Remembering A Dear Friend Today

Four years ago today I lost one of my truest girlfriends

in a car accident.

She passed away the day before Thanksgiving , November 23, 2005 which was coincidentally & unfortunately her brother's birthday and five days before hers.

I got a call at 5:30 a.m. Thanksgiving morning telling me that she was gone. Thankfully my family was here to support me throughout that very painful day. My husband was also deployed and had to hear the news from friends overseas.

Alicia's husband Matt was deployed overseas and due to return home in two weeks. They were high school sweethearts and had been together since they were fifteen.

Alicia was definitely one of a kind; smart, beautiful, caring,

hardworking,witty and hilarious.

I could go on and on about her, and the awesome person she was

but I really would just like to pay tribute to her today.

Alicia, I love you and miss you everyday.

                                Click Here - Alicia Boyer-Jones

Totally "Twilightin" Out - Woo-Hoo!!!

So, yes I am a TwiHard, Twilighter whatever you want to call it, but yes, a grown woman who has read every book in the Twilight saga and is slightly obsessed with the whole thing. If you've read them, then this needs no further explanation. If you haven't you just can't figure out what all the fuss is about...can it really be that good?

Y-E-S !!!

I just purchased my tickets to the l...o...n...g awaited sequel NEW MOON!!!  and I'm absolutely beside myself with giddy anticipation and yes I said tickets. I was planning on going to see it by myself in the middle of the day when most Teen-Twihards are at school. Thought there would be a lot less distraction. But, it turns out "hubby" has the day off and said that he would go with me! Never imagined that one. 

Of course due to the fact that this is nearly a spiritual event for me, he has been given strict instructions for this outing:

He is not allowed to talk, snicker, laugh or make fun of anything I say or do before, during or after the movie.   He may not react to any of the erratic dislays of emotions I may show during this day. We'll see how he follows directions...heehee. I'm actually looking forward to him going with me and really appreciate that he wants to come along...still can't quite figure out why, but happy about it nonetheless.

To all of you Twihards...enjoy the movie...hope it's GREAT!!!!
If you need a little refresher before New Moon here are a few of my  fav.  links  ENJOY!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQbvWeJstRg&feature=fvsr

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hT94X4-b4Pk



P.S. They have New Moon Trailors , clips, etc on Direct TV satellite if you search for "New Moon"

Note: I promise to take this Blog Background down after a few days ;0)

Are Monsters BORN or MADE ?

If you live in the Fayetteville area you most likely already know about this story. If you don't and are not aware of this, here is a link to the current events surrounding the human trafficking and death of a little girl in our area. Her body was found yesterday about 13 miles from my house.

http://www.wral.com/news/local/video/6434737/

I'm just sick about the outcome...just don't understand how some human beings take pleasure in hurting another person, none the less a helpless, innocent little girl. How can someone hurt a little child ?
I can't imagine being able to live with the pain if someone abducted Evan and he never came back to me...really just want to throw up right now.


I actually overheard a couple chastizing and being cruel to their small child in the store just yesterday...made me so furious I almost said something to them - I literally had to bite my tongue, literally, to not confront them - but I knew that if they treated their little boy that way they would flog me!!! Evan needs his Mommy so I couldn't risk the retaliation from them...funny that Evan was my first thought - how he could be impacted by me getting into it with some crazy, mean people.

If I didn't have Evan things would have been different.


It made me think that maybe some monsters are created or pushed in that direction by terrible parents ignoring, talking down to, and treating their children badly in general. A grown person that hurts a young child had to have had a terrible life, right?
Or are monsters just born monsters?


I don't know...but I do know that it is up to us parents to raise our children with respect, and talk to them like they matter and build their confidence and let them know that they are good people and will do great things. Lie if you have to, but never tell a child they are "bad." Maybe if someone would have told Shaniyah Davis's murderer that he/she was a good kid and treated them with a little decency they would have turned out to be a different person and that little girl would still be alive and happy and beautiful. Maybe when you feel completely devalued as a person it's not hard to cross over to the other side and become a deviant of society...what do you have to lose?


I don't know the stats or what research proves, but I do know as a teacher I have come across some kids that seemed inherently evil and destined to be "bad" adults. I always tried to help them especially; thinking that if maybe even one person made them think good things about themselves they could chart a different course for their future. Even the smallest gesture of kindness can make someone feel better about themselves. When you are talking to a child think about what it would feel like for someone to say those things to you. Maybe if we are better grown ups to the children around us we can help cut down on the numbers of children that grow into "monsters" like this little girl's murderer.

BTW: I am not a perfect grownup to all the kids around me, at all times but I definitely make an effort to be some kind of a role model...shouldn't we all?


To the family and friends of this beautiful little girl and to Shaniyah herself - may god be with you and heal you and take you to a better place. You are an angel.

First Kiddo Halloween Party Behind Me - WHEW!!!

WOW!  I haven't posted in two weeks - pretty much because I go just a weeeeeee bit overboard when I plan for a party. I don't think of anything else except the party until the day it's over. Guess it's this darn first child mentality, or need for perfection or OCD or something.

I had never hosted a Kids Halloween party before, but now I can say that I have...and WHEW!!!! Glad that's over. I know I do it to myself but trying so hard to meet everyone's needs and make the party perfect coupled with the fact that I micromanage and don't delegate jobs out very well really made for a hyperactive, spazmatic, chicken with her head cut off host. I had planned so long and so hard for it and then it all flew by in a blur when it was finally here.

Bottom line was that the kids had tons of fun and there were lots of smiles and laughter- YEAH!!!

Trick or treating with my sis Cheryl and Neice Morgan was very relaxing at the end of the evening - weather was really perfect! Evan was so adorable walking with his little treat bag as Thomas The Train. He never wanted me to hold him even after an hour of walking...what a little trooper he was. Mom also flew in and we went to Disney on Ice on Sunday. It was a great visit and I'm looking forward to getting together with more family over the holidays.