Hey all...Todays thought...My younger days and how things change so much as you get older. Now that is not to say that I am old...but...ya know.

Things I remember as a kid...the first Slip and Slide, my daddy was my hero, phone calls were just a dime, stamps were just $0.13, it was an outrage that gas went to $0.50 a gallon and cigarettes went up to $2.00 a pack, movies only had previews of 1 or 2 other movies, mosquito's were just a neusence...and not a disease carrier, AIDS was not even heard of, there was no such thing as reality tv, the evening news and a hot cup of coffee was just completely gross and strange and mostly...being a kid...you had no worries at all except maybe whether or not you were going to make the bus to school. It was a simpler time back then.

My hero. My daddy was a firefighter when I was younger. He doesn't do it any more since we've moved, but he was Fire Captain of Genesee Township 2 fire station. It was right behind our house and he had a little radio that would go off to let him know there was a fire in the area or someone needed his assistance. He never knew it but I could hear it go off and would be lying there in bed wide awake. I would see the car pull out of the driveway in the wee hours of the morning and would watch him go. The main road could be seen from my bedroom window and I could hear the sirens of both the fire station and my daddys fire truck. I would set at my window and would hear the blaring stop from the station and hear the truck start and wait to see if he was going to go East by the house or West the opposite direction on the main road. If they went by the house I could see the lights of the truck go down the road. If the went the other direction of corse the sirens of the truck would be come less effective until gone from my hearing. I would then crawl back into bed and go to sleep until he got home.

I...yes its true...I'm a smoker. I remember when my daddy used to say that he was not going to buy cigarettes if they got above $2.00 per pack. Well...he still smokes...as do I (Nobody get this wrong in thinking that I smoke because I had seen him do it as a kid. I made that choice on my own!!!). My cigarettes are now $4.21 a pack.

Gas. I now pay for my own gas. I remeber getting mad at my mama when she grocery shopped because of the fact that she would not buy the expensive cereal with marshmallows and things like that. Well now I understand. It was becaue of gas prices. It is now $1.65 a gallon right now. The cheapest I ever remember putting my own gas in my own car was about 7 years ago...it was unusually low at a whopping $0.89 per gallon. What happened?

Oh, and does anybody remember when you went into a movie theater for $2.75 to see a premium movie and there were only 2...maybe 3 movie previews that lasted maybe 6-10 minutes before the movie actually got underway. Now you go to a movie theater. Its $7.75 to get in and you have 15-20 minutes of previews of movies...shows...and plain tv commercials before the movie gets underway. And I don't know about where everyone else is...but a drive-in theater is non existant any more here.

Lastly...the evening news and a hot cup of coffee. I could not stand coffee in the morning but sometimes daddy would let me drink it and with a ton of sugar and milk I would tough it out to look like a big girl for him. Well I have to give my daddy props because though I still drink a little coffee with my cream and sugar...I cannot function without a cup of coffee in the morning. And the evening news. I try to watch it as much as possible. You know how it is when you get busy with things in life. But it is no longer strange to me.

I end this blog with a dedication to my child hood. I had a great childhood and miss it emensly. But I guess thats what happens when you grow up huh...

Todays thought...how God has blessed my life. This is just my story and not intended to put pressure on anyone in any way. If my testimonial tonight should bring someone to the path of God...then great...but it is not meant to press my issues and beliefs on anybody.

Where do I begin? God has always been there for me. Not to say that I am perfect. This is just a line to say how wonderful it is to have him in my life.

He has blessed me with 2 wonderful parents, a wonderful family, good friends, wonderful pets, wonderful in-laws and my husband. Through my life, no matter what my struggle, he has always been there. People irritate me at times with the "Holier than thou" attitude, but no one can define my relationship with God and Jesus but me...God...and Jesus.

I have had people tell me in the past that I cannot concider myself a Christian child because I do not attend church every Sunday morning and Wednesday night. Yet they do not understand at the same time that church is by definition, 2 or more people in fellowship, discussing God. Who said it had to be in a building? Who said it had to be on Sunday or Wednesday? It surely wasn't God!

My testimonial is simple. I would not be where I am today, or the person I am today if God was not there with me. And no matter how tough things get - and believe me...it gets tough - I know I have God by my side no matter what. I know that though I may sin...just like every other person on this earth...he is always there for me...and is ALWAYS going to love me.

I am not going to lie to you. My life has not been easy. There have been times when - though I had faith and believed - it got bad enough that I have questioned his plan. I have even yelled at him a time or two. But he has always listened to me. He has always been my shoulder to cry on and has always been the one to pull me through things.

No matter what the pressure...he has always sent an angel my way to help me through. Be it my husband...my mama...or just a friend that I haven't talked to in a long time.

To everyone out there tonight...God works in mysterious ways. Have faith in him and you can go far. Open your eyes to him and he will work miracles through other people to help you in any way. And to God - Thanks for being there. I know you will always be there and with your love and guidence, I can accomplish anything.

Todays thought...my mama. I love my mama. I have written her poetry and all but there realy is no way to explain the bonds between a mother and a daughter like ours unless you have one.

All the time I hear people saying, "I have no idea what went wrong. When did my daughter stop talking to me?" Now as a daughter I can speak from experience, if your daughter is in her teens, just tough it out until she moves out on her own. I was a holy terror on my mama when I was a teen. I was a terror on my daddy too.. dont get me wrong, but it seems that my mama and I went from being right there tight to whatever for a little while. And when you are a teen, your mama is usually the last person you want to come hang out with. But, mothers, don't fear. Your daughters will come to you with the important things in life...IF you are open to talk to them about it.

I remember my friends used to come over just to talk to MY mom when they had problems becasue I had told them that I had talked to her about them. They honestly thought they could not go to their moms with their questions because they were affraid of what their mothers would say. Now to mom's out there everywhere...I warn you...If your daughter EVER comes home and asks you a question and you yell at her or scold her for asking that question...or in any way make them feel uncomfortable with asking that question...EVEN JUST ONCE...they will never come ask you anything like that again.

Make your daughters understand that you were a kid once too and that you made mistakes just like they do. It makes for a friendship down the line. Now dont get me wrong in saying that either. No matter what your daughter may tell you or say that can hurt your feelings on this...you have to be a mom first. The friendship will come later on. My mama has always been a mama first and a friend last. I need that from her and would ask nothing less than that. Though your daughter may not appreciate it now if she is a teen, once she gets out on her own...she will. I promise you.

Again, let her know that you are there for her no matter what the problem. Many times I would ask my mama a question like "What does this mean...or why is that like that". A couple of times my mama had to gain her composure because when I just came out with a question like that...it caught her a little off guard and she laughed hysterically at what had just come out of my mouth. Most of the questions were words that I did not know the meaning to....And boy the look on her face...If I'd had a camera.

After gaining her composure she would tell me what that meant...BUT...would also tell me that if she ever heard that word come out of my mouth again...I was going to get a bar of soap for dinner. However, with all of that said, she never got mad at me when I first asked the question...because I did not know what I was saying...hence going to her and asking her..."What does this mean?"

Now take a look at us. She is one of my best friends. Even still...we can talk about anything. And mind you...when I say anything...I mean anything! And to be completely honest...in the 7 years I have been out on my own...we probably have talked about everything. It is mainly because she took the time to talk to me when I was younger...and never got upset a the question...And boy did I ever come home with some dusey's. A couple of times she would have to tell me that she would have to get back to me after a minute...but would explain that it was only because she did not quite know how to answer the question at hand...and would need a second to think of the best way to explain it.

I am ending this blog entry with one last thought...Mothers - Be good to your daughters. It is not until you have a relationship like mine and my mama's that you can truely understand how the whole "Mother-Daughter thing" is supposed to work. Though you may have some trying times...and trust me...you will...always let them know that you love them...and always support them in their decisions in life. Let them be who they are...knowing that even thought you dont agree with that decision...it is their decision. Let them be who they are...with them knowing, that nomatter who they are...or who they strive to be...they are still your daughter...and you will always love them just the same. To the mothers...ALWAYS!!!!! Be a mother first and a friend later. Your daughter will respect you for that later on...and ALWAYS!!!!! Take time to talk to your daughter, know who they are, and love them for that. And to the daughters out there...teens or not...Though it may not always show on the outside...your mother does love you. Cut her a little bit of slack. She just wants you to turn out alright. Trust in your mother and you can make it through anything.

Ok, Todays thought is about President Bush. My opinion is very strong about this so if you don't like the issue at hand...go back to Yahoo Games.

President Bush is a Redneck. And I love it. My husband is a Redneck and his whole family is that way, so in saying that, it is a compliment to Bush. His views on things are very simple, he has never talked down to the people and has always taken a stand for what is right. Not just what he believes, but what is right for the American people.

Take the 9/11 thing. President Bush put his foot down and told everyone out there - forget trying to help the symptems, we are going straight to the disease and taking it out. He is very straight forward about the issue and has a very "Big Brother" don't care if you are behind me or not attitude. That is what this country needs and was founded on.

And I just love it when the people out there say "Well what about the economy?". Well...what about it? You think the economy is bad? Honestly...when you walk into Wal-mart is it empty? No! People are still spending money. What people don't understand is 1. President Bush is only one man. He is not Super Man. And 2. It is not that easy being President when anything that you propose has to go through the House and Senate before it can be passed. Lastly what most people don't know is....the economy is not bad due to President Bush taking our money and spending it on the military. It is because since 9/11, people have been affraid to spend money. It has taken our confidence in ourselves as an American People and deminished it to a point that we are going to save as much money as we can just incase this happens again.

I heard someone out there recently say something about Bush when he was a Governer or whatever it was he was doing before he was President. Who cares?! What do you care what he did before he was in Office as President of the United States. What does it matter? What matters is what he is doing right now. As President. Are you going to set there and say something about Bush when everyone has atleast 1 skeleton in their closet? I know that everyone out there - whether you want to admit it or not, has a past. Everyone out there has been stupid and young. What...you think that just because he's president he has to be perfect. HELLO!!!....the only way for that to happen would be for the savior himself to run for presidency. And even then I am sure that someone would have something to say about it.

And my opinion, I think President Bush is doing a hell of a job. I wouldn't want his job. Would you? People don't realize what goes into being a President. I have enough stress in my job and all I will willingly say about that is that I am a tellephone harrassment specialist (a collecter). Take a real hard look at the Presidents life right now. He is scrutinized for everything that someone see's and doesn't like. He is scrutinized for his daughters, for his homeland security - I mean hell, he would probably be scrutinized if he sat on the toilet sideways and someone saw it. He is a man. He does the best that he knows to do. And though you may not agree with it...it's his job. If you don't like it that bad...YOU run for President. Then when you do something that someone else thinks is wrong, and you get scrutinized for it, you will know just how hard it really is.

And this is what I have to say about that.