Christmas Pics!!!

Okay, boys and girls of all ages, here are Christmas 2005 pictures of my baby. :-) And some of the new toys we all received.

Here is Brooke in her BEAUTIFUL Christmas dress on Christmas Eve. I thought she was the cutest little girl at church. She had an amazing time opening her gifts this year, and it didn't matter what was in the box, in fact I think she hardly stopped to look before she wanted to open another present.








Here is the wagon that Santa brought her. When she got up on Christmas morning, she discovered this HUGE wagon in our living room. Where in the world did it come from? She wanted Poppi to "pull pull" her around the house. They had some time to play before and after lunch and they took full advantage of it while I slept. I wasn't feeling well.








This is (top->bottom) my nephew Zachary, niece Lyndsey, and of course my little "Punchkin". This was Friday the 23rd. Usually my sister and her family and our family get together to do our family Christmas instead of doing it with all the family on Christmas day.

AWESOME...

I received this from a good friend whose husband is in the military. He will be returning to Iraq for the 3rd time next year. God Bless you Josh, Delaney and Tara. You are always in my thoughts and prayers and we love you and miss you more than you know. Stay safe Joshua and return home safely too.

A DIFFERENT CHRISTMAS POEM

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest, My daughter
beside me, angelic in rest.

Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.

In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.
The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near, But I
opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.

Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the
sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.

Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night, A
lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old, Perhaps a
Marine, huddled here in the cold.

Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled, Standing
watch over me, and my wife and my child.
"What are you doing?" I asked without fear, "Come in
this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift, Away from
the cold and the snow blown in drifts..
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."

"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line, That
separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me, I'm proud to
stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."

My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam', And
now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.

Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag, The
red, white, and blue... an American flag.
"I can live through the cold and the being alone, Away
from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another, Or lay down
my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all, To ensure
for all time that this flag will not fall."

"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright, Your
family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret, "Just
tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.

WE ALL NEED TO PRAY FOR OUR MILITARY PERSONNEL EVERY NIGHT!

A little Trivia for ya....

I found this picture and wondered if anyone else knew what it was.

Please take a few wild guesses and for those of you who get it right...well, you just get it right. A big congrats to you.

Christmas....

....so I didn't get my trip to Tahiti, nor an engagement ring, but I'll survive with what I did get.


Christmas was good, I got a lot of neat things, but most importantly was watching the joy and excitement on little Ms. Brooke’s face as she tore into the wrapping paper. She received a few toys, but she really got a cool tricycle thanks to Celeste, and a HUGE covered wagon courtesy of Santa. She wanted Poppi to pull her around on Christmas morning as she climbed into it. She also got some books, clothes, and some money.

I got this cool little Shower bug radio.

As well as a statue of a profile of a mother kissing her baby. So awesomely powerful and very moving. I got the book “My War: Killing Time in Iraq” by Colby Buzzell. I haven’t started reading it yet, but hope to soon. I also got a few cute little nick nacks and such, and they are fun. On Sunday I slept most of the day as I was not feeling well, while Brooke and her Poppi, my dad, went outside and played on her *NEW* toys. I’m guessing she had fun, and after that they came in and watched my new movie The Polar Express, if you’ve never seen it you’re missing out on some incredible animation.

All in all we had a good time, and more importantly was making sure that Brooke had a good Christmas as well.

I hope that everyone who reads this had a fantastic Christmas and didn’t get coal or twigs in their stockings.

Next Up: A New Years Spent by Myself...the tale of how my parents left me to celebrate the New Year alone...bah humbug.

Christmas is coming soon!!

There are officially 4 days until Christmas, and if you still believe in Santa, like I do, then he will be coming to visit too. I hope everyone has a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and a happy New Year!!!

What Santa can bring me this year for Christmas:
1. a trip without Brooke to Tahiti
2. a man to go with me on my trip to Tahiti
3. an engagement ring from this man who is accompaning me on my trip to Tahiti
4. a wonderful Christmas for Brooke
5. a Christmas where all of the family gets a long for once
6. to spend quality time with my family
7. the promise of a new year
8. to help me to remember the REAL reason we celebrate this HOLY-day.
9. that no matter how near or far my family is, that they will be thought of this Christmas.
10. a safe and Merry Christmas to all soldiers and soldiers families around the world.

UPDATE:
Okay, was informed about numbers 1-3 through lunch that perhaps I should know this man really well thats accompaning me to Tahiti or he might just turn out to be a real butthead. Thanks Daddy Jim for informing me of this. FYI Daddy Jim is like my second dad because he has a daughter, Melody, who is one day younger than I. Him and my dad have worked together for 21 years. Pretty much family if you ask me. I have lots of second dads because all the guys at work kind of look after me. Thanks guys, and HO HO HO MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!

Symptoms of the BIRD FLU...

The Center for Disease Control has released a list of symptoms of bird flu. If you experience any of the following, please seek medical treatment immediately:

1. High fever
2. Congestion
3. Nausea
4. Fatigue
5. Aching in the joints
6. An irresistible urge to crap on someone's windshield

Thanks Layne-O for a great laugh this morning as I received this in my email.

Aunt Celeste Is The Best!!!!

I was sitting here thinking about how excited I am about getting to spend some time with my sister tonight. To tell you a little about our situation. My sister and I are 10 years apart…her being the middle sister. Our other sister is 12 years older than I am. I won’t tell you how old she is but if you know how to do math, and know my age, then you will figure it out quickly. We have become very close and anytime spent with her is time well spent. She is my best friend, my confidant, and most importantly the best sister EVER. She moved out when I was only eight, and so we have lived apart more than we have lived together. I love her bunches and bunches and she is the greatest Aunt to my little girl. She has taken good care of me for 21 years, always doing stuff with me or for me, and giving me the greatest Christmas present ever, her love. She’s got a heart the size of the USA, and its made of gold. She has two beautiful children, whom I’m proud to call my neice and nephew. Its Christmas time, and they are my little joys. They completely love Brooke and have since they found out I was going to have a baby. I remember after my mom went to work and Celeste and Lyndsey would come over to spend time. Lyndsey would love on Brooke even though she couldn’t hold her, and they have become really close. Zachary didn’t see her much as a little baby, but can recall one night at their house when he looked at me and said, “Aunt Kourtney it looks like you’re fixing to be born, I mean have a baby.” Then they passed me on the road one morning and Lyndsey called me to find out “if I’d had baby Brooke yet.” The answer was no.

I have to say that this Christmas holiday I will have a few blessing to thank the grateful Lord for and that is my family. They are my number one support system, and I’m truly grateful that they stuck around. My sister was the first one to find out that I was going to have a baby, and we sat and cried together. She NEVER yelled at me and said what were you thinking, or tried to throw it in my face. I’m truly grateful that she was there supporting me all the way, and is still there when I need her even now.

CELESTE YOU ARE THE MOST AMAZING SISTER EVER!!!! Now that Brooke can talk you can get her to say what you tell everyone.

Now this is my beautiful neice, nephew and daughter. Lyndsey and Brooke are really close, and Brooke bosses around Zachary.

A Soldiers Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas,
he lived all alone,
in a one bedroom house made of
plaster and stone.

I had come down the chimney
with presents to give,
and to see just who
in this home did live.

I looked all about,
a strange sight I did see,
no tinsel, no presents,
not even a tree.

No stocking by mantle,
just boots filled with sand,
on the wall hung pictures
of far distant lands.

With medals and badges,
awards of all kinds,
a sober thought
came through my mind.

For this house was different,
it was dark and dreary,
I found the home of a soldier,
once I could see clearly.

The soldier lay sleeping,
silent, alone,
curled up on the floor
in this one bedroom home.

The face was so gentle,
the room in such disorder,
not how I pictured
a United States soldier.

Was this the hero
of whom I'd just read?
curled up on a poncho,
the floor for a bed?

I realized the families
that I saw this night,
owed their lives to these soldiers
who were willing to fight.

Soon round the world,
the children would play,
and grownups would celebrate
a bright Christmas day.

They all enjoyed freedom
each month of the year,
because of the soldiers,
like the one lying here.

I couldn't help wonder
how many lay alone,
on a cold Christmas eve
in a land far from home.

The very thought
brought a tear to my eye,
I dropped to my knees
and started to cry.

The soldier awakened
and I heard a rough voice,
"Santa don't cry,
this life is my choice;

I fight for freedom,
I don't ask for more,
my life is my God,
my country, my corps."

The soldier rolled over
and drifted to sleep,
I couldn't control it,
I continued to weep.

I kept watch for hours,
so silent and still
and we both shivered
from the cold night's chill.

I didn't want to leave
on that cold, dark, night,
this guardian of honor
so willing to fight.

Then the soldier rolled over,
with a voice soft and pure,
whispered, "carry on Santa,
It's Christmas Day, all is secure."

One look at my watch,
and I knew he was right.
"Merry Christmas my friend,
and to all a good night."


Merry Christmas to all of the soldiers around the world. Without the soldiers before you we wouldn't be able to celebrate Christmas in many different religions or ways. Your service is greatly appreciated this Season as well as others. Thanks again for your service to "one nation under God."

JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON!!!!!

Anime anyone?

You are an angel. You are really pure hearted and
kind. You are also really popular, but not in a
snobby sort of way. Please help this quiz get
to the Most Popular list!


If you were an anime girl what would you look like? (great pix)
brought to you by

Randomness

What were you doing 10 years ago?
-I was in the 5th grade...WOOHOO.

What were you doing 1 year ago?
-Working and taking care of Brooke

5 snacks you enjoy:
1. cashews
2. Reese's Pieces
3. Chocolate
4. Animal Crackers
5. Chex

5 songs to which you know all the lyrics:
1. Penny Lane
2. Elenor Rigby
3. Oscar Meyer Wieny song
4. Letters from War
5. Paper Tiger

5 things you would do if you were a millionare:
1. Donate to a charity or few of my choice
2. Help my sister, not that she's poor but she's done a lot for me
3. Buy Brooke and I a house
4. Get us a bigger car
5. Finish paying off my parents house.

5 bad habits:
1. Cussing
2. Procrastinating
3. Letting my daughter have chocolate
4. Letting my daughter sleep with me.
5. driving wildly..Megan

5 things you like doing:
1. playing on the computer
2. writing
3. talking on the phone
4. Spending time with my parents and sister
5. Being with Brooke

5 things you would never wear again:
1. headbands
2. blue mascara
3. leggins
4. rediculously large t-shirts
5. fake nails

5 favorite toys:
1. Digital camera and printer dock
2. cell phone
3. Text messaging
4. TV
5. Radio

OKay, so I'm not very intriguing, but oh well, whatever. Let me know if you played along.

THEY'RE HERE!!!!

My pictures from Lubbock are finally here!!! Enjoy!!!!

Layne wearing a tiara I found on Meg's fridg. Yes, my dear friends, he is gay.

These are the "slutties" I referred to. There is even a school girl slutty...eeks.

Meg's kitties will be coming at a later date, I was having some probs uploading them. Enjoy my trip to Lubbock.

The Smartest Girl I Ever Knew!

Okay, so my best friend and I were talking about things and it just so happened that the subject now has a blog post.

How Do You Know?

At the end of the day, do we really know what we are meant to be? Lately my life has been bombarded with so many things from the past and possibilities for the future and I can't help but feel helpless. I look around and it seems like everyone has everything so figured out. I look at my life and nothing in it is for sure. I have never been so confused and so unable to make any decisions. Is 21 too young to be making life and career decisions? I am beginning to think that it is. I am amazed at how many people my age or younger are engaged without having known each other very long. I can speak from experience that even after 2 years of dating, marriage is still a question. Granted, we have decided we want to get married but when the country you live in has a 50% divorce rate it makes you want to take the time to be sure. I started making decisions about my life when I was 18 without really even knowing much about myself or the world I was taking a step into. How would I be different if I had been given the chance to make the same decision after I had a few years of real life under my belt?

How do you decide what is the right thing for your life? How do you choose between two people, two career paths, and everything else that pops up in between? If you have a chance to right a wrong from the past, but it will change your life, do you take that chance? How do you choose between two people when you know your decision will result in someone ending up alone? Society demands so much of its youth at such a young age that I wonder if we are setting ourselves up for failure?

What I have realized is that life, a cruel as it seems, throws you these problems without giving you the right tools to fix it and so you make mistakes and lots of them. There is no shooting star to guide your way, no giant sign to let you know the right path to take. You just have to close your eyes and jump in-- choose the best way that you can. I certainly hope that time will be kind to me, I hope that I make the right decisions, and I hope that someday everything will make some kind of sense. I hope that someday I will be happy and that all those close to me will find the same.

Thanks Megan for this wonderful post.

After I read it I knew she had hit the nail on the head. You know the reason for the drinking laws being 21 is because thats the point in time where your brain and organs quit growing and developing, but yet they let us out of school at the age of 18. Should it not be a requirement to keep us until 21? Its just like they're releasing flies from a huge container and expecting them to survive on their own, with out teaching them BETTER survival skills. You don't think they teach those Survivor contestants how to survive on rats, and bugs, among other things? Heck no, they dump them on an island in some remote part of somewhere and say figure it out on your own. So I would say, that yes the demands that society has placed upon its youth is setting them up for failure.

I would say that out of my class of 132 men and women there are plenty who have already been married and divorced, are married, or who have kids. Its scary. You meet the man of your dreams in high school, do the puppy love thing, decide to marry him, and within a years time are filing for a divorce because you two were never ready to get married in the first place. Some high school marriages last, but most don't survive past the first year. In todays world the odds are against you. I am 21, have a baby, and a decent job, but I am far from being ready to stand at the alter and profess my love for someone.

Always Interesting when....

...You get Megan and I together, and something is bound to happen.

Saturday night Meg and I went out to eat, at our traditional Olive Garden. We had dinner and drinks, but don't think we had TOO much to drink after I tell you this. We only had one alcoholic drink a piece, and I didn't even drink all of mine. Anyway, we went to the mall, boring as crap with all of the little high schoolers out with all of their friends. Who knew they still did that? What happened to Sonic? Anyway, we left there and went to Target, where they ALWAYS have interesting things. We saw this pack of Jones Soda holiday stuff and we decided what the heck, it can't be that bad right? WRONG!! Oh we were wrong, big time wrong. WE DAMN NEAR NEARLY DIED!!! It was that bad. The flavors they have are Brussels Sprout with Prosciutto, Cranberry Sauce, Turkey & Gravy, Wild Herb Stuffing, and Pumpkin Pie. We thought well at least the Pumpkin Pie and the Cranberry can't be too bad...oh oh oh...WRONG AGAIN!!!!! We sat in the Target parking lot creating death wishes for ourselves by trying EACH AND EVERYONE of those sodas. We opened up the Brussel Sprouts and the smell was killer. It stunk so bad. I mean, skunks smell better than this crap did. So we closed it and tasted on saving it for last. I think we gagged on everyone of them, but when it came time for the Brussel Sprout, we held our noses and sipped away. Holding your nose didn't help much at all. We gagged and spit, and I washed my mouth out with some Dr. Pepper that I had put my old chewed up gum in some hours previous to our adventure. It was bad, you have a boyfriend or girlfriend you don't like, I just might have the cure for getting them not to like you back. Its called Jones Soda Brussel Sprouts. Ladies and Gentlemen that is the worst adventuring I have ever done. I've done some pretty crazy things in my time, but nothing like this.

The Adventures of Meg and Kourt continue. To see more adventures check out Meg's blog.

Other than that I had a good Thanksgiving and hope all went well with you and yours.

Thanksgiving is coming up quickly...like in a couple of days, so I thought it would be appropriate to make a list of things in which I'm thankful for.

1. my daughter- for being the love of my life
2. my family- for supporting me through the toughest of times, and loving me unconditionally
3. my best friends Megan & Layne-for always being there despite our differences and loving me for who I am
4. all my friends - for being there when I needed you most
5. my middle sister - for being my best friend, best sister, and the best aunt to my daughter
6. my niece and nephew- for always providing a good laugh with their silly antics
7. my job - because that means I can put food on the table, and clothes on Brooke's back
8. The military - because that means I can write this, and have freedom of speech
9. The country in which I live - because we have more freedoms than any other country, and because we are not fighting amongst ourselves
10. God - because without Him I am nothing.

What are you thankful for?

How to take care of telemarketers!

The phone rang as we were sitting down to our anticipated evening meal, and as I answered it I was greeted with " is this William Wagenhoss" not sounding anything like my name, so I said who is calling?

The telemarketer said he was with The Rubber band Powered Freezer company or something like that and then I asked him if he knew William personally and why was he calling this number. I then said off to the side, "get really good pictures of the body and all the blood" then turned back to the phone and advised the caller that he had entered a murder scene and must stay on the line because we had already traced this call and he would be receiving a summons to appear in the local courthouse to testify in this murder case.

I then questioned the caller at great length as to h is name, address, phone number at home, at work, who he worked for, how he knew the dead guy and could he prove where he had been about one hour before he made this call.

The telemarketer was getting very concerned and his answers were given in a shaky voice. I then told him we had located his position at his work place and the police were entering the building to take him into custody, at that point I heard the phone fall and the scurrying of his running away.

My wife asked me as I returned to our table why I had tears streaming down my face and so help me, I couldn't tell her for about fifteen minutes.

The meal was cold, but it was very enjoyable.



--Sorry guys got a lot of good emails this morning, and this one was included. I got good news however, I'm going back to school in the Spring...WOOHOO!!

Kalat

I received this in my email from a good friend of mine whose husband has been to Iraq twice. I think it is very cool so I just had to share it with everyone.




This statue currently stands outside the Iraqi palace, now home to the 4th Infantry Division. It will eventually be shipped home and put in the memorial museum in Fort Hood, TX .

The statue was created by an Iraqi artist named Kalat, who for years was forced by Saddam Hussein to make the many hundreds of bronze busts of Saddam that dotted Baghdad. Kalat was so grateful for the American's liberation of his country; he melted 3 of the heads of the fallen Saddam and made the statue as a memorial to the American soldiers and their fallen warriors. Kalat worked on this memorial night and day for several months.

To the left of the kneeling soldier is a small Iraqi girl giving the soldier comfort as he mourns the loss of his comrade in arms.

Do you know why we don't hear about this in the news? Because it is heart warming and praise worthy. The media avoids it because it does not have the shock effect that a flashed breast or controversy of politics does.

Look here Anti-war protesters....

I was reading through the blogs I read on a daily basis and came across this very good message from a Soldier who has just returned back to the United States. Thank a Soldier today for fighting for your freedom, just make it a habit to thank one everyday, even if its the same one. He makes some very good points on the War in Iraq.

Monday, November 14, 2005

An Open Letter to the Anti-War Crowd

To my loyal and supportive readers...this is not directed towards you. I know that you all support, encourage, and agree with me, the leadership of this country, and this war.

To all you anti-war folks, I have to get something off my chest.

You all are a disgrace to the country you call home. You abuse the freedoms that I, and many others, have sweated and bled to protect with your vitriolic rants and seditious acts and statements.

You hide behind the First Amendment, claiming the bile you spew forth is protected under the right to free speech. Some of you claim that you "Support the Troops, but not the war". I submit to you that this is a preposterous assertation. In order to truly and honestly support the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen who have sworn to "Uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America", you must also support the endeavor that they are currently undertaking. Our job is to safeguard you, to kill, disable, or catch the human scum who have made it their mission in life to blow you into chunks of human gore, sever your head from your torso, incinerate you, collapse your office building, gas you on the subway, or murder your children with television cameras rolling live.

Their aim is to scare you into submission. Scare you so much, inject so much fear into your mind that you willfully throw your freedoms out of the window in the name of 'security'. If we can kill them, disable them, or catch them before they are able to inflict the horrors of their idiom on you, then you should be grateful.

I am not attempting to heap praise upon myself. The words you are reading are not for my glory, nor are they intended to glorify anyone, but to show the fallacy of your words and actions. True, you are free to believe what you wish and to voice your opinion as such, but I am also free to do the same.

The words on your screen that you are reading now are intended to cause you to think about the ideology to which you cling. To make you see that folks like 'Code Pink', Fred Phelps, Cindy Sheehan and their ilk are morally bereft individuals. Dark, vile people who do not want others to have their freedoms, but abuse the same to do the shouting.

Your inability to understand the gravity of the situation in which we, as a nation, are embroiled is appalling. In my eyes, you do not understand what dangers this country faces from these terrorists, nor do you understand what it takes to protect you from this peril.

I think back to the Jews who were led out of Egypt whined that they were tired of eating manna, trekking through the desert, facing the danger of wild animals, desert heat, and uncertainty as to what the next mile in the sand might bring. They longed to be back in bondage, slaves to the Egyptians, with full stomachs, roofs over their heads, and a place to call home. They would have rather been forced to perform manual labor by Draconian task-masters rather have their freedom. They knew that they would be fed, have a permanent house, regardless of the way they were treated, as slaves doing forced HARD labor.They were not willing to travel the hard road, to fight for their freedoms. It was easier to go back and be oppressed by the Egyptians rather than press forward and fight for their own nation, for their own freedom. I use the word fight. I mean the term both militarily and in simple reference to the struggle to maintain resilience of spirit.

Some of you will immediately discount the previous reference for the simple fact it is Biblical. Regardless of what you believe spiritually, the parallel draws the conclusion. People who are willing to trade freedom for security are sorry individuals. Freedom is costly to maintain, financially, but also costly of life, resolve and dedication.

Some of you will argue that Iraq has nothing to do with 9-11. It has everything to do with that terrible fall day. The terrorist action on that day was not simply an attack against four airliners, two high profile structures and the people in the planes and buildings, but on the sovriegnty and safety of the USA. In the Declaration of Independence, we all know the clause, "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness". The terrorists want nothing more than to take those rights from you, and they did, from almost 3000 people on that day. A great majority of the terrorists were from Saudi Arabia. That is one of the anti-war crowd's talking points. The concept which I believe you fail to grasp is that they were part of a larger network, a community of evil people who despiseus. Let us use illegal drugs as an example.

For instance, if a person is arrested for selling drugs, do the law enforcement agencies stop there?? Do the stop with the person who carries out the crime at the lowest level?? No, they attempt to take down the whole network, and go as high as they can to try and eradicate the problem at the top. They go to the mid-level suppliers, then the clearinghouses of the nation, the couriers, the financiers, and the kingpins and cartel bosses. An investigation that starts somewhere say, Cleveland, could lead to Chicago, thenMiami, then Cuba, and then to Bogota. The trail could branch anywhere in the chain, and in our instance, the trail led to Iraq.

Another parallel can be drawn from the example of narcotics. A proactive stance is essential in taking care of the problem. We can sit back inside our borders, hoping to catch the drug runners at the borders, or we can go on the offensive, find the problem at its source and deal with it at its origination. Similarly, do we set up treatment centers and simply hope that addicts will happen to decide to come in for help with their problems, or do we seek them out, advertise, reach into the community and try to bring aid to them??

Our expedition into Iraq and Afghanistan is the exact same concept. We are attempting to stop the terrorists where they breed, where they are steeped in their radicalism, where they do not harm OUR citizens, my family and yours. It may seem callous, but I mean no insult towards anyone of different nationality. Another hypothetical example...a ship is sinking. A seaplane lands to rescue the people on board.The seaplane is owned by a ficticious nation...let's use Atlantis. The seaplane is capable of carrying 30 people other than the aircraft crew. There are 34 people in need of rescue. Thirty of the passengers on the ship are Atlantean. Who are the crew of the plane going to take with them?? The Atlantean's, of course. They will rescue their countrymen first, and if possible, they will come back for the others, if possible. You take care of your own. You protect your countrymen, protect your homeland and its people. Not to say that others are worth any less as human beings, but you take care of your own.

We are taking care of our national interests. Making sure that OUR borders are safe, fighting the enemy in their homeland, not ours. I would rather fight the enemy where they do not put American civilians at risk. It is my job to fight the enemy and remove his ability to attack Americans. Would you rather wait and have us fight in the streets of St. Louis or New York or L.A. or Smalltown, USA, or would you rather we kill them before they can even pose any danger to you in your hometown??

We removed a regime that supported terrorism. He supported an ENEMY of the United States of America, and was an evil person. Saddam Hussein was a terrorist in his own right, against his own people. A friend of my enemy is my enemy.

So, enough with your venomous, acrimonious rantings. If you don't like the fact that your government is making aCONCERTIED EFFORT to preserve your freedoms, go somewhere else. You are parasitic dregs, stealing from the people who secure yourfreedoms, abusing the freedoms to malign them, all the while being behind the shield of protection they so willingly provide.Let me define parasite for you :

"something that resembles a biological parasite in dependence on something else for existence or support without making a useful or adequate return"Now, ask yourself...does this in any way apply to you??

You are stealing my blood, and you should be ashamed of yourself. Go back to your dark holes and brood, for you and your logic isnot welcome, and many more people than you think feel the same way I do. You are evil, as evil as our enemies.

Thanks to Ma Deuce Gunner for this post. Check him out along with the other Mil-bloggers, and like I said, take time to thank a soldier today, and everyday. They are putting themselves in harms way, so that we may walk the streets alone even during the daytime, so that we are free to voice our opinions, so that we may have the freedoms to send our children to school or daycare, and know that the terrorists are at bay, and are not welcomed here. We are free to dress the way we see fit everyday, and not have to shield our faces or be scrutinized because we are women. We can marry who we want and when we want and not have to abide by some governmental rules as to who and when we marry. We can walk to a church, any church, and worship with no worries about who will see us, and what will happen if they do. Remember these things if you criticize the war or if you support the Anti-war movement. Those soldiers are out there fighting because we the people who are sitting at our desk, or doing other jobs, didn't have the courage to sacrifice our lives for OUR freedom. I'm just as guilty as the rest, but revert back to the post To be or not to be for my future plans.

Thank you Ma Deuce Gunner for your sacrifices to our country.

Smackers!!!!!!

What do you tell someone who is sitting next to you looking at you and smacking in your ear? Today at lunch there was someone who was doing that. This person has a lot of growing up to do, but what smacking in my ear...we'll call her Jane. First she started telling me who she had lunch with some other guys, one of whom asked me to marry him a while back. I would say this person is a habitual lier, because some things she says just don't add up. I'm just about to the point of saying please don't speak to me. If its not about her she doesn't want to talk about it, and when I was wincing in pain because I kept biting my lip, she didn't care one bit, she just moved on and acted like it was no big deal, all the while smacking in my ear. I mean come on my daughter doesn't even smack and she's 19 months.

G I Bracelets

Go find the big link on the side of my page that says GI Bracelets. Go get you a few, and show our troops you care. You can name your own donation price from $1-5. All the proceeds go to a charity of your choice that you choose off a list. I bought 5 at $3/bracelet and a donation of $15 went to the Fisher House at Ft. Hood. Which will get a couple/family 1.5 nights stay at the Fisher house while their soldier is wounded. It only costs people $10/night to stay their while their loved ones are in the hospital. Its a good thing. Support our troops, show them you care.

OKay, three posts in one day...That's doing pretty good I would say.

Cup 'O Joe

You're a Classic Cup 'O' Joe!


What Kind of Coffee are You?
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So I'm a regular Joe. You can find this quiz and many more on Quizilla.

Snakes

Everyone's creepiest subject...eeks. Snakes do not bother me from afar, however when you open the door to walk out your kitchen and into the garage and are greeted by one, not my idea of fun. Okay, so this really did happen a few nights ago. There is a door that leads from the kitchen into the garage, and I walked out, put my right foot down and heard something. Looked down and there he was looking at me like a nice piece of steak. He was only 1.5 feet long but big enough to make you hurt yourself. I was just stepping out to put a dirty diaper in the trash, but was quickly summoned back inside. I screamed bloody murder, shut the door quickly...lets go with slammed the door quickly, locked the baby lock, and hollered for my dad to come kill him. Not a minute later you hear the sound of someone pounding a hoe on the concrete, he had come to hoe off his head. Comforting, I stepped outside with the confidence my dad had killed him to see my dad pick up Mr. Snake and drag him outside the garage for more hoeing. Whats left on our garage floor is a sight to see, a reminder to look before you step out. The snake had a nice warm place as he was on some carpeting and in front of our big freezer, which I'm sure was producing heat.
The next night my dad went to Stanton, and I went to Big Spring leaving my mom and Brooke at home alone. I get a phone call while driving home saying not to open the garage door because the dog was in there, mom had just shot a snake to death on the back porch. That same evening my neighbor called to tell us that her dog had been bitten on the head by a rattlesnake and she found it dead. So three snakes dead in two days. We have not had much luck with snakes lately. Watch out they're out right now.
Happy snake hunting!!!!

Demons???

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9898294/

Please check out the above to see why I’m thoroughly angered. Who in their right mind would do this to rid their child of demons? If they truly believed that this girl was possessed why didn’t they take her to a priest or something? As a mother of a soon to be 19 month old, I understand that sometimes it can be very trying as a parent and sometimes they can be very frustrating, but to believe that my daughter is possessed by demons would be ridiculous. Maybe those people were possessed of demons themselves and in so being that way they believed their children were as well. And for the mother to say that he made her would be even more ridiculous because she took part in it instead of trying to somehow run away with the child or do something to save her own daughter, her flesh and blood, the child that she carried for 40 weeks and gave birth to.

Okay it mentions that they lived in homeless shelters and moved from motel to motel where the children were deprived of food and bathing. Why in the world didn’t anyone called CPS on these people. Why in the world did society allow this to happen and why didn’t the mother, who supposedly cared so much for this child, call the police when she had a chance while the father was gone. She could have saved her family from despair. It also mentions that he “faces a possible death penalty unless he agrees to plead guilty.” I hope he gets the death penalty, which is what he deserves. But if he does plead guilty, what does that mean, life in prison with the possibility of parole? Gee, that sounds really promising, so he can go on living his life like nothing ever happened in 20 years? He denied that child the right to grow up and have a family of her own, why should we not deny him his life? Okay many of you say I’m a killer, no I’m a mother of a beautiful little girl who amazes me everyday, and is a true miracle to my life. She is my saving grace and I love her too much to let ANY man harm her in any way. I will admit, I do believe in the death penalty. I think he committed a crime that is worthy of the death penalty. The same goes for Sadam he should be tortured in the way he tortured his country. Those people are living much better now, and they are proud that OUR U.S. Military has stepped up to fight the good fight. It’s definitely a cause worth fighting for in my book.

***If you have comments on this matter please feel free to leave them. I will not be offended if you cuss me out, but please remember that it is our God given right to have and to voice our opinions and also those rights I/we have as U. S. Citizens.***

Letters from War

Mark Schultz
Letters From War

She runs to the mailbox
On that bright summers day
Found a letter from her son
In a war far away

He spoke of the weather
And good friends that he'd made
Said I'd been thinking 'bout dad
And the life that he had
Thats why I'm here today
And that the end he said
You are what I'm fighting for
It was the first of the letters from war

She started writing

(Chorus)
You're good and you're brave
What a father that you'll be someday
Bring him home
Bring him safe

She wrote everynight as she prayed

Late in December
A day she'll not forget
Oh her tears stained the paper

With every word that she read

It said I was up on a hill
I was out there alone
When the shots all rang out
And bombs were exploding
And thats when I saw him
He came back to me
And though he was captured
A man set me free
And that man was your son

He asked me to write to you
I told him i would oh I swore
It was the last of the letters from war

And she prayed he was living
Kept on believing and wrote every night just to say

(Chorus)
You're good and you're brave
What a father that you'll be someday
Bring him home
Bring him safe

Then two years later
Autumn leaves all around
A car pulled in the driveway
And she fell to the ground
And out stepped a captain
Where her boy used to stand

Said mom I'm following orders
From all of your letters
And I've come home again
He ran into hold her
And dropped all his bags on the floor
Holding all of her letters from war

Bring him home
Bring him home
Bring him home

Mark writes this about this song: "After my Great Grandma, Ebba Forsberg passed away, my great aunt and my cousin put together a scrapbook of her life. In it I found a letter that her son wrote to her while he was away in World War II. That letter and scrapbook were the inspiration for this song."

I believe that this is every parents wish for their children and others fighting for OUR freedom in a "war far away."

All I can say is Thank you and how can I ever repay you for the sacrifices you have made. THANK YOU FOR FIGHTING IN SOMETHING OUR COUNTRY BELIEVES IN AND SUPPORTS. WE LOVE YOU!!

To be or not to be? That is the question!!

The last couple of days have been an inner war with myself. Its been quite interesting. To join the military or not to join. The other day I decided to donate to charity, it made me feel good about helping someone else, and then the memories started flooding back. When I was in the 7th grade my parents and I were watching a television show about women pilots in combat, thats when I decided that indeed I wanted to be in the military. Now, the dream, well...I should call them very strong feelings have come back. Every child has a dream to be a firefighter, policeman, architect, teacher, lawyer, doctor, or something else. The dream to be in the military has never faded as with most. Its still very much a part of my everday thinking.

What will I be when I grow up is a question I often ask myself, and the other day I answered it. I will go to school for the next couple of years to be a draftsman, yes ladies and gentlemen a draftsman, all the while letting Brooke get a little older. Then after finishing school and maybe working for 6 months or so joining either the AirForce or the Army. Its been an inner battle for the past couple of days, it is a dream that is not going away but the dream is getting stronger. I guess in a way you could say its haunting me.

My family comes from a long line of military men. My grandfather went to war, not sure which one. My great uncle served two tours of duty in the Vietnam war and was a POW, not something that is spoken of. Two of my cousins are JAG Lawyers. One of them had just left the Pentagon when the plane hit, thus going back inside to see if he could help any. My cousin has gone and served in Iraq once and says he'll be going next year. Thats all on my mom's side. I'm not sure about my dads side.

This week has been really stressful due to all of this. Please if you have any comments please make sure to leave them.

To join or not to join? That is the question!!

Rather exciting...not so exciting...well, kind of...

This weekend was definitely an interesting one to say the least. Talked to Paige on Friday during lunch, and she had gotten Brooke a mum, then I found out later, that they had in fact secured some cheerleading outfits for Brooke...hmmmm.

Friday afternoon we ran around town looking for shoes and tights, and found some, courtesy of PayLess...YIPPIE. They are awesomely cute shoes, and well, tights are tights. We went to the parade and watched Paige ride on a motorcycle with Mr. Calt. WOO WOO!!! Anyway, we were bombed by candy, which most of it ended up in the flooded curb water..yuck...and at points we had to shield Brooke from the flying suckers...to anyone who's ever been hit in the head with one, all I can say is it hurts. Then we went to the PepRally and watched Paige cheer, and Brooke got to go on the field with her for a little while. They were so cute together. I'll post pictures at a later date. Then, this is the exciting part, they take me back to my car, which we left on the street to ride together to the peprally, and wouldn't you know it, Kourtney lost her keys. We looked high and low until I finally broke down to call dad, you guessed it, I'm sure he was probably very angry. Mrs. Bates and I looked high and low for them out in the street, no such luck. Paige came back with her car, and we sat in it for a little while and then while looking at Brooke's diaper bag, I realized there was a pocket we had failed to look in. I looked and what do you know, they were in that pocket. So I screamed and cried and called my dad and told him to turn around and go home. Thanked them for watching out for me and such, and we were on our way home.

Saturday we woke up late...8:30, which is late for Brooke, and we were on the run from the moment our feet hit the ground. We got dressed and ready to go, got the coats in the car, because it was looking mighty chilly out, and were on our way. It was a mad house there. We got there and Paigers put Brooke's mum on, and we headed up to our seats. Brooke was really good while we were there. Steven Anderson came to join us for the 1.5 quarter left and we had a good time together. While not much was said, just being there with him was amazing. He looked stunning in his uniform. Then I got a call from my sister Celeste asking me to come watch Zachary's game. We were just a few minutes away so I said what the heck. We went and watched and weren't out there more than 10 minutes before it starting raining, so we sat it out in the back of her car.

Then, we went to Mr. Gatti's when one of my nephews friends came out of the bathroom and told us that there was a man looking under the bathroom stalls. We quickly finished eating and got the heck out of there. Then we went home.

My weekend was good, just a blowing and a going. Thanks to the Bates and the Calts for everything.

God's Blessings

It's interesting how when you stop to consider how much God has and is blessing you is when you really realize HOW MUCH GOD IS BLESSING YOU!!! He is always amazing me.

My daughter is the world's biggest blessing to my life. How blessed I am at the privaledge of being a mom, it's something not everyone gets to experience. She is an AMAZING little girl, whom I love with all my heart. She is the wood that keeps my fire going, the apple in my eye, the lump on my hip, and most of all my life. She is walking, talking up a storm, and doing things even I never dreamed of her doing. She always somehow seems to amaze me. Last night for example she was eating really well with the fork and only dropped a few pieces of corn. I've never seen her eat corn that well off the fork, she always managed to dump it in her lap. WOW!!!

My wonderful friends The Bates family. I have never really realized how much a part of our lives they were, but here it is a blessing. I dated their son for a short while and that went bad, considering he called me from jail the other day. I got to be pretty good friends with the rest of the family, and have an amazing babysitter in Paige. She loves Brooke so much and they always buy her stuff, they're almost as bad as grandparents. I must add that Brooke loves everyone in that family a lot too. Paige called me today with some news, not bad news but news that they had gotten Brooke a mum for homecoming for Midland Christian which is this weekend. I began crying, and that's when I realized the blessings God has bestowed upon me. HE IS AN AWESOME GOD.

My family has got to be one of the two biggest blessings in my life. They have supported me and stuck by me through my pregnancy and been supportive of my situation. They let me remain in their home and from time to time helped me put gas in my car or buy diapers for Brooke.

He is showing me everyday just how many blessings I really do have. How many blessings do you have in your life, or have you really stopped to smell the flowers lately? He will simply AMAZE YOU!!!

The Weather Outside is Frightful...

A flower out behind our office

Its funny how much people complain about not getting any rain, but they don't thank our Heavenly Father when it does rain because they're too busy complaining about how it's raining. Do you know someone like this?

Well, the rain is here and there is nothing we can do about it. It is raining rather heavily today and I'm enjoying it. Okay, so my hair doesn't look all that great this morning. But I will have one bad hair day just because it is raining. There's always tomorrow for my hair.

The cotton farmers are enjoying this along with my nephews little pig, Daisy. I'm actually enjoying the fall like weather we have been having. It's pretty nice because we usually have just Summer and Winter. Who knew there was a Spring and Fall? Not here in West Texas. Is that when the leaves change colors and fall gracefully to the ground and the beautiful wild flowers bloom and fill the fields with sheets of vibrant color? I happen to enjoy looking at the field in front of our office that is a sheet of yellow, and the field behind us is full of God's painting of different colors. He is truly amazing in creating such wonderful life paintings in front of our very eyes. I also like the wildlife that spring brings around, baby birds chirp in the sunny trees, butterflies flutter from flower to flower with elegance and grace like a swan, and the hummingbirds come to my house to see if my mom has put out their feeder. The baby kittens frolic in the front yard, and watch with amazement as the bunnies do the same thing.

Find something to thank God for today. Whether it be the sun smiling upon us showering us with love, or the clouds that fill the sky and then drop buckets of God's love upon us, almost as if all the angels in Heaven were rejoicing with tears of joy.

Here is a poem I found...it's short and sweet. Enjoy!!

The Rain

Pitter-patter, raindrops,
Falling from the sky;
Here is my umbrella
To keep me safe and dry!

When the rain is over,
And the sun begins to glow,
Little flowers start to bud,
And grow and grow and grow!

Well Well!!!

Mr. Steven Anderson is back in town. I saw him Wednesday and he looks GREAT!!! I'm happy to get to see him again, but am really scared because I don't know whats going to happen between the two of us. Who knows, but God will take care of it all. I am confident in that, He's shown me that already.

Other than that nothing exciting going on except for a semi interesting day at work!! It is possible to have a semi-interesting day at work.

Have a good weekend all!!!

Steven Anderson

Okay everyone I forgot to keep counting down, but today is the day that Mr. Steven Anderson, my love, comes home from training. YIPPIE!!!

Yesterday was his birthday and he is now a whoppin 20. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY LOVE!!!

Lubbock

Went to Lubbock this past weekend, and boy did I have fun. I got in Friday evening, and we ate dinner, went to the fair, and then went out to Ransom Canyon. I got to spend some time with Megans friends, which are pretty funny.

About the fair. We all know how nasty and perverted carnies are...ICK!!! Meg and I were walking with Raldy and Jenny, when this one guy hollers out "10 cents ladies, pimpin' ain't easy!" We felt pretty weirded out by this, but on a good note we did see a "hot cop." Ooolala, we could've taken him home and had our way with him. Used his handcuffs...I think you get the picture.

Ransom Canyon was pretty fun in the dark with its winding roads, and where you get to cross the lake. Watched Clarrissa Explains It All, from like way back when, Reno 911... a must see for everyone.

Layne came over on Saturday night and we joked and cut up. It was good to get to spend some quality time with everyone, especially the people that are most important to you. Let me give you some background on everyone, Megan I have been best friends with since the 1st grade...yes my friends that is a long time. She was pretty much the only friend I had when I was pregnant and her and her family were there for me all the way. I was pretty grumpy in the end and I will agree with her in the sense that yes I was a "bitch." She is such an awesome friend. Layne I have known since I was a jr. so for about 5 years. I dated him back in high school and we have remained pretty close every since. You can make bets that when Layne and I are together there is trouble. We like to laugh and cut up and we even have clearance to touch each others butts...now that my friends is a revalation.

All in all I had lots of fun with Megan and her cats, and especially the slutties. Slutties are these little anime figurine's that you get out of a quarter machine type thing in Taiwan. They are very slutty. This is not their actual name but what Meg has dubbed them. Thanks Meg for a wonderful time in Lubbock. I love you lots.

Kourt.

I know I know!!

Okay, I have done more posting in the past two weeks than I have done the whole time I've had this thing. I'm sitting here at work, bored out of my mind, mad out of my skin, and ready to...well, I think you know what I'm talking about.

First things first. Most of my friends are getting married...bummer. That makes 3/4 of my class that are either married or engaged...what happened to the 1/4, well we're just a little behind I would say. I don't see myself married to anyone but my daughter for lets say the next ummm...2-3 years...WOW!! I know that there is a man that God has chosen for me out there, but where he is. Is he, this man, lost like I am, trying to get back on the right path, the Godly path, just like me? Is he striving to become something in this life that will make him more money than working at McDonalds? Is he really like me in the sense that he works for a family business? Is he hiding under a rock somewhere waiting for me to walk by and save him, show him Christ, or help him get on the right track? Is he training to go to Iraq? Is he in Iraq fighting for our future and our future children's freedom? Has he been injured or wounded? Where in the world is this man? Or am I just one of those people who will probably never find "the one" until I'm way too old to have children? I hope not because I do want another one, just not anytime in the next say, 5 years.

I pray everynight that God will allow me to meet a loving, caring, and over all wonderful man, that someday I can call my husband. A man that will not only love me, but my beautiful daughter as well.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

What an amazing thing, He already has everything planned out for my life. Now it is my duty to follow Him, and listen to what He has to tell me.

Okay...I'm mad out of my skin because of some work stuff...I had a lunch date all planned, when I figured that we were going to be leaving the office for lunch...man I figured wrong. His plan is going into effect almost immediately. ***update: for some who are questiong this, no this lunch date wasn't from the office..geez guys that could only be my dad, but a really good friend*** Thank you Sister Sue (you know who you are) for bringing this to my attention.


On a good note, Steven Anderson is coming home on Tuesday, let the countdown begin for the time I get to hug his neck and give him a sloppy kiss on the.....cheek. 5 DAYS EVERYONE!!!

Have a good day all who read this...and drop me a note sometime. I feel like I'm just writing this for myself...bummer. Let me know you are out there...please.

100 thing about ME!!!

Okay, guys, I sat down and thought of 100 things about me...some of you know about them, some of you don't. You learn something new everyday...or at least you should.

1. My name is Kourtney
2. I’m naturally blonde.
3. It shows
4. I have brown eyes
5. I have a 17 month old
6. Her name is Brooke
7. I call her Punchkin
8. I despise her father, aka…spermdonor, greatly
9. I have a terrific best friend
10. Her name is Megan
11. We have been friends since we were in the 1st grade
12. We graduated from HS in 2002!!! GO RANGERS!!
13. I have an AMAZING best friend.
14. His name is God.
15. He will solve ALL my problems, IF I allow Him to.
16. We live at home with my folks.
17. I am a daddy’s girl.
18. Brooke is a poppi’s girl.
19. I have 2 sisters.
20. The oldest is Tuesdie
21. The middle is Celeste
22. I was in entomology as a kid.
23. I hate bugs.
24. I was also in 4-H.
25. I showed pigs.
26. I like my closet.
27. It’s a place to get away from the world when you’re having a bad day.
28. Megan helped me name Brooke.
29. My mom is a lovable pack rat
30. So am I.
31. My sister Celeste is creative.
32. She stole all the creative genes.
33. Brooke loves her Aunt Celeste
34. I have 3 nieces
35. 1 nephew
36. Brooke is ¼ Puerto Rican
37. But she’s really white…you would never know.
38. She tans well.
39. I burn, peel and never tan.
40. I am a single mom.
41. My favorite color is NOT pink…ick.
42. It is purple.
43. I am a tomboy.
44. I like any CSI show on tv.
45. My favorite movie is “The Sound of Music”
46. I love Julia Roberts.
47. She has a beautiful smile, and she is pretty.
48. I don’t like to shop.
49. I hate going to Wal-Mart.
50. I was in girl scouts until the 6th grade.
51. My mom was the troop leader.
52. I don’t want to get married.
53. I’m afraid to get married.
54. I’m afraid that if I get married, I’ll get divorced.
55. I’ve been proposed to twice.
56. I said no both times.
57. They were both losers.
58. One still is a loser.
59. I work for my dad.
60. I’m spoiled by my dad.
61. My mom hates that I’m witty like my dad.
62. I like people.
63. They do not like me.
64. I don’t like going to the movies.
65. I don’t like their high prices.
66. I can sneak candy or food into games or movies in a diaper bag.
67. They cannot deny me food for my daughter.
68. I don’t like sitting behind a desk looking pretty.
69. I’d rather have a hammer in my hand.
70. I’m obsessed with reading Milblogs. (you should try it)
71. They’ve taught me a lot about life in Iraq.
72. Reporters only report bad things about Iraq.
73. They are dumb.
74. I was made fun of in high school.
75. I was a nerd.
76. I’m still a nerd.
77. Someone refers to me as a “nut.”
78. I have never done drugs.
79. They are horrible.
80. I do like to drink.
81. I don’t drink and drive.
82. I don’t like people who do.
83. My sister was hit by a drunk driver.
84. I like to talk on my cell phone.
85. Dad used to get mad.
86. I once had a $300 cell phone bill.
87. He was ready to kill.
88. Brooke likes to talk on the phone too.
89. I like to write.
90. I have 5 different journals.
91. They all start and end in weird places.
92. I can’t find all 5 of them.
93. My mom does not read them.
94. I really hope my mom does not read them.
95. I could be in big trouble.
96. My mom and I didn’t get along when I was younger.
97. I was a spoiled brat.
98. We get along much better now.
99. My sisters and I are 10 & 12 years apart.
100. I have nails for the first time in 21 years…thanks to braces.

Amazing things occur when you realize one thing....

...GOD IS IN CONTROL!!!

I know that it has been nearly two months since my last post. Lets do a quick recap of the last two months...I'm missing four teeth, molars....I now have braces, YIKES!!!!....my cousin has come back from Iraq, a good friend is going to Iraq...I have fought numerous times with my parents...Brooke has gotten more teeth....AND I HAVE AN AMAZING PERSON PRAYING FOR ME DAILY!!!

Okay, let me tell you what I spend a little portion of my day doing...reading milblogs...I will post some of the ones that I enjoy most. I've never really been exposed to the military growing up, because no one in the family protects OUR freedom. I've learned more about the life in Iraq, and the military by reading these "blogs." Its good to see that good things really do happen there, but the media only focus' on who died that day, or which car bomb went off, or who was struck by and IED. These men are focused on not only protecting our freedom here back home, but opening new possibilites to those over there. Children are going to school in new schools because our Military has built them, they've had a successful election because of the overthrowing of Saddams regime. Some of those people are seeing their first bandaid..something you and I take for granted. You can read any of the blogs that I enjoy and realize that those men aren't only protecting our freedom, but they are creating freedom and endless possiblilities for the future of Iraq. How amazing is that?!

Yesterday, the man that is soon to be going to Iraq informed me that he now has a baby....WHAT?! WHY THE HELL HAVEN'T YOU TOLD ME SOONER, AND OH YEA...MERIDETH IS GOING TO BE MAD...VERY MAD!! Those are the things that ran through my mind. This man and I were talking about getting together when he returned from AIT training, not anymore I'm afraid. I have a baby myself, and one he is a 19 yr old dad, kind of scary, considering I had just turned 20, 2 months and 4 days before the birth of Brooke. God is truly amazing. All the prayers that *John has been praying are working, I can see them. They are in full force and God is doing a lot of fixing in my life. He is answering a lot of my questions, because I AM A FIXER!! Two I don't think I could be with a man who has a newborn. I've done my raising of Brooke, pretty much alone, and I'm not ready to take that responsiblity on again. Sorry, don't want to raise someone else's children. I would potentially like to marry a man who does or doesn't have children. If they do, I would prefer they were over the age of two.

I know that there is a man for me out there, but is he hiding under a rock somewhere...I'M RIGHT HERE...COME FIND ME!!! God will show both he and I the way to each other, I have faith in the almighty Father.

*Identity protected for obvious reasons.

Shocked, Surprised, Totally Unreal

I know I know, I haven't written in a few weeks. Those last few weeks have been crazy but have got me to thinking, what am I doing? In a few weeks I will be a snaggle tooth. They will be pulling 4 teeth and then a week later putting me in braces. Not really scared, just a little uneasy about the fact that I probably won't be eating well for a week or so. YIKES!!! If you know me you know how much I enjoy food. WAY TOO MUCH!

How do you react when one of your co-workers, well, he works out in the field, is arrested for aggravated sexual assault with a 5 & 6 year old. Yesterday that is what we faced. He had prior convictions of this sort of thing, but who would have thought, again. Is he dumb? He's not the type of person that we would have ever suspected to do it again. Although, I always knew he was a little different. I think it just hits too close to home, because if I had been that mother he probably would be castrated already. We know too many people. One of my other co-workers has a 5 year old little girl, and we talked about it, and we just can't imagine anyone that sick. What they will do to him in jail and prison, is nothing I wish upon anyone, but you can't rehab sex offenders. They get out and they are back to doing again.

All I can say, is that if you're a parent you watch every move someone makes with your children, and let your children know that they need to tell someone. I don't let Brooke out of my sight, and if anyman touched my child like he did, he wouldn't live to go to prison or jail.

My last month in a nutshell

WOWW!!! What can I say. God is truly awesome, and He knows when to drop you on the ground and make you realize, yet He is still truly faithful, will pick you up and dust you off, and heal your wounds. He also has a quite interesting way of slapping you gently in the face. HE IS A MIGHTY GOD!!!

In the past month, I have been on a walk, my parents have gone out of town, Brooke is getting MORE teeth, my best guy friend just told me he likes people of the same sex.

Lets start with my Walk to Emmaus. This is where He knocked me to the ground but was kind enough to pick me up, and dust me off. For He never leaves you alone. It was hard leaving Brooke for a couple of days, but I made it. His love is infinite. I am the Bride of Christ, I just have to allow Him be my groom.

My parents went out of town 2 days after coming off the mountain top of my walk. While they were gone, we went driving to who knows where and ended up in Glasscock County. Brooke began getting more molars. She already has 4, plus 8 other teeth = 12 total teeth.

My best guy friend informed me that he is homosexual. It comes as a big surprise to me, and no I haven't handled it very well. It's been stressing me out all week. I just cried when he told me, although I told him that I would not quit being his friend. I have known gay people, but never had someone tell me that they felt this way. He has been the best friend I could ever ask for and have known him for 5 years. I'm not going to drop him like that. The real plus is that now I can take him shopping with me.


Anyway, I hope that everyone will be blessed this weekend, and it will be a safe 4th of July for all. Adios!!

I know I'm behind

Okay, so it's been a month since you heard from me last, and boy has it been an interesting one. I'm not really sure of what all has happened in the past month to catch you up on, besides work, Brooke, work, Brooke....

Last week was like a non romantic novel. On Tuesday while heading to the doctors office I was hit by a truck that failed to yield. Boy was I mad, a whole freakin block from the office and someone has already run me down. I called my dad and he came to check everything out. My car was in such bad shape that it had to be towed, there was no driving to it. The guy that hit me suggested that I move it out of the middle of the road, I said ummm...No, I'm not driving it with a half layed over tire, are you nuts. My dad got there and told me to clean everything and I mean EVERYTHING out, there was so much crap in that car and I didn't even realize it. The police officer that worked my accident, Mr. Matthews was the fellow who worked my first accident, yes, you read that right, this was my second in that same little car. I was carless for 2 days until Friday, and then I got my rental car, that his insurance is paying for. Here it is Monday a week after and I have still heard nothing on the fate of my car. If I may warn you, you don't want to get hit by someone that has Farmer's insurance. They don't do things in a timely manner. In a way if they total it out, I will miss it, but even if I do get it back, it's still a gonner. That little car holds many many memories, from the time I drove it off the lot to just here a week ago. The car that I have been rented is really nice and it's something that I would consider in the future. It's big enough for Brooke and I and there is plenty of room for others.

Whats been going on the rest of the last month, I have no idea.

Boy, Wasn't That Scary

Well, yesterday Brooke and I went to Wal-Mart, she screamed and cried the whole time we were in there, and yes, I have become that parent that everyone says they won't. I bought her a toy to occupy her, did it work, yes, was it cheap...only way to go. However I always told myself that I would never be that parent that let their kid scream through the store, or buy them a toy because of it. And as if that couldn't be bad enough, I saw her sperm donors mother and niece standing right behind me as we picked out some apples for her to take for snack. I had seen some people that I and my family knew in the store, and its a good thing that they passed me at this time. I just gently and quickly pulled her to the side and asked for her help in this situation. She calmly took Brooke, and Brooke took to her without crying, walked away from them and I just kept picking apples. I then acted as if nothing was going on and walked away, while actually following my daughter and our friends. I'm not really sure if his mother saw me or us, but I'm hoping that she didn't recognize me. I think I've changed so much from before I was pregnant to the post pregnancy stage. I was hoping that this moment would never come for the simple fact that you're never really ready. Had it not been for those friends of ours, I probably would have panicked. But instead I remained calm, then I saw them getting into the check out line, so we again headed the other direction until I knew they were gone. They are those kind of people that you would rather just never see again.

Non Trusting Society

You know, it makes me so mad when people harm children because they are so defenseless. There were two sets of kids missing and they found one sets bodies today and the others where alive. I feel sorry for what kind of malicious act those children had to endure as they looked death straight in the eye. I feel sorry for those parents who have lost pretty much their whole world. All these children missing and being found that have passed onto a better place, just makes me wonder. I however don't feel sorry for the convicted, because they are not going to go to a very welcoming place when they step foot through the door. The chances of felons that have harmed children surviving is always on the decrease. Those other guys sitting in prison don't care if you kill an adult, but if you kill or harm a child in anyway, kiss your life goodbye. There have been too many reported kidnappings and slaying to even make me doubt society today. And you hear that most are repeat offenders and they are none other that SEX OFFENDERS. That just tells you that the judicial system isn't working for them. They should be put away for life and not given another chance. Why should we allow those people back out on the streets to hurt another child?

I see these mothers all the time that leave their child in a cart in the middle of an aisle and walk off to get something. I guess they are just a little more trusting than I. I don't ever leave Brooke where I'm not right next to her. I even lock the glass front door if the big door is open, because anyone could just walk up and take her and I would never know. I know that if something ever happened to Brooke and they found her dead, I probably would live much longer myself. She is the only thing that I have and the only thing I live for each and everyday.

WE NEED TO PRAY FOR THESE CHILDREN'S FAMILY THAT THEY MIGHT FIND PEACE AND SOLACE DURING THIS TIME.

Going Back To My Childhood

Well, today I have joined the world of Furby owner's...am I crazy...probably. I was not deprived from the Furby Craze, I just had no desire to have these things. I got my first two Furby's from Brooke's God Sister. She has grown out of them as she is 13 now. They were really popular when I was in the 7th and 8th grade, so that made her like kindergarten. I have no idea. The one's I have are fun, but know nothing...absolutely nothing about them. We don't let Brooke get a hold of them because they would end up dead and missing parts. They are pretty cool.

I also got me a Nano Puppy while at Toy's R Us getting Brooke her birthday gifts. The girl had no idea what I was talking about until I said you know a Tomagotchi, she was only 17 or 18, I'm sure she really didn't care to remember them. I actually had one before that while in school. However, they don't live very long because I really don't have all day to dedicate to taking care of them. I would have to get a Nano-sitter. I remember carrying them around school, and often times they would go off during the middle of class. None of the teachers really never knew whose it was because 3/4 of us had them. We just turned off the buzzers, but if you forgot to turn the thing off it was bad news for you.

I remember the different fads that us kids went through, from the Furby's, Pocket Pets (Giga Pets...), Beanie Babies, from string to do Cats Cradle, The Littlest Pet Shop Ever, Pogs, Koosh Balls, Tickle Me Elmo, Pokemon, Polly Pocket, and I'm sure many more that I can't remember. And who could forget Pound Puppies.

The fads of your youth are wonderful to look back on, and even go back to sometimes. Now as I have my daughter I would like to expose her to these kinds of things. I bought her a pound puppy the other day, and hopefully someday she'll sit down and ask me about the kinds of toys I had to play with. I will be delighted to tell her. I also hope that she can have that one doll that is super special to her. I have a Cabbage Patch Doll that was given to me by Great "Uncle Glen" who passed on a month ago, that is very special to me. He gave it to me for Christmas when I was 4, and I played with that doll so much, that he no longer has toes.

I hope that everyone at least has one chance to re-visit their childhood before or when they have children. Its something that everyone should have the privaledge in doing.

Today is Cloudy

They say it will rain today, those durn weather men might be right this time. For once. It's cloudy outside but pretty sunny in my life. An unknown (name withheld) has been calling me lately and making me realize how special Brooke really is to me. How privaledge I am to be a mom and to have a daughter like her. God knew exactly what he was doing when I became pregnant. No, dad (sperm donor) is not around, and it's definitely better that way. I could not stand to see a man treat my daughter with such disrespect as he treated me. I'm truly lucky to not have him in our lives. Where he is now, only God knows, do I honestly care...not a lick. Someday a special man will come into our lives and he will love Brooke and me as well. And if I never get married, I'm fine with that. Anway, this is my first blogging session, and someone I know inspired me to get on the Technology bandwagon and give it a try.