Memorial Day 2010

Down through the years, I have grown to admire this flag so much more. It holds more of a different meaning to me now than it did say 2 years ago!! This is a picture I took yesterday in Savannah!!
"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

And because of men like these...1/6 Bravo serving in Afghanistan that flag ca n still fly today!!
OOH RAH!!!!

And this one special Marine...My heart is full today!! I love him more than words could ever say and I miss him more than anyone could ever understand!! He was the one I talked to many times a day and sometimes for him or I just to say "I love you!" We talk about things and we are the best of friends!! I just want him home...I know that this deployment is about over...and I just can't wait!! I can't wait to wrap my arms around his neck and say welcome home son, welcome home!!! He knows that I love him and that I am here praying and worrying!! I tell him so many times how proud I am of him and I thank him for everything that he is doing! When I am hot...I think where he is its even hotter! When I am hungry..,.where he is all he has is a MRE. I get me a shower and I think...where he is there is no shower!! Wow...and we all complain of such small things...think about the sacrifices these brave young men and women are making for us!! My heart just breaks! I feel so selfish!!

Well that is about it for me...I will do a beach blog tomorrow...It Memorial Day!!!

And Ganky this is the picture!! :)

Have a great day!!

I will be heading home soon!

Keep Praying...IT WORKS!!

Beautiful Bride!!

Oh...A wedding that I NEVER thought would happen only because Ms. Janice is such an independent lady!! But she found her a good man and I know that they will be so happy!!

This is her with her son Josh.

Here they all are Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Hightower and her boys and Alexis and his girls and Madison. Two full Families now joined together a ONE!!!

Oh but check out this beauty!!! Ms. Alexis....She looked like an Angel!!! She was just precious and so happy for her Memaw!!

They shared cake....

and more cake!!!

And then after that well we left...went home got my stuff and now we are in Savannah and will be heading to Tybee in a bit to spend the day on the beach!! I hope that all is well with each of you and that you have a great day!!

Keep Praying...IT WORKS!!

Beautiful Days!!!

So yesterday I met Tracy and we went to Ganky's and went for a swim!! It was wonderful and loads laughs and got to chat and just hang out with those that I love and mean so much to me!! Family...My Dearest Friends...What would I do with out them!!

But as most know this is a holiday weekend and well...We are taking off to the beach for a few days!! We are heading to Tybee Island!!! Yayy!! I am so excited....All I need is my Marine and it would be a perfect trip!! :(

But the sun and the beach are calling my name and I must go and see them for a bit!! Jeff has been working 6 days a week and he needs a get-away and the twins are out of school and deserves a break and as for me...I LOVE THE BEACH!! So off we will go!!

But not until after we go to my Dear Friend Janice's wedding!!! So happy for her and I will take pictures to show!! I love weddings!!

You all have a great day!!

Keep Praying...IT WORKS!!

Such a Fun Day!!

It has been so long since I have enjoyed a day as much as I did yesterday!! With Justin be gone and me in school and everything else in life...stress has taken over and I just don't seem to have much fun anymore!! But, yesterday....I had fun!!! The girls end of the year party was a blast!!

They did a sack race and here is Avery in the sack! She did really good!!

And here is Alex...she is not even touching the ground!! :)
Then a water balloon race and they had to really concentrate on that! Look at Alex's face!!

And Avery!!!

The party was a Great!!! Here are the girls all dressed up...looks like a trip to Hawaii is needed!!


And Ganky wants to go too!!


They got goodie bags and these were in there...Avery is so funny!!!

I laughed so hard at this!!!

Then last night was the graduation of Alex's pre-school class...I can't believe she is so big...She is a very sweet girl and loves me about as much as I love her!!

Kinda a blurry picture but Avery did a great job with her singing and was so precious sitting up there during the program!!

Alex walking to the stage!! (excuse the little girl in the stroller picking her nose!!)

And Ladies....The graduating class of 2010!!!

After the program the girls wanted to go with me and so we went and joined Ganky and Pa at the Mexican restaurant and...Well that was a blast!! They were having Karaoke night and needless to say Avery stole the show!! She sang "American Honey" by Lady Antebellum. Oh she did so good! She is 4 years old and knows every word!! It was a wonderful ending to a wonderful day!!

Still waiting on a phone call from that Marine of mine...But the twins birthday is Wednesday so maybe he is waiting to call on their birthday!!

Well You all have a great day...School is out for us and just hoping to get to hang at a pool and soak up some sun or just be lazy around the house!! Either way we plan on enjoying our day!!

Keep Praying....IT WORKS!!

And he is gone!!

For many years I was an American Idol fan and I would watch and vote and all that stuff but it got really ridiculous and so I stopped! But I did watch last night and it was kinda sad with Simon leaving!! He was the joy of the show and I know that it will not be the same without him!! But like they all said last night...the show will go on!!

And so that is about all I got!! The kids will be out of school as of today because they are exempt from what ever they are doing tomorrow!!

You all enjoy your day!! Off to work!!

Keep Praying...IT WORKS!!

And I would love a phone call from that Marine of mine...He is about to get in trouble for not call me!! hehe!! "No News is good News!!" And he will call when he gets a chance...I know that for sure!!

End of the season...

I love all the end of the season shows!! My all time favorite show is over now too!! What in the world am I gonna do with out all these shows...I am sure that I will get addicted to something else but I am gonna try not too!! I would like to NOT get drawn into another something that ties me down! But this show The Biggest Loser is over and WOW those people lost some weight!! Some lost HALF of their body weight!! And I can't loose 10 pounds!! WHY? Maybe I need to go to the Ranch!! hehe!!

Ok well got school today and I have a few things left to do on my project so, you all have a wonderful day!!

Keep Praying....IT WORKS!!

To the trash it went!

Well Jeff gets paid on Fridays and I was suppose to go to the bank Saturday and well I just never made it!! So I was gonna go yesterday and when I got to the bank...I could not find the check!! I remembered cleaning out my purse and all I could think about was that I had thrown it away!!

AND I DID!!

I came back home and dug through the trash and found it!! And back to the bank I went and they took it!! So that was the most excitement for me yesterday...well I do have one more! I had put me a soda in the freezer for a few minutes and well with the check thing got to going on I kinda forgot....IT BUSTED!!! All over my freezer and so then I had to clean up that mess!! UGH!! I am going to work today!! I hope everything goes good!! You all have a wonderful day!!

Keep Praying...IT WORKS!!

A special Guest at my house!

We got up and off to church we went yesterday and then after church this sweet little one...Alexis asked if she could come home with us!!

She calls me "NaNa"

she calls Jeff "Honey"

So she got her booster seat and told her MeMaw she was going with NaNa and Honey!! SO cute!!

She is so smart...We sang songs and did our ABC's and then we just chatted!! And this 4 year old can talk like an adult!! We had so much fun with her!! She informed me that she can read!! Wow 4 years old and reading...Her Grandma has raised her and she spent countless hours working with her!! We really enjoyed our visit with Alexis and Keep her MeMaw in prayer she is getting Married this weekend!! hehe!! She is marrying a wonderful man that we have known for years and they are just perfect with each other!!

Well have a great day!!

Keep Praying...IT WORKS

Marine Mom and I found him!!

For two years her son...Garcia and My son...Simmons have been friends!!
And we FINALLY met yesterday!!

She is a joy to be around and we will get together again!! We had loads of fun!!

Ok so my sister Brenda went and got us a magnifying glasS and we have found Justin!!

He is in the very front over toward the left kneeling down with his hand on his knee!!

That IS my Marine!!! hehe!! :)

And here he is again!

Garcia is the one with the brown head piece on and Justin is standing to his right! All you can see is his face but it is My Marines face!!

It is going on 6 months since I have seen him and so I get so darn happy when I find him in a picture!! I can't wait to get my hands on him!!!

So you all have a great day!! Off here to get ready for church!!

Keep Praying...IT WORKS!!

Wanna play?

Well this picture was posted on our 1/6 facebook page and I have been trying to figure out if an of these guys are mine!!!

Where's Justin? Wanna play?

I have used a magnifying glass and I think one of them may be him...Just wanted to see what any of you thought...they all look alike to me!! hehe

Have a great day!!

Keep praying...IT WORKS!

I paced the floors for 2 hours....

This was the BEST season finale I have ever seen in my life!!! I love this show and I didn't want anything to happen to any of these but especially not Derek Sheppard!!! And yet of course he got shot....OH not him!!

This kept me pacing the floor the entire 2 hours!! OMG...it was so good!! Can't wait for it to start back up!!

Well that is about it for me...My friend Kim will be here in a bit...got so much to do before she gets here!! Oh and I made a B on my test this week!! Yayy!!

Have a good day!!

Keep Praying...IT WORKS!!

Another one of our guys was hurt by an IED now 2 days ago...He is just cut up and bruised...Keep on with the prayers...so many are still in danger spots!!

And ths is the day!!

Well the packages are mailed and now I have cards and letters going out today!! I have made many acquaintances through this journey of going to the post office so much!! I will be adopting another hero but mine is coming hom so it is done for him!!

I went by Walmart yesterday and I got well every .50 missing you card they had and then we all sat down and wrote Justin one final letter...I want him to have enough to last him until he gets home...can't stand the thought of him being over there and not getting anything!! I hope by the time he gets all of these and reads them he will be able to start calling or get on the computer more!!

So this was the very last day to mail out anything!!!

So that is about it for me...Till Tomorrow!!!

Keep Praying...IT WORKS!!

FFA and Bitter Sweet!!!

Last Night was Britani's night to shine!! She got a FFA (Future Farmers of America) Banquet and my girl got a FFA Greenhand Degree Award!! YAYY!! Britani!!!Here is her Certificate!!!
They even spelled her name right!!! :)

And here are the twins all dressed up for the banquet!!!

Don't they look good???

And for the Bitter Sweet Part....I am sending out my last packages to my Marine today and another one that I have mailed to this whole time...LCPL Bouchard!! He and Justin have been together since bootcamp and we are really close friend with his parents, so I always send to him too!!! I have truly enjoyed mailing packages and knowing that those Marines out there were getting goodies that they would really love!!! I want Julie to know if she would not mind, I would love to send her son, Justin care packages!!! (just email me ch_simmons@comcast.net) This is just one more step to getting my Justin home....SO EXCITED!!! I spoke with our FRO (family readiness officer) yesterday and got some info on homecoming and how it works and things I can do and can't do!! Do NOT want to get in trouble!! hehe!!

SO...these are my last packages that I will be mailing out to 1/6 HARD !!!

LCPL. Simmons and LCPL. Bouchard I have enjoyed every package sent and can not wait to see their sweet faces!!!

Well that about it for me...I have a long day of school so off here to study!!!

Have a good day!!

~Till Tomorrow~

Keep Praying...IT WORKS!!!

I love this stuff!!

For as long as I can remember...I have used this stuff!!! I can remember when my babies were little I would give them a bath and lather them down with this stuff...JOHNSON'S BABY LOTION!! Oh it is just wonderful!!

I can tell you now...I use it on myself!! It works so good on my dry skin an it smell just wonderful...Makes me think of my kids when they were little...oh how I miss those days!!

Ok...well you all have a great day and just pick yourself up a bottle of this stuff and see how you like it!!

Enjoy your day!!!

~Till Tomorrow~

Keep Praying...IT WORKS!

End of the year picnic!!!

Here they are...Newton County ROTC!!! Every year they have a picnic and his is my 7th one...this time it was at a different location and well it was much nicer, more private and just a much better place!

My girl just isn't gonna have anything to do with ROTC and so I wanted to snap a picture of her anyways!! She really had fun this year!!!
They even had a little lake you could fish in...right up my kids alley!!!

SO then home and just rested up from a busy weekend!! Another week...closer to my Marine coming home! YAYYY!!!

You all have a great day!!
~Till Tomorrow~
Keep Praying...IT WORKS!!

lazy days!!

Well it was wonderful day yesterday...I got that phone call and then after that...Well not much from then on...I stayed in my pj's for most of the day!! Bradley and Britani are in a program through the sheriffs department and they keep them doing stuff all the time! The Explorers of Newton County Sheriff's had a job to do yesterday and so of they went!
Bradley was not home so no picture of him...But here is my sweet daughter Britani!! She loves this program and I think that it will end up being a really good thing for them both!

So then after that I did decide to get dressed! We have been talking about getting an above ground pool so we went and took a look at them and well we will be getting one...We have some work to do in our back yard so not until next summer but we will have one!! I can't wait!! :) So then after that while we were still in the area I said "Let's go see Leon(my brother)" I have not seen him in a LONG time and so off we went! We enjoyed the visit and then all of a sudden we all decided to go and eat...Wonderful /Fun evening!!

Now I am off to do stuff for our ROTC picnic and them I gotta be there at 12:00 this afternoon so no church for me...I sure will miss it!!

You all have a great day!!

I would also like to wish my Daddy a very Happy Birthday!!! I miss him so much and I know that he is looking out for my boy...He loved us all so much!!

Keep Praying...IT WORKS!!

I wasn't but I am...

Ok...wasn't gonna blog today but.....

I got a phone call and I always have to share those....Justin called me this morning and we talked for 16 minutes!! I am sooooo excited....I love hearing my childs voice and just can't wait to get my hands on him!! He was doing good and is excited that his time is about over and will be home before to much longer!!

So today is a good day and we have a few things going on...pictures of all that tomorrow!! :)

I just couldn't let this day go and not share my phone call!! hehe!!

Have a great day!!!
Till Tomorrow....Keep praying...IT WORKS!!

One of my favorite days!!

Today is one of my favorite days of the week!! I look so forward to the weekend!! We always have so much going on and I for the most part love to stay busy! This weekend we have ROTC picnic and that is about the highlight of the weekend...its just our family time and I love it!!

I am going this morning and pick up a bunch of yellow ribbons for my front yard...I am getting things ready for my Sons Home-coming!!! I know I still may have a bit but I like to be ready!! We have also decided to wear yellow shirts up when he gets home so that he will be able to spot us...those Marines all look alike in uniform and I can never find my son!! hehe!! I have the welcome home banner already but one of my Marine Moms will be coming up next weekend and we are making welcome home posters!!! SO EXCITED!! (give us a stop mail date and we get ready for them to be home!!)

Well other than studying and going on a picnic that will be about it...Oh Tracy will be out of town for ball tournaments so I will be going over to take care of my furry niece and nephew (BB& Munson!!) SO that is about it for me...what about U?

Enjoy your day and don't forget to pray...IT WORKS!!

only one week left...

OMGosh!!! Everything just gets a little closer to homecoming....Stop sending mail date is out!!! May 20th 2010...Stop sending mail/packages!! Oh so that means we are just finishing up this deployment!! I am so excited!! I honestly never thought that this day would come!!! So if anyone is gonna send my Marine anything...you better get it together and in the mail...Cause he is gonna be coming home soon!!!

Have a great day!! I sure am!!

Keep Praying...IT WORKS!!

Waiting on an e-mail!!

Well we are on our 5th month of deployment and as originally told that it would be a 8-12 month one!! Deployment is not something that I like and would not recommend it to anyone! I can count on my fingers the times I have been able to talk to my son...I was use to talking to him many times during the day! So there again "No News is Good News!!" I am so ready for this to be over!! But once you are part of the USMC or any part of the military it is something that has to be done!

So I am waiting on a date for Justin's Homecoming!! I get so excited when I think about it and I just really can not wait to get my hands on that Marine of mine!! So many rumors get to going around and you just don't know if it is true or not!!! I have made several friends with sons over with Justin and I got a e-mail last night from one that said that the Family Readiness Officer (FRO) has a come home date and is waiting for approval to announce it!! I will soon know a REAL official come home date and I just can't wait to hear!!

I know that things change and this date could change too...But I am just ready to start hearing some official word!!

Than you all for all your support through this journey...we are almost finished!!

Have a great day!! More studying and test for me...can you believe I am almost finished with this part of my schooling!!

Keep Praying...IT WORKS!!

Anatomy Monday

Monday is a day that I spend just reading and studying my Anatomy book!!! I have lots of diagrams that I have to memorize and know how to label and well I am not 15 anymore so I have to repeat, write and just study to learn the correct location of each part!

So off to school I went and took my test and come home after it and did nothing but REST!!

I hope that you have a great day today!!

~Till Tomorrow~

Keep Praying...IT WORKS!!!

It was the BEST day!!

Mother's Day 2010 was a GOOD day!!

These two were so sweet and wished me a happy Mother's Day!! I love them so much and I was so happy to spend the day with them!! But my day just didn't seem to be complete with out my Justin!! I felt still a little empty!!

I know that if he was around he would have been right by my side and making sure that my day was special in every way! But I know where he is and what he is doing and I am so PROUD of him!!

But then about 3 o'clock my phone rang and it was his sweet voice on the other end telling me that he didn't have but a minute and wanted to wish me a Happy Mother's Day and that to tell me that he loves me so much!! Oh my heart melted and tears started rolling!! To hear his voice was just what this mama wanted!!



So get on with the rest of my day...My Pastor knows that my mama is gone and that we really didn't have anything to do so he invited us to his mamas to spend the day!! Well let me tell you...It was the BEST day ever!! I got to spend it with people that I love and people that love me!! Tommy's Mama has a pontoon boat and so we to go and take a little ride on the lake and just relax and laugh and just enjoy the day!!

So Mother's Day 2010 was the BEST day...would have been perfect if Justin had been home but he will be soon!!! I hope that each of you had a great day!!

~Till Tomorrow~

Keep Praying...IT WORKS!!!