Happy Memorial Day and Birthday pics!~

From L to R:  Prissy (my cousin), April (my niece who is pregnant with my first niece or nephew on my side of the family.  She is due around my Mom's birthday in December.  I have many nieces and nephews on hubby's side and many greats as well), Sherrie (my sis) Mom, Drew, (friend of CJ's), Madyson, (cousin of Allison), Allison (CJ's BFF) my CJ (the birthday girl), Amy (my cousin Prissy's daughter), and Peyton (Amy's friend).

My Mom had a luncheon for Carrie on her birthday at CiCi's.  She let Carrie pick where she wanted to eat since it was her birthday.  She gave her a wad of dough for her birthday so she could go shopping.  She bought a new purse, wallet, jewelry, shoes, and clothes.

Well, I had more pics of CJ's birthday and graphics for Memorial Day to put in, but AOL isn't cooperating.  I tried using photobucket too, as I have an account with them also, but cannot get my pics to go in right.  ::sigh::  See!  This is why I use MySpace much more.  If you want to see the birthday luncheon pics and her birthday pics from her Grandma's house, go here:

susie qs shenanigans

Click on pics.  Go to albums that say:

Happy Sweet 16! and Sweet 16 Luncheon

Then come back here and leave me comments.  I live for my comments. :-)  If you are already one of my myspace friends, you can leave actual comments under pictures there.

Hope all of you had a wonderful Memorial Day with your family and hope you remembered why we celebrate it to begin with!~

Blessings!~

Susan

P.S.  Pray for our troops!~

 

 

 

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Happy Sweet 16, Baby Girl!~

Today is my baby girl's birthday, so I want to take a moment to sing:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR CAREBEAR!~

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!~

AND MANY MORE!~

WITH LOTS AND LOTS OF LOVE AND BEST WISHES COMING YOUR WAY (AND MANY SURPRISES)!~

 

 

Four years old, Easter Sunday, 1996

 

She had a pretty head of hair, but one of the gifts she wanted was to get it cut.  Here is what she looks like now:

 

I was dead set against her getting it cut, but I actually love it.  It makes her look more her age and is actually very becoming.  ::sniff::  My baby ain't a baby anymore!  How did she grow up sooooooooooooooooo fast?

 

 

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A Time To Keep and A Time To Cast Away!~

 

 

 

I have something I wish to share.  Perhaps, it will help someone else deal with issues you might be facing that are similar to what I have been dealing with recently.  I have been trying very hard to make some major changes in my life lately.  I have been reading a lot of self-help books, inspirational books, and scriptures because I do realize I have some changes I need to make, one of which is I actually drive people away because I am so intrusive.  Hear me out, please.

 

I have a HUGE heart for people.  Although I mean well, it doesn't necessarily mean I always choose the right path.  I have even tried to apologize to people I have wronged, but in some cases, it hasn't been well received.  I have also tried to be supportive where it is very obvious to me now that my support wasn't wanted.  I will finish my point I am trying to make before the end of this entry.  

 

First, I want to say that I talked to my former daughter-in-law, Jessica, on her 26th birthday (April 26th) and wished her Happy Birthday via texting from my computer to her cell phone.  We got things straight between us.  I gleaned from that conversation that she is happy in her new life now with her new husband and two children and I have finally realized that I need to let go.  She doesn't belong in our lives anymore.  It gave me the closure I needed and I do believe I can let go now.  With that closure went a lot of the pain I have been living with for the past five years.

 

I have been reading, "Right people, Right Place, Right Plan-Discerning the Voice of God."  Through it, I have learned God wants me to make wise choices about who I let in my life and also that God brings some people in our lives for only a short time.  When their purpose is done, He means for us to let them go.  By trying to hang on when it is His will to let go, we hinder His will for us and His will for that person.

 

There is a "Jonah" in my life that God is telling me to cut loose and I need to do it even though it pains me to do so.

I am sure everyone has heard the story of Jonah and the whale from the bible.  Because of Jonah's disobedience to God, the whole ship was going to go down with innocent people on it as well.  Jonah knew the only way to save them was if they cast him overboard.  As soon as they did so, the waters calmed.  My point here is we all have Jonahs in our lives.  I know I do.  This person tears me down unintentionally; but still, he tears me down.  He makes me feel worthless.  He judges me on my past instead of the present. 

 

For my own well being, I need to surround myself with people who love me and build me up instead of tear me down.  I need people around me who make me feel good about myself instead of making me feel worthless; the friends who know my faults, but yet still love me because they know that my strengths far outweigh my weaknesses.  The ones who know, for the most part, that my heart is in the right place. 

 

By letting people who are not good for me go, I will be letting them follow the path God has chosen for them and I can follow the one He has chosen for me.  I will no longer be hindering His plan for their life or His plan for mine.  Then, and only then, will the Holy Spirit be able to come in and heal me as only he can do. 

 

Hope I have helped someone by writing this.  It never ceases to amaze me the things God can teach me when I open my heart up to Him and earnestly seek His will for my life.

 

Have a blessed day!~

 

Susan

 

 

 

 

New Post!~

 

Have you ever seen anything so adorable?  He was the sweetest little boy.

For today's entry, go here:

http://journals.aol.com/rjet33/JourneyThroughTheValleyofShadows/entries/2008/05/13/10th-grade/1064 

Now that I have a scanner again, perhaps I can finish Scottie's story complete with photos.

Blessings!

Susan

Happy Mother's Day!~

To all Mom's out there, just want to say HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!~

Hope all of you had a wonderful day.  I sure did.  I got something I have been wanting for a good while since my last one tore up well over a year ago, probably two years ago!  I won't tell you what it is, I will show you:

It is a Kodak Easyshare 5300 All-In-One Printer.  It prints, copies, and scans both pictures and documents.  It is compatible with my Kodak camera and I can put the card from my camera directly into the printer to print my pics off.  Woo Hoo!~

 

I also got a card and some flowers, which was a nice touch too, but the printer is definitely what I wanted the most, so thanks Hubby and kids for making my Mother's Day dreams come true!

My new printer/scanner will go hand-in-hand with my new online networking marketing business, Gimme Max.  I am so excited!~

Again, HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all Mom's out there!~

Blessings!~

Susan

Happy Birthday, My Angel Boy!~

Jeremy Scott "Scottie Boy" Johnson May 3, 1976-June 18, 1999

Baby brother, today is what should be your 32nd birthday.  I miss you as much today as on the day we lost you, June 18, 1999, when you decided life was too painful to go on.  I write about you from time to time in your very own journal.  Your story needs to be told.  I tell it here:

http://journals.aol.com/Rjet33/JourneyThroughTheValleyofShadows/

Perhaps, your story will deter others from making the choices you made.  If I can save one person from making the choices you made, then perhaps your death will not have been in vain and perhaps I can save another family the grief we have to deal with.

I choose to celebrate your life today and remember the good times we had.  I hope the angels are throwing you one heck of a birthday bash.  I will always love you and there will always be a big black hole in my life until we meet again.

Love you forever and always,

Susan