VERY random, but hopefully satisfying!

"Do you believe in true forgiveness and having peace in YOUR skin?"

I do. I know first hand that this is a hard thing to achieve, but once you've found your way, life is easier.

You all know that I've never been a very religious person, but about 6-7 months ago, I started attending a church that truely opened my eyes to a different kind of world. A world filled with true acceptance of ALL walks of life. A world filled with love. A world filled with forgiveness. Now, I'm not good enough to quote scripture, but I do know that this church and my new found life has had a huge impact on me and an even larger impact on my personal growth. Open Arms Church and my faith has strengthened my ego, my passion, my marriage, and my friendship with my dearest friend, Shelley. We, together, have grown spiritually as well as individual women. I often think, "how will I ever re-pay her for what she's has exposed me to and given me?" WEll, the answer to that is, I thank her daily by just being me. I talk to her, she listens and vice versa. And us watching each other grow (and fall occasionally) is enough re-payment for us.

I have not always lived an ideal life. I have done bad things in my life. Some of which HAVE caught up to me and took a hunk outta my butt!! I have hurt people and even my 'friends'.. But some 8 years ago, to the day actually, I asked my now best friend for forgiveness. I will spare you all the details, but I hurt her very badly, and it took several years for me to ask for forgiveness and say those 2 powerful words: "I'm sorry!" Without hesitation, she forgave me, and we became closer than we ever were. That very day, with MANY tears, she got married and I got back one of the best people I know..We have gotten married together (not to each other, Jamie!), partied together, had children together, and share our families as if they're one.. We even plan our children's parties together..LOL! Wade still owes me BIG!

So, to answer the question above-- I do believe in forgiveness, and never looking back. What's done is exactly that. DONE AND OVER. We do not have the ability to erase things in the past. All we can do is admit our wrong- doings and ask that person and God for their forgiveness. Also, I do believe in inner peace. That is something that as we grow and mature, you find. Nothing that anyone can grant you..

Admit your guilt/sins and ask for forgiveness. Talk to the ones you hold dear to your heart. Love them and let them know you love them. Respect them and yourself. Forgive yourself. Let all bad things just be. Forget it! Live a joyous life while you have one to live. And when the world seems like it's too much to bare, fall on your knees and call or email your friend(s). Friends are as dear to one as family, but friends tend to be honest and bold. They will be blunt and tell you what you NEED to hear, not what you WANT to hear. And there IS a difference!

I DO beleive that I have found peace in ME. And I do beleive I have been forgiven and forgave others. I have left yesterday and all my yesterdays in the past. Don't look back. Don't live with regrets. Pray, be good people, and do good things.

Look around, this might be your last day here. Have you completed all your unfinished business? Are you at peace with YOU? Is there someone you need to talk to today? DO it!

So, in closing (finally I know) Shelley-- thanks for your strength and forgiveness. Thank you for your undying support and love you've shown me for these 8 reunited years.. Thank you for being YOU! And now, STOP CRYING you wuss!

Here Comes June

As if May wasn't busy enough, June is right around the corner-and boy is it gonna be busy!!
To finish out May:
24th-- I have a 'Young' Family Reunion.. Also the St. John's FD Pork Fest that I'll miss AGAIN this year!
26th--MEMORIAL DAY! Fly those flags and enjoy a day off!
27th-- Shelley and Wilbur celebrate 8 years of joyous matrimony!! Well, joyous, I can't say, but somehow Shelley has managed to NOT kill Wade YET!

June:
4th-- Pre-K Program at school, maybe the End of Year party too..
5th-- Vickie Soper's Birthday.. can't mention the ripe age she'll be.. but last year, she was 36...
7th-- tentative date for End Of Year Party
10th-- LAST day of school
15th-- FATHER"S DAY!! tell your daddy how much you love and appreciate him!!
16th--Mandy Pie's Birthday! Again, women don't like telling their age, but she has one more year before she's the big 3 0.....
18th-- Alycia's Birthday.. see above
18th -- Karley's flying to Georgia and will be going to Disney World with Granny
23rd-- Jonathan and Mary celebrate 7 years of marriage.. and yes, they have had the 'bad and good' and 'through sickness and health' part--
25th--Tina, Jamie & Bowen go to Norfolk to spend the night
26th--We board a plane at 7:30 AM to Jacksonville, FL to get to Janna's.. we get to visit Sea World when we get there!
July 2nd-- All 4 of us return home from a much needed, long awaited VACATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh,, yeah, and somewhere this month Shelley and I have to squeeze in a fundraiser for church....humm, when the heck?!?!?!?

Karley's 1st Big Haircut

Well, it took Karley almost 5 years to grow all this hair, but only about 20 minutes to get it off. That's right-I cut about 3 inches off her head last night! She's been wanting to cut it short for a while. I promised her that if we got through Erin's Wedding and the Dance Recital, I'd cut it. So, last night was the night!!

Bless her heart, the sides are straight but the back is curly, so her haircut looks uneven--but it's not! I think it's TOO CUTE and now she looks so growny! She's happy with it, and says "now I don't have to wear all those clips in my hair ever again!!"

Now, it's Bowen and Jamie's turn. They are in desperate need of a buzz. But with Bowen, it's SO much easier said than done. He hates it! Maybe this weekend's project?!?!?

2007-08 Dance Class

The girls in our group,
back row: Kayla White, Bentlee Mayle,
middle row: Megan Roberts, Kayleigh Roberts,
front row: Karley Bryant, Jessie Martin

Aren't they adorable!!

Dance has Come to an End

So, Saturday marked the end of a period in our lives that I dooubt we'll repeat next year. Unless, Karley decides between now and then that she HAS to do it again.. She was so-so after getting to dance, but didn't really look forward to it. I did my job--I exposed her to it, and supported her- now she has said she doesn't want to continue it.

I shook like a leaf after I got her hair and makeup done on Saturday. I was teary and very emotional that we had arrived at this point in our lives. I am very thankful to have experienced this with her, even if it was only one year.. But he we come T-ball!!

I think that we had the cutest, most entertaining class there. Although the other class in this age group might have had their dance more structured--we totally ROCKED with the cuteness and 'wow' factor!! No offense to the other class....

Enjoy the pictures of the girls, and as the future actress Bentlee would say "This is how we roll!!"

Mother's Day!

As you all SHOULD know, Sunday is Mother's Day!! This day is not all about me being a mother. It is about the moms that made me the mother I am.
First, there's my mama-"Big Mama". We are best friends! This does NOT mean that we don't disagree from time to time or that we always get along..this means, at the end of the day, regardless of what has happened, I love my mama!! I have not always been as perfect as I am now (ha ha). But my mama has stood beside me through everything. As a teenager, I would 99% of the time, tell on myself and get in trouble. I have NEVER hidden anything from her. I could always tellher everything, and did-- even the stuff she'd probably rather not know! When I got married, almost 8 years ago, it was vital that mama AND daddy walk with me and give me away. Then, she gave me HER wedding band to wear with mine. I still wear it EVERYday, a cherish it. I had her initials and her wedding date put on the inside of the band, and look forward to the day she and I can present it to Karley on her wedding day. Another wierd thing we share-- Mama was 26 years old when she had me. I was 26 years old when I had my daughter.. WOW!

Secondly, there's Janna, "Granny" the mother-in-law. This lady is very important in my life as well. We have not always had the best relationship, but for the past several years, it's awesome! She's not the typical mom-in-law. She's wonderful, caring, loving, and generous. We have alot of fun together. She has taught me alot through these 10 years that I have been a part of them. And most imporatantly, she gave me the man of my dreams!!

Lastly, there's Memama- Jamie's grandma. We live next door to her. She is almost 82 years old, and in pretty good health. She is now in remission from bladder cancer!!! She adores us and those great-grandkids! I love that we can just step across the yard and see her anytime we want--except the past 5 weeks, she's been in Georgia. But she's headed home as I speak, and we can't wait to see our Memama!! She too has embraced me being a part of her family for 10 years, and treats me like one of her own. Because I've never been so close to my grandparents, I feel as if she is MY MEMAMA too.

So, I just wanted to tell everybody how important these women are in my life. They have molded me and kept me strong through the years. Through sickness and in health-they have always been there for me and my family. They all have been instrumental in making me that crazy mama I am today!! I thank God for each of them! I LOVE YOU ALL!!

And for all of you reading this- some of our moms are not physically with us anymore. But they are still in our hearts. and never forgotten! And those that still have your mother, tell her TODAY that you love her! Show her you love and appreciate her!! Tomorrow might be too late!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all!!!

A New Comer

There might be a little one coming soon!! NO, NOT ME! The newly married Erin & Joe D'Arco are going to the OB/GYN this afternoon to confirm that they are pregnant. Yes, they did just barely celebrate their one MONTH wedding anniversary, and NO they were NOT pregnant when the got married! They are just barely pregnant according to their math. They are both SO excited! Joe has wanted a baby for 6 months now!! They're a trip.

On a serious note, please pray for this young couple. We all know all too well what could happen in these early stages of pregnancy. I will update you all on Monday, as I am OFF this afternoon and tomorrow!! DON'T HATE ME because you're jealous!!!

My Super Weekend

Well, it started off that my parents came and picked up BOTH children to spend the night in the camper at the river! They left our house about 12 noon and Jamie and I honestly stared at each other for about 15 minutes b/c we had NO idea what to do with our time! We had done all the yard work in both yards and piddled in the garden on Friday. We had NOTHING to do. We didn't even know what to talk about. It was kinda scary and wierd!! So, we rode to Jackson for a bite to eat and yep, some beer in preparation for our night out with Shelley and Wade. (that evening is a whole different blog that I'm leaving up to Shelley!)

Anyway, shortly after lunchtime, Jamie and I decide to pack a cooler and sit on the deck in the sunshine!! Something we NEVER do! So, we did.. and talked and talked and talked. I bet money that was something that we haven't done in 5 or 6 years!! At first, we didn't know what to talk about that wouldn't violate our self made rule-- no kid talk! Then, it came out.. and boy did it..Amazingly, we sat there and talked, drank, and listened to the radio for at least 5 straight hours..

To some of you, this may not sound like such a great weekend or a fun way to spend your time. BUT it was the best day that we as a married couple have had. If you've been married long enough and especially if you have kids-- you know that the "couple time" seems to somehow disappear! All we ever talk about is the kids or money! We aired and discovered that our only one big problem in our marriage is the stress of raising children.. No, don't get me wrong, we weren't on the verge of divorce or anything like that, but we had just lost sight of US. A couple that loves one another. That look that was/is so deep when we stare at each other. We didn't know how to talk about random stuff. This was something that we, like many others, had vowed to never let happen. We swore that we would always go out perodically, always be sporatic, etc.. Well, that easier said that done. I can't tell you how to avoid this from happening. I think it happens to everybody!

We said to one another a thousand times Saturday and yesterday, "I have had SO much fun with you this weekend!" I KNOW now that our 'spark' IS still alive, we just tend to lose sight of it from time to time. We KNOW now that we can do anything and face anything as a couple. I HIGHLY recommend any or ALL of you to try this.. Don't plan for the kids to go away so you can clean or cut grass or stuff like that. This was a free therapy lesson for us. One that was priceless. You don't have to got to the beach or any elaborate vacation spot.. just go outside and relax. You'll be surprised at how it makes you both feel about yourselves and each other.

I think now that I have a new outlook on my life. Well, until the kids completely STRESS us out again!! I have always tried to be thankful for Jamie and our lives that we've made together, but now I feel rejuvenated and I feel wonderful about me and my husband. I remember now why I love this man SO dang much! Ten years together, 2 WILD kids, about 20 extra pounds each (at least), and ALOT of debt (HAHA)-- as our first dance at our wedding said, "You're Still the One!" and I KNOW with every ounce in me, he IS still the one!! He IS my soul mate, the one God sent to me! The one I will grow old and deaf with!! And it is with GREAT pride that I can say, I am Mrs.Jamie Bryant!

Golly, I love that man!

Bad news

I just got news from Brandy Hodges Galloway. Her Grandma Bryant (Frances) has just been diagnosed with inoperable stomach cancer. If she gains strength, they can give her chemo, but only to 'buy' her some more time. Mrs. Frances in at Pitt Memorial. Sandy and Brandy are headed there this evening. Brandy says that Mrs. Pat and Mr. Aubrey are not doing well at all.

The Bryant/Hodges families have tremendous faith in God's work. Please lift them up in prayer. Pray for strength. Pray for courage. Pray for peace.

I will post more news as I get it.