My 38th birthday

We were in Louisiana for my birthday (May 26th) so my family had a huge crawfish and shrimp boil. We had a great time. Here are some pictures.
Someone thought it would be funny to put 83 on my cake instead of 38.Katie had a blast with her cousins. She doesn't get to see them very often but she had a blast with them. The picture above is Katie "catching" a crawfish on the make-shift fishing pole Maw-Maw made her. The pictures below show Lyndsie feeding crawfish to Katie and you can see she loved it.That's my crazy nephew....who is more like a brother to me.....Randy. He's got a crawfish head on his tongue. (above) Below is me and him and he has a piece of sausage in his mouth. I love him!! He is so fun!!
I thought these pictures were so sweet. Randy was showing Katie some cool stuff on his cell phone. She LOVES Randy!Taylor is back home with her mom and sister now. She was very homesick but I'm so proud of her that she stuck it out 5 months Wondering where Tom is during all the fun? (See below) Tom doesn't like to eat, smell, or see boiled crawfish.This is my cousin, Kellie's daughter, Lauren. She is a month older than Brittanie and is so pretty and smart and funny. Ya gotta love her!Me and my sisters (and Randy and Katie were in a couple of those pictures). They came down to help me celebrate. If you see a resemblance, that's because those are my biological sisters. We share the same mother. It was so great spending time with them. I just love em!
That's my Katie B. Below is a picture of Katie wearing my tiara from when I was crowned Queen in Acteens when I was 14. My mom doesn't throw anything away!She doesn't like being told no about anything!Brittanie and John Micheal.Tuesday night, we had a crab boil. What a great send off to go back home!

Choir

Brittanie had signed up for choir (just plain voice choir) next year. Well today, the choir teacher tracked her down in the JROTC room and asked her to come to his classroom. He wanted to audition her. She was confused because she didn't realize you needed to audition for voice choir...it is choir 101. After auditioning her, he told her what her GPA was and she told him she has a 4.0. He said that she is smart, has musical talent and is a leader and that he wanted her in Concert Choir. She said she would love to be in Concert Choir but as the Battalion Commander in JROTC her rifle team, drill team, and color guard competitions have to come first. He said their practices are always during class and that they only have one practice a year right after school and it is in the spring the day before they leave for the Myrtle Beach choir competition. He also told her he wanted her in Show Choir. She said that would require her to drop one of her other classes. He told her to think about it and get back to him. I encouraged her to drop Speech. It is an elective and she is planning on making music...vocals....her minor in college. So that would be more useful to her in college than speech would and she can take a speech class in college. PCC required it. So I think that is what she is doing to do. But it was such an honor to be hand picked by the choir teacher that way. He said he had heard from "little birdies" that she can really sing and that Choir 101 is just too remedial for her.

By the way, she made a 105 on her Psychology Exam. Coach Hargis (her teacher) told her that his class is considered one of the hardest that Swansea High School offers. But she loves Psychology. That's why she is going to make it her major.

Oh and her Military History teacher is also her US History and Constitution Teacher. She gave the exact same final for both courses so she only had to take the test one time and made 100 on it.

What a great way to end her junior year of high school. Just a few weeks ago, she was devastated by losing Randy and now she is happier than I have seen her in a very long time....even when she was with Randy! Prayer really does change things!!

Brittanie's Military History Final exam

Brittanie took her final exam in Military History today and knocked it out of the park! Her teacher was so impressed that she made a copy of the essay and encouraged Brittanie to take it home, polish it up (she wrote it in class by hand and it was a timed writing), and enter it into a patriotic essay writing contest. When I read it, it brought tears to my eyes, as most patriotic things do. I wanted to share it with all of my readers. So here is Brittanie's essay:

Why Support Our Troops?
by Brittanie Sightler

For some reason, America's view of our men and women in uniform has lowered. It may be because of what happened during Vietnam or because of what is happening now in Iraq. It may be because some people's ignorance keeps them from being able to differentiate between the soldier and the politics he is fighting for. But whether you are a liberal democrat or a conservative republican, there are many reasons we should support our military. And whether you agree with the war or not, you should still respect the soldier who is willing to fight that war for you.

For one thing, they keep our Bill of Rights safe. If someone enjoys their right as a man to stand outside and scream Britney Spears lyrics at the top of his lungs, then he better respect the soldier that fought and died to give him that right. If someone enjoys their right to go to Catholic services everyday while the other he knows go to their Baptist church, then he better remember our troops in his prayers that morning. And if people enjoy their right to stand outside of military bases and political buildings protesting the war, well then they better thank a soldier for giving them such joy in their right to complain. American people are so quick to criticize our troops, but they are also quick to use the many liberties and freedoms our soldiers ensure for them. We need to remember without our troops fighting for our freedoms in this country, our government would be deciding our jobs, churches, spouses, and even how many children we can have. Is that the kind of country we want to live in?

We also need to support them because someone loves them. Those men and women over there are moms, dads, sons, daughters, husbands, wives, cousins, and best friends to someone. We would not spit on anyone we love, so why should we do it to people who are loved by others. They are soldiers but they are people too. They have feelings just like you and I and it hurts to come home to a country that hates you. No matter what, that soldier has a mother and a father. How would you want the people your child fought for to treat him or her? We need to support them out of respect to their families and friends and all those that love them.

Another reason is because they love you. They risk their lives daily for this country and its people because they love you. They fight and go through the things they do, so you don't have to. They fight to keep you safe and happy. They love you enough to volunteer to put themselves in danger to make sure you can continue utilizing the freedoms you enjoy daily. Nothing is stronger than the heart of a volunteer. If that doesn't earn your respect and support, nothing should.

These men and women serving today go through hell with no complaints. They love their country and they believe in it. They unselfishly give up everything so we can have anything. If you can't respect that, then I can't respect you.

Update on Brittanie

When Brittanie became Battalion Commander yesterday, she also got a promotion. She is no longer a 1st Lieutenant. She is now a Lieutenant Colonel. I took a picture of her with her new Leadership medal. She has lost one of her 1st place rifle team competition medals. It just came apart one day at school. But her uniform is still impressive.

Good news!!!

This morning at the JROTC staff meeting, Brittanie was named Battalion Commander for the Swansea High School Army JROTC Battalion!!!

Unfortunately, Brittanie missed the announcement. She had to miss the staff meeting this morning because she was getting prepared for her presentation on drinking and driving for her JROTC class. Brittanie is the Company Commander for that class and wanted to make this presentation before everyone left for the summer. So she created a Power Point with stats and pictures. Last week when she tried to give the presentation, her Power Point wouldn't work. So this morning she made sure it worked and went to the office to let the school secretary know where to send the LRADAC representative when she got there. While she was in the office, a cadet came to her and told her that Major Norton wanted to see her. So she went to Major Norton's office and he told her that she would be Battalion Commander for the upcoming school year, which is her senior year. She was thrilled. She said it was hard to stay professional and just say "Thank you very much." She wanted to yell "YES!!!!" and jump up and down.

She worked very hard to achieve this goal and we are so proud of her that she has done it! One goal down and a few more to go. This is going to look great when applying for her ROTC scholarship for college, as well as her college applications.

We are going to O'Charley's (her favorite restaurant) tonight to celebrate.

New toys!!

Tom gave me a late Mother's Day/early birthday present Saturday night. It is a new HP laptop. If you are interested in the specs, click here. It is so cool. But Vista is a pain to start up and transfer stuff from one computer to the next. We have gotten everything that was on my PC transferred to my laptop but I still have to figure out how to get my laptop to recognize my digital camera. Tom will research that. But he bought me a new keyboard to go with it because I can't use those flat keyboards on the laptops to type for a long time. Even my new keyboard is cool.

Our printer died months ago so Tom bought us a new all-in-one HP printer/scanner/fax/copier. If you would like to check it out, click here.

I love getting new electronics!! Happy Birthday to me!! (a little early)

4 going on 16

I have always hated authority and the feeling that I was being controlled. When I was 16, I had a major attitude. One day in particular I smarted off to my dad and he came in my room to give me a whipping with his belt. I sat there with my arms and legs crossed with this big stupid, defiant smile on my face while he hit my legs with the belt. When he stopped, I said in a VERY sarcastic tone, but keeping the defiant grin, "Didn't hurt." He started hitting my legs again with the belt. This time when he stopped, I smiled in his face and said "Don't stop now if you are having fun!" My mom stopped him from hitting me anymore. But I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of knowing it hurt. I just kept that stupid defiant smile on my face.

Well Tuesday night, Katie kept making noise and I told her to stop. She kept on and I told her to stop NOW! She looked me square in the face and gave me the very same stupid defiant smile, accompanied by shaking her head up and down, I gave my dad all those years ago. I told her that she better wipe that look off her face before I smack it off. That's when the smile was accompanied by whole hearted laughing. That was it. I s p a n k e d her and sent her to bed. Well Wednesday night, she gave Tom that same defiant smile she had given me the night before. Only because of what I told him she pulled Tuesday night, he didn't give her a chance to wipe it off. He popped her hiney and told her that he would not tolerate that. 1 minute later, he was helping her get dressed for bed and was telling her that she would NOT give us that defiant grin and she will take what we say seriously. She had the nerve to give him that smile again, complete with the head shaking!!! So he popped her again on the hiney. She came to me for comfort and I told her that I will not comfort her after a spanking....she knows that. After she stopped crying, she went to Tom and said she was sorry and she won't do it again. Well I was glad she apologized but she didn't apologize to me....just Tom! I know she is a daddy's girl but she does love me too. *sigh*

I just can't believe she is already being so defiant at 4! It scares me to death to think what she will be like as a teenager!

Awards ceremony

Brittanie had the annual awards ceremony tonight. She and John Micheal both got awards. I can't remember what John Micheal got but Brittanie received the Military Order of the Purple Heart National Leadership award.

We will find out by Thursday after school who the new batallion commander is. Hopefully it will be Brittanie. I will let my readers know when I know.

Here are some pictures of Brittanie and John Micheal tonight. By the way, you can't see all of Brittanie's uniform but she has now 21 ribbons, now 8 medals, (she got a medal tonight and she lost one of her rifle team medals that just came off), 5 semi-circles, and 3 cords (they can only wear 2 at a time). And check out those shoulders. She is a 1st Lieutenant now!!

Update on Brittanie

I want to thank everyone who prayed for Brittanie. She is getting stronger everyday. She said the SAT was VERY hard....harder than the ACT. It took almost 5 hours and she was mentally drained when it was over.

Saturday afternoon, Brittanie went to John's so they could decide what they were going to do Saturday night. Brittanie wanted to see a movie because she is going to be working the next two weekends and then in Louisiana on the 3rd weekend. So this would be the only weekend she has to go out. Well John has to budget his money because his summer job doesn't start for a few more weeks. She offered to cover it and he wouldn't hear of it. He said no girl will ever pay for him. It is the other way around or no way at all. So they decided to come back to our house and watch some Netflix movies that I just got in. She wanted him to ride with her back to our house. But he wanted to take his car because he didn't want her to have to spend her gas bringing him back home. He won't let her spend a dime on him. That is completely the opposite of Randy. Randy never had money because when he would work he would blow it all on video games and crap for his car. So then on the weekends they either had to stay home or Brittanie had to pay. They took Brittanie's car everywhere because his car never ran and he never had gas money. Basically he was a mooch. John Micheal is not a mooch. He is a real man and real men know that women should NOT be paying for stuff. That's the man's job.

Anyway, we got to talk and socialize with him Saturday night and get to know him better. He is a nice guy and definitely a country boy. I can't wait till he takes Brittanie mud riding for the first time. I want pictures of that! I am afraid of him taking her hunting because she is a GREAT shot and I'm afraid I will end up trying to figure out what to do with a ton of deer meat. We just don't eat that. But she won't like the tradition of bloodying her face when she kills that first deer. hahaha

Today Brittanie and John Micheal took Taylor to Old Navy and to Columbiana Mall to buy her some short sleeved shirts and flip flops. Taylor saw that HUGE Confederate Flag at the Southern Patriot Shop on 321 and said "look that's the flag that's on William's myspace." John Micheal was stunned that she didn't know that was a confederate flag or anything about it. Looks like we need to educate her. That is very important to our history as southerners. But Taylor got a shirt that said "I love mom" and one that says "My dad is a rock star." You think she is homesick? 19 days left and she will be with her parents again. But in the meantime, we have a follow-up appointment with the oral surgeon on Tuesday, pulling the last 2 teeth on Friday, and having her two fillings done on the following Monday. So then I can send her home with healthy teeth. Now she knows the importance of brushing her teeth and getting cleanings so hopefully her teeth won't get like this again. She can't keep pulling permanent teeth like this. She will need dentures by the time she is 14 at this rate!

PLEASE pray for Brittanie

Brittanie has been dealing with alot this week. I've told a few people but I really don't want to put it on this blog. If you want to know, just email me. But she has been upset all week and then yesterday, just when she started to almost feel better, Randy's ex-girlfriend came to her job last night. Needless to say, that wasn't a pleasant experience. But Brittanie is very mature and after she had her say, she told the girl to get her stuff and get out of her drive thru. She said she would love to have her come to our house so she could kick her butt but she is not about to lose her job over that ummmm lets just say a girl who will have "relations" with anyone.

And following this week where she didn't go a day without crying and being angry, she has to take the SAT this morning. Please pray that this will be over soon and she can move on with her life without all this drama.

Have mercy!

I haven't updated in a few days so I thought I better catch up. Friday, Taylor was supposed to get two teeth pulled. But when she got there, she refused to let the oral surgeon touch her. Needless to say, I was EXTREMELY angry. She pulls that crap with her mom all the time....refusing to brush her teeth and freaking out at the dentist's office. But I didn't think she would pull that with me. Well she did. I was so mad!!! I dropped her off at school after we left the office. Then when she got home, I told her to go to her room and she wasn't allowed to come out except to get food and use the bathroom until Monday morning when she went to school. Well her mom never follows through on her punishments so Saturday, she apologized for what she did at the oral surgeon's office and asked me if she could get out of her room. I said "It isn't Monday yet!" Sunday, she asked me again if she could get out of her room. I told her "NO! It isn't Monday and don't ask me again!" Later that night, I saw her on her knees peeking out into the hall and I told her to get back in her room. It was especially tough this weekend to be in that room because Brittanie's new boyfriend came over (more on that below) and we did the cake thing for Tom's birthday. She got a piece of cake but we ran it back there to her. She wasn't even allowed out to eat. She had to take the food to her room. Monday, I made an appointment to try again on Tuesday (yesterday). I told her Monday night that if she pulls that crap again she would get a belt on her butt and she would be confined to her room for the rest of her stay here.....25 days! Because I have always followed through on all of my punishments with her and my kids, she knew I wasn't kidding. And to drive home the point I was serious, I put the belt on the table before we left so it would be handy if we actually did come home without her teeth being pulled. Her mom told me that was all for nothing and it wasn't going to work and Taylor wouldn't let that oral surgeon do it. She was wrong. All it takes is consistency. You set a punishment and make sure it is carried out to the letter. She told me Monday night that she doesn't even care anymore if it will hurt or not. She just didn't want to be in her room anymore. She goes back for the follow-up next Tuesday then she will pull the other two the Friday after that. The Monday after that I'm taking her to Dr. Ravenel to have two fillings done. When she goes back to Louisiana, she will go with good teeth and good oral hygeine habits.

Now on to Brittanie's new boyfriend. Well after a whole year (as of April 13th) together, Brittanie and Randy have broken up. Her new boyfriend's name is John Michael Guidry....that's right folks, a Cajun boy! He was born in South Carolina but his dad is from Covington, Louisiana. They visit their family there like we do. I had a real problem with the fact that I didn't think Randy protected Brittanie or could even protect Brittanie. He was just too nice of a guy. His best friend has been a jerk to her since 9th grade. He has never stopped being rude to her. Randy never did anything about it. A guy grabbed her breast in the lunch line one day in front of Randy. Brittanie slapped the guy while Randy laughed. John Michael said he would have kicked that guy's butt and that he would not allow one of his friends (or anyone for that matter) talk bad about her. She has a real man now. She is going to love that feeling of security and knowing he will protect her. Like I told her, Tom has never been in a fight in his life. But I know with all certainty that if someone put me down, Tom would tell them off. God forbid someone had the nerve to touch me inappropriately, Tom would bow up without even thinking. Because I'm married to a real man. She needs to find someone more like her daddy than Randy is. Tom is the best husband in the world. Brittanie sees that. He is an incredible father. Brittanie sees that too. I think she is going to be fine. This is a learning process for chosing a mate one day and being a wife.

Here are a couple of pictures of Brittanie's new sweetie with his brother and sister: