Venting/Blessing

I need to vent. This isn't anything I would usually put in my blog, but it's been on my mind lately and I needed to get it down into words.

Have you ever had something brought to your attention and you just can't let go of it? Well, the other day it was brought to my attention that my children have not seen their father in 18 months. Their father is in South Carolina, only a six hour drive away. He never calls them, never sends birthday or Christmas cards. The last time they received a gift from their father Steven was five and twins three.

Sam and I have tried our best to make him a part of their lives but it's always on his conditions or none at all. Every Sunday I have them call their dad. They know they can call anytime they want but Sunday is the day I make sure they talk to him. His favorite line is, "I support them with child support." Child support that I had to go to court to get garnished out of his wages. For anyone who has children: please tell me what $200.00 every two weeks does for three kids? Most of the time it goes straight to the school for field trips, lunches, musical instruments. On a positive note, I do know he loves them but he just doesn't show it all the time.

Before I start getting comments saying, poor Darlene, STOP!!! I was a single mom for six years before Sam came along. My children know what love is and what families are about. All families are not made of Daddy, Mommie, children, two dogs, three cats and a white picket fence. My children know that love also comes from grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends, and the man upstairs.

Now onto the blessing! Venting is a terrible thing to do when you have so much to be blessed for. I have said it a million times and will continue to say it: Sam is truly sent from God. I prayed long and hard for God to send me a good man for me and my children. I wanted a man who loved me for me, inside and out. Someone to be a friend and father figure in my children's lives. Someone who wanted to help guide the kids to be the best they can. Someone to love their downfalls and their wonderful giving hearts. Someone who can look at them and say there may be no blood relationship but there are so many heartstrings attached--those are MY CHILDREN!

It's so true, the old saying "Anyone can be a father but it takes a real man to be a Daddy". Sam isn't taking their father away from them. He is there to catch them when they fall, or fly too high, or just need a hug. Sam, I love you so much and I am so grateful to have you in my life, not just for the kids but for me too.

I know Sam mentioned on his blog about losing his job. In times like this most people wonder how you can say you're blessed. Well, I woke up this morning next to a wonderful man who gives me more from his heart than money can buy. I have wonderful children, even when they are screaming or fighting with one another. We have understanding and loving parents. Plus, with a cute dog like Gracie who wouldn't be Blessed!

LORDY LORDY I AM 40!

Happy Birthday to me! What a wonderful birthday I had. Most people dread their 40th birthday but mine was a great day. I woke up to my first birthday wish, from the Rake! Thanks Rake. I can always count on you to read our blogs. Then my husband started with the birthday kisses. I think I got about 4,440 beofre the day ended. Then the phone calls started and the e-cards started coming one from my parents and Steven. Even their dog has learned to use the computer because she sent me one with a lot of woofing in it. Soon the twins came out singing Happy Birthday and asking where's breakfast.

Then off to get my b-day present (or at least what I am calling my b-day present), a new minivan for the family. Our trustworthy Barney (the old purple van) has finally given out on us and we had to find a new one, or a great used one at least (it's new to us). Barney could have waited a few more months but nooooooooooooo. Wrong time, but got a great deal. We haven't named the new van yet. We still gotta get two more kids' thoughts. Maybe the Rake has some leftover names he didn't use on his new truck. Thanks to Todd at Carmax for making the process so easy.

Then we were off to dinner at this wonderful new Dinner Theater we found. I was totally amazed at this theater. Before dinner there was a pre show of fashion design. What an amazing look into fashion and some beautiful models. Then onto a tasty dinner where the birthday girl got served like a Queen. There was grilled chicken, potatoes, corn, fresh baked rolls from the oven, then only to follow with a scrumptious cake from the finest bakery in town with ice cream hand dipped by a friendly staff member. Then the after dinner show began. It consisted of singing, dancing, and live guitar and piano playing, with percussionists that were unreal with their talent. There were drawings from local artists that were so precious, I had to take one home. I would recommend the Billizmiajackson Theater to anyone looking for a good evening out. There's some showstopping entertainment in Tucker Georgia. For more information on the Billizmiajackson Theater contact 1-800-Bradys. Thank you to the wonderful staff who made my birthday very special. I love you guys.

Thank you to my wonderful husband who called me older but more beautiful. I love you with all my heart. You are my rock and my love! Thanks for the new/used van. How are you going to top this birthday gift next year??????????????

Thank you everyone for making my 40th birthday so special.

Here are some pictures of our new previously enjoyed (the Carmax salesman's expression) van:

Life without Steven/Sewing project with girls

BOYS ARE MEAN!!!!! Steven left on Monday to stay with my parents for a week. We haven't had all the kids at home since the last day of school. Jewel stayed first and called me 20 times a day. Jessica went second and called me 2,842 times a day. By the end of Jessica's week I was ready to rip the phone out of the wall. Most of our conversations were like, "Hey mommie I love you! What is Gracie doing? Okay, bye!" So when Steven left I said, "Bye buddy, I love you! I'm going to miss you! Make sure you call me!"

Do you think he has called? Yes, one time to ask if he could stay another week. I feel like I need to call him and say, "Hi. My name is Darlene. I am your mother. I am the one who threw up every day of my pregnancy with you. I am the one who had to have an i.v. the entire 9 months." Why is it so easy for boys to go away from home and not feel the need to call? Yes, I know I am being a baby, but I miss my baby. I am probably going to be the only one who moves into a rest home and brings her children to live there too. But until then I guess I will kept calling him and making sure he know I love the Baby Steven 1,2,3!

Now on to the girls. Sage is with us for the week and it's kinda nice having all the girls together without Steven aggravating them. As promised we made beds yesterday for their animals. So of course with needles, fabric, stickers, and stuffing we began with a mess and ended up with a mess. But we had lots of fun. Sage couldn't believe she could actually sew. She kept saying, "This is fun! I never knew I could sew." I was surprised no one got stuck with a needle. After making pillows, wallpapering the sides of their bins, making blankets, and spelling their names out with stickers the bins are completed. I just peeked in their room when I got up this morning and the bins were next to the beds. Only one animal was in his bin. The rest were being snuggled or squeezed to death.

I love this time of the morning. Kids asleep, windows open and cool breeze coming through, birds chirping, Gracie still sleeping, so quiet except for the occasional kids calling my name from next door. Oh, don't forget the dryer buzzing, saying FOLD ME FOLD ME. So now I have found my calling: laundry.

Until next time!

Summer Cleaning

It's amazing what you will find when you actually clean off your dresser (hint hint Sam). Sam found 2 gift certificates for Regal Theaters on his dresser (that needed to be cleaned 8 months ago). So with my parents in town this past weekend we decided to take advantage of them and have a date night. Saturday night we were off to see Baby Mama which was a cute movie, but after seeing it we kinda wished we had seen Zohan with Adam Sandler. Baby Mama was cute and funny but kinda left you wanting a different ending. Afterwards ice cream and a long ride home was really nice. Thanks Mama and Pop for our date night.

The funniest part was when we returned home to find Jessica and Sage with underwear on their heads. When I was a little girl my mama would always roll my hair on Saturday night for church the next day. To make sure the rollers stayed in my hair she would put a pair of my underwear on my head. Okay it was cute when I was 4 or 5. Jessica has had her hair in rollers before and as soon as mama was done with her she goes gets her underwear on her head. Mama said Sage asked her if she had to put underwear on her head? Mama said not if you don't want to. A few minutes later Sage comes out with underwear on her head and laughed like crazy. They were the most beautiful girls in church with curls in their hair. Sage's hair is getting so long that every time she walked she had bouncing curls. Ms. Sabrina, our neighbor, has started calling Sage Malibu Barbie. She has this beautiful tan and blonde hair with curls.

After church we go by Sears looking for a vacuum cleaner since ours decided to commit vacuum suicide. Sears was having this wonderful 90% off sale on certain items. Mama and I got a set of dishes that were $100.00 originally for $10.00, king size quilts and shams for $6.00, bath maths for $1.29, it was amazing some of things they had. So of course today was spent cleaning the china cabinets, putting new dishes were they belong, and getting rid of things we haven't used since moving to Georgia. So now the kitchen, dining room, living room, and kids room have been summer cleaned. Now to the bathrooms and my room which is the hardest because everything collects on our couch in the bedroom. Hopefully we will be done with summer cleaning this week.

Next project is beds for Teddy, Doggie, Clifford and Blue Puffy. The girls most treasured stuffed animals need a home for when they are not being loved on. Their animals get tossed to the floor or under the bed and when bedtime hits we have to go dig to China to retrieve the animals. I found Blue Puffy under the bed one night and told Sage, that Blue Puffy was digging her way to China under the bed. I am afraid Gracie will get hold of these animals who are so precious to the kids. Teddy was given to Jessica when she was 3 years old and had to go to the emergency room on Christmas Eve because she fell off a stage and had a bad bruise. Doggie and Clifford are Jewel's prized possessions from when she was 2 years old. Even at 10 she must have them to sleep with. Blue Puffy has belonged to Sage since she was a baby and goes everywhere with her. So with a little fabric and minor sewing our animals will have a safe home.

Upcoming events on my blog will be:

Life without Steven (he's at Grandma's house this week)
Needles and Thread or Stapler and Glue (Animal Home Project)
Lordy Lordy Look who is Forty

Everybody Ought To Go To Sunday School

When I was a little girl I remember singing a song about "Everyone ought to go to Sunday School." Well, we didn't quite make it to Sunday School today but we did make it to morning worship service. Since moving here I've kept saying we needed to find a church and we finally started looking. We visited Alpharetta Church of God this morning. What a wonderful greeting we received from the entire congregation. The pastor met us at the door with a friendly welcome. Sam, Steven, Jewel and I were impressed with the feeling of an accepting congregation.

I have been going to church since I was a little girl. I was brought up in a Pentecostal church as a child and gradually moved into the Church of God. I am one of those people who hates to push religion on anyone. I am one who lets my light shine and gives praise and thanks where it is due, because all things are possible through Christ. I want a church where I can worship and have my soul fed. I want my children to grow up knowing who God is and know His wonderful love. I am not ashamed nor bashful to say I love my Heavenly Father.

Needless to say we are very excited about returning next Sunday. My parents will be down for Father's Day and will attend with us. Steven and Jewel gave the approval to visit again. We will get Jessica and Sage's opinion next week. So far, 4 votes yes for Alpharetta Church of God.