My Thoughts

Tonight, my brain is slowly dying. It’s Monday and work was crazy with meetings and kids that thought today was their first day of school. I had to leave for a couple of hours and go to a meeting and when I came back, they were bouncing off the walls. I have a new temporary full-time sub. Her name is Mrs. Harrison. She is super sweet, but quiet and not much of a disciplinarian. This is going to be an interesting month to say the least.

Today I did something that I have always thought about doing but have never had the courage to do because I was worried that when I got there, I would be told there is nothing wrong with me and to get over it. I went and seen a therapist for the first time. It was nice telling someone who is out of the equation of my everyday life, my thought and feelings, my struggles, my goals. The way I feel so overwhelmed between work, school, my toddler and my teenager, and throw in a husband and a house to manage and you have the recipe for stress overload. Thats me all day long. One thing I learned through all of this is that you have to have gratitude every day. There is something we can be grateful each day. I am going to try and find a way to make time for more posts every few days on what I am thankful for in that day.

Today I am grateful that the meeting I had with my bosses today ended up being more positive than negative. That they are there to guide me and to keep me from being so stressed. But that I have to tell them when I am feeling that way. I am also grateful that I had the courage to go to a therapist, and that I have the opportunity to practice mindfulness each day.

How’s It’s Going?

How’s it going WordPress peeps? Things on my home front are busy, crazy, yet happy. We had a great and lazy Christmas. Since then, school has started back as well as Eli’s baseball season. Piper has done super well on potty training; I think everything just finally click and she goes without being forced now. We are so proud of her! Eli has ended his relationship with the girl from my previous post. He says he wants to focus on school and baseball for now. He is talking to an ex but he is insisting that they are just friends. I am in full online classes mode. Have I ever mentioned that I hate Western Civics? Well just so yall know, I hate Western Civics! Surprisingly Phycological Phycology is pretty intriguing. As far as work, my assistant quit on me. She said it was just too stressful. I was sad to see her go. They have not hired anyone new, I just had subs helping me until they do. It has made things less stressful. I do believe that someone else’s anxiety can be reflected to others including the children. I am ready to get my new assistant so that things can be more consistent for my classroom.

Well, key terms are calling my name, I am going to try and be more consistent in my blogging if I can figure out how to fit it into these busy days. Until then, enjoy some recent pics of my family. Be Blessed.

I’m Not Ready!

I am not ready for my son, my baby boy to be old enough to have a girlfriend. I am not ready for him to want to go out and do things with her and I can’t go with them. I’m not ready for this lost and dying world to get their hands on my boy. I am thankful that he is a good boy, for now. I am going through so many emotions right now as he sits and watches and movie with her in the next room WITH THE DOOR WIDE OPEN! I pray for his innocence and that he will know the choices to make. I didn’t know I would feel like this, I thought I would be proud that he is a good catch. How silly do I sound right now?

On a positive note, Piper went potty two times today and earned stickers for her sticker chart! It’s something new that we started today. I wish I had more time to help her get potty trained. I spent most of the morning and part of the afternoon working on my school projects. It has been a good day, but I was hoping for more progress.

Love, LaBranda

Life With Piper

Boy I tell yall, life with this little girl is not for the faint at heart. I find myself constantly comparing her to Eli. There are so many ways they are different. Eli at this age was much more stubborn and defiant, but he also had issues with some things. For example, at any holiday, Halloween, Christmas, or whatever, Eli was scared of everything. Trick or treating wasn’t very fun for him because he was too scared to see all the creepy, spooky people. Piper on the other hand was pretty gun hoe about it. She is so excited for Christmas time, while he was terrified of Santa and even had nightmares that Santa was under his bed trying to bite off his toes. Now that may change with her a little this year because she is older and can understand more things.

Not only are they different in so many ways, but mine and Tj’s parenting styles are way different this time around. For instance, when the day came for Piper to wear her Tinkerbell costume that she had been so excited to wear for weeks, she got up that morning and completely refused to wear it. Now back in the day I would have had World War 3 with Eli and I would win! I’d be yelling at him, probably spanking him and taking everything away from him, but with her I just said OK and put her costume in her bag. When we got to school, I told her teacher it was in there and that if she wanted to put it on, she could but if not, I didn’t care. I don’t know if it’s because we are older, or if it’s because she is a girl. Tj has surprised me a lot. When Eli was little, Tj hardly did any family things with us. He never wanted to go to the Fair or anything like that. We took Piper to the Fair the other day and he put her on all the rides, stood there and watched her ride, and then got her off all of them. He never did those kinds of things with Eli. But I’m not complaining, watching him be my little girl’s daddy makes me fall in love with him a little more each day.

Love,

LaBranda

Life Update

Hello, my sweet WordPress family! I know it has been a while since you have seen any posts from me! Life around here is super busy and chaotic. The Elijah is enjoying his junior year and keeping up with all the small-town traditions. Just last week we had our house rolled twice. All in good clean fun but I’m glad I wasn’t the one who had to clean it up. His football days are over, and he is counting down until his beloved baseball is back in full swing.

Piper started full time daycare in August, and she absolutely loves it! Every day when she wakes up, she asks can she go to her “School House”. She is so smart and amazes me every day. She will be 3 in March and it’s very hard for me to wrap my head around it.

Tj is working hard and then coming home and doing things around the house since I am smack dap in the middle of earning my bachelor’s degree. I swear most days I feel like I wake up, go to work, come home, do schoolwork till 8 or 9. See my kids very little and then wake up to do it all over again. I know it seems daunting, but I just remind myself that one day it will be worth it. I did get the lead teaching position at work and its been great. I still have a lot of learning to do. Well that’s about it. I will post some of our very first family of 4 pictures. I hope you all are being blessed!

The Joys of Winter Break!

Good evening, WordPress family! If you are reading this, I hope this moment in your life finds you relaxed, refreshed, and ready for whatever the new year holds for you. I am currently enjoying Winter Break here in south Alabama. Except it feels more like Spring Break with the unseasonably hot temps we have been having. It was almost 80 degrees on Christmas day, and it doesn’t look like it will be cooling off anymore this week.

I know that this time of the year I generally like to reflect on the that is about to end. This time is no different. At the start of 2021, I lost two special people. Life has never been the same, nor will it ever be, but it has gone on. In addition to the losses, i’ve gained a whole new family of friends. We have all had lots of good times, filled with laughter and even a few tears. I can’t imagine my life without these people in it. Mrs. Pam and all her babies, Adam, Wendy, and Sawyer, Matt Matt, Manny, Jp, Le le and Pae Pae, thank you for loving my family as your own. Thank you for allowing us to be us around you. Thank you for taking such good care of both of my kids. Thank you for helping us learn how to really live our lives instead of wallowing in our pity and pain. Please don’t change and we are so excited to see what all God has in store for all of our people in 2022!

This is how Piper felt about SANTA

Eli and his beautiful girl Shaylee

Things are already starting to change, and new beginnings are already starting to form. I leave with this quote, ” If you learn to change your thinking, everything else will fall into place.” Be blessed WordPress!!

As The World Turns

Good evening WordPress world! You have caught me on a rare Tuesday night. No baseball practice, no school work for me, and Piper went to bed like a sweet sweet princess. So here I sit, having myself some alone time. It allows me to think about the things going on in our world today. Things our children should never have to deal with, and should never have to hear about when they turn on the t.v. or radio. The one pressing on my heart tonight is the Gabby Petito case. Another young soul with her life ahead of her gone too soon.

I’m not super familar with the case, I try not to listen to the news too much because it’s just too depressing these days. The jest of what ive gathered is that she was a victume of domestice violence. Sadly she wasn’t able to break out of her personal hell. I have 3 very close friends that have been in situations like hers. One didn’t make it out either. It haunts me to this day that I could have done more for her than I did. Even if we did live 100s of miles away from each other. Why didn’t I know more about what was going on? Because once the narcassist gets into your brain and heart they brainwash you into beliving that you are worthless.

Photo by Luis Dalvan on Pexels.com

Thankfully my other two friends were able to get out alive. One not without spending two and a half years in prions for taking the fall for crimes he commited just because he made her belive that it was all her fault.

America, we have to do better!! Not only do we have to raise our daughters to know without a doubt their daily worth, we also must teach our sons the vaule of a woman. That a woman is not a door mat to be trampled on and that they would not make it in the world without a good woman by their side. If we teach our sons to love and to not be ashamed to show love, then hopefully part of this lost and dying world can be recaputred for the good in us all.

I close in thoughts of there are not promises of tommorow, I am determined to fall more in love with life. Intentionally romanticising the walks I am on, the birds chirpping, the sound of my children’s laughter. The feeling I get when my husband tells me he loves me at random times of the day. All of it and more. I will take a closer look at the little things that make my heart beat faster. Be Blessed!!

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As a New School Year Begins

As a new school year begins here in south Alabama, I would like to take time to reflect on my life lately.

My children have been a joy this summer. They have both made me so proud. Eli decided not long into the summer that instead of playing football this year, he would get a job. Actually he got a few jobs. He worked with his dad some at the cabinet shop, he loaded watermelons, did some yardwork and helped out a lot around the house. It was so tough watching him make these mature grown up decisions. My momma heart was feeling some type of way this past week when they had their first game and my boy wasn’t on the field. I tried not to let him sense the selfish sadness I had but somehow he picked up on it. I think he was aggravated that I was upset. I just had to swiftly remind him that yes I was feeling sad but that did not change the fact that I supported his decision not to play. He has a good head on his shoulders and knows what he wants out of life. At 15 he seems to have things figured out more than most adults. I guess it would be different if he wanted to quit to lay on the couch to play video games. Not that there is anything wrong with that, I’m thankful that is not him.

Piper girl is every bit of her 17 months of bliss. I say that in a way in which is positive. She is running around these days, and when I say running I literally mean running. She rarely walks and its amazing and annoying as well as funny all at the same time. She has the personality of a sour patch kid. So so sweet, then sour, then sweet again. She has a mind of her own and her attitude is bramble of spikes. But she is oh so smart! She has already showed interest in going potty and loves wearing pull ups like a big girl. As long as its her idea like is all sunshine and rainbows.

This past week the kids and I have been in the house on account of Piper’s babysitter and her family getting hit mildly by the covid bug. Thankfully they are all on the mend. I will return to work tomorrow and have meetings with my new parents Monday and Tuesday and then my new students will start on Wed. I’m excited as well as anxious because of working in the district I work in, I never know what I am going to get. I hope all my peeps in WordPress land are doing well. I’m going to try and do better about keeping up and being more active. Im still doing a few classes online for my Bachelors so sometimes I don’t want to look at the computer screen again. Yet, every time I come back it’s like I’ve never left. Be Blessed!!

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The Year was 2003

I came across this picture last week. I’ve been using it as a bookmark in the current novel I’m reading. The year was 2003. We were fresh out of High School, young wild and free. The man of my dreams had found his way back into my life and I was thrilled. This was before marriage, before kids, before careers, even before we lived together. We didn’t know too much about the things that would get on our nerves about each other. We didnt have car payments, house payments, or any other responsibilities. In those days I didnt think about tomorrow, I always tried to live for the day. Lord what I would do to have that mind set back!! Not to mention that body!! Regardless of what our dreams are made of, Gods plans for us are always perfect. #firstloves #youngins #wouldn’tchangeathing.

It’s Been Eight Long Years!

8 years ago I got the phone call that will change my life forever! You were gone, your life was over and there was nothing 8 years I could do about it. I had absolutely no say so in the matter. I’ve asked myself a million times why couldn’t I help you? Regardless of what anyone says I will never understand why you had to go. I will never believe that you wanted to leave us. I understand now that the details are really none of my business. God has walked with me and reminded me everyday that he never makes mistakes. Some times bad things happen to good people and my job is to have faith and hope might I will see you again one day.

Your legacy will always live on in me. You taught me so much about life and left me with more courage than I ever thought possible. Even though your leaving was the hardest thing I’ve ever dealt with, the experience has helped me help other hurting people.

I never got to say goodbye, but one day just a few weeks before it was time for your momma to join you, I went to see her. I sat in a chair beside her bed and she said “Girl get over here in this bed with me.” So I did and we laid there for hours talking. I told her everything I wished I had had the chance to tell you before you left. It was a special day and I will never regret it.

Now you are together and I’m sure you are both tickled pink. I imagine yall fishing but not playing Monopoly bc that always caused a scene! I

I’ll never forget, I’ll just live with what you taught me. Until we meet again, Rest in peace soul sister! RIP Gina Carol Tipton.

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

– Romans 8:38-39.May 17, 2021