Girls Night Out- How fun!!!!

Dinner with Lisa and Berkley

C.J. and I had dinner with my very good friend Lisa and her little boy, Berkley, on Tuesday night. They have FREE kids meals at Beef O'Bradys and C.J. just loves it there. Thank you Lisa for being such a good friend the past 6 years. You were there at my Baby Shower and I at your and have shared so many other fun times together, not to mention all of C.J.'s and Berkley's Birthday Parties. I know that we will be friends 4-ever and I love you so much!!!!

Trip to see Ton-Ton

C.J. and I had so much fun on our trip to see one of my closest friends, Tonya, in Smyrna, TN over the long weekend. She has been my friend since I was 25 and has always been there for me. She is moving in March to In. and I am going to hate not being able to pick up and go see her when ever I want. I guess I will have to plan one more long weekend before you move Tonya and then plan on comong up for a few weeks in the Summer.LOL!!! Love you girl and I miss you already!!!

C.J. with his "Jewish" Grandparents:)

C.J. is very blessed to have Bonnie and Ted in his life. They really do love him like he is their own Grandchild and I am so thankful for them and the difference they have made in our lives. C.J. had a great time playing with "Uncle Ted" as he calls him. I never could remember the name for Jewish Grandfather's so that is what we ended up with.

Bonnie is "Bubby Bonnie" and not only is she the best Grandmother but she has been the best Mother to me for 19 years...she knows that she means the world to us...the whole Family does. We don't get to go in town like we used to but I know that C.J. will be better in his life for the "quality" of time that he gets to spend with them.

Chanene and I..Friends since we were 15

I have to say that I was thrilled when my friend, Chanene, said that she would be in Atlanta the same weekend C.J. and I would be there. I have not seen her in over 20 years and it was so good to catch up, she still looks as beautiful as she did when we were teenagers. We have promised to make that trip every few months to see each other and to stay in touch:)

Our Visit to Atlanta to see our Best Friends

C.J. and I went to Atlanta on Friday to visit all our special friends that we have not see in a while. We stayed with Cara, Rob, Ava and Nicolas over the weekend and had such a fun time. Cara and I have been friends for nearly 18 years and have been through a lot together. I know ,that with out a doubt, her love for me is unconditional, as my love for her is! The kids had so much fun together and C.J. is finally at that age where the boys were really able to play and have fun. Most of our trips C.J. was so little and Ava just loved picking him up and wanting to play with him:) I love you Cara, thank you for your love and friendship. You are just like a Sister to me.

we also were able to see my dear Friend, Susan. She , Cara and I met at the same time back at First Baptist Atlanta. She was actually mine and Cara's Spiritual Mother and would do a Bible Study with us each week. WOW!! that was sooo long ago. She still is that to us and she has always been the most amazing friend. I feel so blessed that God has given them both to me and know that we will be friends when we are very old ladies...love you Susan, your the best!!!

Friday fun with the two C.J.'s

Look at me Mom!!!
















The two C.J.'s and Olivia

PJ and Pizza Day at School...how fun!!

I loved this!!!!

In April, Maya Angelou was interviewed by Oprah on her 70+ birthday.. Oprah asked her what she thought of growing older.

And, there on television, she said it was 'exciting.'

Regarding body changes, she said there were many, occurring every day...like her breasts. They seem to be in a race to see which will reach her waist, first.

The audience laughed so hard they cried. She is such a simple and honest woman, with so much wisdom in her words!

Maya Angelou said this:

'I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.'

'I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.'

'I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life.'

'I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as 'making a life.'

'I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.'

'I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back..'

'I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.'

'I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.'

'I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.'

'I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.'

'I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.'

I found this video of C.J. on my computer the other day and it made me almost cry. H eis almost 5 and I wish that I could go back already and him be two again. As you can see in the video, C.J. has a BIG chance of making it in a band one day.LOL!!! my sweetie Pie..I love him so:)

When you think your kids aren't watching you

A message every adult should read because children
are watching you and doing as you do, not as you say.


When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you hang my
first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately
wanted to paint another one.


When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you feed a
stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind
to animals.


When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make my
favorite cake for me, and I learned that the little
things can be the special things in life.


When you thought I wasn't looking I heard you say a
prayer, and I knew that there is a God I could always
talk to, and I learned to trust in Him.


When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make a
meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I
learned that we all have to help take care of each
other.


When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of
your time and money to help people who had nothing,
and I learned that those who have something should
give to those who don't.


When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you take care
of our house and everyone in it, and I learned we have
to take care of what we are given.


When you thought I wasn't looking I saw how you
handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't
feel good, and I learned that I would have to be
responsible when I grow up.


When you thought I wasn't looking I saw tears come
from your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things
hurt, but it's all right to cry..


When you thought I wasn't looking I saw that you
cared, and I wanted to be everything that I could be.


When you thought I wasn't looking I learned most of
life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and
productive person when I grow up.


When you thought I wasn't looking I looked at you and
wanted to say,'Thanks for all the things I saw when
you thought I wasn't looking..'


How will you touch the life of someone today? Just by
sending this to someone else, you will probably make
them at least think about their influence on others.
Live simply. Love generously.
Care deeply. Speak kindly.


Leave the rest to God.

Jacob and Michal's Wedding...what fun!!!

I really don't even know where to begin...maybe 19 years ago. That is when the Brand Family came into my life and it has NEVER been the same since ( and I mean that for the better).

I moved from Augusta, Ga when I was only 21 years old, had never been out of Augusta and had only been to Atlanta once, so , needless to say, it was a scary time for me. I actually moved to Atlanta to be a Nanny, my escape from the small Town that I no longer wanted to be a part of. I went to School for a little while before landing a few job's that just didn't work out, Thank you God, and through my soon to be Husband, that didn't work out either, Thank God again...LOL.. I ended up in the home of Bonnie and Ted Brand. It is THE relationship that really taught me what was "Normal", how a Family should be. I didn't have much of that growing up and that's okay, that is also what made me who I am today.

The Brand Family have been a REAL Family to me. I have never felt like I was not apart of their Family at all. Bonnie has been there for me through sooo much in my life and me living with them for 4 years, as Bonnie said one time,"felt like she was married to me not Ted". Ted is a Doctor, so needless to say, he worked ALL the time back then. Miriam was only 3 months old, Shana was 4 years old and Jacob, the groom was 8 years old. Me , I was 23 and was really needing the love that they so freely gave me. I remember taking the kids out to dinner, a lot to "Chuck-e-Cheese", C.J.'s favorite place in the whole world now, that is a full circle moment right? anyway, people used to always think the kids were mine and most of the time I just said "Thanks" when they said how cute they were..and still are. I have to say, they were the BEST kids. I know that a lot of that came from their incredible Parents. Bonnie didn't work out side the home BUT inside the home she was always and still is there for her kids. President of PTA, probably until Miriam got done with High School, the School, I am sure, was more sad to see Bonnie leave than she was.LOL!!
ALL three of the kids were always on honor role and all the kids from the time I remember loved to be at home with Bonnie and Ted. That was something that really stood out to me for the longest time, because, when I was growing up, all of my friends wanted to be OUT of the house.

Even when I stopped working for Bonnie, got married, got divorced, moved away...blah, blah, blah..there was lot of that, she was always there for me. After I got divorced and moved back to Augusta she came to visit with Miriam and Shana, she also gave me a BIG going away party when I had to move so I could say good bye to all my friends, and them of course..anyway, they came to visit and she told me if I wanted to find a job and move back to Atlanta I could live with them for 4 months, rent free...she had no idea that God was going to work so fast..I was back in Atlanta,I think, in two weeks..thanks to me sweet friend, Greg, who drove down and helped me get moved..Bonnie is very rare, there are not that many people that would do that for someone and Michal is about to find out how really blessed she is to have such a loving Mother-In -law:)

Bonnie is the first person I call about everything. When Chad and I met, almost 7 years ago, we didn't know each other but a few months, maybe, and although some people had their doubts, she never did. Must be the Jewish Mother in her that just knows when something is right. She was the first person I called when I found out I was pregnant with C.J. and they even drove down to bring him home from the Hospital with us and stayed most of that first week.I will never forget how special that time was , having her there meant so much to me!

I feel so blessed by God that He has brought them into my life and I so look forward to Shana's and Miriam's wedding's and the birth of all their Babies. I am who I am mostly because of this incredible Family and my life would not have had the meaning that it does without them....Bonnie, I love you so much and thank you for being a very loving Mom to me all these years!!!

The last thing I have to say is.. that God knows what we need WHEN we need it and a lot of things that happen in our life are because of the choices we make in our life. If I had not made that choice 19 years ago to want something better in my life I most likely would not be sitting here today. I don't mean dead, I mean the person I am. God guides us all, if we will just listen to Him...I am so glad that I listened!

Jacob and Michal's Rehearsal Dinner