Isaiah 41:10

   
     On Christmas Eve, my dad past away suddenly.  The past month has been the hardest of my life.  I would give anything to hear one more story from my dad or to go to dinner with him one more time.  He truly is the best dad a girl could ask for.  He impacted more lives than I think he could have ever realized.
    I could not understand why God would take such a loving man.  My mom, sister, Isabella and I were everything to my dad.  We were all so close.
    He loved working with the children in the community also.  He impacted so many lives, and not just my friends and family, but so many of his customers and people in our community.  He couldn't go anywhere without seeing someone he knew.
     Also, I had been struggling to find the answers to Isabella's questions.  How do you explain to a 3-year-old that she'll never get to see her best friend and popsy anymore?
     I had so many doubts and questions, but 2 weeks ago as I was saying my nightly prayer, I was selfishly asking God for his reasoning.  As I was praying, something happened that I had never experienced before.  God answered my questions.  Even through my selfishness, God explained that the reasons behind my questioning were the exact reasons why he needed my dad.
     God has a much bigger plan for my dad than I could have ever understood on my own, and I am comforted now in knowing this.  After God spoke to me, I felt a strange feeling of comfort that I've never felt before.
     Now, I have answers for Isabella's questions.  Even though she still gets upset and does not understand, I have been more confident in talking about it with her.
     I miss him everyday and think about him constantly, but I know he is in a much better place.  We'll get to see him again one day.  I just pray that Isabella can learn to understand through my faith.
     I also hope that I can be half the parent to her that my parents have been to me.
     Through this, I've learned not to take anything for granted.  Although it feels unfair now and life on Earth seems so short, I'm comforted in knowing that one day I'll get to see my dad again.
     I'm so thankful for the unbelievable amount of support my family and I have received from friends, family and our community.  We are so lucky, and without you all and God there is no way we could have made it through this.


So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. 
I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.  
    -Isaiah 41:10


Over You-Miranda Lambert

   

The most wonderful time of the year

     I am so excited to spend my fourth Christmas with Isabella!  I love the holidays, and they have become so much more fun.
     She has loved helping decorate the house with me and my mom.  I get so much more excited in the preparation for the holidays than ever before.
     We have already been to Fantasy of Trees and road in the Downtown Knoxville Christmas play with her dance agency.  We also plan to go to Dollywood, iceskating and to see Santa Claus, of course, at Bass Pro.
      I love all the holiday crafts she brings home from church and school.  I am also anxious to see the Christmas play she and her church class have been working on.
      She gives me a reason to act like a kid again this time of year, and I love it!

Now I lay me down to sleep

     My favorite time of the day is laying down with Isabella for prayer time.
     This is something we've done since she could barely talk, and I would say the majority of it for her.  Now, she knows the entire prayer and gets so excited for us to say it each night.
    Also, she realizes which day of the week is Sunday and has a fit if we even consider skipping church for the day.  She loves going to her church class on Wednesdays too.  They have a bible lesson and do crafts each week.  They are working on the church Christmas play.
    At her Mother's Day Out, they also do a bible lesson and learn songs about Jesus.
    Instilling good values is very important to me, and I'm so glad it has become such a big and important part of her life as well.

"Every good and perfect gift is from above." James 1:17

Not looking for a replacement

     Whenever I started dating Alex, I was and am not looking for a replacement dad for Isabella.  I expect him to be nothing more than my boyfriend right now.
      He has been a significant part of her life in a different way.  He is a great influence in her life and is very supportive of us, but he's not her dad and not trying to be.  
      I don't understand why people make fun of him for it, calling him a dad, babysitter, etc.  I think it proves his maturity the way he handles himself around us.  I also think it proves the maturity of those who make fun of him for it.
     It's not easy dating as a single mom.  It's hard to decide who is going to be mature enough to handle the responsibilities that come with dating someone with a child.  I wouldn't have started dating Alex if I didn't trust him and his values.  
     I can't always go on dates or do something spur of the moment like most people my age, and he understands that.  A lot of my plans are made based on what Isabella can do too or when someone can watch her for me.   Most 21-year-olds have no real responsibilities, but I do.  
    Because others my age don't have a responsibility as impacting as a child, they can't understand my life or Alex's now that he's dating me.  Therefore, I don't understand why it's used as a target to make fun of him.  Why judge someone based on something you have no experience with yourself?  
    We have a normal relationship.  We go on dates; we spend time with our families; we argue; we talk about the future; we're supportive of one another; and we simply love being around each other.  The only difference is I have a 3-year-old that tags along with us most of the time to make it a little more entertaining and sometimes challenging.   
     I am more than thankful to have Alex in our lives.  Isabella and I are really lucky in more ways than one.  If you don't understand this, maybe you should reevaluate your life instead.

"It’s always the people who know the least about you who want to judge you the most." -Unknown

Drama, drama, drama

Teen Mom 2 Trailer

     After watching the trailer for the new season of Teen Mom 2, I am simply in shock.  I am surprised that there are still people who watch this show.

     It makes me so sad that these girls have their lives and all their problems on display for the whole world to see.  The more seasons they have, the more dramatic it gets.

    The poor kids on the show will never have the opportunity for a normal life because of the choices that their parents have made.   It is not fair to these girls or their babies to have their dramatic lives and mistakes displayed for everyone to see. 

     It breaks my heart that young girls and even adults support this show.  It portrays such a negative image of young parents and exploits the lives of these girls on the show.

     I wish MTV would be removed from TV.  If all it is going to have are shows like this and Jersey Shore, there is no reason for it to be on anymore.  

     I hate that these shows have become such a prominent source of entertainment.  Also, it worries me that teenagers are looking up to people like this a some kind of role model. 

"Children learn how to deal with relationships by what they see on TV. They see people having casual sex and using obscenity-laden language... I don't see how it could possibly be good for kids." - Faye Steuer, professor of psychology at Charleston College (Charleston Post and Courier, August 25, 2005)

      

Parent first, student second

     Of course, Isabella is my number one priority and always will be.  Her needs and wants come first.  Spending time with her is very important to me too.  However, I do not let it take away from getting the best out of my time in school.
     I have learned to manage my time well.  I am able to juggle school, work, an internship, on campus organizations and most importantly time with Isabella.  
     If you're a mom and a student, you do not have to half way do anything.  There is no reason for you to hold back on the opportunities available, and there is no reason these opportunities should take away from quality time with your child.
     I'm beyond blessed by the chances I've had to further my education and enhance my resumé.  I have maintained over a 3.5 GPA and excelled in all of my classes.
     On campus, I am a member of the sport management club, PRSSA and Tau Sigma Honor Society.  I have an internship and two jobs that I love!
     My life is so busy, but not busy enough to keep me from my relationship with my boyfriend Alex, my family or friends.
     I spend time with them as much as I can, and luckily, Alex has his own priorities in line and accepts my busy life.  We are supportive of each other's goals and understanding even when the only time we can see each other is late in the evening. 
     I have managed to do all these things and maintain a relationship with my daughter.
     With the help of my friends and family, she is also able to do all the things she wants.  She keeps busy with t-ball, dance, mother's day out, church and gymnastics.
     There is no excuse for anyone not to take full advantage of what life in general or as a college student has to offer while providing your child with the best things in life too.  
     She and I are truly the luckiest girls in the world to have so many loving people supporting us with what it takes  for us to succeed.
     Our future is the most important thing to me, and I know my determination to succeed will pay off for us.

"If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it." 
-Harvey Mackay

Addiction

      I'll never understand how people can let their addictions control their lives.

      Whether it's cigarettes, drugs or alcohol, how can you let a substance control your life or determine your decisions?

     More importantly, these addictions keep you from being a significant part of your child's life.  

      Drug addiction has become an epidemic.  It's so hard for me to believe that babies are left in the hospital because their parents are too consumed by their addictions to take care of them, or that a parent would go three years with little or no contact with their child.

      I look at my beautiful, smart little girl and cannot imagine a day without seeing or talking to her, and I definitely cannot imagine letting an addiction consume and control my life so much it takes away from my time with her.

      People's priorities amaze me.  Some people are so selfish they do not realize how their choices often affect much more than just their own lives.
     

"Control your own destiny, or someone else will."

-Jack Welch