Attention Ladies

This is a poem by MAYA ANGELOU titled: To My Dear Lady Friends. I absolutely love it and think every word is true. Enjoy!

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...
Enough money within her control to move out and rent a place of her own, even if she never wants to or needs to...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
something perfect to wear if the employer, or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..
a youth she's content to leave behind....

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to retelling it in her old age....

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .....
a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..
one friend who always makes her laugh... and one who lets her cry...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems, and a recipe for a meal,
that will make her guests feel honored...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
a feeling of control over her destiny...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to fall in love without losing herself..

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to quit a job,
break up with a lover,
and confront a friend without ruining the friendship...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
when to try harder... and WHEN TO WALK AWAY...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
that she can't change the length of her calves, the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents.

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
that her childhood may not have been perfect. But it's over...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW..
what she would and wouldn't do for love or more...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to live alone... even if she doesn't like it...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW..
whom she can trust,
whom she can't,
and why she shouldn't take it personally...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
where to go...
be it to her best friend's kitchen table... or a charming inn in the woods...
when her soul needs soothing...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
what she can and can't accomplish in a day...
a month...and a year...

Scrooge Yourself!

This is the funniest thing!!! I just Scrooged myself! Click on the link below to see how you can Scrooge yourself too!
http://www.scroogeyourself.com/?id=1223900356

Thanksgiving was very nice and relaxing this year. Since both sides of our family live locally, we didn’t have to travel far. Unfortunately, Kelly had to work. He will have to work Christmas too! :( It has been this way all but one year since we have been married. It just so happens that the shift he is on works all of the major holidays…which equals = major bummer…I know, but we have gotten somewhat used to it by now and have found ways to schedule family time around it as best as possible. He could take vacation; however, several of the guys on his shift have small children and like to take their vacation at this time to be with their little ones. I certainly don’t blame them. Naturally, not everyone can take vacation at this time, so Kelly works.
Anyway, the above picture is of me, Jill (with JonParker) and Mom that we took on Thanksgiving Day. This is the first picture I have posted of Jill and JonParker, but rest assured that there will be many more to come! As you can see from the ticker above, it won’t be long before he is here! Jill went to the Dr. for her checkup last week, and she got a very good report. Her due date is January 30, but the Dr. said that they could actually pick the date that they would like to have JonParker’s Birthday as she will be having a surgical delivery. I can’t wait! It is going to be so much fun to have a baby in the family again. So, on a different note before I close, Christmas is almost here and I have SO MANY gifts left to buy! UGH!!!!!! I love Christmas shopping but really, really, really don’t like trying to figure out what to get everyone. Each year, I start early and declare that I will FINNISH early. Yeah, right. I am always the week of Christmas getting done. One day, I will succeed! Until then, to all of you out there who have already finished or only lack one or two gifts to completion….BA HUMBUG!!!!!!!!! (I’m really jealous). ;) Oh, and the other picture is of Kelly and Jade. We went to the Egg Bowl game with the Gaskins and had a great time. Kelly and Jade had a bet that if Ole Miss won she would put a "Rebels for Barbour" bummper sticker on her car, and if MSU won Kelly would put a "Bulldogs for Barbour" sticker on his truck. I suppose you can tell who lost the bet!

Reasons, Seasons or Lifetimes

I received this email from a friend a week or so ago. I have often thought about this very same thing but never expressed it as well as the person who wrote it. I later thought that I should have posted it here, on my blog. Then, I got it again today from someone different! So, I was certainly happy to get a second chance to share it with you. I feel that there is a lot of truth in it. I can personally look back on several relationships for which I would classify as a reason or season and then those who are a lifetime. Regardless of what they were, or are, I am thankful for each and every one of them! I hope you enjoy this as much as I did!

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person. When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come to share, grow or learn. They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it; it is real, but only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons, things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

Reunion

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I recently had the opportunity to get together with my college friends for our five year social club reunion. We played in a washboard band!!!! How fun is that???? (I played the bucket, by the way.) Now, there you have it, a little unknown and rare fact about me. We traveled all over the state and parts of AL and AR. Our biggest “gig” was the Jr. Miss Pageant in Meridian. We actually got a few $100 bucks for some of our performances and even managed a few moments of stardom when we performed on The Morning Show, aka. Buddy and Kay, on WTVA-TV!! We primarily sang old church hymns and folksy songs. I posted a picture of us at one of our performances. I swiped the picture off of Conner's blog, and a newer picture that we took when we were together a few days ago. I honestly can’t believe it has been five years! We had such a good time catching up. Many of them are Mommies now, so it was great to get to meet their little ones too! Almost everyone lives out-of-state now, so it is very rare that we are all able to see each other at the same time. I made many wonderful memories with these sweet girls and wouldn’t trade them for anything. I hope we can all come together for our ten year. It will be here before you know it!

I Always Wanted a Niece!!

I am, once again, very behind in the blogging world. I haven’t updated in awhile, as you can tell, and I haven’t been keeping up with everyone else’s either! I know this will likely only get worse as the holiday season kicks into full gear. Thanks, to everyone reading, for hanging in there with me! The title of this blog originates from Brandon’s Powder Puff football game at school a few weeks ago. For those of you who may not be familiar with this, the girls play football and the boys are the cheerleaders. They also had homecoming festivities, and Brandon was the freshman maid. He and another friend borrowed two of my dresses. I always knew those old bridesmaid dresses would come in handy again for something! ;) He also borrowed Jade’s blond wig from Halloween. That was as far as he would take it. Absolutely NO make-up!

Happy Birthday!

For some reason, I am terrible at remembering to post Happy Birthdays on my blog. So, once again, better late than never! My father-in-law, Mr. Ricky, had a birthday October 8. I know I have mentioned before how wonderful Kelly’s parents are, but I like to take every opportunity when it is presented to me! I can say without hesitation that there are few things in this world I could ask of Mr. Ricky that he wouldn’t do. There is no doubt that I have certainly tried his patience more than once on this entire house project! Bless his sweet heart; I’m sure he is more eager than anyone for it to be finished! Thanks for all that you do Mr. Ricky! We love you!