As I look over the year I realize that at this time last year I was headed for Washington state with my mother... So many things have happened since then that it seems both like that was forever ago and it also feels like it was yesterday... I spent 7 weeks there with my mom. Then we came home to our family and on march 2 she went home to Christ...

Grief is a strange thing and so many times I feel this twisting pain that hurts more than anything I had ever experienced. And yet I was also thankful that she no longer suffered, because there were many times when she would cry and tell me she wanted to go home, not home to tennessee but home to be with God her Father. I want to thank a few people again for how much they did for me.

Hooper, Chris Morgan, and Randy, faithfully called me every day while I was in Washington you have absolutely no idea how much those calls meant.

Everyone who helped here at my house to keep it running while I was gone, including, Mrs. Candi, Mrs. Danita, Mrs. Donna, and Mrs. Suzanne.

So many things since then were packed into my year. Showing that life doesn't stop. Since then I worked my tail off to finish all my highschool requirements on time, graduated early, competed in national fine arts, did secretarial work for my father, and completed my first semester at MTSU.

It's a strange feeling sometimes because you almost don't want life to go on... people say "life goes on" and sometimes I wanted to start screaming and say that no it shouldn't... so many things have gone wrong and I have messed up in so many different ways. But life does go on and all we can do is remember that God is in control. I have learned to enjoy life in the present no matter what is going on, and I have learned that maybe, maybe sometimes it is ok to cry and think back, but I shouldn't always see that as weakness and beat myself up for it.

God has blessed me... He gave me a wonderful family, he gave me time with my mother, she was more than just a mom, she was like a best friend and my mom, I learned so much from her, and I will see her again. He gave me a Dad with strong faith, brothers and a sister to lean on, and to give me a feeling that I can give to them as well as draw from them.
I have decided that maybe I am a little stubborn as some tell me, and that that is a blessign from God because if I wasn't than I would have givven up on some of this stuff I have been going through as of late. But instead I have gotten through it with persistance, but most of all with the help of my savior, Christ.

And He has also given me the best friends anyone could ever have, friends who cried with me and supported me, who when I was at me weakest points, including that night my mom passed away, have gathered around me and helped me through it all. I love you all. Thank you so much
And thank you that you have all taught me that you can have joy, laugh and be thankful even at times as now when I am sitting here thinking how rediculous I must look sitting crying over a keyboard because I am so grateful. I love you all really you all know who you are. and I am proud to have such caring and wonderful friends.