day 150

it movie date day again for you and me, and today we saw "horton hears a who." it was a cute little movie that you and i both enjoyed, even if they did have a few problems with the movie this morning. they started the movie and about 15 mins. into it the movie messed up and they had to turn it off, it was then you looked at me and said "the end!!!!" i told you "no, they are having a problem and it will start again in a minute. to which you said " no, the end....um on..go!!" but then the movie started again and we watched and ate our popcorn and laughed like we do every tuesday.

love you......

day 145

let me tell you about one of my favorite things in the whole world, it would be you singing and dancing. the reason i love it so much is because you just look like the happiest little girl in the world. you start singing and you close your eyes like you are really into what you are singing. i think it is one of the greatest joys a daddy, even a fill in daddy like myself can ever feel in his heart.

love you.......

day 144

it was week 4 of our movie date day, i think you look as forward to them as i do. i woke up about 30 minutes before you did just to check my email and whatnot, but when you got up you walked into the living room and the first words out of your mouth were "movies?" so we went to see jimmy neutron boy genius and much like i thought it was fun not great but a fun and silly movie. the moral to the movie was "no matter how smart you think you are, you always need your parents." because jimmy neutron thought he was smarter than his parents, and they told him not to talk to strangers. but he didn't listen and tried to contact an alien race in space, and because he did his parents along with all the other kids parents were kidnapped by the aliens and were going to be offered as a sacrifice to a big alien chicken. hahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!

i told you it was a fun and silly movie :0)

love you.....................

day 140

earlier this week i told ms. terry we would come and see her at the church, so today we rode to the church to her. we talked to her for a while, well wait a minute i talked....you ran around being your usual charming self. after a little bit her husband mr. mike stopped by and we all decided to go get some lunch at marlow's. you had a great time just sitting there laughing and having a great conversation with a couple of good friends. but as usual you stole the afternoon just being your beautiful self. they really love you and that makes me feel good that people enjoy being around you, it makes me feel like maybe just maybe aunt nina and myself have done something right. because you seem to be the happiest 2 year old girl i've ever seen!!!!!

love you...........................

day 138

storytime this week was a whole lot better than last week, thank goodness!!! the little young girl that did storytime this week was quite animated and seemed like she really liked telling stories. she even did a few musical numbers with dancing and a even a little bit of singing. then it was off to smart start for you to play for a couple of hours, when we got there we found out that you were in the smart start newsletter again. you were as beautiful as ever in those pictures, i also told ms. claire that i was going to have to charge them a modeling fee for all the pictures they have been taking of you, to that you just looked at me and laughed she must have thought i was joking!!! hahahahahaha i guess i really was.

love you............

day 137

week 3 of 10 in our little summer movie clubhouse, today we saw "igor." it was a cute little movie not as good as the first two we saw but it had a good little message in it. the moral of the movie can be sumed up in one of the lines from the movie...."everone has as evil bone, it's just up to us if we use it or not."

up next week................jimmy neutron, the boy genius! i personally have high hopes for this movie, mainly because it just looks like it will be a fun movie. not necessarily great, but just fun. so let's keep our fingers crossed!!!

love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

days 134 & 135

it has offically become the dog days of summer, at least for this weekend. we tried to get out and do some stuff but we ended up going swimming pretty much the whole weekend. we took your new float that uncle jody gave you and you had a blast playing with it. the more we were out there the braver you got, by sunday afternoon you wanted to jump off the steps and go under the water before we caught you. then we would bring you back up out of the water and you would just laugh like you were being tickled. it was definitely a water filled weekend, and i'm sure there will be plenty more as the summer rolls on.

love you.......

day 133

this evening we went to a baby shower for uncle jody and tracy's new baby they are expecting in august. so i guess you could say they were the guest of honor, stars of the show, the main attraction........you get the idea. but i think half way through the party you stole the show, when it was time to open the gifts you were right there ready to lend a hand. everyone there was talking about how cute you were in the middle of all the action helping out, even uncle jody and tracy say you were a BIG little helper. i am hoping to get some pictures from mrs. terry this week so that i can put a couple on here for you to see one day when you read this blog. you and me also made (if i say so myself) a pretty mean pot of BBQ meatballs, they were the talk of the food table so i had to make sure they knew you helped make it with me.

love you......

day 131

it is time for storytime!! but today was sort of a lackluster storytime, i'm not sure if it's the fact that mr. roberts didn't do it today or what. but i guess it was still good, you seemed to have a good time with savannaha sitting on mr. reid's lap in the floor. then we went to smart start where after about an hour mrs. claire showed up her 2 granddaughters and you played with them for over 2 hrs. susie and myself thought we would never get you to leave. but with a little help from some fine people we were able to go get some lunch.............................finally!!!!! :0)
it is such a joy watching you have fun like that!!!!!!!!!!!

love you....................

day 130

week 2 of 10 of our summer movie clubhouse!! today we saw "the tale of despereaux." while it wasn't near as funny as "barnyard from last week it was still a pretty good movie with a good little story to it. after the movie we went to have coffee with eddie, his wife amanda and her sister audra, they really love you and think you are just the most beautiful little girl they have ever seen. i enjoyed a mocha extra hot and you have yourself a strawberry lemonade shakened not stired. we hung out and talked and laughed and watched you run around for close to 2 hours, it was quite nice just to chill with good friends. here is the movie poster of the movie we saw today, i hope are enjoying going as much as i am taking you.

love you.............

day 128

as usual i left early for church to go to band practice and the early service, but i was told to come home after the band got done playing. so as i always do i listened (lol) and came home, when i walked through the door you came running into the dining room screaming "happy father's day, love you." those were the best 5 words i could have heard, then you handed me a card that had a $25.00 starbucks gift card in it. which will get used in no time flat because we do love us some starbucks. we were also a part of a slide presentation at church honoring all the father's at church. aunt nina put a picture of my tattoos of you in it which i think drew a little attention after church from a few folks. it is my honor to be your substitute daddy!!!!

love you baby girl...............

day 127

today you got to meet my uncle don and aunt sharon from Pennsylvania. one of their sons lives in samford which is about 2 1/2 hours from where we live. their son and his wife went to see a friend get married at mathra's vineyard in Massachusetts, where the rich people live like the kennedy's who you will learn about when you start school. so uncle don and aunt sharon came down to take care of their 8 year old grandson, so you and me, aunt sharon and her grandson went swimming for a good 3 hours. all in all it was a good day where you finally got to meet some of my family that you have never met.

love you..........

day 126

i think that i am beginning to run you a little too hard, for the last couple of days you have been a little grouchy. so today i decided to stay at home and take it easy, and boy did we ever. we didn't get up till close to 10:00am this morning and then we took us a little nap this afternoon. but as always we still had fun being at home, we played and danced and just acted silly!!

love you........

day 125

today was sort of a back to normal day, we went to smart start where you played for close to 2 hours. then we left to meet uncle jody at starbucks for our weekly coffee and to give him a cd. i had the pressure :0) of having to come up with awesome baby shower cd with a jungle music theme. but i think i did it uncle jody called me later and said that him and tracy loved it, i personally think he was just being kind but it's ok.......i'll take LOL

love you.........

day 124

after about a month off the library started storytime up again today. i'll tell what we had a fun time, mr. roberts acted out the classic book "where the wild things are" while telling the story...he did a really good job and he was quite funny. they are making a movie of that book, scheduled to come out later this year, it looks like aunt nina, you and me will have a movie date later this year when that movie comes out. afterwards we rode to uncle dub's house to hang out for while and catch up on all the drama in his little world, as well as ours. he gave me a really nice copper grilling pan for my birthday, looks like it will be perfect for our grilled cheese sandwiches with fried bolonga plus i'm sure we will find other tasty uses for it too!!

here is the movie poster for the "where the wild things are" i can't wait till it comes out, nothing better than a family date night...yaaaaayyyyyy

love you.........

day 123

what a day!!!!!!!! today i turned 41 and i can't think of a better way to start off day than to go on our first movie date, we went to see barnyard. it was the first time you had ever gone to the movies, so i was really looking forward to seeing how you would do..............and you loved it!!!!! which is good since i bought the movie pass for all 10 movies that is a part of the summer movie clubhouse. then when aunt nina got home we went to sticky fingers to eat ribs. aunt nina decided to get you your own plate and you loved those ribs, the more you ate them the louder you got "ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm love it!!!!"

having you and aunt nina is the best thing i could have asked for!! i love you two more than life itself and i love the 3 of us being a family. so now is time for a funny picture that you will probably hate when you get older, but will i hope make you laugh...along with the movie poster of your first movie.

love you................

day 121

at church today you were in your class during the service, and i'm not if the service went long or if you had just had enough. but you starting crying towards the end of the service, so susie went and got you and brought you in to us. when we asked you what was wrong you said that you missed us....just even at 2 you know how to melt our hearts. later this afternoon we went SWIMMING!!!!!! which i think is becoming one of your favorite things to do.

love you...........

day 120

WAKE UP!!!!!!!!! it's time to go yard saleing to see if we can find you a tricycle, i hope we find one cause i think you will love it.
well baby girl we just got home and guess what............we found you a bicycle!!!!!!!! yaaaaaaay!!!! and i must say you love it. when we got home you played and rode on it for a good 45 minutes, you don't have the pedaling down yet but i'm betting it won't take long. then your grandma maggie came to pick you up and you were gone the rest of the day. aunt nina and i were like two lost little puppies, sitting around the house wondering what you were doing or if you were having fun. we even went to big lots and bought a soccer ball for you so when you got back home you would a surprise waiting on you. you were suppose to spend the night but at around 9pm grandma maggie called and said you wanted to come home and that they were on the way. aunt nina and i were so excited that you were coming home that we went outside to wait on you. we want you to always know that you can come HOME to YOUR HOUSE anytime you want to!!!

love you........

day 118

it was made official today.....we now have full legal custody of you baby girl. we went to court today for the last time for our last review with DSS, the judge released them and the all the lawyers invovled. we are so glad that all of that is behind us, we love having you with us and look forward to many many more years of our home being filled with your laughter. so to celebrate we went swimming!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you had a ball, i'll bet we stayed at that pool for close to, if not more than 3 hrs. the 3 of us were almost sunburnt by the time we left to go home.......to your house :0)

love you.........

day 117

this morning we went to smart start for a bike rodeo, its where you go and ride your bike through an obstacle course and learn about bike safety. you loved riding on the tricycle they had there, you didn't want anyone to help you. i think aunt nina and i are going to have to look for a tricycle for you. i think we will go to some yard sales this weekend and see what we can find. they also had games inside where you won a book, a lollipop and a toothbrush, you really seemed to have a great time. candacs went with us and sissy amber and kevin came after his field day at school. then we all when to mcdonald's to eat lunch, then it was home for a well deserved nap.

love you.........

day 115

in most weeks monday is lazy day, the day are we just hang out at the house and take it easy. but today we went to starbucks to meet eddie, no sooner than we had ordered coffee for me and cream for you my phone rang. it was sissy amber calling to see if we could meet her at the goodwill and pick up a dresser she had just bought for candace's room. so after we had our coffee and cream and visited with eddie for a little while, we went to meet sissy and lloyd at goodwill. after we got the dresser to their house you didn't want to leave, so you ended up staying there still aunt nina and i came to get you at 7:00pm. you, candace and kevin were out in the back yard playing up a storm while sissy and lloyd were painting the dresser they had bought today. but when you saw us you came running to give us hugs and kisses. which i hope you never forget how special those hugs and kisses are to us, they are the sweetest kisses ever in the world!!!!!!!!!!!! as i am typing this you are asleep on the couch, you look like you are so peaceful and content.....my beautiful baby girl.

love you......

day 114

after church today sissy amber, kevin, candace, and sissy briana came over and we all went to sloan park. it was certainly a fun filled family afternoon, you and the other kids ran and played for a good 2 hours. then after ya'll were hot and sweaty we left the park we went to sonic's for ice cream. after we got our ice cream you quit eating your's and stole aunt nina's strawberry milkshake, which i thought was kind of funny... aunt nina not so much. so here's a picture that would put a smile on any parent that loves to see their child and laughing and having fun...which aunt nina and i love to see more than anything.

love you.....

day 113

it has been a loooooong day today!!! i left the house at 10:00am so that i could get to the wedding site and get all the sound equipment set up and ready to go. you and aunt nina sawed up looking as beautiful as you always do, and after the wedding and reception we finally got home around 6:00pm and we were all tired. you fell asleep on the way home, and as soon as we got home i took a shower and took a nap too. then we ended up staying up till 1:00am watching "land of the lost" which by the way you LOVE!!!! you woke up at 9:00pm from your nap and saw it was on and you shot up and looked at me and said "saur." i looked at you and said dinosaur? you said yes "big en" and you sat between my legs as we watched land of the lost for about 3 hours. i think maybe we might have to get us a copy of the complete series on dvd so we can watch it anytime we want to.

love you......

day 112

today we had a meet mr. joe at the church to pick up some sound equipment for the big wedding event this weekend. so we left and got there a little early just to get out of the house since it has been raining for the better part of 2 days now. while we were waiting mrs. terry showed up and started making cole slaw for the wedding reception saturday. has she started making the cole slaw you decided you wanted to help, so you my baby girl helped make cole slaw for 300 people you were a big little helper for mrs. terry.
later this afternoon was time for the rehearsal for the big wedding and you decided to take up with kristen the bride's sister. when it was time to eat you just walked up and sat down beside her so you could eat with her. kristen enjoyed having you as her little friend that night, we noticed that she loved playing with the curls in your hair. you are really starting to come out of your shell, and believe me people are taking notice.

love you......

day 110

this morning we were awakened by susie to see if we wanted to go out and eat breastfast with her, so we did. after that i decided to take you to the church to play for a little while. then while you were playing some people from the church showed up with their little girl and you and her played for a good 2 hours. you had a really good time running around swinging and sliding. there is no better sound in this world than the sound of your laughter.

love you....

day 109

well baby today is the day we have been waiting for, for several months...ok ok it's the day i've been waiting on. the new dave matthews band cd came out today it's called "big whiskey and the groo grux king." we also went to see little kevin play baseball, we had fun watching him. he is a good little hitter he got 2 hits tonight and scored once. i'm not sure you really watching much of the game with you and candace playing the whole time, so you guessed it here's a picture of little kevin hitting the ball.

love you.......

day 108

last night after we went swimming, we went back to susie's to change out of our wet clothes. but when we started to leave you said you were going to stay with susie, which was ok with us. so aunt nina and myself went home and started watching TV when my cell phone rang, and it was susie on the other end saying you were asking for me. so i got ready and came to get you, so remember i will always come and get you...i will never leave you anywhere i will always come back to pick you up. and that my baby girl is a PROMISE!!!!!

love you.......

day 107

after weeks of asking and waiting patiently today was the day..........your 1st swim of the summer!!! you had just woke up from a nap and aunt nina asked if you wanting to swimming and you started running around the house hollering about going swimming. you kept looking at nina and me telling us to "um on." so for around 2 hrs. you swam and playing and splashed, it was just the best way to end the weekend. i think by the end of the summer you will probably be swimming for real, because i have a feeling we will be at the pool a lot this summer. i know what you are thinking now, and i will go ahead and tell you yes there are pictures. you will learn that we are a picture take couple of people, we want to remember all the good times we have with you. so by the time you grow up there will probably be many more pictures than you care to see of you and something we did as a family.

love you.......

day 106

this evening starts a 2 night youth revival that we have been asked to play at, so after aunt nina, you and me had a cup of coffee at starbucks i was off to the church and you two were off to the park. while i was getting all our stuff set up aunt nina kept texting me telling me how much fun you were having. she told me that they stated playing baseball down at the baseball fields and as you stated watching the little boys play, that you would cheer and clap everytime one of them would hit the ball. i wish i could have seen you having all that fun, but believe me if i have anything to do with it that won't happen very often.

love you........

day 105

since the library has been on break from storytime, we have been going to smart start on thursday with susie. well today in that aspect was no different, but unlike other times we have been there several of your storytime friends showed up. savannah and mrs. diane came just to drop something off and they ended up stayng for about an hour so you and her could play, it was really a fun time for you which makes me happy.

love you.......

day 104

today was aunt nina's late day at work, every wednesday she has to work till 5:00pm and we usually go out to marlow's to eat before i head out to church. but today was just a little different i have 2 band practices one before church and one after, for a youth revival that i am playing at along with kailyn, joe and tim. so when aunt nina got home we had to do a tag team thing with you, cause as soon as she got home i had to leave. but never fear as i have told you before i will always be back!!!!!

love you......

day 103

mrs. lovelace came to see you today, she is the guardian ad litem for DSS. she came to see how you were doing before we go back to court in 2 weeks, she also brought you 2 dolls in homemade crochet outfits on them (and yes i have pics)

you really like mrs. lovelace you wanted her to see your new playroom and your paintings from smart start. she seemed really pleased with the progress you have made since coming to living with us a year ago. we also made a sign for your playroom today at smart start, you even helped make it.....well all but the last 3 letters when you lost interest and wanted to play with something else but you were having fun so that's all that mattered.

love you........

day 102

today is memorial day, it's a day where we take out time to thank everyone who has served in the armed forces to protect our freedom. so aunt nina and i have big plans for the house today, we are going to clean the back room out and make it your playroom plus we will have a living room again. :0)
so after most of day work in the back cleaning it is finally finished!!!! yaaaaaaayyyyy!!!!! and you really like it, i think you like having room that is all your's that way you don't have to worry about making a mess. we put all your toys back there and on the walls we put all your painting from smart start, which if i say so myself i think it looks COOL!!!!! so i hope you enjoy it for many many years to come!!!

love you.......

day 101

much like all the other sundays that come around, i was gone when you woke up but aunt nina said the first thing out of your mouth was "al." after church we came home and had some lunch, then i was off again had another band practice to go to for a gig we have at a youth revival. while i was gone aunt nina said you fell and bumped your head on the floor, she told me when i got home that as the tears flowed i kept calling for me. i guess we really have created a bond since i've been out of work, which is a good thing if you ask me!!!!

peace.......

day 100

this morning your sissy called and wanted us to go to the park with her and kevin and candace. all 3 of ya'll just had the best time running, swinging, jumping and sliding. then after ya'll got all hot and sweaty we decided to take ya'll to sonic's for ice cream, and boy was it yummmmmmmmy!!!!!! after we got back home sissy and the kids hung out here while sissy napped off and on, then we all had supper together. so i guess you could say we had a family day which we alway love to do. we also got a copy of the smart start e-newsletter in the mail and they also sent you a book. i went to the back room and found a frame for it and it now sits on the entertainment center right beside the T.V. i know you are starting to wonder and yes there were pictures taken today, so here is one from the park......

peace.....

day 99

this afternoon aunt nina finally got to go to smart start with us, she really liked it. we watched as you painted and played for the better part of 2 hrs. we also found out today that your picture was in the smart start enewsletter, which we thought was cool. they put it in there because i was telling them all about how excited you got when you got your book in the mail. then it was time for a little starbucks and back home for the night.....hopefully there will be something good on tonight, ummmmmm we'll see!!

peace.......

day 98

you were such a big helper tonight, aunt nina, you and me all went to uncle jody and tracy's house to help build some furniture for their new baby that they are expecting on august 19th. but for you the big thing was when you were sitting on tracy's lap rubbing her belly and the baby kicked your hand. somehow i think he knew just how special you were and wanted to say hello and that he would see you soon.

peace......

day 97

i have noticed over the course of this blog just how much you focus changes. i started this blog so that i could blog about my journey after i was laid off. as i read back over this blog i see how it has changed more into everything about my baby girl. so i guess i named this blog appropriately the journey, the journey into something i thought i would never be........a DADDY!!!!!
which as i said a few days ago, it's the greatest job i've ever had. if you can call something you love this much a job...

peace..........

day 96

what another beautiful day in the neighborhood!!! we went to have coffee with uncle eddie today, he also had finished the rest of the pictures from sissy's wedding. i'll tell you one thing he did an amazing job on them, even sissy loved them. after we left from hanging out with eddie we leave and went to smart start where you got to play with candace for about 2 hrs, we also saw sissy and lloyd too. funny story about you playing, was that you told me before we went that you was going to play for 2 hrs. i said 2 hrs isn't that a little long to play, and you told NO 2 hrs. so i just laughed and say ok...

peace.........

day 95

there was a milestone moment in my baby girl's life today, she got her first ever piece of mail today. i know it doesn't seem like a big deal, but if you would have seen her jumping and dancing around with all the excitment in the world you would understand why i said it was a milestone. it made today such a great day just because of how excited she was about it. when my wife got home from work she came running into the room with her book she got in the mail still all excited showing it to her. it just put the biggest smile on our faces just watching her, so here's a pic i took of the big moment........

peace......

day 94

a few days ago my best friend who also blogs posted a link about a child's astrological personality profile. now i'm not one for astrology but i thought it would be fun to put baby girl's birthday in and see what it had to say about her. it's a little long but here it is in it entirety......
Young Libra......
Libra is an Air sign represented by the balancing scales, which are also used to signify justice. This sign is related to the planet Venus, and takes special delight in all things beautiful, including music, design, architecture, and fair relationships. Children born under this sign will favor harmony and order. The bodily organs associated with Libra are the kidneys. Kidneys purify our blood, which is akin to how Libra takes pleasure in pure things. What is necessary in life can also be made beautiful, according to Libra. Librans gravitate to symmetrical beauty (again, note the kidneys). Do not be surprised if Libra children are neat and orderly! Early in life they will heed your words about keeping their room tidy, but do not expect this kind of obedience in every facet of their upbringing! They may find their own ideas much more interesting than yours, so you will also find yourself having stimulating conversations with children of this sign. In fact, Libra is the sign associated with the law. Not necessarily lawyers one sees on TV, but the law itself: a pure set of ideas created for the purpose of maintaining harmony for humanity. Libra is a noble and high-minded sign. Nothing will upset Libra children more than unfairness. Whether this is encountered on the playground with peers or at home with siblings, you will know their bitter reaction to being treated unfairly, or even witnessing a lack of fairness. It may be necessary to explain at an early age the hard truth that life is full of injustices. Libra prefers black and white. Hopefully you can be the one to gently help your young Libra understand that sometimes the truth lies in the gray area of emotion, and begin to help them cope with that by establishing what fair relationships are about.

peace......

day 93

i've always heard parents say "i need a break!!!" and i having no children of my own have never understood why. now that i am raising a 2 year old going on 20, i still don't understand why. sure it's nice when they get the chance to go somewhere or are invited over to play, but i start missing her about 10 minutes after she is gone. which was in case today when baby girl went to her grandmother's house for the afternoon to play with some of her family she doesn't see very often. i find myself wondering what and how she is doing and staring at the clock on the wall, because with every minute that passes is a minute closer to her coming back home. since i was laid off i am with her all the time, so for me there are no breaks. but i don't want any either because she my responsibly, so where i go....she goes!!!! and that's just the way it is and the way i want it to be! this is the job i never really wanted....but now that i have it I LOVE and treasure every minute of it.

peace......

day 92

the bad thing about being laid off and going to the beach is that we could only afford to stay one night, which is better than not at all. so today we started our trip back home after a busy fun filled day yesterday. this morning we went back to the beach one last time to hunt a few more sea shells, and for the first time ever i found a whole conch shell. the points were a little knocked off but all in all it's as close to a perfect conch shell as i have ever found. we also went to barefoot landing before we left, mostly because there is a pizza place we love to eat at when we go to the beach. we found out when we got there that that was where all the bikers were staying, the parking lot was full of motorcycle vendors of all kinds. so here is a pic of a few of the treasures we found while at the beach. i can't wait till we can share more memories like this with our baby girl, because it is truely the best thing in the world.

peace........

day 91

it's finally time to go to the beach wooooohooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

so after a 4 hour drive the first words out of baby girl's mouth when she saw the ocean for the first time was "WOW." she loved playing in the sand but she wasn't to sure about the ocean, she would let me take her out to where the waves would crash on the shore and my feet. but she wouldn't get down for nobody everytime i tried to set her down, she was like a spider monkey trying to climb up me so i would hold her again. :0)

we had a great time with our baby girl!!!! it was also bike week at the beach this week so she also got to see a lot of really nice looking motorcycles close up.

day 90

this morning we met uncle eddie for coffee and since he is the one with the fancy camera, we had us a small photo shoot today. we went to this water fountain that baby girl always has to see and point out everytime we pass it, so wanted to have her picture taking with it so i could tell her later in her life about her favorite local attraction. here's a couple of the pics from today....

day 89

today has been play day for the most part, we started out at a playground for a while. baby girl went swinging, sliding, climbing and playing a little kickidy kick ball. then it was off to smart start so that she could paint, draw and play in the rice table. all in all it was a great day with my baby girl.

peace......

day 88

off to wal-mart to get some stuff for our beach trip later this week. it will be baby girl's first trip to the beach, i can't wait it will be a blast watching to see what she does when she sees the ocean for the first time. here's a great quote that i really like...............
Life is the art of drawing without an eraser. ~John Gardner

peace.......

day 87

it is official.....yesterday marked our 1 year anniversary with baby girl, it's amazing how fast a year goes by. today is mother's day...so it was the perfect day to celebrate!!!!

for me since we have rolled into the 2000's this decade has truely sucked, seeing as how i'm on my 3rd lay off in less than 6 years. but baby girl has been one of the brightest spots in my life in those 9years. i cannot imagine my house without her in it to brighten it up with her childlike joy and laughter. the pictures so just how much she has grown since we first got her, AMAZING!!!!

peace...............

day 86

this afternoon was a birthday party for our oldest niece's daughter she turned 4. so the family got together for a little party with some cake and ice cream, and the kids played and played and played. it was nice just to hang out with the family talking and laughing watching the kids run around like they were hopped up on sugar, ohh wait a minute............they were!!! hahahaha
i guess the old song was true about my baby girl......"turn out the lights, the party's over" cause when we left, we were barely 2 miles up the road and she was out till 9:30am the next morning.

peace........

day 85

when you live in smallsville like we do, you know the town the one where they roll up the sidewalks at sundown. but once a month during the spring and summer months they have the night out in downtown. where the businesses on main street stay open till 9:00pm and there are all kinds of things for kids. last night we went and ended up going on a carriage ride, it was the first time baby girl had ever rode in a horse and carriage. here is a pic to show our fun last night

peace.............

day 84

just like every other week since i've been laid off, today was storytime at the library. mr. roberts (the guy reads the stories) always does a couple of songs during storytime, but today when he was getting the cd ready my baby girl looked at me and said "dance it with me." so since i was sitting in the floor, i stretched out my legs so she could stand between them and we danced. those are the times that i love and cherish!!! but storytime has come to an end for about a month, so next week will something new and different, i guess you could say it's going to be a journey. :0)

peace.........................

day 83

in light of this book my friend has been reading it has gotten me to thinking about my own walk with god. i think sometimes as christians we tend to get stuck in what i like to call the moses syndrome. simply saying we would rather our pastor hear god for us instead of us doing it ourselves, you see when someone else is hearing god for us then there is no work on our part and we continue to be lazy. and we can blame him when it doesn't work out the way we wanted it to. i think sometimes we are afraid we will mess up if we try to hear god for ourselves, when in reality i think that god will honor the fact that we are trying and will nudge us in the right direction if we are going the wrong way he did that with paul in acts 16:6-10. he started going in one direction and god told to go in another, and because he was not afraid to try and maybe even made a mistake many people were saved and baptized.

peace........

day 82

just about every week i have with my best friend and we talk about music, current events and things we are reading at the time. we have been doing this for around 5-6 years now, and it is still something i look forward to every week. he has been reading a new book by a pastor out of washington, dc that has really been challenging to him and he has been sharing some of the quotes in it that have stuck out to him. so here is another quote from that book, that i would like to share with you. i hope it encourages and challenges in your walk with god.
the primary reason most of us don't god move is....
simply because we aren't moving.

peace.......

day 81

my best friend started reading a book and sharing some of the little nuggets he's found in it. it really has some really thought provoking quotes in it, one of which i wanted to share with you today. this quote will really make you stop and think, i think simply because it's just that true.
"we start dying when we have nothing worth living for.
and we don't really start living until we find something worth dying for"

peace......

day 80

time to go get some free funny books, because at comic book stores around the country it's free comic book. so a buddy of mine and myself went to see what we could get our hands on and to check out the sale. after we left the store we decided that we were going to a bigger comic book store next year, in hopes of a much much better sale. today was also the first offical day with my new tattoo and everyone who saw it really liked it. i have never regretted ever getting any of my tattoos and the more i look at this one the more i'm glad i got it. i will forever have my baby girl on my arm and by my side no matter where i am or where she is.

peace........

day 79

well it is finally here after months and months of waiting, it is now time to get my new tattoo. like every other tattoo i have i do not regret getting it because it looks AMAZING!!!! so here is a picture of the new addition to my body art.

when i got home i showed my baby girl and she just looked at it for a minute, then i said who is it and she said "MYNA." then i asked if she liked it and she said "yes...like it." of all the tats i've got this is definitely by far my favorite!!

peace.......

day 78

today once again like every week other was storytime at the library. baby girl had a great time as usual, listening to the stories, dancing and playing. but tomorrow is the big day, the day i've been waiting for TATTOO DAY!!!! more tomorrow

peace.....

day 77

well today my best friend called and asked me and baby girl to came and have lunch with him, so we did just that. we had a good time visiting him at work and having some good food, courtesy of the ever delicious Arby's where he is the general manager. after lunch we stopped by to see my wife linda and to visit with her while she ate lunch, because she loves her aunt nina!!! then it was on to reserve a room at the beach for 1 night, so that baby girl could see the ocean. another first that we get to experience with her, it will be soooooooo much fun watching her play in the ocean and the sand. i sure there will be a few pics to share the moment.

peace..............

day 76

after the events of this past weekend, baby girl and myself had ourselves a lazy day at the house. we just stayed at home and watched TV and played all day, i think that i have offically caught up on my rest. now the next big event is friday when i get my baby girl's portait tattooed on my arm. i am sooooooooooo stoked.....can't wait!!!!!

peace...........

day 74

here comes the bride!!!!!!! and i must say she was absolutely gorgeous!!!!!! as was the wedding !! the wedding ended up being at the lear plantation in salisbury, nc, and let me tell you something they did an amazing job on such short notice to make it an amazing day for the bride and groom and all of us. to be honest i think it was a million times prettier there than it would have ever been inside that hunk of scrap metal we call a church.

now that it's all over i am offically exhausted!!!! time to kick up my feet and reflect on the beautiful day. peace........

day 73

it is the day before my baby girl's sissy's wedding, the day that every little girl dreams of their whole lives. the finishing touches have been put on the reception, and the place we are having the wedding is working hard to pull everything together to make it beautiful. it's amazing what can be done in 8 days after being told that the wedding had to be moved from the church it was originally suppose to be at or have it there with a big fake tomb in the middle of the wedding. now i ask you who wants that ugly crap on the platform beside them while they are getting married?? it is suppose to be the happiest day of their lives not a flipping funeral!!!!!

peace..

day 72

well today starts the non-stop running of getting everything pulled together for the big wedding saturday. we just spent almost 4 hrs. decorating for the reception. i think it really looks good, nothing fancy but i think everone will enjoy it. even though the bride is not our child, she still feels like one of our's. so moving on to tomorrow for the rehearsal and a few finishing touches on the reception.

peace.......

day 71

i took my baby girl to her first baseball game today, she had a ball playing in their playground and surprisingly even watched some of the game. i love experiencing new things with her and watching her experience them for the first thing. i think that is part of the joy of being a parent is taking them and letting experience their first of something. here are a few pics from our big day at the old ballpark. tomorrow like every other week is storytime!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

day 69

after a couple of crazy days with unexpected wedding changes and apparently confusion and misunderstandings, we are now getting everything pulled together. so with a week to go till to big day we are almost ready to go. now all we have to do is pray for sunshine since this wedding has become a outside wedding instead of a church wedding.
Love is a symbol of eternity. It wipes out all sense of time, destroying all memory of a beginning and all fear of an end. ~Author Unknown

peace......

day 68

we were up early today for our hike in the woods with a friend at eagle pointe, a nature preserve about 30 minutes from where we live. we had a great time just strolling throught the woods, stopping at the water's edge to take a few pictures and let baby girl throw some rocks into the lake. so here is the better of the pictures i took today, which i thought was fairly good for a little point and shoot. but i really need to start saving some money for a better camera.

I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in. ~George Washington Carver

peace.....

day 66

more wedding planning was on tap for today, my baby girl's sissy came over and we took her dress to have it altered and then we went to meet a friend of mine who will doing the wedding pictures. that way they had a chance to meet and talk about pictures she wanted and didn't want. then this afternoon after my wife got home we rode to a lady's house who gave my baby girl a $400 castle slide. as she played i of course started taking pictures, since that has become i new favorite thing to do expectional since baby girl came to live with us. so here's a photography quote to close out today's blog.
No matter how advanced your camera you still need to be responsible for getting it to the right place at the right time and pointing it in the right direction to get the photo you want.
Ken Rockwell, Your Camera Does Not Matter, 2005

peace.....

day 65

after the busyness of the last 4 days, i decide that today would be a lazy day for and the baby girl. so after paying a few bills and having breakfast at biscuitville, we came home and took it easy. so after so many shared good times and laughter this past weenend, i thought this short little quote would be perfect for today's blog, since it is a short little blog. :0)
Laughter is by definition healthy.
Doris Lessing

peace......

day 64

HAPPY EASTER!!!!!! to everyone! today at church we had a great drama about the death, burial and resurrection of jesus and was informed that around 20 people gave their lives to jesus. then after church our family came over for a cookout, it was such a beautiful day that we stayed outside the whole day while the children played. i could not have asked for a better 4 days my wife's B-day, the zoo, pics with easter bunny, an easter egg hunt and a cookout with our girls. so here is my last quote for easter.......
Tomb, thou shalt not hold Him longer;
Death is strong, but Life is stronger;
Stronger than the dark, the light;
Stronger than the wrong, the right...
~Phillips Brooks, "An Easter Carol"

peace.......

day 63

we got up today and got ready to take baby girl the an easter egg hunt at the church we attend. we had a great time watching her play games and hunt for easter eggs and playing in her favorite thing.....a bouncy house. now it is time to get ready for the easter bunny to come and leave her some special stuff for a special little girl, and also for the celebration of the resurrection of our lord and savior jesus. so here is another easter quote for you............
Easter spells out beauty, the rare beauty of new life. ~S.D. Gordon

peace.......

day 62

today we took baby girl to have her picture taken with the easter bunny and hunt for easter eggs at bass pro shops. it was a really nice event that they did for the kids and it was all free, which is good if you are like me and have been laid off. she was funny about having her picture taken with the easter bunny, she wouldn't smile for nobody she was just dead serious. today we also celebrate jesus dying on the cross for our sins, this aftrnoon it has been raining quite steady it's almost as if the sky is crying...remembering what happened today all those years ago.
We live and die; Christ died and lived! ~John Stott

peace......

day 61

today was an incredible day!!! not only was it my lovely wife's birthday, we also went to the zoo. it was the first time that my wife or my baby girl had ever been to the zoo, so they were both like kids in a candy store. it is 11pm right now and my baby girl is still jacked up about being at the zoo today. so instead of a quote i wanted to share a couple of my pics from today's trip!!!





peace.......

day 60

today as i said last time "all is right in my world now" because my baby girl is home with me today....yea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i did get a few things accomplished yesterday while she was gone, i got her easter bunny stuff for her easter basket that the easter bunny will bring her saturday night for easter morning. i love holidays for kids... i love to watch her get excited about them. we are going to take to get her pic taken with the easter bunny friday so that should get her really jacked up for easter morning. i know that this holiday is not about easter bunnies or candy, etc...but it's fun !!!! so here a quote about the real meaning of easter.................
Where man sees but withered leaves, God sees sweet flowers growing. ~Albert Laighton

peace........

day 59

have you ever had a day or days where everything just seems off kilter??? well today was like that for me, since the laid off i have kept my baby girl at home with me. but today she is at her sister's house from the other side of her family. so now i just not know what to do with myself, i love having her with so i'm missing her like crazy. but like my wife says she needs to know the other side of her family, whether we like it or not they are her family. but all the stars and planets will line back up again soon, because she will be back home this afternoon. then my life will be back to normal and all will be right in my world again and we can start getting ready for the zoo on thursday!!! woooooohooooooooo animals!!!!!!!!!!

peace........

day 57

it is palm sunday so at church we had a drama called the living lord's supper, it's where each disciple shares thoughts about how there life was changed by jesus and the thought of who could possibly could be the betrayer among them. if you have never seen it, it is quite powerful!! then after church our neice came over to finalize some plans for her upcoming wedding, and baby girl played with her two kids until she was about ready to fall over from exhaustion. since we are starting to week where we celebrate the death, burial and resurrection of jesus i wanted in the next few days put some quotes up for easter, so the first one is....
Easter says you can put truth in a grave, but it won't stay there. ~Clarence W. Hall

peace........

day 56

today was another beautiful day in the neighborhood!!! we got out of the house and went to the park where baby girl wore herself out playing and i took a walk on a trail through the woods and took some nature pics. in light of trying to get out of the house and away from the TV here's kind of a funny quote that i thought everyone who enjoys being outside would really get a kick out of......

Don't you wish there was a knob on the TV to turn up the intelligence? There's one marked 'Brightness,' but it doesn't work.
Gallagher

so now that the weather is getting warmer do yourself a favor and get outside and enjoy god's creation...

peace.....

day 55

as a father i have decided that i don't want my baby girl to be raised by the TV and to be a video game junkie. so i have made a conscious effort to get her out of the house and do something outside. she loves animals so i want her to enjoy nature too, the simple things in life like a walk in the woods listening to the birds and trying to find them. so today i went for a walk up dunns mountain and it was truly awe inspiring beauty. i am going to set some bird feeders around the house for her so she can watch the birds eat bird seed that she has put out for them, that way she is involved and get becomes somewhat of personal pride for her. so here is a nice little quote about nature and i hope everyone can get out and enjoy a little bit of nature with the nice weather we will be having this weekend.
In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous.
Aristotle (384 BC - 322 BC)

peace.......

day 54

today like every other thursday was storytime at the library, it's the day my baby girl looks forward every week. she loves to listen to book being read, almost every night i have to read bedtime stories to her for her to go to sleep. having her has gotten me to read more which has been fun for me too. so in light of it the being library day i wanted to use a quote about books. so here you go.....
A good book on your shelf is a friend that turns its back on you and remains a friend. ~Author Unknown

peace.....

day53

today was photo shoot day, baby girl and myself got with a great friend and went to the park so he could take pictures of her because he has a nice fancy camera that can take better pictures than my little camera ever could plus he's a great photographer. now if you have never met my baby girl....she looooooooves to have her picture so she was in hog heaven today, because she got to do her two favorite things...have her picture taken and PLAY!! so for today i thought i would put a quote about children on here.
Facing a mirror you see merely your own countenance; facing your child you finally understand how everyone else has seen you.
Daniel Raeburn, The New Yorker, 05-01-2006

day 52

today i found an old friend on facebook that i use to party with, and found out that he has been clean almost 3 years. i am so glad to hear that he has quit doing drugs, i have to have quit and have been for almost 21 years. it's so cool to talk to an old party friend and see how far god has brought both of us. he put a great great quote on his facebook the other day that is really true, especially if you have done drugs. it was............
If I were to try to identify a turning point, in my life, I'd say that it was - getting clean. James Taylor
so here's to renewing an old friendship without the drugs to get in the way of a good time.

peace...........

day 51

today was daddy's day out, i went with a good friend to a mini comic con. i know it sounds childish but we love them and always have a good time going and hanging out looking all the freaky people, laughing and just chilling. for me comic books are a way to escape the grind of the real world, where good triumphs over evil and the good guys always win in the end. so here's an uplifting quote i found today, hope you like it.
One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life: That word is love.
Sophocles (496 BC - 406 BC)

peace.....................

day 49

i started to realize yesterday through having our baby girl, that it has restored my faith in that there is still good people in this world. since she has come to live with us last may 9th, we have had people we know and don't know give us clothes, toys, books and etc......
but i think it really hit me yesterday when we went to this place called smart start, it a place for kids to play and paint plus you can check out puzzles, and all kinds of educational toys. to check stuff out you have to join which is quite minimal at $10 per year. so i was just talking to the lady sitting at the desk about coming back next week and joining after my wife got paid since i had gotten laid off and next week would be better for me to join. that is when she said oh if you have been laid off then don't worry about the joining fee we will waive that for you. now that might not mean much to you but to me it blow me away, i guess because she really didn't have to do it. it was more about helping people and in turn helping their children grow and learn than trying to make a buck. i know it seems like a small thing but it meant a lot to me that she would do that for someone she didn't even know. i hope this story has encouraged to have faith that good people are out and maybe even the courage to step out and help someone who might have lost their job in these crazy times.

peace.......

day 48

on wednesday nights at church my wife and i are taking a class about fiances, it has really been quite interesting. one thing that pastor tom said i thought was really good, he said that class was not about helping you save or even make more money. but it's about helping you become a better steward of the money you have right now, by giving tips like clipping coupons, and reevaluating rather you should or need to go out to eat or get coffee or any expense you might not can afford to do all the time. not to say you can't do those things but just maybe not everyday. it's really got us thinking and trying to redo the way we have been doing things, it's not the easiest we've ever done because there is one thing for sure is we really love our starbucks!! :0) but we are trying!!

peace.....al

day 47

in my mailbox today was my cd that i preordered of leroi moore's last show with the dave matthews band. since they are my favorite band i was deeply saddened by his untimely death, as i'm sure many other people were. he was an amazing musician and probably (in my opinion) was one of the best saxaphonist in rock music. while listening to it i was reminded of something dave matthews said at the show they did the day they learned that leroi had passed away. he said "it is always easier to leave than be left...." RIP leroi you will always live in our hearts!!!!

day 46

today i learned that the place that laid me off, had laid 3 more people off. i really hated to hear that other people had to lose their jobs too in this economy. so as i was thinking of something to write i came across this scripture that i thought would be an encouragement to anyone facing uncertainty in their life.
“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”- James 1:12

peace........

day 45

i believe spring has sprung!!! i mowed my grass and my wife did some spring cleaning in the house. but all of that turned into a fashion show, see my wife was cleaning the baby girl's room getting clothes she can't wear boxed up and putting out new summer clothes. when the baby girl would see something new she hadn't seen yet, she had to put it on and prance around the house dancing and singing. it turned a chore into delightful fun watching her try all the different outfits on.
here's a little quote for a peaceful sunday!!!
To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring - it was peace. ~Milan Kundera

peace..........

day 44

this afternoon was family fun time, we went to feed the ducks, then walked around the hurley park and then off to chick-fil-a so baby girl could play. and play she did till she just about couldn't play anymore. my wife and i were talking while we were sitting watching her play, about how much our life had changed over the last 10 months since baby girl came to live with us. we use to go just to go, places like winston salem just for a cup of coffee and a cheese pretzel and look at books. now we are always trying to find fun stuff for the baby girl to do, when you become a parent it really does become all about the baby instead of you. but like my wife said yesterday SHE IS THE BEST THING THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED TO US!!!!!!!!!!!! she is a joy to have around and a bright spot in any day good or bad, just to see her makes us smile and that my friends is the best medicine.

peace.......................

day 43

today i started trying to do some walking in an effort to lose some much needed weight. i realize that the older you get, the worse you feel being overweight like i am. but i gained it and i will lose it!!!! here is an encouraging quote i got in an email today.
To exist is to change
to change is to mature
to mature is to go on
creating oneself endlessly.
Henri Berqson
French Philosopher1859 - 1941

peace.......

day 42

tonight we started a study at church on finances, it had a lot of good ideas and tips to help you maybe get ahead a little especially in these unstable times. so i have decided to try and be a better steward of my money and my body, with the warmer weather right here upon us i am making a concerted effort to get out at least take a walk if nothing else. i'm also trying to eat a little better, because god knows i'm the world's worst eater!! :0) so off i go on a journey within the journey, a journey to become a better person physically, mentally and spiritually.
The victory of success is half won when one gains the habit of setting goals and achieving them. Even the most tedious chore will become endurable as you parade through each day convinced that every task, no matter how menial or boring, brings you closer to fulfilling your dreams.
Og Mandino (1923 - 1996)

peace...................

day 41

happy st. pattrick's day to everyone !!!!!! so to end my irish themed blogs i wanted to put up an irish prayer that i pray for all my friends and family.

Bless This House
Bless this house, o Lord, we pray.
Make it safe by night and day.
Bless these walls so firm and stout,
Keeping want and trouble out.
Bless the roof and chimney tall,
Let thy peace lie over all.
Bless the doors that they may prove
Ever open to joy and love.
Bless the windows shining bright,
Letting in God's heavenly light.
Bless the hearth a-blazing there,
With smoke ascending like a prayer.
Bless the people here within...
Keep them pure and free from sin.
Bless us all, that one day, we
May be fit, O lord, to dwell with Thee.

peace............

day 40

it was another gloomy rainy day, much as the last 3 days have been. but i think that sunshine is on the horizon. so honor of the sun coming back out and it also being st. patty's day tomorrow here's another irish blessing....

An Old Irish Blessing
May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life's passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!

peace........

day 39

today at church we did a song that i just can't get out of my head, the name of the song is "amazed" here are the lyrics to this song....
Verse 1:
You dance over me
While I am unaware
You sing all around
But I never hear the sound-
Chorus:
Lord I’m amazed by You
Lord I’m amazed by You
Lord I’m amazed by You
How You love me-
Verse 2:
You paint the morning sky
With miracles in mind
My hope will always stand
For You hold me in Your hand-
Bridge:
How wide
How deep
How great
Is Your love for me

the part of this song that really captured my imagination is the line "you dance over me" what an incredible picture that is, that the god of creation would dance over me. wow!!!!! i looked it up on the internet and found this explaination that i thought really brought it to life.

The reference is Zephaniah 3:17. (NIV) “The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” However, you have to study the meaning of the Hebrew word that is translated as “rejoice.” It is the Hebrew word “gheel” which is defined, “to spin round, under the influence of any violent emotion.” It is the word that describes the dancing that goes on in the Hebrew festivals.

peace...........

day 38

today has been quite different for me, after spending the biggest part of my 38 days since the great layoff of '09 with my baby girl. she went to her nanaw's house to spend the night, so it has been really quiet at the house today. it's nice to have a little break, but i must say i do miss her like crazy. but we got some well deserved rest and relaxation, and yes we watched movies instead of noogin. so now for my irish blessing of the day, i've enjoyed finding this little blessing with st. patty's day just around the corner. hope ya'll have enjoyed them too!!!

An Old Celtic Blessing
May the blessing of light be on you—
light without and light within.
May the blessed sunlight shine on you
and warm your heart
till it glows like a great peat fire.

peace......

day 37

unlike last weekend this weekend looks to be cold and rainy, which is really good for movie watching and snuggling with the one you love or i guess go shopping :0)
last night we had a great family supper with amber and lloyd with the kids, boo, and miah. it was really nice to get to hang out with all of them. so for today's blog i want to continue my irish theme with an irish prayer. i hope it adds a little sunshine to your rainy day.

An Irish Prayer
May God give you...
For every storm, a rainbow,
For every tear, a smile,
For every care, a promise,
And a blessing in each trial.
For every problem life sends,
A faithful friend to share,
For every sigh, a sweet song,
And an answer for each prayer.

peace.......

day 36

as we move another day closer to st. patrick's day i wanted to put another irish blessing up. i have always enjoyed irish folklure and even a little celtic music. so have's another little pick me up...............

An Old Irish Blessing
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

peace......

day 35

we are 1 week from st. patrick's day, so i thought i would put a few irish blessings up on here. i figure that with so many people struggling in this economy, we could all use a little pick me up from time to time. on the news today i heard that near bout 1 out of every 10 people are unemployed, that is a staggering number when you really think about. so here's the first irish blessing in honor of st. patrick's day.....
May your blessings outnumber The shamrocks that grow,And may trouble avoid you Wherever you go.~Irish Blessing

peace.....

day 34

it's been over a month since the big lay off of '09, and to tell you the truth i'm doing pretty good about.......until i start thinking about how they did it. but all in all i'm doing ok and starting to move on knowing that god as my best interest at heart. so today i wanted to put a little quote i got in my email today...
A dead thing can go with the stream,but only a living thing can go against it. G K Chesterton
so always try to stand out and go against the tide and make a difference in everything you do!!!!!

peace........

day 33

today was another beautiful day on the neighborhood and it got me thinking about all the fun things i want to do with my baby girl when it finally stays warm. like going to the zoo, and the beach and tweetsie railroad to meet dora and diego this june. but for right now my life has been reduced to pottying and going to the potty. that's right we are in the middle of training baby girl to go to the potty like a big girl. she is doing pretty good, so to help her along some we bought candy today that has been dubbed the "potty candy". everything time she goes to the potty like a big girl she gets a piece of candy, because i have the biggest girl in the whole wide world :0) so here's a little quote about children i thought was appropriate for this blog today.
If you can give your son or daughter only one gift, let it be enthusiasm.
Bruce Barton

peace..........

day 32

today started daylight savings which means spring is just around the corner, it's been a beautiful couple days this weekend. so day i got a text from my best friend that i thought was really appropriate during this uncertain times we are facing in our nation. i hope this will encourage you as it did me when i read it, since there are a lot of us that are unemployed. so keep your head up and know that there is something better on the horizon.
"what the caterpillar calls the end, the rest of the world calls a butterfly." lao tzu

peace......

day 31

today has been a great day! we had a couples bridal shower for my 23 year old niece and her husband to be. thought it was mostly family. it was nice getting together with everyone and playing with the children. so now as my baby girl slwwps after her big day of playing with the other kids i thought i would but a new quote up from my mother teresa book, just a little short quote that has a lot to really think about like much of this book had so far. so for the latest quote here it is........
to please him only is the joy i seek.
in an age where we are trying to find joy in things and entertainment, her only joy was to please her god. that is a heart completely and totally sold out to god!!!

peace..............