Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Update

Just a quick update about the recent situation with Justin. We have had 4 days to get used to the idea. What's done is done; we just have to move forward now. Her parents know now, and most of our family knows. Still waiting on Justin to get a job. I helped him apply to some places online over the weekend. We're just praying that he will get a lead on a job. Please remember us in your prayers.

Monday, March 30, 2009

Monday Memories: Letters To My Children #6


Welcome to installment #6 of Monday Memories: Letters to My Children. If you want to know more about how this posting got started read here. Feel free to grab my button on the right sidebar and link up your own letters. Please leave a comment so that I can visit your letter.

As you will see, this letter was written to my newborn son, Jordan. He is now almost 15 years old and will be getting his learner's permit to drive in April. My! Where has the time gone?!!


Thursday,
May 12. 1994
11:45 p.m.

Dear Jordan, On Saturday, April 23, 1994 at 2:45 p.m. you became part of my world. You weighed 8 lbs. 10 oz. & were approx. 21 inches in length. You have a head full of black hair and your eyes are so dark (I don't know what color) that I can barely see your pupils. You also have a fat face, long, skinny arms, legs, fingers, and toes. You are a sweet precious baby, and I love you more than words can say.

It took some time for your daddy and I to get adjusted to having a baby in the house, but I think we're settled back into our "normal" routine. Your big brothers, Justin and Chase, think the world of you. They always want to hold you when you're up, and they can't keep their hands off you.

Your daddy calls you his "little cootie bug." And you are. You are such a pretty baby. Right now you resemble the Parris family. But in time, you will probably grow to look like your daddy, as Justin and Chase did.
I love you, and I wish the best for you in the years to come. You are always going to be the baby of the family. That means that you've got to be tough in order to survive Justin and Chase.

(The second page to this letter has been accidentally torn out. There are only bits of a few words left on it. I'm sure I went on to tell him how much I loved him.)

Sunday, March 29, 2009

And Baby Makes 3

I've had a very emotional weekend beginning Friday morning when my oldest son, Justin, let me know that his girlfriend was pregnant. From the moment I figured it out, I felt an overwhelming sense of disappointment in knowing that Justin did not realize how much harder life had just gotten for him. I had such high hopes for him, and although he still can succeed at life, things are definitely more complicated now. He thought I would be mad. He was not prepared for me to start crying. A couple of my co-workers came into my office when I was on the phone with him, and they knew that something must be terribly wrong. All I could keep telling them, through my tears, was that Justin had messed up. They hugged me and assured me that things would be okay and that the situation could be worse. After all, Justin is 20 years-old, and his girlfriend, Chelsea is 21. But she is still in college and you know the situation with him if you read my recent post here.

Justin wanted to be the one to tell his dad, but after speaking to Kevin later in the day, I felt like Kevin needed to know before he got home from work. When he did get in, he went straight to bed with an upset stomach. Saturday morning he called Justin downstairs and told him that he loved him, and that we would all get through this together.

Chelsea came to our house and, on Sunday, we all sat down and talked about things that would need to take place. She still hasn't told her parents yet, and I felt like we would have to wait on a few things until she did so. I don't want her parents to think that we were calling all the shots.

One thing is sure, though. She is having the baby, and they will be getting married. They assured us that they love each other very much. Justin said that he knew that she was "the one" when he met her. Justin is now fully aware that he is responsible for 3 lives now and will have to get a job to support them. I have somewhat settled into the idea that my son is going to be a father...and I am going to be a grandmother. Wow. I'm not actually settled into the idea of that second part, but what's done is done.

Please continue to keep my family in your thoughts and prayers. We are definitely going to need them in the coming months. I'll keep you updated along the way.

Friday, March 27, 2009

I Need This Today


Lord,
Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

How To Shower:

I hope you get a laugh out of this. It doesn't matter if you've already seen it or not, it is still just as funny. And sadly, it is pretty much the truth!


How To Shower - Men Vs Women - Funny home videos are a click away

Monday, March 23, 2009

Monday Memories: Letters To My Children #5


Welcome to installment #5 of Monday Memories: Letters to My Children. If you want to know more about how this posting got started read here. Feel free to grab my button on the right sidebar and link up your own letters. Please leave a comment so that I can visit your letter!


Friday Morning April 22, 1994
12:17 a.m.


Justin,
You are now registered for kindergarten. Wow, you're growing up so fast. Just think, in August I will have a kid in school. Am I old enough for that? Must be. Boy, how time flies once you get married and have children.


You are so curious about the world around you. You are constantly asking questions and wanting to show me something. Today you asked me how they make people. I still don't know who "they" was referring to. Granny told you that God made people. "Who made God?" was your next question. He was always here. You said then that the people made God and then God made the people. "No, that wouldn't work," I told you. "I guess God made himself." Anyway, we stopped talking about it because it's too complicated for a 5 year-old to comprehend.

I took you to get shots Tuesday. You had 2 shots, a TB skin test, and oral polio vaccine. Your arm is still sore. You screamed when you got them. But the good news is that you don't have to have any more for 10 years! I know you're glad about that.

Well, it's getting late now, and I should get some rest. I love you so much!

Mom

Friday, March 20, 2009

Tough Love is So Hard To Give

I am frustrated with my 20 year-old son, Justin. It seems he is seriously lacking in the responsibility department in regards to college and/or getting a job. Not only did he lose his financial aid just because he didn't stay focused and attend class normally. But, he will not get a job for some of his basic needs...and wants. Justin is a bright boy, at least he used to be. He always made good grades in school and never had to study. Yet, his grade point average in college has dropped below a 2.0, not because he is not smart, but because he didn't attend half the time AND THEN he didn't drop any of those classes before acquiring an "F"! Yes, he has dreams of being a rock star. Doesn't practically every young boy? But he needs to show a little responsibility. I don't want to squash his dreams. But he's got to have a backup plan. It's not like his band is getting gigs every weekend. They have yet to get their first paying one. And they've only had one or two that were just for fun.

He has had a couple of jobs, but they only lasted a month or two. He worked at Dollar General for a short time, and he worked at Walmart for about a month and a half. He said he hated the jobs. He didn't want to be like everybody else and just settle for whatever he could find. He didn't want to give up on his dreams.

And then there are his friends who are either very rich (and therefore don't have to work), or their parents or grandparents provide everything for them. I refuse to keep doing that! Also, when his college status dropped below full-time, he was dropped from my insurance. So now he is an unemployed, uninsured, mooching individual. What's a mom to do?!!!

What happened along the way? He was so smart! Have I not been strict enough on him? (Probably not) My best friend tells me to lay down the law to him and tell him he has to get a job to start supporting himself. She says to quit giving him money for things he wants to do...like driving an hour away to see his girlfriend. And while I am on that subject, he says they are planning on getting married this December!!! WHAT?!!! How is he going to pull THAT off?!! When he first mentioned it I thought, "Okay. Now, he will have to get a job." But, that was over a month ago, and nothing has changed.

I love him so much. He's my firstborn. As babies we don't want them to grow up, but once they get grown, we want them to finally see the light and GROW UP, for Heaven's sake. I know I need to start practicing tough love. But, it is so hard for me to do because I love him so much. But, it's because I love him that I have to do this. I have to teach him to be a responsible adult. I don't want him to end up like some people I know who never work and are content to mooch off of others because I know with his smarts that he could do very well for himself.

Have any of you ever dealt with this? If so, how have you handled it, and what were the results? Even if you haven't gotten to this point with your children, what advice would you give? Stay tuned for updates on this situation. And, pray that his dad and I handle this situation the way that we, as parents, should. I hope it all turns out well.
Spring
by Celia Thaxter

The alder by the river
Shakes out her powdery curls;
The willow buds in silver
For little boys and girls.

The little birds fly overAnd oh, how sweet they sing!
To tell the happy children
That once again 'tis spring.

The gay green grass comes creeping
So soft beneath their feet;
The frogs begin to ripple
A music clear and sweet.

And buttercups are coming,
And scarlet columbine,
And in the sunny meadows
The dandelions shine.

And just as many daisies
As their soft hands can hold
The little ones may gather,
All fair in white and gold.

Here blows the warm red clover,
There peeps the violet blue;
O happy little children!
God made them all for you.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Household Tip #1: "Smoked" Chicken Casserole



(This is NOT my oven!)


Never put your chicken casserole on to broil and leave it unattended. If you do, you will have smoked chicken casserole!

1. If you do leave it unattend, listen for the smoke alarm. It will let you know that you need to take immediate action.
2. Open the oven carefully and blow out the fire as much as possible.

3. Open windows, doors, turn on ceiling fan, and kitchen exhaust.

4. Once it is under control, take the casserole out of the oven.

5. Get a spatula and carefully remove the top layer of the casserole. The top layer of my casserole is crumbled up Ritz crackers. Remove as much as you can.
6. Crunch up another sleeve of crackers and sprinkle over the top of the casserole.

7. Melt some butter and pour over them.

You can chance putting it back in the oven, or you can just eat it like this since you and your famly will be starving by now. At first it will taste pretty good, but the more you eat of it, the more you will taste the smoky flavor and wish you had set your kitchen timer.

p.s. Don't ask me how I know all of this! ;)

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

This Man Need Tech Support Badly


Dear Tech Support:

Last year I upgraded from Girlfriend 7.0 to Wife 1.0 and noticed that the new program began running unexpected child processing that took up a lot of space and valuable resources.

In addition, Wife 1.0 installs itself into all other programs and launches during system initialization, where it monitors all other system activity. Applications such as PokerNight 10.3, Drunken Boys Night 2.5 and Monday Night football 5.0 no longer run, crashing the system whenever selected.

I cannot seem to keep Wife 1.0 in the background while attempting to run some of my other favorite applications. I am thinking about going back to Girlfriend 7.0, but un-install does not work on this program.

Can you help me please?

Thanks,

Joe

——————————————————–
Dear Joe:

This is a very common problem men complain about but is mostly due to a primary misconception. Many people upgrade from Girlfriend 7.0 to Wife 1.0 with the idea that Wife 1.0 is merely a “UTILITIES & ENTERTAINMENT” program. Wife 1.0 is an OPERATING SYSTEM and designed by its creator to run everything.

It is unlikely you would be able to purge Wife 1.0 and still convert back to Girlfriend 7.0. Hidden operating files within your system would cause Girlfriend 7.0 to emulate Wife 1.0 so nothing is gained.

It is impossible to un-install, delete, or purge the program files from the system once installed. You cannot go back to Girlfriend 7.0 because Wife 1.0 is not designed to do this. Some have tried to install Girlfriend 8.0 or Wife 2.0 but end up with more problems than the original system.

I recommend you keep Wife 1.0 and just deal with the situation. Having Wife 1.0 installed myself, I might also suggest you read the entire section regarding General Partnership Faults (GPFs). You must assume all responsibility for faults and problems that might occur, regardless of their cause. The best course of action will be to enter the command C:\APOLOGIZE. The system will run smoothly as long as you take the blame for all the GPFs.

Wife 1.0 is a great program, but very high maintenance. Consider buying additional software to improve the performance of Wife 1.0. I recommend Flowers 2.1, Jewelry 2.2, and Chocolates 5.0.

Do not, under any circumstances, install Secretary With Short Skirt 3.3. This is not a supported application for Wife 1.0 and is likely to cause irreversible damage to the operating system.

Best of luck,
Tech Support

Monday, March 16, 2009

Monday Memories: Letters To My Children #4

Welcome to installment #4 of Monday Memories: Letters to My Children. If you want to know more about how this posting got started read here. Feel free to grab my button on the left sidebar and link up your own letters. Please leave a comment so that I can visit your letter! Gayle over at Planetmfiles also hosts a Monday Memories. Check out the links posted there, as well.

This letter was written to my unborn son, Jordan. He was actually born 2 days later...at the hospital. I alluded to his brother, Chase, who was born in the car on the way to the hospital!! That's another blog post to be told at a later date. Jordan was 8 lbs. and 10 oz. Today he weighs 167 lbs., stands about 6'1", brown eyes, and brown, slightly curly hair. He will be 15 next month. He is the son who plays in the marching band, jazz band, and show choir band. He is actually the most responsible son out of all three, even though he is the youngest.


Thursday Night April 21, 1994
Between 11:00 p.m. -- 12 a.m.

Dear Jordan,

Well, we've made it this far and you are due in about 7 days. I wish you would go ahead and come. I guess you're going to be stubborn and make me wait. I'm so anxious to see you and to hold you. I wonder what you'll look like...and how much you'll weigh!! I figure you'll be close to 10 lbs...I hope not more!! I like 1/2 lb. before I hit 200, so I hope you get here before I go back to the doctor on Wednesday. That way, I can avoid knowing I hit the 200!

I went to the doctor yesterday in the hopes that they would be able to induce labor. But Dr. Young said that I wasn't dilated so they couldn't do it, otherwise the labor could be drawn out for 2 or 3 days!! So now I just have to wait on you until next Wednesday. Then maybe I will have begun to dilate. I sure hope I make it to the hospital in time. Don't be like your brother, Chase, and decide to get here before we reach the hospital.

Oh yeah...I also want to tell you about your name. Your daddy and I had definitely decided on Jordan, but we were unsure about a middle name. Se we were going to call you Jordan Ray. (Ray being after your Paw Paw.) But, last Monday your Great Grandpa died of emphysema. He really meant a lot to to your daddy and me. He was a good man with many friends. He loved his grandchildren dearly. Your Maw Maw Patsy made the suggestion that we name you Jordan Eason Rowell after him, Lewis Buster Eason. She said she wished she had named your daddy Kevin Eason. So we thought it would be a nice tribute and something to remember him by. So unless you turn out to be a girl (surprise, surprise), you are hereby named Jordan Eason Rowell. So that's the history of your name. I hope you will be proud of it.

I'm gonna go now. Hurry up and get here...soon!! I love you very much!

Mom

Jordie at around 3 years-old

Jordan: Present Day

Saturday, March 14, 2009

The Lemonade Award!!!


Sandy from Organize With Sandy gave me this award. It's my very first blog award, and I am honored that it is for a great attitude or gratitude. Thanks Sandy!! Visit her blog for great ideas to organize your home and life. You can also follow her on Twitter as "organizersandy".

Here's the scoop:

1) Put the Lemonade Award logo on your blog or post

2) Nominate up to 10 blogs that show great attitude or gratitude

3) Link to your nominees within your post

4) Let the nominees know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog

5) Share the love and link to the person from who you received your award Here are my nominations for Blogs that show Gratitude OR Attitude (in no particular order):


AMY GEORGE'S WORKING WONDERS BLOG

BETWEEN LOADS OF LAUNDRY

JANANA BEE

LISA WRITES

VALARIE LEA FROM TENNESSEE NOW FROM ALABAMA

MAGNOLIA MEMORIES 08

ON THE UPSIDE

DUDE, WHERE AM I?

OPTIMISTIC CYNICISM

GOD, DO YOU HEAR THIS SOUTHERN GIRL RAMBLING?

DOMESTIC CHICKY

BooMama

How I Spent My Thursday Night...Playing Basketball!!!

I promised to let everyone know how the basketball game went. Despite being a little stiff, I had lots of fun, as did everyone involved. One team consisted of the 1st and 2nd grade faculty at the school where I work as bookkeeper. The second team consisted of the 3rd and 4th grade faculty. My team (the ones in black)lost, but we raised over $4000 for the American Cancer Society! We will probably make this an annual event. So here is a slide show that I put together. If you want to find me, I'm #7. Enjoy...

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Got Game? Need Prayer!


Remember me in prayer tomorrow night (Thursday). I will be competing with some of my fellow co-workers in a basketball game to raise money for Relay for Life. I was recruited by the 1st and 2nd grade faculty team. We are playing against the 3rd and 4th grade faculty team. When I agreed to this, they assured me that there would be paramedics on hand! We have been practicing for about a month now, so we will see if our hard work has paid off! We have learned a few key plays. I just hope that we can remember them when we get into the thick of things! We are gonna dress crazy and have a good time and raise lots of money for cancer research. Hopefully, we will all still be among the living when it's all over! Check back and I'll let you know how it goes!

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Monday Memories: Letters To My Children #4


Welcome to installment #4 of Monday Memories: Letters to My Children. If you want to know more about how this posting got started read here. Feel free to grab my button on the left sidebar and link up your own letters. Please leave a comment so that I can visit your letter!
This one is to my oldest son, Justin. He is now 20 years old. He is still a wiz at video games. Any time my husband, Kevin, gets to a hard part that he can't beat, he will get Justin to beat it. Tisha and Riannon are my neices. Tisha is 4 months older than Justin. Bruce is their dad (Kevin's brother).


Wednesday, February 16, 1994 1:25 a.m.

Dear Justin,
Well, you are now 5 years old. Where has all the time gone? Kevin realized the other day that you would start to kindergarten this Fall. Boy, we're getting old! You are such a smart boy for age. Sometimes I forget that you are only 5. You love to play Nintendo (Mario) and Sega games (Sonic). You are so good at them, too! Today, you and I took turns playing Sonic II.

Tisha and Riannon came over and played while Kevin helped Bruce transport a bedroom suite to their house. You always want to go to Tisha's and play, but once y'all get together you fuss and fight like brother and sister. I just can't understand it. But then again, today it seems you were fighting more with Chase, too...until he bit a hunk out of your arm! He had had enough! You wouldn't let him play the Gameboy (like he really can HA! HA!).


Love you!
Mom


Justin: Present Day

Puppy To Be Named At A Later Date

Meet our new puppy!  He's half French bulldog and half Pug.  We bought him at a local flea market (pardon the pun).  We don't have a name for him yet. We have tried to come up with a name for him, but so far we haven't found one that everyone agrees on.  I'm sure something will hit us soon that will be just the right fit.  So stay tuned.  And if you have any suggestions, please post in the comments.  I will let you all know when we finally do decide.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Me via Flickr

Here's something fun that I found on Polka Dot & Pansies blog. It was fun to do. I would love it if you decided to join in on the fun. Here's what you do.

a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.b. Using only the first page, pick an image.c. Select the size of boxes as 3 by 4. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd’s mosaic maker.


Use these questions in each URL box!!!
1. What is your first name? S.
2. What is your favorite food? General Tso Chicken
3. What high school did you go to? Albertville High School
4. What is your favorite color? Blue
5. Who is your celebrity crush? Matthew McConaughey
6. Favorite drink? Sweet Tea
7. Dream vacation? Hawaii
8. Favorite dessert? Brownie a la Mode
9. What you want to be when you grow up? Carefree
10. What do you love most in life? My family
11. One Word to describe you. Fun
12. Where do you live? Albertville, AL

How cool is that!!!

Try it, and comment here when you do!!!

An Amazing Statement...


I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead. Tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it!
~Received in an email from a friend at work

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Monday Memories: Letters To My Children #3


Welcome to installment #3 of Monday Memories: Letters to My Children. If you want to know more about how this posting got started read here. Feel free to grab my button on the left sidebar and link up your own letters. Please leave a comment so that I can visit your letter!

This letter is written to my unborn son at the time, Jordan (who is now 14). This one is a bit more personal in that it speaks of my feelings about the life growing inside me at the time and about the daughter I lost when I was only 22 weeks pregnant in 1990. I also reference Charlene who is my sister-in-law (she is married to my husband's brother). Ironically, they have 3 girls close in age to my 3 boys. So, without further ado, I reveal to you my next letter.
Thursday, February 2, 1994 1:10 a.m.

Dear Jordan,

Jordan...I guess that will be your name. I haven't thought of another name to go with it yet. I am 6 months pregnant or 28 weeks. That sounds like 7 months, but it's all in how you count it. I like weeks best. Gestation is 38-40 weeks, so that would be about 10 months. Anyway, I've got about 2 1/2 months to go before I'm holding you in my arms. That isn't very long. See, I wasn't really planning on having any more children, but surprises do happen. And what a wonderful surprise. I must admit that when I first thought I was pregnant I hoped that I wasn't. But now, I'm so glad I have this opportunity once more to feel the miracle of a living human being moving, and growing, and kicking inside me. And I have the opportunity to cherish that since I have decided you would be the last, the youngest.

I have so much to do to get prepared for your arrival. I need clothes, bottles, diapers, and so much more that I can't remember. I am excited and so is your dad. He is so proud. He says he can't wait to have you lying down on him while he's lying down also. At this moment you are active inside me. You aren't kicking, just sort of moving around. I love that feeling. Three little boys...What am I going to do in a household with 4 males? Your daddy says he's working on a basketball team. I had counted on having a girl somewhere along the line...and I did. She was born too soon. Britny Madison, your sister. But, as I told someone the other day, I'm getting used to the fact that I'll have all boys. At least I know how to take care of boys. I would have to start from scratch if I had a girl. There there's Charlene. She's pregnant again too and it looks like it could be another girl. 3 girls. Life sure is funny.

But despite the fact that you weren't planned, and you aren't a girl, I want you to know that you are loved for who you are. You are my son, my flesh and blood. And your dad and I are so anxious to have the opportunity to raise you and love you. And we do love you, so very, very much.

Love always,
Mom