Today is Brittaneys Birthday!!

Wow... so today is my babys birthday, she turns "15".. Can you say, I feel old now... It started off to a good morning, she and I got ready and met her daddy and heder (as britt calls her), Brian and Hunter for breakfast at Louises.

She then left to have a Daddy Date Day... They have lots planned, 1st on the agenda was taking her learners license test, he wanted to be the one to take her so off they went... I sent the documnets needed (or so I thought...lol), the birth certificate, social security card, her attendance record from school... oooppss but the birth certificate wasn't an original so off they went to the Health Department... then back to take her test!! WOO HOO SHE PASSED!!! Only missed 3 questions in all.. thats pretty good considering we all know she didnt study one bit... She gets that from me...lol

Stephen giving Britt a pep talk

Britts "I GOT THIS" look!!

Not sure who was prouder

She is now legal to drive...

OMG stay off the road...

I AM SO PROUD OF HER!!

Then they are off to do some driving around to giver her some practice. Stephen says she did pretty good.. only almost took out a mailbox (she gets that from me...lol) and she rides the white line a little but that she was doing real good... and by the end of the day she was driving like she was a pro..

Later that day they all decided to take a mini vacation and head to the beach, originally it was Savannah but later ended up being Panama City Beach. They left late evening Thursday and came back Sunday. She had a blast... She called and texted me all weekend, I guess she knew that I was having a hard time with her being gone but was really happy she was getting to spend time with her dad and brothers...

Stephen enjoying time with his kids

Is this not the sweetest picture ever!!

Britt enjoying her Jet Ski

Britts Future Car...

Stupid Jelly Fish that stung my baby!!

Brian being the funny man like always!!

I am very proud of Stephen... he has stepped up and made this one of the best birthdays for Britt.. It made her day to be able to start it off with most of the people that she loves the most... and then spend the whole weekend just hanging out and having fun...

Brittaney & Blake

Well my little girl is growing up and she is getting her first real taste of love... She and Blake started back dating eachother again back in March, then he went away to Fort Gordon to a military school so that he could finish school early and get a start on a better life for himself and as he puts it Brittaney... Once finished with school in September and he turns 18, he will be inlisted in the National Guards and will begin his boot camp training... until then he gets to come home on the holidays, and mothers day was no exception... the only bad part about this.. is the days when he has to leave again... Britt is always broken hearted and misses him so much... the good thing is that she doesnt have to wait as long this time to get to see him again since he will be home again in 9 days for Memorial Day Holidays... Keep your head up babygirl (or as Blake calls her Sweetie Pie) he will be back in 9 days... and will be home for a week...

Life, The Ups & Downs and All its Changes... (just my thoughts of it anyways)

A time comes in your life when you finally get it...when, in the midst of all your fears and insanity, you stop dead in your tracks and somewhere the voice inside your head cries out
--ENOUGH! --
Enough fighting and crying and struggling to hold on. And, like a child quieting down after a blind tantrum, you shudder once or twice; you blink back your tears and begin to realize it's time to look at the world with new eyes. This is your awakening. You realize it's time to stop hoping and waiting for something to change...or for happiness, safety and security to come galloping over the next horizon. You come to terms with the fact that in the real world there aren't always fairy tale endings. (Or beginnings for that matter) And that any guarantee of "happily ever after" must begin with you...and in the process a sense of serenity is born of acceptance. You awaken to the fact that you are not perfect and that not everyone will always love, appreciate or approve of who or what you are, and that's OK. They are entitled to their own opinions. And you learn the importance of loving and championing yourself...and in the process a sense of new found confidence is born in self-approval. You stop complaining and blaming other people for the things they did to you (or didn't do for you) and you learn that the only thing you can really count on is the unexpected. You learn that people don't always say what they mean or mean what they say and that not everyone will always be there for you and that it's not always about you. So, you learn to stand on your own and take care of yourself. And in the process, a sense of safety and security is born of self-reliance. You stop judging and pointing fingers and you begin to accept people as they are and to overlook their shortcomings and human frailties...and in the process a sense of peace and contentment are born of forgiveness. You realize that much of the way you view yourself, and the world around you, is as a result of all the messages and opinions that have been ingrained into your psyche. And you begin to sift through all the junk you have been fed about how you should behave, how you should look, how much you should weigh, what you wear, and what you should do for a living, who you should marry, the importance of having and raising children, and what you owe your parents, family and friends. You learn to open up to new worlds and different points of view. You learn the difference between wanting and needing and you discard what you don't need. In the process you learn to go with your instincts. You learn that it is truly in giving that we receive. You learn that principles such as honesty and integrity are not outdated ideals of a bygone era, but the mortar that holds together the foundation upon which you must build a life. You learn that you don't know everything, it's not your job to save the world and that you cannot teach a pig to sing...You learn to distinguish between guilt and responsibility and the importance of setting boundaries and learning to say NO! And know when enough is enough! You learn that the only cross to bear is the one you choose to carry. Then you learn about love; How to love, how much to give in love, when to stop giving and when to walk away. You learn to look at relationships as they really are not as you would have them to be. You stop trying to control people, situations and Outcomes. AND YOU LEARN THAT ALONE DOES NOT MEAN LONELY.You also stop working so hard at putting your feelings aside; smoothing things over and ignoring your needs...You learn that feelings of entitlement are perfectly OK! And that it is your right to need things and to ask for things that you need...and that sometimes it is necessary to make demands. You come to the realization that YOU DESERVE TO BE TREATED WITH LOVE, KINDNESS, SENSITIVITY, AND RESPECT AND YOU WON'T SETTLE FOR LESS! And you learn that your body is really your temple. And you begin to treat it with respect. You learn that being tired fuels doubt, fear, and uncertainty and so you take more time to rest and eat right. And, just as food fuels the body, laughter fuels the soul. So you take more time to laugh and play. You learn that for the most part, you get in life what you believe you deserve...and that much of life truly is a self fulfilling prophecy. You learn that anything worth achieving is worth working for and that wishing for something to happen is different from working toward making it happen. More importantly, you learn that in order to achieve success you need direction, discipline and perseverance.You also learn that no one can do it all alone...and that it's OK to risk asking for help. You learn the only thing you must truly fear is the greatest robber baron of all: FEAR itself. You learn to step right into and through your fears, because you know that whatever happens you can handle it and to give in to fear is to give away the right to live life on your own terms!And you learn to fight for your life and not squander it living under a cloud of impending doom. You learn life is not always fair. You don't always get what you think you deserve, and that sometimes bad things happen to unsuspecting, good people. On these occasions you learn not to personalize things. You learn that GOD isn't punishing you or failing to answer your prayers. It's just life happening. You learn to deal with evil in its most primal state--the ego-. You learn that negative feelings such as anger, envy and resentment must be understood and redirected or they will suffocate the life out of you and poison the universe that surrounds you. You learn to admit when you are wrong, and to build bridges instead of walls. You learn the importance of saying "I'm sorry."You learn to be thankful and to take comfort in many of the simple things we take for granted, things that millions of people upon the earth can only dream about: a full refrigerator, clean running water, a soft warm bed, a long hot shower. Slowly, you begin to take responsibility for yourself by yourself and you make yourself a promise to never betray yourself and to never, ever settle for less than your heart's desire.And you hang a wind chime outside your window so you can listen to the wind. And you walk slowly through a rain storm. And you make it a point to keep smiling, to keep trusting and to stay open to every wonderful possibility. Finally, with courage in your heart, and GOD by your side you take a stand, you take a deep breath, and you begin to design the life you want to live as best you can. And keep the faith and hope alive for love to enter your heart..

A little about US...

Well this is my first blog, so where do I start..My life is going good right now.. I have an awsome family and great friends.

A little about my life: My baby girl Brittaney... Where do I even start.. She is my world. Without her I dont exist. She is 14 going on 21, she is beautiful and smart and yea sometimes she is crabby and hateful as crap..but I wouldnt have her any other way, she is a product of her raising. She always is doing something funny or crazy. She has alot of friends that hang out at our house most of the time on the weekends.. and to be honest I wouldnt have it any other way. I have grown to care about alot of the kids as if they were my own. Brittaney plays Soccer for Griffin High School and is a A / B Honor Roll student and has been for the past 4 years. Thank you Britt for always being there for me.. I love you with all my heart.

As for my family...lol Yes we are disfunctional and sometimes alittle strange but what family isnt?

Lets start at the head of the family:

My Nanny: This lady is the backbone of the family. She is the most amazing lady I know. She has a heart of gold and a smile that is amazing. My Nanny is beautiful, funny, sarcastic, loving, everything you could ask for in a grandmother.. that is my her. She has always been there for me when I needed her, even when I thought I didnt need her. She is what holds this family together.. She is always playing peace maker and trying to keep everybody happy. I couldnt and dont even want to imagine my life without her in it. I know one day she will not be with us but until then.. I treasure every minute I get with her. She is wise beyond her years and has had a amazing / hard / fun life. I love to hear her tell about some of experiences in life. I love you Nanny..

My Parents: My mom and Dad are the best.. yes sometimes they get on my ever loving nerves, but what parents dont. They have always been there for me and I guess they always will be if possible. My daddy has been sick and down to almost nothing and he has always provided for us. He has done without so many times that I cant even begin to count to make sure we were taken care of. He is the strongest man I know. No matter what I will always be a daddies girl. My mom, lol man where do I start?? My rock, my hero, my best friend?? no none of that even comes close to what this lady means to me.. we fight and argue and dont speak for days at a time, but when its all said and done.. we know we can always call on eachother to be there. Mom and Dad I love you..

I have several aunts and uncles that I love dearly, we arent as close as we once was because we have all grown up and moved away and have kids or grand kids of our own. But they are still just as important to me...

Uncles:
Jerry Chambers - married to Tammy Chambers, three kids, Kathy, Ricky, & Elizabeth. I dont get to see them as much as I would like but I love them dearly.. My Uncle Jerry use to always be there with me.. Until he got married.. I understand and Im not upset about it.. I am glad that he has someone to share his life with and great kids. I guess that is just part of growing up??
Charles Chambers - married to Nora Lynn Chambers, three kids, Dandy, Jessica, & Jared. I dont get to see them as often as I would like either, but again they have kids of there own and live so far away. I get to see Dandy more than the others since he lives here by me with his two kids, Austin and Blake. They are the cutest two little boys in the world. I love my boys.

Aunts:
Brenda Smith - living in Las Vegas with son Trenity, and has another son named Micheal
Debra Bearden - married to TJ Bearden, two kids, Tab and Jordan..

Well that is about it for me.. Like I said I have an amazing family... disfunctional to say the least.. but they are my bunch of nuts and I love them.