Big Easy Wedding

Three weekends ago, I roadtripped with my extended family- my mom, siblings, aunts and cousins- to the Big Easy aka New Orleans aka NOLA.  We left out on JJ's birthday to enjoy of a weekend of celebrating my older sister's wedding!  I was very excited to say the least.  It had been a while since I'd seen my sister and even longer since I'd seen her fiance, whom I had bonded with met three years ago.

Plus, I was looking forward to the food!  I celebrated Thanksgiving with them one year.  Let me just say his family can throw down.  They also know how to treat company right!  They opened their arms and welcomed me and Moo (then a baby) into their family with nothing but love and happiness.  So, I was also looking to see some familiar faces and catch up with everybody.

At first, I wasn't sure how well the actual traveling part was going to go because we had four little kids with us.  13 hours in an enclosed space sitting down isn't exactly their cup of tea.  However, to my pleasant surprise the kids did very well.  No major meltdowns at all.  Now, it did end up taking longer than 13 hours to get to New Orleans because we made several stops along the way to get gas, for food, to use the restroom, etc.

Let me tell you riding in the back seat of a passenger van is like being on a roller coaster.  You literally bounce and rock over every little bump in the road.  That was good for JJ because he sleep peacefully in his carseat for almost 8 hours.  He likes being rocked and bounced to sleep.  But for me and my little sister it was a game trying not to get a neck sprain or not bumping your head.  I got some sleep but in intervals.

The best part about riding in the passenger van with everyone was that we had some good laughs.  My aunts kept us rolling with funny stories from their childhood and stories from being a mom.  We laughed until we literally cried.  And I totally forgot how good loaded hash browns from the Waffle House could be!  Y'all I went in one in Alabama and I was in pure heaven.  If they would have had more than one cook and the wait wouldn't have been so long, I was going to order two more to go on the road.

Anyways, we reached New Orleans and everyone got to meet my sister's fiance for the first time.  I think he was a little overwhelmed at first to be meeting everyone all at once but they loved him instantly.   They loved him even more after he cooked a delicious spaghetti and meat sauce complete with fresh peppers and seasoning for us.  After lunch, we divided up.  

My baby sister and I went with the maid of honor to pick up our dresses for the wedding.  I was the matron of honor by the way.  Then we had to go pick up shoes.  That almost turned into a major problem because the DSW we went to didn't have the shoes my sister and the maid of honor needed for the wedding in stock anymore.  But we found a similar style and just agreed that I would give my baby sister my shoes so she could match the other bridesmaids and that would leave me and the maid of honor wearing the same shoes.  That was perfect because our dresses were also different from the other bridesmaids too.

That night we all went shopping.  We had to get flowers for the bouquets and some other stuff.  I was definitely feeling tired and ready to pass out by that point.  But with the help a cocktail, I made it through a late night session of putting together bouquets and wedding favors.

Me and the maid of honor before the wedding

The wedding turned out great the next day!  Everyone was super emotional and there was definitely some makeup retouching.  At one point I had cried and dabbed at my eyes so much that my lashes came off during the reception.  I'm so happy that my sister has found her soul mate.  I'm even happier that she has a life partner who understands her and accepts her for who she is-flaws and all.  That was something she has been wanting for a long time and now she has it!

The ceremony. My mommy was the officiant!

My Weekend WrapUp

Well, I didn't get much wedding planning done this weekend like I'd hoped to. Instead, I spent Saturday riding back to my home town for a surprise 21st birthday party for my little brother.  I feel so old because it seems like it took forever for him to turn 21 and he's about to graduate from college with his bachelor degree.  Anyways, he really enjoyed his party and the rest of the family was totally surprised when we walked in.  They had no idea we were coming.

I'm really glad that I went because I was in seafood heaven.  I mean we had crab legs, fried shrimp, fried fish, corn on the cob and spuds.  There was no shortage of sugar either between the cheesecake, cupcakes and the Paula Dean Flaky Butter Cake that I had on the way down.  We just had a really lovely time celebrating such a wonderful event.

It felt good to be back home and hanging out with my family.  It's been almost a month since I've moved and about three weeks since I was last home to visit.  They really enjoyed seeing Moo and how much she's grown.  Yes, it's amazing how much people change in so little time.  My niece looked so much more grown up and she's reading on her now!!!  Shocker because she just started kindergarten only two weeks ago.

I'm glad that some of the tension between my mom and I has eased.  I still don't think that she's 100% ok with my choice to be back with Jay, but she's learning to accept that it is what it is.  This is my life and I'm living it the best way I know how to live it for me and my family.  I can't keep trying to please everybody else because I only end up not pleasing myself and I'm tired of putting myself last.

Sunday was just a very laid back day.  I still haven't located a church for us to attend up here.  I feel kind of bad because  I really enjoy going to church and I want to make sure that Moo is developing spiritually as well.  So, I will certainly be scouting out a few places.  I'm actually leaning towards joining the church across from the college I went to.  I really enjoyed the services when I was staying on campus. 

The congregation is very nice and the pastor seemed very friendly and knew all his members personally even though there's like 200 of them not including all the kids.  Now that's true dedication right there.  I'm sure that I know 200 people personally but imagine if all those 200 people had kids and some even have grandkids and great grandkids.  It's crazy, but goes to show that not all preachers are in it for the money.  It's nice to see that preachers are taking the time to connect with their flock.

I'm hoping that this church will be the right fit for us.  If it isn't then I guess we'll just keep trying until we find the right one.

My Weekend WrapUp

This weekend has been a great one.  It's my last weekend home with my family since Moo and I move into our new place this upcoming Friday.  I'm a little sad to be going and am thinking about postponing the move for another week or two.  Although, I am very eager to be in my own space and have some peace and quiet, I have gotten used to being surrounded my family. Thankfully, I'll only be an hour and a few minutes away.

Anyways, this weekend I got a chance to have some bonding time with my younger brother at Myrtle Beach!!  It was a blast.  Friday night we got the party started with a nice dinner of barbeque ribs, yellow rice and green beans cooked by my brother of course.  Yes, his three older sisters have trained him well and he is indeed a wonderful cook thanks to us.  He's going to make some lucky young lady a very fine husband one day.

Saturday, we lounged around for a little bit before finally  deciding to hit up the beach.  It's been a while since I've been to actual beach front, but seeing all the sites-the water parks, Ripley's Believe It or Not and the hotels-caused a flood of old memories.  This was a memorable trip because it was Moo's first time at the beach!!!!!  I was super excited. I was worried a little bit that she might not like the water.  And with the temperature well above 93 degrees, I worried that the heat would cause her excema to flare up.

But I worried for nothing because she enjoyed herself to the fullest.  She loved the water!!  It was a bit cold at first for her but as we walked with our feet in the waves, she began to giggle and kick up her little feet. I will forever remember the cute little smiles that she kept beaming up at me as played in the sand and dug up seashells.  We didn't find any whole or really nice ones to put in her scrapbook. 

Her favorite part by far was the washing off at the shower. She loves water and didn't want to leave.  She actually threw a huge fit.  And we probably would have stayed if I didn't have to get her a new outfit because she got sand all over the one she wore.  So, it was off to KMart where I got a super cute outfit for under $5.00.  Then it was off to lunch at McDonald's her favorite place to eat.

I was totally tired and worn out by the time we got back to the apartment. So, to bed we headed. And this morning we slept in until 9 and then eat breakfast and enjoyed afternoon of WeTV. I love my Bridezilla and My Fair Wedding!!  And now I'm back home packing getting ready for my move, feeling slightly refreshed.

Hope you all had a blessed weekend as well.

Father's Day Reflections

I just want to say Happy Father's Day to all the amazing dads out there who are doing an amazing job at trying to be in their children's lives and handle their responsibility.  And even to the dad's that are expecting but still being supportive on their wives or significant other, Happy Father's Day to you too!  I have to admit that for me and my siblings, Father's Day is always a bit bittersweet.  While others are out celebrating with their dads, we are left with a void and broken hearts over the distance and lack of involvement our father has with us.

And trust me, it's not because we haven't tried to reach out to him because we have.  It's just that somewhere over the expansive length of my parent's marriage my father fell out of love with the Family Life.  Having been a teenage parent, I guess he always felt the yearning to reclaim his youth.  And I'm sure the fact that his mother died when he was 12 and leaving them with an abusive father didn't help matters either.  In fact, I'm pretty sure the latter had a lot to do with it.  I was always led to believe that all my grandparents were deceased as a child. 

It wasn't until I came home after a breakup with the love of my life  that I found out my father's father died when I was four.  And all those years, I walked around not knowing.  I was helping my mom clean out some old papers and stumbled across the his obituary.  At first, I didn't know it was him.  I saw the same last night and thought it was one of my great uncles, but when I opened and started reading "He leaves behind to mourn his death..." and saw my father's name, I felt a rush of emotion.  I felt hurt, sad, betrayed and angry.  Then remembering how my father told me of some the horrors they lived with their father, understanding sunk in.

I'm not sure that I've still completely accepted my parents reasoning for leading us to believe that all of grandparents were dead, but at least I know why they did it.  They didn't want us to be disappointed.  My grandfather wasn't much of a father to his children and stepchildren and probably wouldn't have proved to be much of a grandfather to his grandchildren.  From what I understand, he didn't come to any of his children's weddings, school activities or graduations.  He never tried to make peace with his jaded past until he was on his deathbed.  And even then he wasn't very apologetic about the hell he'd put them through or the fact that he probably contributed to the cancer that killed my grandmother.

But still here we are years later and still we ended up disappointed of sorts.  I'm not going to sit here and say that my father has never been there for me, because he has and if I truly needed him again he probably would try his best.  However, what I am disappointed at is that he doesn't make an effort to call.  My Moo barely recognizes her own grandfather.  She's seen a total of maybe 6 times since her birth.  And it took my father months to remember her name (the sad part I gave her his mother's name for her middle name).  For months, I heard my aunts and uncles telling me how they saw my dad and asked about the baby and he couldn't even recall her name.

I cried the first time I heard that.  It hurt down to my very core.  I never felt so unimportant in my father's life than at that moment.  I mean I spent almost three weeks of my pregnancy living at his house!  We watched kung fu movies together.  There was the night he went out and got us a 100 piece bucket of chicken nuggets from McDonald's because I was craving them and my fiance had gone to work.  He gave up his room for me to sleep in and moved to the couch.  (My fiance slept in the other bedroom down the hall because my parents did not raise me to be disrespectful to their house rules even if I was grown and with child.)

And I was pretty sure that in those almost three weeks, I had surely mentioned the name I was decided on and he seemed to recall it every time he rubbed my belly and cooed to his unborn granddaughter.  Thank heavens that Moo came out a girl because we had chosen not to find out the sex, but common sense told me that my mother had five girls, my grandmother had nine girls and her mother had mostly girls and I too would 99.5% most likely be having a girl.  Her dad and everybody else swore she was coming out a boy.  LOL.  Imagine the shock when she came out a girl.  

I can only hope that Moo's baptism will bring about a much needed change.  During her service I plan to pay tribute to my deceased grandparents and even insert a little reading about the importance of raising children and being their for them even when they become adults.  I hope that my father will get the message.  I know that he has done somethings to us that will never be forgotten, but at least we can all move forward to a place of healing.  I don't want to have to lie to my daughter the way my parents did to me about not having a grandfather.  I pray that God hears this and throws us a miracle.

My Weekend WrapUp

Well, let me just say that I for one was very much looking forward to this weekend.  For the last ten days, I had been watching my niece and younger sister for mom while she was away on business.  That was a total of three kids(including my Moo)-two of which were very busy and while the other is slightly boy crazed at the moment.  Add the fact that none of them can get a long for more than five minutes and you can tell that I had a very trying ten days.

Saturday, I came up with the grand idea to whip my mom's house into shape. She is somewhat of a hoarder but refuses to admit it.  I keep telling her the first step to getting help is admitting you have a problem.  However, in her mind her excessive need to buy or pick up stuff off the curb when she doesn't really need it or have space it is not a problem. LOL.  So, anyways, I thought it would be a good idea to get rid of small stuff that she wouldn't notice.

We started with socks. Yes, socks!  She had this huge green clothes basket full of every kind of sock you could imagine.  I'm talking about white socks, black socks, blue socks, green socks, Santa socks, Dora socks, etc.  Well, I thought we were making could progress on matching up the socks, throwing away the ones with holes or that were too worn to wash back white.  Out of nowhere my younger sister decides that only after 30 minutes of matching she's ready to take a break for Facebook.

I was like you haven't even matched a good five pairs of socks.  Her 30 minutes of matching was mostly spent complaining and texting.  I tell you the kids today are not looking very promising on the domestic front.  I could not convince her to keep matching socks.  I could have put my foot down, but it was not worth it. I finished matching the socks in less than 15 minutes more and bagged up the rest.  Then it was on the kitchen and so on.  We end up getting rid of a total of three trashbags worth of stuff that I'm sure my mom will not notice is gone.

Also, this weekend it was extremely hot, but that did not stop us from grilling out Saturday when Moo's father dropped by for his bi-weekly visit.  It was kind of fun until he started turning into the annoying five year old that he can sometimes be.  Like seriously, he knows that I can stand to be poked in my side, pinched or tickled along with a few other things that get under my skin.  Finally, I had had enough and he left.  I was a little sad that for all the progress and change he talks about having made, ditching his five year old alter ego is not one of them.

Sunday morning when I woke I had an extra pep in my step.  I was just hours away from being freed from babysitting duty.  Thank you Lord! I did some final cleaning that got so good that I completely lost track of time and was late to airport to pick up my mom.  Thankfully, it wasn't entirely my fault. We would have been kinda on time had her plane not landed a whole 30 minutes early.  But she got a surprise when my younger brother joined us.

We decided that to welcome her back home we would head out to eat. Now, having spoken to my brother earlier that day we had decided that we were going to eat at CiCi's.  So, I was a little shocked when he asked my mom where wanted to eat as if we hadn't already agreed on a place.  It wasn't that we didn't want our mom to have a choice, but him being a college student and my being a single mom put us on a tight budget.  And my mom does not have tight budget taste.  And sure enough she picked one of the most expensive buffet restaurants to eat at on a Sunday afternoon-The Thunderbird.

When I was younger we used to eat there at least once a month until money got really tight.  And they weren't super expensive and the food was actually good. But Sunday our dining experience there was a HOT mess to say the least.  Let's start with the fact that they charge you almost $5 for kids under 3 to eat.  I'm not saying that my child isn't worth $5 but let's be real she's not going to eat $5 worth of food and she was sick.  So, we tried to explain to the lady running the register that Moo wasn't eating and she got an attitude saying that they have to charge for anyone who comes through the door.  WTH?!!

Then on top of that it was $9.22 for adults to eat.  Let me tell that this place is no Golden Carrel by a long shot.  They have one tiny little hot bar and a salad bar the size of a water well. This was strike two and should have been our cue to flee but we knew she was looking forward to eating there again and we wanted oblige her. Not to mention it was a good 98 degrees outside.  So, heading back out into the heat in search of another place to eat was not an option with a sick child.  Yes, we forked out $50 bucks to eat! 

My wallet is still in shell shock.  Strike three was when we had to search high and low for a clean table to eat at. Like really you're charging almost $10 to eat here and you can even clean your tables in a timely manner so that incoming customers have a place to seat?  After being passed by several hostess, one lady was nice enough to point us to a big and CLEAN table in the back. 

The fourth strike came when we learned that only sweet tea and water came with our meals.  You had to be pay extra for soda.  At that point  I was just fed up.  Now you're putting restrictions on my drink choices I thought quietly.  Strike number five was when we realized that we were being watched like a hawk by our serving staff.  Seriously, they assigned people to stand over the tables and watch you eat. I guess they want to make sure that people don't sneak food out, but watching me like you're an overseer and I'm a slave is not the way to do it. 

The restaurant was cramped and strike six was that the air didn't work.  So, I paid almost $10 for some food that was loaded in grease and butter and pretty much flavorless only to not be able to enjoy out because one I'm being stared down and two I can't eat well when I'm hot.  Our experience was horrible!!!  So, horrible that we ended up cutting our meal short and leaving but not before we got my money back for Moo. She did not eat and I was not going to let somebody keep my hard earned money.

You would think that my Sunday would have ended there. Nope, a visit to the emergency room with Moo was on the menu too.  She was past by sick.  Her fever was up to 103 and she wouldn't eat or drink.  Not to mention she was feeling a little sluggish. I was very worried and had her father meet us at the ER.  The diagnosis was that she had a middle ear infection.  My poor baby.  She had been suffering for who knows how long.

I can certainly say this weekend was not the best.  It had its share of ups but mostly downs.  Here's to hoping this week will be better.

My Weekend WrapUp

Although the weekend might be coming to a close, I'm sad to see it go.  I don't have to go into the office tomorrow. Therefore, I will be sleeping in for as long as Moo will allow me to.  Another reason I'm not sad to see the weekend go is because my Mommy will be back from her ten day conference training session.

I have to admit that I didn't think I was going to miss her, but I do.  I even got her a 'Welcome Home' gift.  I'll post pics in my next Weekend WrapUp.  This weekend has been kind of long. Saturday was graduation. Unfortunately, I couldn't make it to any of my little cousin's graduations because of work. Ugghhhh.. Frustrating but what can you do?  Bills have to get paid and diapers have be bought.

However, I did make it to the cookout and got a chance to hang out with family. Some people I hadn't seen in ages.  I tell you I'm glad that school is out because I have heard promises of more family cookouts to come.  And I'm proud to announce that I will be starting off the family cookouts with Moo's Baptism Celebration and Memorial Cookout in a few weeks!!!

My mind is running a mile a minute planning out menus, decorations and everything.  I want this event to be perfect or as close to perfect as it can get.  Looking forward to creating an atmosphere in which the younger generation will get to know the older generation.  Cookouts are the perfect setting for telling stories and teaching youngsters their history.

And today was wonderful.  We made it to church just in time for the offering.  And yes, I was THAT mom again this week. Moo was quite talkative and had a bad case of Ants in the Pants.  I think that her terrible twos came early.  At least we didn't have any more Bible tearing accidents.  So, that is an upgrade. I sent up a special prayer that God will continue to shape her and smooth out her rough edges.

I did enjoy a nice dinner with my immediate family today as we gathered for a surprise 49th birthday party for one of my uncles. He was genuinely happy to see that we had thought enough to surprise him.  With all the death in our family lately, we have learned to give each other our roses while we still have life.  Nothing will remind you what's most important like death will.

I'm looking forward to many more birthday celebrations to come.  Well, I am officially still stuffed from my dinner. I will certainly have to work out double time to get this off. Planning a little Mommy and Me retreat to the beach and I want to look super cute in my new bathing suit. 

So, how was everyone else's weekend?

My Weekend WrapUp

Well, the three day weekend is officially over and it was back to business as usual. For me that included a day at the office, collecting some stuff from my sponsors (giveaway coming soon), Mommy Duty, and running other miscellaneous errands.  Anyways, I hope that everyone had an enjoyable weekend.  I certainly did. I felt so refreshed this morning that I rolled out of bed before 7AM.

And as my family can tell you, I'm not much of a morning person.  Although, I've been trying to change that.  I think that I'm improving. I'm a lot less grouchy for sure.  But back to my weekend...  It was totally awesome from beginning to end.

Saturday, I enjoyed nice social outing that was great for me and Moo.  We went to birthday party for my friend's son.  He turned a big, fat 1!!!!!   The theme was Curious George/Pool Party.  Moo did not enjoy the pool however.  I got her the cutest little bathing suit with pink Hawaiian.  She was content to just stand on the sideline and look pretty.  She did have fun playing basketball with her daddy and riding the tricycle.

We looked at our potential new home. Yes, we're moving hopefully the end of July!!!  I'm keeping my fingers crossed. However, I wouldn't mind waiting October or later. Most leases end in the winter.  Plus, I'm hoping to find a house and not an apartment. I'm really ready to move into a place that I can call my own and actually make my own decoration wise.  I'm the creative type who likes to put up curtains, paint the walls, hang photos and mirrors, update the lighting fixtures, etc.

I've found a few other nice places online Sunday and can't wait to see them in person.  Sunday was bittersweet.  Our beloved pastor is going into retirement the end of this month. :( Although, I haven't known him for all that long because I was in college when he came to our parish, the almost two years that I have been back home and getting to know him has been wonderful.  He's done so much and improved the church for the better.

He's done an exceptionally great job at starting programs to keep our youth involved.  As a parent and young adult, I appreciate that.  The way he takes time and stands up for them is amazing.  And to see that some of those kids and teenagers have a better relationship with him than their own parents is mind blowing.  He has truly made a lasting impression that will not fade anytime soon.  So, we put together a surprise Appreciation/Farewell Service for him on Sunday.

There wasn't a dry eye in the building.  The most touching part of the service was when the young girl's mime team presented him with a cute card that said he will missed and that it's not goodbye but farewell. It even had a check inside.  He went to pieces crying in front of all of us. Whoever says that strong men don't cry never met this man.  He is stronger than most men will ever be.

This man has the courage and boldness to say things to our congregation that many pastors wouldn't dare. However, we are still able to take the chastisement in love and not be angry with him.  So, it would be an understatement to say that he will missed.  He has agreed to keep in touch and come back for visits.  I'm going to make sure that he visits at least once as he will be performing my wedding ceremony when the time comes.

Memorial Day, we gave honor to all our family and friends who are serving or have served in the military. I have to say that it takes a brave and courageous soul to fight for the freedom of millions of strangers.  I am not that brave or courageous.  So, my hat is certainly off to those men and women who leave their families behind to put themselves in harm's way so that we can have freedom and an equal chance at living.  I thank God daily for making this nation.

I hope that you all took the time out to thank all the military personnel that you know.  You'd be amazed at how much they appreciate just a word of thanks and acknowledgment.  I also grilled out. Yes, Mother Nature thought she was going to rain on our cook out, but thank God for covered porches and silicon cooking utensils too!!!  We moved the grill on the porch and kept the flame blazing.

It felt wonderful to have just about all the family under one crowded roof.  We laughed, argued and ate.  But most of all we loved.  My family is very dear to me and any chance we have to get together, we do it.  They're not a lot of the older generation left. So, each year that we make it through without a lost is a blessing.  It's scary when you see family members from your parents generation dying off. It just hits home that much harder that death is unpredictable and that you truly have cherish the time you have.

That is part of the reason I write this blog. I want to cherish my life and share what I can with as many as I can.  Like I said in my very post on here, if I can inspire or touch just one person then I'm happy.  I truly love to write and believe that words can have power....

My Weekend WrapUp

Well, the weekend is officially coming to close. I hope that everyone had an enjoyable weekend like I did. Saturday, I finally went to the eye doctor and got my eyes checked for some new glasses. And I must say that I am still blind as a bat almost. My eyesight is 20/70.

That's almost bad enough to qualify for bifocals!!! I have certainly learned that I need to keep my prescription up to date. Anybody who knows me personally will tell you that I believe in wearing and using my stuff until it falls apart.  You can call it cheap but I call it my way of being green and getting my money's worth.  However, somethings like eyeglasses and shoes and cars shouldn't be placed into that category.  So, I will be scheduled for yearly eye exams in May for the next couple of years at least.

On a good note, I did get these totally amazing pair of CoverGirl specs.  Can't wait for them to come in this upcoming week.  I am going to look so chic and fashionable in my new glasses. Not to mention, I'll be able to see. I've been kind of sticking to only going places I know really well because I don't have to strain to read street signs or anything.  And I haven't been driving at night. My night vision is awful without my glasses.

So, I'm glad that I will be driving legally again since it states on my license that I shouldn't operate a vehicle without my glasses.  Shhh....that will be our little secret.  After my visit with the eye doctor, me, Moo and her father journeyed to my local park.  He commutes every other weekend to spend time with her.  And this just happened to be one of his weekends.

Now, Jay (as I will call him) and I have quite the relationship history.  We were together four years before I finally got preggers with our first child together (he has one daughter from a previous relationship) and had been engaged for 3.  Yes, long engagement I know.  Then at the beginning our our fifth year everything just seemed to fall apart. I'm not exactly sure why.

I think it was the stress of being a new parent all over again, trying to put together the perfect wedding still and change in careers that did us in.  Plus, while it might not seem like it, I'm not exactly an open book when it comes to talking with him. I tend to get defensive or shut down completely.  What can I say, I learned it from my father.  And I'm not a fan of confrontation within my immediate circle.

I have yet to master the art of expressing my feelings and emotions without starting a shouting match in which I end up the only one shouting. Then I fall into a heap of tears on the floor, couch or bed.  It's horrible really.  However, I'm trying to work on my communication skills with Jay. It's been a year since we split and our relationship has been wonderful except for those few bumps in the road last October.

But now that we have ironed those out, it's been smooth sailing. I love him still dearly and honestly can't see myself being with anybody else. I've tried and failed miserably at it.  So, Saturday we talked about how much we still loved each other and how we both let outside things and people and our stubbornness break up our family. We would love to try to work things out again and I honestly I hope that we can.

Jay and I both know what it feels like to grow up without our father being in our lives on a daily basis.  And I don't want that for Moo. If the problem with our relationship is fixable then why shouldn't we fix it? Now the hard part is breaking the news to my family.  They're not exactly a fan of his anymore. However, I hope they will respect my decision and support me on it.

Today was just as great because I was still on my love high from yesterday with Jay. I had a great time at the House of the Lord aka church.  Our pastor is retiring and we're in the transition of getting a new one. Not sure how we are going to like him, but I'll give him a chance.  It's always hard being in the United Methodist Church because you have to switch pastors every so often. By the time, you get used to one they're charge is up and they're office to a different parish.

I have to say though that we have been blessed to have had some awesome leaders.  They have all come in and loved us like family and kept it real. Our church is in a much better position than I ever remember us being.  So, in a way I'm looking forward to meeting the pastor and his family.  I hear he's on the younger side, quite tall and has kids.

I take my religion and faith very seriously. So, if this pastor does not come correct, trust I will have no problem going elsewhere. I can't have my daughter raised up in a dead church. Her spiritual growth is very important. These are the crucial years for her and I am responsible for shaping her.

Well, it's off to bed. Tomorrow is another day and I have to get busy job hunting as I will no longer be manning my current post at my current job after the 31st of this month.  It's proving to be a tough process, but God will make a way and open up the right doors.

Adventures in Wedding Planning

Ok, so I have just officially planned my first wedding and I have to say that it went very well.  At first when my younger sister told me that she was getting married in less than a week, I was a little fearful.  One because she wanted to just go down to the courthouse and do some completely unoriginal ceremony conducted by a stranger.  And two, I wasn't even sure if she had a dress.  Even if you're just doing the courthouse thing, it is still important to have a dress specifically for that occasion.

Anyways, I  was kind of stoked when she asked me before she left to help her plan a small ceremony here at the family estate.  In the past, we have had our disagreements and weren't always as close as we should have been.  However, as we have matured and gone through our different trials and struggles, we have bonded in a new light and are discovering a very welcomed friendship of sorts.  So, I was very happy and more than willing to help plan the ceremony.

Wedding planning has been one of my many dreams and I was filled with ideas that I wanted to try.  After the initial excitement wore off, I started thinking about all the things that had to be done in such short time. Flowers, food, decoration and let's not forget about the CAKE!!  What wedding is complete without a wedding cake?  And I didn't want her to have some half assed cake either.

I started by first planning out the menu which consisted of Apple & Sage Pork Chops, Mashed Potatoes with Beef Gravy, French Cut Green Beans, Rolls, and an array of drinks and desserts.   Then I started shopping for wedding favors.  I thought it was important for the few guests who be at this ceremony to have something remember it by.  Then it hit me that the biggest part by far would be decorating the yard.

All the other stuff seemed so minor in comparison of trying to figure out how to fill such a huge space.   Not to mention there are like a million trees and the ground was covered in leaves.  Well, let me tell you all....it took three people and almost ten hours to tackle that task.  I mean I blisters for days.  I don't want to see another rake any time in the near future for sure.

But when the final day got here everything went off great.  My sister was happy and so was my brother in-law.  They had a great time.  And the smiles on their faces made my day.  So, now the question remains as to if I ever pursue this adventure again?  Maybe.....we'll see what happens.