which I do not like one bit; not one bit, I tell ya! But what can you do when work keeps you so busy you have no life outside of work, work, working?! But no way could I forget my girl's 13th birthday!

May 30, 1997 a miracle was born; my little miracle; my sweet Amanda Victoria. Where has 13 years gone? It's amazing how when you are a kid time seems to drag by. You wait and wait for that next birthday to be "a year older". But, have you ever stopped and realized once you are an adult it seems the years just fly right by in the blink of any eye. It's quick. You have a child and then you turn around and the teen years hit you smack in the face; a rude awakening? maybe, but it's the new reality. Life with a teenager begins just like that. Where are the days of my little piggy-tailed darling? what about the little lady who ALWAYS wanted her mommy? Do tell me...where did this independence come from? make-up? texting? talking to and about boys? late night giggling with her best friend? My once frilly dress kinda girl with hair fancy and everything matching has now become a young lady, learning what it means to be growing up. And, as I was sitting thinking the other day, I thought, wow, 13...an reality really hit hard..five more years, 5, only F I V E and my baby will be (in the world's eye) an adult. I know I am going to do my very best to really cherish these next several years with her because that empty next syndrome will hit way too soon.

For Amanda's 13th birthday this year (05/30/2010), we had a celebration at my parents house with water balloons, bounce house, family, friends, food and CAKE! It was one full house for my parents, but they graciously allowed Amanda to have her party at Grandpa and Memaw's house. Lots of good times and lots of memories made that day, memories to last a lifetime. You turn 13 only once.

Dear Sweet Amanda~

Today, you turn 13! A huge milestone! You are embarking on uncharted territory..the teen years (and I am right there with you in the "unknown"). It is such a blessing to be your mommy, mama, mom, or M O M (just add teen exasperation to that last one). I could not thank God enough for the tremendous blessing He gave me when He saw you and me together would make a perfect fit. As He knit you in my womb, I truly realized the miracle He was creating.

My girl, you are precious! Though only on loan to me from God, I dedicated you back to the Lord, I am and always will be striving to be the best Mom I can be. God has entrusted you to me, and I plan on doing the very best I can to raise you the way God wants His Daughter raised. So my princess, as you prepare to walk the teen years - high school, heartaches, good times, and bad - remember, your mom is here for you unconditionally to walk those steps with you hand in hand.

Happy 13th Birthday, my Amanda!

Love

Mom

grandpa and amanda

let the party begin....


amanda with the cake she requested (two-tier)

the cake! (made by mom)

thank you, Aunt Becky, for picking these up

and, thank you, Jimmy, for insisting amanda needed the hello kitty balloon (it's on her wall now)

hop, skip, bounce...do what ya please to your heart's content.

Thank you everyone who helped celebrate Amanda's 13th birthday. We love you!

A Mouse!

I hate mice. Yes, I did say H A T E!! When Amanda and I lived in our apt before Larry and I got married, we had a pesky little critter that freaked Amanda out SO bad the poor girl would not even go into our kitchen. Enough said. We packed up the entire apt and moved across the complex. (and the mouse stayed behind, thank you very much).

Sorry to any mice lovers out there, but I just think they are gross. So, imagine my surprise when I found a stinkin' mouse on my dining room table (of all places, right!). This was not in the apt...this is where we live currently. A black thing with a tail and red beady eyes. Ugh. Now what was I going to go?? I decided to be the brave Mama and thrash the thing, send it to its grave. Oh yea, I was gonna prove who the boss is!

My plan of attack - Sneak up on the critter, grab the tail, and TRASH it! And believe me, I did just that and amazed myself at my braveness. I even got a picture of it before it was history. Wanna see? Trust me though, it is not for the squeamish!

I WARNED you, but here it goes....

....well, I didn't say it was a REAL mouse! :D

..and now back to regular blogging...

Well, where in the world I have been, you ask? Ugh. I couldn't believe it was a month since I have last posted something on here. Wanna take a guess what I have been doing? And please don't guess on vacation (that would be a dream). No, I have been working my tail off for a month straight more or less. Next time when I accept the "position" to be in charge an entire doctor's office, please hold me back! Oh my goodness. About a month ago, I became the only full-time person for my doctor's office (transcription). Cool right? Yea, but can be very hectic and stressful. I have literally had no life outside of work for a month now. Yes, I have done some things, but really, "life" has been on hold. Lots of late nights, and long hours. I was the only one working over the 4th weekend! Go figure! Anyway, I am jumping back into the blog world (with a second blog, too..check it out) and that's my final answer. :)

*I really do like my job, just very stressful at times