Please feel free to right click on you mouse and save any of these three images to share.  Pass them along to friends and family to get the word out that March is Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month!

This will fit your Facebook Timelines.

    

 This particular image works great as a cover-photo on the new Facebook Timeline.  I left the bottom left area open where your profile image will be.  If you would like one of these with your name please leave me a comment and I'll gladly create one.  There is of course no charge. This little charm came from Leigh a couple of years ago at Heartfelt Perfections.blogspot.com  She creates amazing designs!  

Today found me standing naked from the waist up and having a camera photograph  my breast!  Yep...you read that right!  My Girls.  My "Other" Girls as I often refer to them.  This is hopefully step one in  having a much needed and wanted Breast Reduction.  

I just assumed all these years that my insurance company would consider this Cosmetic Surgery.  There is also a part of me that felt like I shouldn't alter what God gave me.  Yet, in the past few months I've been told repeatedly that having this surgery should greatly improve the strain on my back plus rid me of the cyst in my right breast.   For years...years....it's been a dream in the back of my mind.  Not often spoken out-loud unless jokingly. I would never want plastic surgery to "improve" or "change" the way I look.  I'm okay with myself. Besides, you can't improve on perfection!! hahaha  However,I'm ready to have this girls reduced!  I was ready for him to say, "We can schedule you tomorrow morning"!  It's amazing this feeling of gratitude I'm having towards this!  It's overwhelming me!!

I became emotional as the surgeon and I discussed their size, my height, the incisions, the healing process, the details of how he would cut here and here then move this here....I didn't expect to have an outpouring of tears but they showed up and fell freely all over "The Girls" and the surgeons hands!  : o    He said he hadn't had anyone get so emotional in a long time....silly me!  I tell you I think the tear ducts they placed in my eyes are working overtime!!  

Step two is waiting 30-40 days for the insurance company to send approval to myself and to Dr. Wendel.  Once we have written approval the surgery will be scheduled.  Surgery is hopefully same-day, a week to 14 days of recuperating and no lifting.  Then...a new figure with less back pain!  Whoohoo!

so...here I sit in my pj's and wonder what it'll be like to have a smaller girls and less backpain...  
hummmm....  : )

Jersey is ONE !

There are no words to express how much fun I had planning this party with Stephanie for Miss Jersey!  

It was a smashing success! 

 Following are just a few photos from her big day and a few of our ideas we took  from Pinterest!

 Jerseys first taste of anything sweet.  She loved Memes Strawberry Marshmallows!  

 Jerseys "Forever Candle Musicbox"  the candle actually blows out.

 Mommy suggest she touches the cake and her expression shows how she feels about her hands getting dirty!  

 Daddy decided to pitch in and show her how to do it!    

 I love this!  It's so Jersey!  Deep in thought and studying what's in front of her.  

She gets so serious!

This is her "will you please get this off of me look!"  

Now..Group picture...or not...lol!  

Trying to get them all together was a task! and I'm only posting a few of the attempts!   

Pay attention to Carson in the middle...He's stiff as a board!  

 one down....one backwards, one being "cheesy", we're getting closer....

 Lost Carsons face when Jaxon took off behind Zoey.  Poor Payton (left of Carson looks so unhappy...)

 Major malfunction!  Zoey upset, Riley and Jersey to her rescue.  Lost Bella's focus....

Memes final attempt.  Whew...They were as difficult as the adults at Christmas and the Family Reunion!  lol

Opening Gifts:

 Jerseys first gift was 2 penguins from Don and Marichen.  

Uh oh...she loves penguins!  

 She kept turning around checking on her two new buddies!  It was so cute!  

 Yee-haw!  Riding on the caterpillar!  

 A new teaching puppy!  Yea!   She loves her first one!

 uh oh...just as she went to open it she hit her lip on the corner..   : (

 Her own kitchen with an apron like Mommys!  I see cupcake batter in the future here!

 Enjoying some time with Pop and Uncle Larry.  She's so tired and such a trooper!  

A few of our Pinterest creations:

 Strawberry flavored popcorn...yumm!

find the recipe at Food.com  

 Cupcakes to Go.  Okay,,,they're called Cupcakes in a jar, we called them Cupcakes to go because we knew early on some of the kids attending wouldn't be able to stay so we could send them home with one of these little babies!  They were very good!  

 My take on Mother-Jetts (my grandmother) Pink Salad.  A great family recipe that I slaughtered years ago...however my kids loved it so I make it both ways now!  lol

White Chocolate dipped Oreo and Pink Sugar Wafers

 Strawberry Marshmallows dipped in Milk Chocolate and rolled in sprinkles!  Jerseys loved hers!

 Coconut Puffs on Chocolate wafers and Pink Stripped Pretzels with White Chocolate

 mini cupcakes for the wee ones!  

 Jerseys "Crooked Cake" with gumballs

 Foam Banner made to fit in the cameras viewfinder!  We didn't like the great big long ones.

BonBons!  

One Special Birthday Girl.  

One Special Day! 

Thank you Stephanie and Jamie for allowing MeMe to have so much fun creating!  

I love you all!

now.......to plan Zoeys first party....ELEPHANTS ARE GONNA INVADE SMYRNA!  

"Retired" In Peace Whitney

I don't remember the first time I heard Whitney Houston bellow out one of her many beautiful songs but I do know that many,,,many of them have gotten me through some sad and lonely days when I was alone!  When the movie The Bodyguard came out I fell in love with her music in a totally different, more adult, more feminine way.  It empowered the woman within me to stand up for myself.  To not allow trials and difficulties to "get me down"  and to STOP letting people run over me.    Seriously...I do mean that.  I may have a big sounding voice but I don't vocalize or should I say, I didn't vocalize my needs when I was a young lady.  I thought you had to be totally submissive in a relationship if it was to be the "June Clever" dream life I desired.  Weird, eh?  I'll save those details for another post....

I found so much peace in her voice. So much emotion in the way she carried her words to the next level that chills would and still do run through me when I hear certain songs!    It was 1992 and I was struggling in a second marriage that promised to be my "lifesaver" when it turned out to be the most physically, verbally and emotionally abusive relationship I have ever known.  My children were watching their step-father literally slap me around on a pretty frequent basis.  I can remember going to sleep at night wondering if I would wake the next morning due to his anger and the rage he had inside him.  Some people ask why and how did you stay...but there is no easy or quick answer in that.  I was a woman with 3 small children and thank God I had my career in nursing and it took the act of the physician I was working for to make the necessary steps for me to finally get away from this abuse.  I woke one morning and had ran the kids to school, the youngest I would take with me on the way to work as he went to Trenton Street Baptist Church daycare near my office.  On the way back I stopped at the bottom of our street (we lived deep in the hills and country of Harriman, TN on a one way street.   I stopped at the car dealership he and his brother ran together to grab a soda out of the vending machine.  It took all of a minute.  When I arrived back at the house I began dressing in my scrubs when suddenly Billy's violence set in.  His jealousy of wanting to know why I stopped to get a soda...why...why.   The simple answer was I was wanting one to drink and there was nothing in the house but OJ and milk.  The next few moments of my life were a blur and still are.  I remember the first of many hits to my face...then somehow I am in the bottom of his shower and he is kicking me over and over with my son Bret screaming in the background.  I remember thinking, "Cover your head, your temples Bridgitte, cover them" and I did.  I don't remember his leaving the room but when I opened my swollen eyes I knew there was blood from the taste in my mouth.  I grabbed a towel and ran.  God place Bret right in my path and I picked him up and put him in the car.  My gosh, he wasn't buckled in or anything and I remember getting to the dealership and pulling in.  Wilma, an employee walked up and screamed for John, Billy's brother.  John told Wilma to take me to the ER and I begged no, no, take me to Dr. Foote's office where I work.  For the next several hours the girls at the office came one by one hugging me, reassuring me, telling me Bret was at daycare and the police knew not to let Billy pick up the kids.  There were county officers everywhere.  In and out of the room asking questions about him.  Then his older brother Freddie walked in and I felt the room darken with doom.  Freddie was the town Constable.  I was fighting the police force in some way.  However, Freddie bent down and said how sorry he was and he kept telling Billy to get help.  It was then I learned he had done this to his previous wife Faye.  Dr Foote came into the room at just this moment and said, "Bridgitte, I've called your father, he's on the phone. This has gone on long enough, he is going to kill you."   When I saw his brother agreeing with a nod of the head at the moment Dr. Foote handed me the phone receiver....I became so overwhelmed with emotions.  No one...No one can know the thoughts that go through ones mind in a split second.  Hearing my Daddy's voice on that phone and him saying, "Honey, it's gonna be okay.  We're gonna come get you and the kids."   Even as I type this I am bawling like I did that day.  Just at that moment the soundtrack from The Bodyguard began playing over the office speaker.  Hearing each song brought back so many emotions, so many memories and yet  as it continued I became empowered.  Just as I lay back down the voice of Whitney singing, "Yes, Jesus loves me" came on and I knew my Father and my Daddy were going to take care of me!

It took Orders of Protection, warrants, countless trips to see the Judge privately to try and understand why Billy didn't appear each time and how he continued to be granted continuations.  Finally after videos being captured of him wearing a black ski mask and all black clothing at 2 am on the farm, my phone lines being cut...I was granted a divorce without him present.  My Daddy and my Uncle Bobby planned a midnight move to get me out of town after we led him to believe I was going nowhere. His brother and the Judge had him arrested and held on a huge bond for a couple of days so arrangements could be made to get me out of town.    Dr. Foote and Dr. Terry were beyond so giving and so kind in helping me with hiding out and getting me and the kids to a safe shelter.  It was horrible.  Sheer hell.  To think I put my kids through all this brings a surmountable amount of guilt but after countless hours of counseling and I do mean hours...I realize a person can get to the point of feeling worthless after a person continually degrades them.  

Dr. Jim Terry gave me the soundtrack The Bodyguard one day on a cassette.  Yep,,,a cassette!! lol  He knew I walked after work while the kids fished and it was a way to clear my head at the end of a day and before going home to tackle homework.  I still have that cassette!  I even added this soundtrack as one of my first purchases when I was given my iPod.  To this day while walking on the treadmill at the gym or at the local park here...with the first beat of the song, "I'm every woman" begins my blood gets a little thicker.  My steps get faster and broader.  I notice my shoulder taking on a stance of their own.  The song speaks to me.  It tells me the opposite of what others hear.  It says, I CAN DO IT, and everytime I think of you you better have fear cause I'm strong, stronger than I thought I was and I am every woman, It's all in me.   You put me though hell but I survived so baby, you better watch it cause it's not me you have to answer to!!  

okay...whew...wow...that was a lot more than I ever expected to write!!  A LOT MORE!  I'm not usually that open with details.  

Whitney, I think you knew how beautiful you were inside and out and that you had a magical gift of voice.  I think you got lost somewhere like I did.  You seemed to be trying so hard for your beautiful daughter.  I understand that when you get so low some of those closest to us have no idea because we hide it from them.  They may find drugs (precsription)  in you blood but you know they will in mine too so personally, I'll believe in my heart no matter what you took you never meant to go forever.  You're a mom.  Moms don't leave their kids.  We do sometimes find ourselves clinging to them for our lives when we have no one else personally.  You told Diane Sawyer in a 2002 interview that in ten years you wanted to be "retired".  You are my dear.  Retired and at home with your heavenly father.  You never, never failed to proclaim that , "Yes, Yes, your Jesus loved you!"  for that's the part of you I will carry with me.  


Like I said, I wouldn't normally share this story.  In fact maybe only 2-3 people know it until now...I believe that I should share some of my struggles for two reasons.  1:  I feel like God has led me too and I won't question that.  2. If one person, just one, can obtain any amount of strength from my sharing then so be it...but moreso, to share His love and to share that there is always a HOPE! Hope, a future and life in HIM!

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.' 

Tagxedo FUN!

Tagxedo is such a fun and free app to use!!  Go check it out!  I'm having a blast making fun little card-stock posters for Jerseys 1st birthday party!  

I'm never going to get any sleep at this pace for the next week!  The more I'm blog-hopping the longer my "To-Do" list is growing for this party! lol!!

anyway...had to share this one with you all real quick!  

Tat time

I am in love with an illustrator I've just found online.  Just this evening I was discussing with Bret how I wanted to add to my tattoo that I have on the back of my neck.  The one of my dandelion.  The one that represents his tours in Afghanistan and arriving home safely.  

It was a treasured time in my life that I cherish with Bret as I recall how he stopped in front of the tattoo shop in Hollywood, California on Hollywood Blvd and said, "Okay...we're here Mother!"   To this day he thought I would back out...but a promise is a promise and honestly I've grown to love it.  

I've been pondering for months how  I wanted to add to it.  Add another two dandelions for Larry and Stephanie and little parachutes to represent the granddaughters and a small dove in the air for Alyssa Kay.

Well...tonight I found the perfect dandelion!  I do mean perfect!  I'm ready to get in the car now and add to the little collection of art on my skin.  It's my personal space.  My way of  "engraving" them into my skin.  I hope it's okay to share her picture on here and give her rave reviews!!

the artist is Ingrid Sundberg at SundbergStudio

I'm so excited!!  whooohoooo....tattoo man here I come!  okay, well....in a day or two!  

I'd love for the artist to sign this and allow me to obtain a copy to place in my scrapbook.  It's funny, I've also been looking for someone other than myself to illustrate my childrens book....looks like God may be showing me some things online tonight!  

Jersey's almost 1 !

It's so hard to believe that in less than a week Miss Jersey will be celebrating her 1st birthday!  Where does the time go?  I'm so very, very thankful that I've had this last year to spend with her on a pretty much daily basis.  Watching her learn to hold her bottle, find her fingers and toes, say Dada, then Mama.... Me Me hasn't come out of that little mouth yet....doing flash cards, reading, watching videos, learning who the Bubble Guppies, Dive Ollie Dive, Umizoomi and so many other new characters are on television and Nick Jr.  Funny thing is she loves the local part of our Comcast cable where it has animal adoptions.  Turn it to the cats and she squeals with delight!!  It's been a magical 11 3/4 months.  I'm emotional now and can't imagine how emotional I'll be on her birthday!  lol  silly meme, i know!

  Today's gift to me was finding her 5th tooth is just about to pop thru.  She just got her 3rd and 4th over the weekend (her two top teeth).  It's exciting to journal all these days for her!  She has no idea how much this time has helped Meme heal physically, emotionally and spiritually!!  I love each of my granddaughters.  I've just had the chance to spend so much time with Jersey one on one like I did early on with Jaylen when she was an infant. 

I love you little Miss!  I can't wait to celebrate with you and the entire family next weekend!  More-so, I can't wait to celebrate new things you learn as you become a toddler!