Taekwondo Tyler.."Hi-Yah" : )

Tyler has been a student at the Taekwondo Academy in Mobile for the last 3 weeks, and he is loving it! He will test in December for his yellow belt! He is learning self discipline, control, perserverance, responsibility, and how to live an indominal lifestyle. He works very well with Master Jones. More pictures to come....

SAEA Fall Conference in Huntsville

Yay!! I was re-elected President of the Student Alabama Educators Association! Woo hoo!!


So we had a great weekend in Huntsville...Leigh, Jessica and I were the only ones to respresent the University of South Alabama, but hey....that is our job as officers. I also couldn't ask for better travel mates or room mates! We arrived at the Huntsville Marriott Friday at 3 pm and was so excited to see that we were right next to the Space center. We literally had a rocket right outside our room! How cool is that to look out to! Then we had a late dinner with about 75 other SAEA members from the University of AL, Auburn, UA at Huntsville, Miles College, Jacksonville State, and Alabama State University. We always make friends at these conferences, and have to sit through several 1-2 hour sessions; but, we learn so much. The next conference is being held in Mobile, where the three of us will host hopefully more than 200 students. It is called Outreach to Teach. We are choosing one local elementary school in Prichard to receive a major face lift in March! We will need a lot of prayers to get us through that one! Here are a few pictures from our weekend.




Jessica, me & Leigh



me & Jessica


Leigh, Dr. Duff-Newsome (Miles College), Terry Sellers, and Jess


Ashley and Deanna, University of Alabama

Yay!!...Shana's home..

I'm so glad to have my little sister home for a couple of days. It is always a great time when the two of us get together! Usually winds up with stomach pains, cheeks hurting, eyes dripping a tear or two...all of this, because we are laughing so hard! Good times....lol : )

Forgetting all the I have...for something I want

How sad is the day when you come to realize that you have forgotten about everything good that you have, for something that you want? All I have ever wanted in life was to be a wife and mother; and, while I have the mother part, being a single mother wasn't on the list. I have been searching for a love greater than the love I have for my son and my family. I keep searching for "the one" to fill the space in my heart and that of my child, all the while, continually getting disappointed every time. Tyler must tell me a thousand times a day how much he loves me and needs me. Why is that not enough for me? What is it, that makes me forget about the joy he takes in just being with me?

Today, I decided that we were going to go get lunch and then go play a round of miniature golf at Funntasia. We went to Applebee's for lunch and when the waiter brought the ticket...Tyler pulled out his wallet and said, "I got this momma." ha ha... he pulled out $4 and the waiter laughed. I told him to put his money up and that I would get it. Then we had a fun afternoon playing under the hot sun on the golf course. It is then, that it hit me, as my hot little boy lay passed out in the seat....that i fell in love all over again, with what I already have.

Saying goodbye to Chloe...

Yesterday, my stepdad finally took Chloe to the SPCA. Tyler was originally upset, but he finally understood that we can not have a dog who "terrorizes" the neighborhood, although she may be gentle to us. They did tell him that no harm would come to her, and they would make a note that she needs a large, fenced in back yard to run in. I am going to wait until we have a house of our own, with a fenced in back yard before he gets another dog. He needs a puppy that can grow up with him...maybe a lab or something. We shall see. I hope all is well with everyone else!

Girls Night Out 8-15-08

I am always up for a night out with my best friends. We always have the best times when we are together! Last night, we all met up at Azteca's for dinner and drinks and then went across the street to watch the karaoke competition at Touchdown Tavern. We spent five hours together laughing non-stop, taking pictures, dancing around and just thoroughly enjoying each others company. Here are just a few of our pictures!

A lot can happen in a week...whew!

Well, last Saturday i posted about Jorge passing away, on Sunday I received a call from a friend of mines mother. Her son, one of my beloved friends also passed away on 8-1-08 somewhere between 8:30a-11 am. Donna found him at 12:30 when she came home for lunch. He died from a massive brain aneurism that burst. He was 25 years old. He was such a good man. Monday night, I attended his wake and I have never seen so many people come to pay their respects to one person. Josh would have been so proud and I know he was looking down at all of us. We buried him Tuesday morning. He will truly truly be missed. : (


Tuesday afternoon, Tyler and I headed out to E.R. Dickson to meet his 2nd grade teacher...Mrs. Lisa Hafizi! She is going to be great for Tyler, I can feel it! She was so sweet and really had Tyler laughing a lot. Cross your fingers, it is going to be a great school year for him! I am excited. School starts on Monday! Wednesday, if I recall, I got a much needed break.


Thursday, my mom and Gary took Tyler to Ono Island with them so that I could have my wine and cheese party with all my girlfriends! We had so much fun last night, and I took plenty of pictures. It is good to be able to gather with the girls and laugh. I laughed so hard last night, my cheeks hurt when i quit! Good times!! Good times!!



Melissa MacDonald



Ashley G. Long (5 months along)



me



Hilliary & my nephew Riddick (3 months)






Heather


Taylor

It's Friday! Today I took my best friend Hilliary to lunch for her 29th birthday! It is my last night free before I leave for Ono Island in the morning to spend the rest of the weekend on the beach! I'm so excited!!