Good news, but......

The Good news first! I close January 5th Finally. Thought I was going to have to kill someone.....LOL Here is my cute little house. It's a 3 bedroom, 1 and 1/2 baths, LR, DR, FR, Eat in Kitchen, with 2 1/2 car garage. Much more than what I have here. I have a full finished attic too! The yard is a nice size. Hard wood floors in all the bedrooms and kitchen (yes!!!) However we have carpet in LR, DR, and family room. The rooms are nice and spacious! We have nice rooms here too, but this is a HOUSE! The kitchen is totally remodeled! Love the HUGE FAMILY ROOM! We decided that I can turn the dining room into my scrapbook room. I was really looking forward to having a 4th bedroom, so that I can turn it into a scraproom, but ds insisted on having his own room, so I would still be in the same boat, didn't work out for us on the 4 bedroom house, but this one is too stinking cute. Can't wait! I get to go in and take measurements, Saturday.....Will take plenty of pics!

Now for the bad news. My landlord needs us out by this Saturday, which means no blogging for me....I have to put my stuff in storage and live with my mom. For a few days..... I love my mom, but she can drive me NUTSO, sometimes!! She is extremely bossy and likes everything her way. If it is one thing out of place, she KNOWS!!! She is a total NEAT FREAK!!! lol So is my dad! This should be fun! There house is like a museum. Doesn't even look like it has been lived in. I am not a junky or nasty person, by any means, but if there is one SPOON in the sink, I don't have a problem with it sitting there until nightime, I always wash dishes before I go to bed. Not my mom, breakfast dinners, after breakfast, lunch after lunch, dinner after dinner, any in between, after the in between. Nothing can sit in her sink!!! Also, she has a had a dishwasher for 17 years and I think she has only used it twice. She likes to wash dishes by hand!!!

She also doesn't like anything to sit on her kitchen tables or any of her table for that matter, but her accent pieces....Please do not ever sit anything on those tables or she will go into Kathy Bates mode...you just may lose a limb.....LOL

Her bathroom, must shine! From the toilet to the floors! She is so particular about her stuff and NO ONE can do it better than she can! She mops the floors and then turns around and windexes them so that they will shine! She does not mop with a mop, she gets on her hands and knees and washes the floor with a towel, each individual ceramic square. NOT ME!!! I aint doing all of that crap......LOL

This should be an adventure, I haven't lived with my mom in almost 10years, this should be fun! LOL

Pray for me guys....LOL

Dana

Merry Christmas!!!!

From our house to yours!!!! Wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas. Be safe! Have Fun! Remember that Jesus is the reason for the season!!! Eat good! Be kind with one another! I love you all dearly!

I am off to my mom's! We weren't able to put a tree up this year, because of the moving situation and what's Christmas without a Christmas tree? LOL

My mom is such a sweetheart and she is allowing ALL 3 of her children, their spouses, and all 8 of her grandchildren spend Christmas at her house. This is going to be so much fun. It is the first time, that we all spent Christmas Eve and Christmas together since we were younger.....

So for that much I am excited! Wishing you all the best! For those of you who are traveling. God speed. I pray for a safe destination and a safe return.

Peace be unto you!

The Brooks Family

Calling on the saints

There is a quote by Rienholdt Niebuhr better known as the Serenity Prayer, that I keep in mind and it goes:

God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I Cannot change…
Courage to change the things I can ...
And Wisdom to know the difference…

Lately there has been so much drama unfolding in my life. It almost seems that there is one thing after another... YOu know...when it rains, it pours! I, sometimes let things affect that should not. I give people and situations too much Power over me... and what I mean by that is I get angry, hurt, disenchanted, all over things that are beyond my control. I cannot control people or situations that I encounter in life, however I can change how I deal!

I am about to share with you some things that I don't talk about often. I suffer from Depression! I have since I was in the 8th grade. There were some things that happened in my childhood and teenage years that I really should have sought out couseling for, but I kept it hidden until I had a mental breakdown, at the age of 13. I am not going to go into that situation, but I endured some terrible things in my past. Nothing with my immediate family.... but with a family member. I didn't know how to handle what was going on and I shutdown. I was admitted to the hospital in the psychiatric ward, for 41 days of more hell. I was released, I learned how to tell the pscychologists, nurses, etc... what they wanted to hear. I was on Haldol and Melarin and soon stop taking them, because I didn't like the way they made me feel. When I got out, I was still the same inside, but kept it hidden. Then I found God! I got saved at the age of 13! God was the only doctor, nurse, psychologist, therapist, etc... I needed! Fast forward to today, I still suffer from it, but I turn to God. I can feel it when it comes on, like a heavy wait on my chest and a dark cloud that hovers over me.

That is why I decided to major in Psychology and Mental Health. The mind is a wonderful and precious thing! But what the books don't teach you is that you have a self healing ability, that God gave to all of us.... I often meditate and pray. I will myself well. I am still human, and things can have their way of getting to you, but I always drop to my knees and go to God the father.

I, said all of that to say this: There is nothing that you are going through that our Father can't fix. He is the beginning and the end. HE is alpha and omega. He is all knowing! He is wonderful and glorious. Sometimes you have to GO THRU to get THRU. He won't close a door without opening up a window. No matter what you are going thru, continue to praise him and remember how truly blessed you are....BECAUSE their are zillions of people far worse off than you are... just be THANKFUL and remeber to keep him FIRST! The rest will follow. Walk and talk with his name! Pray without ceasing! and remember DELAYED does not MEAN DENIED. Alot of time we want a quick fix, sometimes God will take the long way instead of the shortcut...LOL

After reading my dear friend Bonnie's blog today, it made me breakdown and cry. It made me realized how truly blessed we are .... OUr lives could be so much worse.

No this house isn't going the way I want it too, but everything happens for a reason. I wanted to move out before Christmas and have our first Christmas in the new house, but if the Good Lord is willing, I will have that Christmas, it might not be in 06, but it will be in 07. I just had my mind set on being there ....but it's not the way it worked out! I just gotta wait, another week...

turns out the broker who did the loan, license expired......I CALL BS! however, this is what I am being told. However, he faxed everything over, but no one wants to do anything over the holidays...so basically I am s.o.l until after Christmas...

Everything that is worth something ....is worth waiting for .....RIGHT!

I gotta a little winded. Something about the Lord just fires me up everytime and I am compelled to speak on it....

Until next time....

Today is supposed to be the day!

Let's see what bag of tricks they will pull out of their a$$es today! I really hope they finalize whatever they need to finalize so that I can get the heck out of here before Christmas. If it does not go thru this week, then I will definitely contacting my attorney, because we were supposed to close twice already and it did not materialize. I am getting really impatient and even more angry at the fundamental disregard, this homeowner has for my time, my money, and taking kindness for weakness. I have to vacate my townhome by December 30th, which is right around the corner, which is basically around the corner. I will keep everyone posted, but this has truly been a NIGHTMARE and a LEARNING EXPERIENCE for both my husband and I. We are first time buyers and I think that because of that we are being taken advantage of ..... My mom has been a homeowner FOREVER....lol and always tells me what to do and say next....GOTTA LOVE MOMS....LOL

Some times you gotta be a BEYOUTCH for people to take you seriously.....

Dana

What would I do without my bloggin' sistahs

When I first started blogging, it was something that I thought would be cool and fun! I loved to journal anyways, and I thought of it as an online journal, that could be shared with others with whom I can relate to and vice versa. Fast forward to today, never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that I would have met the most wonderful group of ladies, from all over the world (literally), from various backgrounds, that would become my sisters' not my FRIEND. I have but one, biological sister Tracy, but through my blog I have many more.... I truly appreciate all of you guys. I have been going through some rough times and you guys have always had my back. Whether it's a comment of encouragement or receiving a rak in the mail, I am very lucky to have you all as my sistah's!!!! I woke up with this on my heart! I truly love you guys! It's amazing, how you can truly love people whom you never met, well I do. I wish all of you the best. I am excited with your accomplishments and good happenings. I truly share in your joys,we share laughter, we share tears, we share our joys and our fears. We share alot with one another.

It was funny when Adrienne announced that she was going to start her own photography business I was so ecstatic, I scream "YES!" and everyone in the house looked at me, as if I was crazy.... When Toya shows off her sewing creations, I am already thinking to myself, now when is she going to open up her own boutique "Fashions by Ms. Toya", or when Bonnie had her unveiling, I think I was more excited than she was.....LOL I just love my blogging sistah's, Brown English Muffin aka Melanie, makes me laugh until I am crying sometimes. Cheryl, Heather, Gina are always offering their word's of encouragement and advice. Melissa is the cute little sister of the bunch, so young and successful. YOu guys surely made footprints in my life and my heart and I hope we will continue this friendship or better yet, this sisterhood forever and my dream is to meet each of you one day!

I love you!
You are appreciated!
And thanks for being there!!!!

Mwah!

I am off to do some last minute Christmas shopping, I am trying so hard to get in the spirit, I woke up feeling refreshed this morning. Took the advice of my very good friend and sistah Bonnie, who says " There is nothing that a good cup of tea can't cure", I love her bubbly personality, such a positive person, such a real genuine person! I took a hot bath and drank some very good Peppermint tea and boy did I go to bed in a good mood. I changed my linens, gave myself a facial, and hit the sheets early. I slept all night! I feel so good this morning. So thanks Bonnie, you are right, nothing like a good cup of tea, some aromatherapy, pampering yourself, fresh linen and a good night's rest! Dh, said I slept like a tank. He wasn't too happy, he thought he was going to have a little fun last night.....LOL NOT!!!

Until next time
Dana

ughhh......

They pushed back the closing another freaking week again....

I am getting really angry. They wanted 1000 dollars Ernest money they got it. They wanted a a higher appraisel they got it.... I am doing everything I am supposed to do on my end and these idiots are not keeping up with their end of the bargain. It's not the reality company, it's the owner of the house that is screwing everything up. I am trying to be really calm about this whole thing, but it's almost been 2 months, ya know! I can't even get in the Christmas spirit, because of this thing. By now, I would have my entire house inside and out decorated! Christmas books for the Children spread about, Christmas music pipin'.... Now I feel like Ebenezer Scrooge.

Sorry for the vent, but it's really starting to get the best of me guys.
My mom is taking me out to dinner later tonight, to get my mind off of this crap.....LOL
Next time I post, it better be some good news already......LOL

Dana

The N-word.....

do you think it should be stricken from our language? I have to admit, I have used the word alot, but it was never used to demean or hurt someone. It's sad to say in my case, it's a term of endearment or just an adjective. I guess you are wondering why I am bringing up such a toucy subject...well I was watching the Real World and a white guy called another black a NIGGER! He said it in a way that was to hurt and demean and it really pissed me off. However, I use the word myself from time to time. Don't use it as much as I did in my teenage years....but it made me really examine my life.

I get so sick of people blaming alcohol on their actions. Basically, I think your true colors come out when you are under the influence. Their are no inhibitions. This kid blamed alchohol for him calling him the N-word. I was soooooo angry, that I wanted to jump thru the television and slap this kids face completely off... and then I thought to myself, I use the word, maybe I need to stop too! It's such an ugly word. Especially when it's used to demean someone. So from this day forward, I am not going to use it in anyway...because it is truly an awful word. I know people may say that "sticks and stones crap", but words DO HURT! Sometimes they hurt more than if someone had physically come up to you and smacked you in the face!

I have been called the N-word plenty of times, especially in high school! I went to a predominantly white high school and you had that handfull of kids who went there. Back then, I had zero tolerance, and got plenty of fights over this very thing. Needless to say, those who I fought, never fixed their mouths to call me that again, but they didn't learn their lesson, because they started to pick on other children. I hated going to my high school, then one day we had a MEDIATION group, in which, 7 peer counselors, and 4 counselors came to the school and put us into groups. We each got a chance to say how we truly felt and that opened up the door. Two of the girls, that called me the N-word are good friend of mine to this day! Our children play with each other and we broke down that wall that stood between us. We found that we had more in common than we once thought! We enjoyed a lot of the same things, and even changed her parents mind about African Americans....Alot of people are afraid of the things unknown, scared of difference, scared of change, that is why racism exists...
If you truly get to know a person for who they are...and not what they look like, you may just find a friend for life...

I honestly don't look at people color first ( I am color blind), we are all God's children, and the only race of people is the HUMAN race. We need to look at animals. Does a black dog care if he mates with a brown dog? Does a black cat care if he mates with a orange tabby? NO! We need to be the same way in our interactions with each other. God is LOve and he Loves all! We should too!

I hope I didn't offend anyone in my post today! I am a real person, and I share with you my real feelings.... No masks, no faking, just keeping it real!

Until next time...
Btw, what are your thoughts about this?

Dana

Still here...somewhere under boxes

I am still here.....somewhere lying under some boxes. We close tommorrow, finally! Just scurrying about, trying to pack everything! In the midst of all this chaos, I am so VERY HAPPY! I am a homeowner now! Wohoo! No more renting! We are so excited. It's been a long time coming, but we had to get ourselves together, before we took on such a commitment. The kids are soooo excited! I have been packing everyday. I HATE PACKING! I really do! I threw away so much, because I just did not want to pack it and unpack it! So did the boys! LOL tons of toys, mostly. Jaree didn't throw away NOTHING! She is such a pack rat!

There has been lots going on. Jariel had his first concert for band. He also got his yellow belt this weekend. He came 2nd place in his tournament on Saturday. Sunday Jaree competed in the STATE championship for cheerleading. She did well, looked gorgeous! She came in 3rd and won't be competing for the REGIONALS.....bohoo! The buck stops here! She was so sad, but I told her she was number 1 in my book! They worked really hard and did quite well~ Honestly I was shocked that they didn't take second, but that is life. It doesn't start back up again until January! Which gives me time to get situated with the move. Our goal is to get totally moved in next week. Which means I will be offline for awhile! UGh! I have to get everything decorated and ready for the children for Christmas, usually my tree is up the day before Thanksgiving. This is really bugging me. LOL

I am sick as a dog. I have the worst cold ever....I can't even take care of myself, the way I would like to, because we are in such a frenzy, getting prepared for this move. I haven't been sleep well either. I think my immune system just shut down and said "girl you need to sit down somewhere!", because last night, I was in bed at 8pm! I didn't wake up again until 7 this morning! My body is just tired! However, I have to keep it pushing. LOL

Today, not much planned, just cleaning, packing, laundry,some errands, nothing fun! I am going to get the latest Scrapbook Etc. to read later tonight, but that's it!

Ladies, I did do some mega shopping Saturday! The cutest Baby phat purse, black boots, new earrings, new coat, and a few shirts.....I needed a shopping fix, for my self! Did tons for the kids already, now it's my turn! LOL I had to stop myself and put some stuff back, my sister and mom, are the worst people to go shopping with, they are such little ENABLERS! My mom is a power shoper! I can't keep up, because my pockets don't stretch as far as hers do .....LOL My sister is too! I had fun Saturday with my mom and sister. My sister was shopping for odds and ends because she went on a 5day cruise today! It must be nice ~

Like I said, no big plans, lots of packing, cleaning, laundry, and packing. Did I say packing? LOL

Until next time...

Dana

I love winter, but I hate winter...

I have a love/hate relationship with winter! Seriously, I love winter and hate it all at the same time. I love it because it is one of the most prettieset times of the year. I love it because it offers change, the days become shorter and the night longer. I get a chance to shop for cute gear, cute hats, gloves, courdouoroy pants, purses, furry boots, cute sweaters, etc. Snowball fights with the boys....building snowman with Jaree, sledding down hill at about 65mph, screaming my head off with my children, even flipped off the sled and landed right back on it, kids thought that was something to laugh about, but I didn't. I cried! LOL Hot chocolate. Flannel Sheets... colorful fleece throws scattered about....more family time.... and when it's cold you tend to cuddle more with that special someone in your life *insert develish grin* LOL I love all the great picture opportunites that it offers! Beef stew...chili....chicken and dumplings...I tend to cook different in the winter too. The most wonderful gift that winter brings is CHRISTMAS! The most wonderful time of the year. The kids and I have already began our HAPPY JOURNEY...Yesterday we watched, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation with Chevy Chase. The kids loved it!!! It's one of my favs! They are my children, it's confirmed, because they too thought the funniest part of the movie is when the squirrel jumped out of that Christmas tree.. Poor Jaree, hasn't been feeling well, so she missed out. In fact, Please pray for Jaree, because she is starting to have a lot of headaches, which a symptom of her epilepsy, and I pray that she makes her year goal of not having a seizure, otherwise, we have to do medicine again for a whole other year. That is my biggest fear! But, I am not CLAIMING anything and I know my child is covered in the blood, so we won't even go there.....

Some of the reasons I hate winter....
I hate being cold! Period. I hate driving in the winter. I am terrified of driving in snow and RAIN....actually think rain is worst than snow. We tend to do less things over the winter. That at is why I live for January, because we take the kids to a hotel for a week to swim and have fun! I think we will do the Great Wolf again. We had a blast. I hate that we don't have many daylight hours. Often times the kids have after school activities and its dark outside when they get home. I don't go outside much in the winter....I am anemic and have a hard time keeping warm in the first place, so when it's cold I am miserable. LOL

As you see, there are far more things that I love about winter than I hate. It's a really beautiful season. What do you love/hate about winter???? Inquiring minds want to know. LOL

Have fun with this one.

Dana

The weather outside is frightful.....

Brrrrrrr. It's cold outside baby!!! Ouch! Guess I won't be shopping today. It's too cold. I am in the house still in pj's and slippers. There is no way I am going out in that cold. It's zero here. The cold just stabs at you when you walk outside. I had to bundle my babies up big time today! Bonnie and Clyde aka Jariel and Jaree, looked like the marshmellow man, when I was done with them.....LOL Thermal underwear, sweater, hoodie, t-shirts, boots, hat, gloves, scarf, and ear muffs. I wasn't playing.... Jaree cannot get sick, it will compromise her epilepsy and Jariel has chronic bronchial asthma. I am not taking any chances. Dh, was cracking up! He said, they reminded him of the Ralphie's little brother on the Christmas story....." I can't put my arms down!" LOL

Today, I am just packing, preparing everything for our move in the next couple of weeks. This is sooooooooo NOT fun at ALL!!! In fact, I hate it!

Well, that's my time. ... It's back to the fun world of packing and cleaning.
Until next tme Dana

P.S. It feels so odd for my posts to be this short..... LOL

Will be blogging again later

Dana

Catching up

Woo! There is always something going on! But that's a good thing. I guess? LOL
Yesterday did a lot of running around grocery shopping, taking care of business concerning the purchase of our home (we are almost there, but there were some stipulations, that I am not happy about and I need to work them out), I did a little Christmas shopping, and also took the boys shoveling yesterday. They have their own business and they are very serious about it. Their company is called My Brother and Me, Inc. I know it should be My brother and I, but they liked me better....LOL Basically they take care of all your seasonal needs such as shoveling, raking leaves, cutting grass, taking care of pools, edging, landscaping, garden care, they started 3 years ago and they make good money. Infact, Jariel did 2 houses yesterday and came home with 35 dollars and Bee did 3 and came home with 45 dollars. They only charge 10 dollars, but they get the most awesome tips and they are put that in the pot, to buy their supplies like salt, lawn bags, and for every dollar they put into their business, my husband and I put 4 dollars and my parent put 4 dollars so if they put in 2 dollars they recieve 8 from both my parents and my husband and I so that is 18 dollars they have towards their needs. I am so proud of them! They have business cards and everything. Too stinkin cute! It was too cold yeasterday and they didn't have on the right gear. NO thermal socks, thermal underwear, snow pants and Jariel got a litle bit too wet so I decided to take them home.

Jariel was less than thrilled with me. LOL Alot of his customers are regulars and they give them a call or email them if they need anything taken care of .....
I have to say this was my husband and my boys brainstorm. They came up with the idea. I just have a knack for keeping it up and running and never allowing them to get discouraged. Their are going to be rude and nasty people, they are going to be people who slam the door in your face, their are going to be people who FLAT OUT TELL YOU NO! But, you have to keep looking for that person, who will tell you YES! One lady, got really nasty with Jariel yesterday and he handled hisself with class! It took everything in me, not to get out of my van and go choke slam this woman, but I restrained myself, called Jariel over to the car and we had a long conversation about never giving up. No matter what is thrown your way, never allow anyone to steal your dreams away. He went right next door and got a new customer!!! Not only that, but she was an elderly lady, who wants him back everytime it snows and get this she gave him $20 bucks. She was so impressed that he put salt down after shoveling and she said she is going to tell all of her neighbors what a good job Jariel did and asked for a few of his cards. I tell them to go that extra mile. Always smile... and always be courteous!

Yesterday, I cooked a huge pot of chili. The boys had been out shoveling allll day and they needed something that would stick to their bones! LOL Then I played Halo 2 with the boys and they were so excited. They killed me about 100 times but they were excited....LOL Then we played Fusion Frenzy, my favorite game and I kicked all of their butts....LOL I went to my room to straighten out a few things and laid down to watch a movie and I don't think I saw the credits roll. I went straight to sleep.....LOL

Woke up early, cleaned, did some laundry and checked emails and blogs...

Today I am taking the children sledding at my moms, hopefully theirs some snow on the hill..

I also have a wedding to go to at 5.

Then I am going to pick the kids up from my mom's, maybe not, because I'm sure they will pull a fast one and end up staying all night and going to church with my parents. She will probably take them out to eat and to the movies. Then bring them home Sunday evening. I know my mom like a book! She is the world's greatest GRANDMOTHER and MOTHER you know...LOL

I have been in a better mindset! Feeling much better about the direction my life is goin in. We are about to make some hugeee sacrifices, we are coming into a new house(more money, more bills), I just got a car (another car note and insurance), and I am trying to get my business up and running (more time, dedication, and money). We are used to splurging (shopping, movies, going out to dinner), and we are going to have to make some sacrifices. In order to live comfortably. I am happy and scared all at the same time! I have to just throw myself outthere and make the best of it. I am just going to pray on it and I know God will make a way for us.

Todays challenge was about Movies, which movies are you looking forward to seeing?
I am going to talk about Holiday movies. I can't wait to see "A Christmas Story", which is my favorite Holiday movie, "Rudolph, the rednose Reindeer (old clay version), National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation with Chevy Chase tooooooo funny, Home Alone 1 and 2, Jingle All the way, The Grinch with Jim CArey, Miracle on 34th St. with Natalie Wood, It's a Wonderful Life, and the Gremlins. We watch all these movies every single Christmas. My children finally sat down and watched "a Charlie Brown Christmas", Jaree loved it! However, the boys thought it was LAME. Wanted to kill them. Nobody talks about the Peanuts baby! LOL Wawa womp womp....LOL


I love Christmas! Can't wait! The kids are going to be so excited as they all got what they wanted and more. I love to see how my children wake up Christmas morning, they frantically run down stairs and then they just stop and look ........soaking it all up! Then, they rip through their presents....Jaree kisses me, after each gift. Jariel screams .... and Bee laughs...and says "hey, hey". It's over so quick, but the anticipation of it all is the best!

If you have children what are their Christmas tactics? LOL
If you don't have children, how were your Christmas tactics?

Did you wake up early in the wee hours of the morning or were you a late bloomer?
Did you wait for mom and dad or did you just rip through your gifts and play with them?
Once you opened your gifts, did you go back to sleep or did you play all morning and into the night?
Was it hard for you to go sleep on Christmas Eve?

For me, it was so hard to go to sleep. I remember being awake at 1am and so scared, because I thought Santa would skip over my house. LOL I had to wake my parents up to see all my toys. My mom never wrapped our toys, she had them ready to play with, batteries and all installed. Dolls house built....Swimming pools had water in them, her display was awesome! I always woke up around 4am, think about my mom and dad ...I woke them up every morning around 4 am, they probably had just gone to sleep....LOL
I played all day, I never went back to sleep. My mom would make me go to sleep around 11pm on Christmas, and I would wake up early the day after and resume playing with all my goodies.
I can honestly say there was NEVER a Christmas that I didn't get EVERYTHING I wanted! Even got more than I asked for. However, I wasn't a child that wanted every single thing. There were about 4 or 5 things that I just had to have and then I usually ended up with like 10 0r 20 things. My mom is just like me. She lives for her Children's happiness! Jaree wants EVERYTHING. Jariel is my cheapest child. He never asks or wants much, but all he asks for he gets, because he is such a sweet child. Bee usually wants one or two things but they are sooooo expensive, you go in debt just to get them. He wants a camcorder that is 5oo dollars, he said he doesn't want the stereo now, because he decided to wait for that but he wants a more expensive camcorder. I asked him, if he planned to be a videographer, because frankly my camcorder was $299 open box.....LOL This kid of my mine, better get a good job, because he definitely likes the finer things in life.....at OUR EXPENSE.....LOL

Until next time

Dana