Please give! It is so important!

Yesterday I heard a story about the mall Santa Clauses. They are saying that kids are asking for very peculiar things this year. Some of the kids this year are not asking for the usual bikes, toys, Transformers, the latest gadget, doll, etc. They are actually asking for their mommy to get a job or daddy to get a job. They are asking for their house back, their old rooms, furniture or cars... They are also asking for more food to feed their bellies. This is terrible! The pressure put on these kids is unbelievable!

When you think about the economy and how it has affected your family - do you only think about your own need? Do you think about how am I going to pay this or that bill... or how am I going to make the house payment... or how am I going to put food on the table this week because 'x, y and z' are due? I know I do. I don't stop and think about the thousands of people here in St. Louis that's unemployed this year. I know several families that are unemployed this year that normally have jobs. Some from Chrysler, Maritz and AB. It is happening all over - not just in St. Louis. I know many more people that have been cut back on their hours - in order to save someone else's job. This is a sad state we are in with our economy!

With that all being said, I do want to encourage people to give. If you have an extra $5 - give to your local charity. If you know someone that is not going to have Christmas this year becasue they don't have the money - let a local church or charity know or ask for donations from other relatives, friends and family to help support them. We all must stick together in this time of need!

Two weeks ago, my daughter, Gabby, asked me for money. I was like - geez, again..I just gave you $10 for a class t-shirt. But she told me they were collecting for a local family that wasn't able to have Christmas. I had $5 in my wallet so I gave it to her. Well, this morning she was bummed because they didn't raise the most money for this family at her school. I asked her how much I had given becuase I couldn't remember. She reminded me of the amount and then she said she had given money too. I asked her how much. She told me she gave $12. I was like - how could you give all of your money away to this family that you don't know. She said - Mom - they needed it more than me. Wow - what a profound statement!

Please give this year! Other people may need it more than you!

Missing her....

RIP ~ Florence June Carver ~

My Grandma June will be missed so much...
She brought so much comfort for me to hear her voice...
She had an opinion on everything and she would tell it to you...
She loved purses and shoes.
She loved her babies too...
She could talk and shop all day long...
I guess that is where I get it from...

I know you are smiling down from heaven.
Give Dad and Grandpa kisses when you see them. We miss you more that you will ever know.

Grandma June is the lady on the left in the pink. She was always there for me... I will miss her always and forever.

Today...is a special day!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM! Today is my mom's birthday! She is turning the whopping age of 56. She is so young in so many ways! She is a great mom.

Top 5 momemts with my mom....

1. When she came down to the "Sunbeam Camp" I was attending when I was 8 years old. We had a ton of fun. But when she left, I cried the rest of the time becuase I missed her so much.
2. When we were camping out at Bourbon - all of the summers we spent out their when we were kids were all very enjoyable! The cooking over the fire, bathing in the pond, peeing in the woods....it was crazy!! But so much fun!!
3. When I bought my mom and I tickets to see "Mama Mia" the musical at the Fox for Mother's Day. We ate dinner on the campus of SLU and we went to the musical. It was great - She is my "Dancing Queen". :-)
4. When we took Brandon and Gabby to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to see Dave and Dianne. We stopped in Chicago at the Navy Pier. It was a great time. The kids still love to see the pictures and talk about it.
5. The day my mom walked me down aisle to marry my husband, Dave on May 22, 1999.

There are so many more days that come to mind. But way too many to list.

Remember to hug your mom and let her know you love her. You only have ONE mom and you should always make her feel special! Even if you don't agree with everything she does, you must love her for who she is.

After already losing one parent, I often worry about the time I have left with her.

Is it really almost over?!?!??

I am so thankful this election is FINALLY coming to an end. I have to say all of the negative ads, from all parties over all politcal agenda's, were staggering this year! I cannot listen to the radio without a political ad nor can I look at television (which doesn't happen very often) without a political ad knocking someone of what they are doing wrong or did wrong..... oy!

I remember the negative ads before - I remember them being daunting. But for some reason, this year seems really bad! Oh yeah, and let's not mention the one night I can watch television and Obama has to have 3 networks with a 30 minute "whatever it was" that was extremely annoying.

The bottom line: I AM SO GLAD IT IS ALMOST OVER!!!!

I know that everyone is not a fan of talking about politics. But I am going to say one thing - Go MCPALIN...!

Teenagers....need I say more?

When did I turn from "Mom - who knows everything" to "Mom - who knows nothing"? Why does that happen?

Every time I turn around I am fighting with my 13 year old. Whatever happened to not speaking back or questioning your parents? Whatever happened to respect? I just don't know where to even begin....

Brandon has always been a great kid! Mostly willing to help, he recieved pretty good grades without putting forth a ton of effort, everyone's friend. Now he doesn't help without sarcasm and a fight, his grades have been slipping and again, we are fighting over this, too. He is still everyone's friend, except for mine (or so it seems) just look at his phone bill with the 50 plus text messages a day. Yes, we have unlimited text messaging.

If I ask him to help with Dawson - it is a fight or an excuse that makes it turn into a fight. If I ask him to clean the bathroom or do other chores - it is an excuse again or another fight. If I ask him to do his reading homework - it is an excuse or another fight. If I ask him to clean his room - it is another fight. If I ask for his help with anything - it reaks sarcasm when he answers me - and again we fight. If I ask him to participate in "family night" - he looks at me like I have 3 heads and then - you guessed it - another fight. When does it end????? AHHHHHH!

So, I finally have decided to STOP the fighting. How do you go from always raising your voice - to not doing it anymore? I have stopped and did the 10 breaths...that worked - NOT! I have stopped and walked away - he followed me. I have even stopped and said the Serenity Prayer.

GOD grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.

This has helped me realize - it is something I can change. With God ALL things are possible! EVEN RAISING TEENAGERS! Imagine that...

So....I am going to try this whole "blogging" thing out.....

I will have to admit...I do not understand this whole blogging thing. I have been following my friend, April's, blog for a few months. I have really enjoyed her new pictures of baby Chase and the family. I also have enjoyed reading her postings since I have been really busy and could not keep up with what was going on in her life. So that is what started my interest in blogging.

Since we have family in Arkansas, Florida and Wisconsin I figured this would be a great way for them to keep up with us and all of the new pictures as I take of the family. But I still don't understand why anyone would want to read my babble... going on and on about all of the "stuff" we have to do in a weeks or months time. Are people really THAT bored with their own personal life they would want to hear my whining? Hmmm.... Ok, so maybe not bored, just nosy. Just kidding!

So let's see. Brandon is 13 now and is in 8th grade... What an age! One second I think he is absolutley adorable and so very handsome. AND then there are times I could just go nuts and spin my head around from all of the fighting. People keep saying. "It is just going to get harder... It won't get better anytime soon.... He is a teenager, what did you expect???...." Oh yeah - that last one was my favorite. Actually, there was a lady at a mini reunion recently that said, "Don't worry, honey, just chalk it up as Testosterone Poisoning"....

Gotta run...will blog more later...