the new guy....

well i wanted to keep you in the loop, my new employee has done an incredible job at BBW and i am glad to say he is in enrolling in college. i have been spending a few minutes with him every day helping him write his essays and helping him find some scholarships. if anyone knows of any please let me know. it feels good to help and actually see the results of him working so hard. it is amazing. we are really starting to get busy with work now, holiday is coming and i am gearing up for it.

Connor and Connor

I am having problems with my Camera but we as soon as I can, I will post some news pics..
we met a new friend named Connor and he is almost 2 and his mom and I have hit it off her name is Lauren, we have gotten together the last 3 fridays and the kids have a blast together and her and I just chat away. every time my Connor sees him he has to hug him it is so funny,we took them to the childrens museum today and we could not get them out of there. I think the big hit was the firetruck and the bank... we ate pizza and came home. Connor is wore out, he has the biggest social calendar I have ever seen.... but for me, it has been so nice to have a girlfriend to talk to. the pictures will be coming soon.....

me and melissa

oh my goodness, my dear friend Melissa sent this to me and i love this pic... she is one of the most wonderful and caring people you will ever meet. she is the one who got me through contractions on the day Connor was born she is just wonderful and i miss her dearly.. hey melissa, how about catching a sunset?

determined to make a difference

today at work, i am getting ready for all of my holiday hiring and i interviewed a young man who just blew me away with his personality. he was so respectful and we got to talking after the interview and i came to find out he has 10 brothers and sisters and three died and he is trying to make something of himself to better his future. we talked for quite a bit and when he shared he cried a bit and thanked me for making him feel welcome when he got an application i just thanked him and told him i was excited to have him on my team. the jist of the story of what i want to share is his former teacher explained how smart and detemined he is and just a heck of an employee he will be for me but that he comes from NOTHING he has nothing but a few things just trying to make it in the world. he dosent let anyone know that but she has known him for quite a bit. she shared some stories that made my eyes fill up and we put our heads together and she is going to drop off an anonymous giftcard for him to get some clothes for work and i am determined to somehow make this persons life just a little brighter while he works for me. i just want to stress NEVER judge a book by its cover because the outside of the book may look flat but the inside of the book just blows you away. i will continue to share with all of you my journey with him but i am determined to make a difference in his life.
i just ask all of you who read this, as sappy as this may sound just take 2 seconds and be kind to someone today you never know how good it will make you feel and the difference you can make.

that's my girl....

this is Anna Burton, I taught her preschool when she was two and now she is in 6th grade oh, this family is truly one of the greatest families of ALL time. they are just the most amazing people and Anna is just as sweet as an angel. Sandy, Anna's mom is one of the greatest woman of all time, she came and stayed with me right after I had Connor she was such an incredible help to me. we were able to spend some time with them a few wkeds ago and Anna has truly grown up to be such an incredible young lady who I am proud to know. man, i love this kid

oh my goodness...

these two chased eachother all over the pumpkin field tonight and in this picture they kept shouting boo....... everything was monkey see monkey do.. and Caleb picked up my "oh my goodness" it was so funny

picking pumpkins

tonight we went to pick pumkins with Allison, Lincoln and Caleb we had a great time and we actually took a family picture which we never do. Connor was less than thrilled that he had to sit with us for a picture when he could be running around with Caleb

johns family

i have to just share this picture with everyone, is it possible that this family can be more beautiful. ... when i first met everyone one after another was just georgous and the nice thing about this family is that they are as nice as they are beautiful... thank goodness Connor has some good genes running through him hahahahahah

get well momma Gray

Connor just loves Momma Gray and last week she was in the hosptial and we were so worried about her but she is doing better now and Connor and I prayed for her and he said amen.... momma gray amen, we are glad she is doing better because Connor just adores her

tough day....

the last two days have been incredibly stressful. yesterday work was overwhelming and we had so much to do and john had wrestling and Connor had to get picked up at a certain time and I had to leave the store with a line of people waiting and I got in my car doing a 100 mph just to get Connor on time and when we got home i just about jumped out of my skin and I snapped at Connor and I felt like the worst mother in the world for yelling at him. I swore i would never raise my children with yelling parents and I did it and i just sat down for a minute and cried so hard. sometimes i wonder why we work so hard and then i think, I want better for Connor I want to be able to take him special places but lord knows days like the last two have challenged me. I called Natalie and told her and it made me feel better that i am not the only mom that has done this before. i am trying to teach myself how to relax does anyone have any insight? i love the whole yoga, breathe in and out theory but in my day to day it just dosent happen. i am off tommorrow so lets see if i can do some stress free living even for just a day....