At what age is a child old enough to understand the "truth" about the family?? I have been wondering this for a while now, Chad and I have been married for almost 7 years and during our 7 years of marriage we have encountered some of the hardest times. If I told you what they were some of you would be amazed. Most of them had to do with dealing with all the many battles in his family. My life and his life growing up as a child was like Aladdin and Jasmine.Now I say that in the nicest way possible, I do not think in way I was better than him but I know that my family and child hood was a lot better than his was. When he finally got to the age that he could sign up for the army he felt that, that would be his only way out of the craziness that he endured on a daily basis. Once he was in the army and into the "real" world he soon realized just how messed up his family actually was. Even in basic training and through some of the darkest days of his life he was alone with NOBODY to turn to for guidance. By this point in his life he was able to block and hold in ALL of his emotions. He began bottling it all up and then like a ticking time bomb he would explode. By the time his four year service to the army was over he had already been divorced, filed bankruptcy, and lost his home. A lot for someone at 23 to take in. When we started dating he was fresh out of the service and he was lost at to where to go next in his life. Of course me being a senior in High school (yes thats right HIGH SCHOOL) I had no guidance to give him, I was just excited to be dating "CHAD BRIDGES" funny now .... I never really knew the "truth" behind his family issues until much later in our relation, but I did however know that he did not have a normal everyday family like I was use to. We dated for one year before he purposed and then waited a year after that before we got married.

I always knew that I would marry him...Funny but I have to throw this story in... When I was in middle school Deanna lived across from Chad and he and Travis use to drive this big blue van and they use to chase us in it and scare us and try to give us candy...They were mean but Deanna and I loved them...Before Chad left to go to the army we actually rode the ferris wheel together at the catfish festival (yeah I know romantic huh?) I was like 13 which made him 18 or 19 and me having puppy love for him.... When he left I use to write him all the time...NEVER got a response and I believe that Deanna use to tell me to give up I would never see him again.. Then when I was a freshman he came in on leave and we ran into each other at a football game and he wrote his "new" address down for me LOL....(which I still have) I wrote more to him then and still nothing.... Oh well I thought I had done what I could to try to keep in touch. I use to tell all my friends that I was going to marry somebody from my past that was going to sweep me off my feet and I always said it would be Chad...HMMM weird huh...He came back in from duty for good I dropped everything for him and here we are.

Okay so back to why I started typing this blog. Before Peyton came along we really didn't worry to much about what we encountered over the years as long as we still had each other. But when Peyton came along we made a pack to not let her life be anything like the life he had...Even though Chad wont admit it I know he was terrified to become a daddy. He knew he didn't want to be the father that his father was to him. And I really just think that since he never had his dad there he didn't really know how to be. But when Peyton was born he has more than fulfilled his duties as father...He is the greatest dad EVER!!! But his family issues always lingered in the back of his head. Now as Peyton is getting older and grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles have come in and out of her life and confused her beyond belief I often find ourselves asking "When should we explain the truth behind the life long family issues that will forever be apart of her life?" I know that 5 years old is pretty young but she is a very smart five year old, (no comment Laurie I know I have told you more than anybody all she knows LOL) She is starting to ask questions about why she can't go see this person, or why she never talks to this one? I really just don't know what to say so normally I say "well they live far away." I know that EVERY family has issues it doesn't matter who you are there will always be problems in the family.

So when is the right age? I obviously do not want her to worry about problems like this but I also want her to understand at some point...Just always thinking about the deep stuff....

Powerful

I was going thru youtube (as I do EVERYDAY while I am eating lunch) I just wanted to hear some old songs that I use to listen to back in the day. Collin Raye popped into mind I use to LOVE listening to ALL of his songs. But I had never heard this one, and to be honest I didn't know he was even still actually singing...I watched this video and as I listened to the words I realized how powerful it truly is. I could not imagine Chad still being in the army and having to be over there fighting. I have always, since a young child been fascinated by the "TROOPS" there is always a pull at my heart when I see videos like this..These men and woman are fighting and dying for US and I know that GOd is hearing their prayers... This battle has been going on long enough and I think it is now time to bring them home and maybe reward these wonderful men and women with more than just a pat on the back and an Honorable discharge... I know that when Chad got out of the service he was lost..It took a LONG time to get back into civilian life style and I know that everyday if he could go back in ...he would he has even tried a few times. But God has a plan for him right here. I just wanted to share this video with you all

Atlantic City HERE I COME !!!

We will be leaving Saturday afternoon going to my sisters and staying all night there and then getting up Sunday morning and leaving for Atlantic City. I am a little bit nervous (Imagine That) about the weather it is suppose to have 30% mixed percepitation all the way up there. Really the only thing that is concerning is up in the mountains of West Virginia. SO PLEASE PLEASE keep us in your prayers for a safe trip there and back. I want to make the best of all of the trip, so I am not going to worry myself over it. And one thing I am thankful about is the fact that Chad is a good driver and will not try to be superman and drive in bad conditions. So like I told Heather this morning we are just gonna take our time and get there when we get there. God will watch us safely.
I can not wait to see the kids tomorrow night, Bayleigh is my princess number two and only number two because Peyton is number one!lol... She loves her AA so much and I love her so much...She usually tackles me as soon as I walk in the door so I will be more than ready for my BIG hug from her. And I am sure she will say she wants to sleep with me and Chad but when I actually take her and put her in bed with us she expects me to hold her the whole time and when I don't she gets VERY angry...LOL...I just love her I can not wait to see her. And of course Cole and Lindsay, they are just getting to that age where they could careless who comes over...LOL... Thank goodness today is friday. Please say a prayer for my friend Missy, I hope she knows that I love her !!!
I will be posting pictures while I am gone so keep checking back ...

Thanks Laurie

Thanks to Laurie Keen for my WONDERFUL pictures..I can't wait to choose which ones I want to order. I am just so GLAD my husband finally let me schedule it. I think him being laid off he was tired of sitting there so anyway to get out of the house for anything..So I took him advantage of him ...Oh well he will be okay..

You asked for them ....so here they are...

When I came home from work today Chad was actually putting together some of the doll house. Even though he said there is no way that he could do that..It actually looks like a house now..I was impressed... :~) So here are the pictures that I have

THESE ARE THE INSTRUCTIONS ..... DO YOU SEE ANYTHING HELPFUL ?

THIS IS WHAT THE HOUSE IS SUPPOSE TO LOOK LIKE.....

THIS IS IT WHEN I FIRST GOT HOME...NOT TO BAD...Notice the outside has to be painted...



Okay so this these are just a few parts....very few... notice the things I am holding in my hand are the inch long "SHINGLES" for the roof..Now keep in mind they are wood so they too will have to be painted...

This is what it looks like tonight after we got finished working with it.

I think it is actually going to be pretty. Hopefully I can get it all done and tomorrow I will probably start with the small details like FREAKIN FLOWERS BOXES, and all the stuff I never have done with my OWN house....LOL...Oh well my saying is "What my baby wants, My baby gets"

Until Next Time

Weekend overview

This weekend has gone by entirely to fast. Friday night Heather and Laymond came over and we decided to go to Central City to get a blizzard at DQ. While driving there my husband being the "Professional" driver that he has always claimed to be decided he would talk and not pay attention and almost ran the stop sign at the end of 70. Luckily Laymond said "huh, YOU GONNA STOP BUDDY" LOL...SO while Chad slammed on his breaks and swerved a little bit to get stopped just before running the stop sign we noticed that a state trooper was passing us. He turned around quickly and so Chad just figured he might as well pull on over and so the state trooper flipped his lights on and pulled behind us. He was really nice Chad just admitted that he was talking to much and not paying attention and the cop just decided to let us go and told us to be careful.... SHWWWW....that was exciting and all that just for a blizzard. Saturday we went to Bowling Green and got groceries. Peyton has been hoarding some money away so I decided to take her to Hobby Lobby (he he he) and let her look at the doll houses and she quickly decided that was what she wanted so it was 99.00 and when we got to the check out this nice lady in front of us gave us a coupon for 40% off so that made it like 63.00 dollars...that was a HUGE help...I was so excited... If I had only known what I was getting myself into. We had Chad's mom come over and help us put it together we figured we could get it all done....WRONG!!! It is AWFUL...The box is VERY deceiving the exterior walls are not even painted..Now I knew I was going to have to put it together and paint the inside and all but then I pulled out this baggy with what I learned to be SHINGLES...YEP you guessed it I have to freaking ROOF this house.. and the shingles are each about an inch in size and there are probably about 500+ pieces.... AND there is now lettering or numbers to identify what parts are what....So it is basically like building a real house... I was SOOOO mad but I this is what she wants so I am hoping to have it complete for her before her 16th birthday...LOL.... I have the second floor up and the third floor, floor on and that is about it..I just figured I can spray paint it when I am completely done and that should take care of the majority of it....
Today we went to church and Resurrection Bound played and it was good music and worship...Then we went Laurie's for pictures and had a GREAT time visiting ...I think she got some good pictures so we will see.....It wasn't Peyton that was hard it was Chad who we couldn't get to smile....LOL...But that is Okay I think we all kept Laurie entertained....HA HA HA .... I really enjoyed talking with her and Scott they are two friends that I am glad to have I LOVE THEM BOTH..... So since Missy is such a great friend we have a free vacation this weekend we just booked it and we are going to Atlantic City New Jersey...It is one place that we have never been and it is FREE so we will go any where for that.. I can not wait to just get away for a while.... Now I have to get up and get things done this week so I wont fall behind next week at work. Here is hoping for a nice easy and productive week.... Hope you all have a wonderful week and ....

A year into a lifetime......

I have kept myself busy most of the day today. But in the back of my head, while going about my day I couldn't help but remember the heart ache and pain I felt on this day one year ago. It seems like just yesterday and it still hurts to think about it all over again. I have been working on a presentation of Chad singing a song makes me think of Tiffany every day and I have been setting pictures up to his song. I was hoping to have it done but I was not able to.... There is really know words to explain my feelings I just have to live each day as though Tiff was here with me. She brought me back to Christ and I will forever love her for that ...I miss you Tiffany EVERYDAY .....