After flipping through Facebook, I have been faced with visions of my past and realized just how much they have shaped me and here is how...
My mother grew up in an abusive home and for years struggled with her anger and fears. That was demonstrated through the way that she disciplined me. For years, I hid bruises and lived in fear. Mom never meant to hurt me but truly was just raising me the way that she had been taught. My teens were difficult as our relationship was a struggle. At 16, I was molested by a boy in our youth group and at 19, I was date raped. I had learned to hide things from my parents that could cause friction and thus I remained quiet and led my parents to believe that I had just been rebellious and strayed.
My early 20's was a time of renewal in Christ and my relationship with the Lord grew to such that I was awed by Him everyday. I was accepted by a ministry that traveled across the country teaching about personal revival. This is the time where I learned to hide my fears and emotions from other believers. As a children's minister, I thrived! I delved deep into the Word and sought out the truth. My personal truth was my worst enemy at the time. In that type of ministry, people do not want to hear that you are vulnerable and raw. I saw some amazing things and truly believe that God had a strong hand on that ministry but there were times that I was driven by the leaders to search for hidden sins that only caused me to become depressed and fearful. We called this a "witch hunt for sin" Instead of allowing God to show us our sin, we went looking for it! Staying in "host" homes was my biggest downfall. Fears from my past surfaced and I could not put into words the hurt and healing that was taking place in my heart. This was interpreted again as rebellion and caused such great grief that I began to struggle with eating and sleeping. In the end, I left the ministry before the end of my 3rd year. Staying was just too painful and yet I struggled for years as I felt that I had failed to complete the task set before me. This was one of the darkest times in my life as I felt completely alone.
It took me a full year before I could go back and become a part of church. The church that I returned to was not the church that I had left 3 1/2 years earlier. The church had split and become bitter and hard. Several people in the church were angry and blamed the ministry that I had been a part of for destroying the church and I found that again, my "safe haven" was no safe place. God was so faithful to me during that time and continued to mold my heart in the image of Him. I finally found a church that I could become a part of and began to work in the Children's Ministry there. It was an amazing time and I grew in my faith much as I wrote and developed the Bible curriculum. Children have a way of restoring your faith in people and old wounds began to heal.
During this time, we discovered that my Grandmother had Alzheimer's. I bought a house and moved her in with me. The next 2 years were spent working during the day with special needs children and picking Grammy up from adult daycare at the end of the day. That was personally a very draining time for me. She threw books, coffee mugs and various other items at my head as she could not express her anger and frustration very well. My evenings were spent putting the knobs back on the stove to fix dinner, cleaning up, pulling stuff out of the trash that she had thrown away such as pictures, Bibles and jewelry, fishing stuff out of toilets and finally getting her bathed and to bed. In the end, Grammy was getting up about 3 times every night and getting lost in the house. Usually she was looking for the bathroom so putting her back to bed meant cleaning up messes and tucking her in. After 2 years, I realized that I could no longer cope and it was time to move Grammy to an assisted living center.
My sister moved into the house with me and I decided to get back into the real world. I started surfing the net and spending time with my Bible study buddies. It was a time of refreshment and delight at what God had led me through. During this time, I met the love of my life on a dating web site. Brian traveled back and forth for months from Nashville, TN to my home town of Jackson, TN. He was a professional drummer and was the sweetest thing on this side of heaven. God had given me a man of wisdom and one fully devoted to loving me! We were married on January 24th, 2004, just 11 months after having met online! I moved to Nashville and finally began the journey of opening my heart up to others.
God has been so faithful to me during the darkest of times and He has lead me to a church that loves the faults as much as the gifts. As Brian and my friends have slowly pulled away the layers of fear on my heart, I have found a sense of redemption in Christ for the first time in my life. I had never experienced unconditional love here on earth. There were always stipulations and clauses. I have known in my head that I was loved by God but the last 4 1/2 years has been the first time that I have ever seen it manifested. My daughter has been a gateway to forgiving and understanding my Mom. While I had chosen to forgive in the past, I began to understand her on a level that was not possible until I had a child of my own. I have loved getting to know my parents in a new way, There are treasures here on earth that were given to me to mold me into the image of God. I am no Grecian Urn but I have found that I am still special. All the knobby points and craters on my shell are my signs of growth. This is my journey to date and I am excited to see the testimony that will continue in my heart. I am forever grateful that God gave me the strength and grace to send me through the fire. My heart is full of joy and I am daily reminded of the life that He saved me from as I watch the world around me. He could have allowed me to be the one that was raised in a house of drugs and prostitution and yet He did not. My heavenly Father chose to send me along a path, that while hard, was not unconquerable with His direction and strength.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Monday, July 14, 2008
Ring, Ring, It's Boots on the phone....
On Saturday, we went over to my sister's house and had soem friends over to swim and eat. Anna Beth was fantastic until our friends left and then she turned quickly. We ened with a very rough afternoon.
We got stuck at their house until 9 pm that night waiting for Anna Beth's car seat to dry after and bit of an accident. When we finally had everything and were ready to hit the door, Anna Beth decided that she was not ready to leave. Brian handed me his cell phone and headed to the kitchen. I was not sure what he was up to but I soon found out. The phone started ringing and I realized that it was Brian on my sister's line. I answered the phone wondering what he was up to and heard the meow. Apparently Boots Kitty Cat Wood was calling! LOL I put Brian on speaker phone and called Anna Beth over. She was facinated when she realized that her cat had called and was asking her to come home. Bootsie never says a word at home other than meow but she talks up a storm over the phone. Brian hung up the phone and Anna Beth took him the phone and said, "Daddy, you want to talk to Bootsie?" I got up and headed around the corner to make the call and play Bootsie for a while. Brad and Denise were about to loose it on the couchand things got worse when Brian asked Bootsie to let him talk to the fish! I was loosing it behind the kitchen counter trying to figure out how to make fish noises and Anna Beth was believing it hook, line and sinker. LOL After the 2nd call, Anna Beth was ready to head home and see her Kitty but the only problem was, that she kept asking to call her cat all the way home.
On Thursday Anna Beth cried (and when I say cried, I mean screamed) non-stop for an hour and 45 minutes. We are having to be careful what battles we choose because we get tired of fighting with her. On Tuesday night, we went to Baskin Robbins for their $ .99 night and she went down a ramp that I told her not to. I told her when she got to the end that she would get a spanking when we got home if she stepped off. She looked at me and stepped off. All the way home, she said, "I don't want a spanking Mommy." I told her that she made that choice so now she had to get her spanking. When we got home, she refused to get out of the car. I unbuckled her car seat and she buckled it back. For 10 minutes she sat in that hot car with the door open and us staring out the window at her. I finally took the plastic spoon to the car and spanked her there. you would have thought that I killed her when in fact, I barely tapped her. She then screamed for another 45 minutes and we had to sling her over the shoulder to carry her in. Why? Why did we end up with the most stubborn child on earth? LOL I have never seen another child with the same determination that she has. She has actually been horse for the last couple of weeks from crying so much. I believe that she is also going through a growth spurt right now because she wakes up every night and has gotten very tall and skinny. Hopefully all will settle down once we get back to the routine of school and she is happy again.
We got stuck at their house until 9 pm that night waiting for Anna Beth's car seat to dry after and bit of an accident. When we finally had everything and were ready to hit the door, Anna Beth decided that she was not ready to leave. Brian handed me his cell phone and headed to the kitchen. I was not sure what he was up to but I soon found out. The phone started ringing and I realized that it was Brian on my sister's line. I answered the phone wondering what he was up to and heard the meow. Apparently Boots Kitty Cat Wood was calling! LOL I put Brian on speaker phone and called Anna Beth over. She was facinated when she realized that her cat had called and was asking her to come home. Bootsie never says a word at home other than meow but she talks up a storm over the phone. Brian hung up the phone and Anna Beth took him the phone and said, "Daddy, you want to talk to Bootsie?" I got up and headed around the corner to make the call and play Bootsie for a while. Brad and Denise were about to loose it on the couchand things got worse when Brian asked Bootsie to let him talk to the fish! I was loosing it behind the kitchen counter trying to figure out how to make fish noises and Anna Beth was believing it hook, line and sinker. LOL After the 2nd call, Anna Beth was ready to head home and see her Kitty but the only problem was, that she kept asking to call her cat all the way home.
On Thursday Anna Beth cried (and when I say cried, I mean screamed) non-stop for an hour and 45 minutes. We are having to be careful what battles we choose because we get tired of fighting with her. On Tuesday night, we went to Baskin Robbins for their $ .99 night and she went down a ramp that I told her not to. I told her when she got to the end that she would get a spanking when we got home if she stepped off. She looked at me and stepped off. All the way home, she said, "I don't want a spanking Mommy." I told her that she made that choice so now she had to get her spanking. When we got home, she refused to get out of the car. I unbuckled her car seat and she buckled it back. For 10 minutes she sat in that hot car with the door open and us staring out the window at her. I finally took the plastic spoon to the car and spanked her there. you would have thought that I killed her when in fact, I barely tapped her. She then screamed for another 45 minutes and we had to sling her over the shoulder to carry her in. Why? Why did we end up with the most stubborn child on earth? LOL I have never seen another child with the same determination that she has. She has actually been horse for the last couple of weeks from crying so much. I believe that she is also going through a growth spurt right now because she wakes up every night and has gotten very tall and skinny. Hopefully all will settle down once we get back to the routine of school and she is happy again.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Bible Study in a Storm!
I have been finding it very difficult to get alone with my God lately. Apparently my child feels that she should have my full attention at all times. I have been having my alone time when she was laying down to rest in the afternoons but she is no longer resting. I also felt that it is important for her to see me reading and praying so that she sees that it is a part of our everyday lives. This becomes a bit useless when I yell at her to leave me alone so I can pray! LOL In the end I feel as though this time set aside has been for nought.
There is a balance and I feel that my time is being pushed aside when I also believe that it is more important than ever to have that worship time with the Lord. I love my little girl but I need this and am trying to find a way to make it work together. Oddly enough my time with the Lord today was focused on misplaced attention. My attention has been all over the place lately, not on the matters of my heart. This only seems to be amplified when I am kicking my child out of the room so that I can have a few moments of peace to reflect and meditate on the condition of the heart. I find that instead I am sitting there dwelling on my frustration that I do not have that time and wondering what she is destroying just beyond that door.
She is so precious to me and I am grateful to God that He gave her to me to raise. However in the midst of that I believe that the One to whom I am grateful is also being neglected. Today, while she did give me time alone eventually, she also decided to use that time to "clean and fill" her vaporizer. This ended up being poured all over the carpet in my hallway. Another mess to clean and another time with God interrupted. After fussing, cleaning and a few of my tears I realized that I had just ruined any witness that I might have been to my child today! Where is the balance and will I be able to lead my child toward the Lord?
There is a balance and I feel that my time is being pushed aside when I also believe that it is more important than ever to have that worship time with the Lord. I love my little girl but I need this and am trying to find a way to make it work together. Oddly enough my time with the Lord today was focused on misplaced attention. My attention has been all over the place lately, not on the matters of my heart. This only seems to be amplified when I am kicking my child out of the room so that I can have a few moments of peace to reflect and meditate on the condition of the heart. I find that instead I am sitting there dwelling on my frustration that I do not have that time and wondering what she is destroying just beyond that door.
She is so precious to me and I am grateful to God that He gave her to me to raise. However in the midst of that I believe that the One to whom I am grateful is also being neglected. Today, while she did give me time alone eventually, she also decided to use that time to "clean and fill" her vaporizer. This ended up being poured all over the carpet in my hallway. Another mess to clean and another time with God interrupted. After fussing, cleaning and a few of my tears I realized that I had just ruined any witness that I might have been to my child today! Where is the balance and will I be able to lead my child toward the Lord?
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Too Cute...
Anna Beth has done and said that funniest things lately. On Monday, Brian and I took turns staying home with her because she was sick. I had the afternoon shift and was trying to get some work done from home when Anna Beth thought it would be a great idea to play the Brian's drums right behind me. I listened, appreciated and tolerated for about 20 minutes and decided that I had had enough. Just as I was about to say something, "I heard her say, "1...2...3...4... go!" Away she went banging with all her heart on her Daddy's drums. Last night she was counting off for him while he played! LOL That same day, she walked up to me and said, "Momma, I have the make-ups" This means hick-ups! She later came by again and informed me that she was ready to see her emails. (I have created a special email just for her that is monitored by me so that the family can send her stuff) Anna Beth cracks me up talking about listening to Mommy's I-pod and wearing her pretty croc's. She sounds so old at times!
Yesterday evening, Anna Beth was outside playing with her friends in the front yard and I peaked my head out to check on her only to discover her standing in the middle of the road at dusk! She has been warned on many occasions that she is never allowed in the road but she thinks that her friends can do it, why not her?! How so you explain to a 3 year old that they are not as old as they think that they are? I can usually trust her for brief spurts outside with the older girls because they keep an eye on her but this time they were keeping an eye on her as they rode around her in the street with their bikes! AHHHHHH! Trust is gone and Anna Beth is going to just have to put up with Mommy hanging around while she plays for a while longer.
There are days that I miss my baby but for the most part, I am grateful that my little girl is exactly where she is at. It has been so much fun to watch her personality develop and the discoveries that she has found. The time goes so fast. The other night I was kissing her on the neck and between her giggles she was telling me to stop. I told her, "No, Mommy has to do it alot because very soon you will not let mommy do it at all!" This is why I blog, to hold on to those special moments that someday will be hard to remember. Those little things that I laugh and cry over now will be hazy and forgotten. This is a way to preserve a bit of my girl for her to read about one day. I want her to know that her Mommy loved her, agonized over her and delighted in her.
Yesterday evening, Anna Beth was outside playing with her friends in the front yard and I peaked my head out to check on her only to discover her standing in the middle of the road at dusk! She has been warned on many occasions that she is never allowed in the road but she thinks that her friends can do it, why not her?! How so you explain to a 3 year old that they are not as old as they think that they are? I can usually trust her for brief spurts outside with the older girls because they keep an eye on her but this time they were keeping an eye on her as they rode around her in the street with their bikes! AHHHHHH! Trust is gone and Anna Beth is going to just have to put up with Mommy hanging around while she plays for a while longer.
There are days that I miss my baby but for the most part, I am grateful that my little girl is exactly where she is at. It has been so much fun to watch her personality develop and the discoveries that she has found. The time goes so fast. The other night I was kissing her on the neck and between her giggles she was telling me to stop. I told her, "No, Mommy has to do it alot because very soon you will not let mommy do it at all!" This is why I blog, to hold on to those special moments that someday will be hard to remember. Those little things that I laugh and cry over now will be hazy and forgotten. This is a way to preserve a bit of my girl for her to read about one day. I want her to know that her Mommy loved her, agonized over her and delighted in her.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Rasing a drama queen...
I am sure that all of you out there that do not have a little girl are wondering what it is like to raise a little girl. Just in case you are considering taking on this huge task let me walk you through our morning at the Wood household with Anna Beth!
Last night, we blew up the queen sized blow-up bed and the 3 of us piled on to watch a movie. After the movie was over we decided to "camp" out in the living room for the night so we all got settled and dozed off. This morning dawned bright and beautiful around 9:30 am and Anna Beth was sweet enough to wake us with kisses and giggles. She then informed us that she was stinky. After a quick discussion about using the potty vs. the pull-up I told her to get a pull-up and the wet wipes so daddy could change her. Then a 10 minute conversation continued about the fact that she had to be the one to get the stuff and that Daddy was going to change her. I thought all was well but then Daddy moved her to an easier place to change her and she dissolved into a screaming crying drama mess because she did not want to be changed on that side of the couch but the other side. After time-out on the steps and then time-out in the room and alot of tears Daddy and Anna Beth emerged ready to face the day. During this, I was making french toast, sausage and chocolate milk for breakfast. I was ready when they arrived downstairs including the powered sugar sprinkled on top. Anna Beth took one look at the plates and sat in the floor crying again because she wanted to use one of her plates instead of Mommy's plates. In order to just have some peace, I changed her plate but that was not enough. Daddy was supposed to have a pink plate as well. This caused more tears... then she did not want milk but koolaid. She was cold and needed a blanket... she wanted syrup on one French toast but not the other and then she put them together to eat them like a sandwich! She wanted 2 pieces of eggs not 1. She wanted to feed the fish and how could Daddy feed them without her?! All of these involved tears and crying and took about a total of 40 minutes to get through breakfast. I was just grateful that breakfast was over.
After breakfast Anna Beth had to clean up the chalk that she had drawn on the wall during one of her time-out sessions the night before. A time-out session that was required because Anna Beth stood there and peed on the floor while talking to me after I had just asked her if she needed to go potty! After she colored on the wall she had to sit there another 2 minutes!
Seriously, before you consider having a little girl you will need to understand that with her sweet face, giggles and kisses comes a side full of drama, tears and ear busting screams. I am not saying that I regret having her but I am pondering ever doing it again! LOL
It is so much work to raise her in the fear and admonition of the Lord. Oh... it would be easier to give her what she wants and let her go on her merry way but I know that is not what God has called us to do as parents. I am praying that all of this hard work and many prayers will be rewarded with a wonderful woman that lives a life in full surrender to the Lord. Anna Beth has such a wonderful heart and takes such good care of those around her and I know that one day all of these mornings of frustration will bear incredible fruit!
Last night, we blew up the queen sized blow-up bed and the 3 of us piled on to watch a movie. After the movie was over we decided to "camp" out in the living room for the night so we all got settled and dozed off. This morning dawned bright and beautiful around 9:30 am and Anna Beth was sweet enough to wake us with kisses and giggles. She then informed us that she was stinky. After a quick discussion about using the potty vs. the pull-up I told her to get a pull-up and the wet wipes so daddy could change her. Then a 10 minute conversation continued about the fact that she had to be the one to get the stuff and that Daddy was going to change her. I thought all was well but then Daddy moved her to an easier place to change her and she dissolved into a screaming crying drama mess because she did not want to be changed on that side of the couch but the other side. After time-out on the steps and then time-out in the room and alot of tears Daddy and Anna Beth emerged ready to face the day. During this, I was making french toast, sausage and chocolate milk for breakfast. I was ready when they arrived downstairs including the powered sugar sprinkled on top. Anna Beth took one look at the plates and sat in the floor crying again because she wanted to use one of her plates instead of Mommy's plates. In order to just have some peace, I changed her plate but that was not enough. Daddy was supposed to have a pink plate as well. This caused more tears... then she did not want milk but koolaid. She was cold and needed a blanket... she wanted syrup on one French toast but not the other and then she put them together to eat them like a sandwich! She wanted 2 pieces of eggs not 1. She wanted to feed the fish and how could Daddy feed them without her?! All of these involved tears and crying and took about a total of 40 minutes to get through breakfast. I was just grateful that breakfast was over.
After breakfast Anna Beth had to clean up the chalk that she had drawn on the wall during one of her time-out sessions the night before. A time-out session that was required because Anna Beth stood there and peed on the floor while talking to me after I had just asked her if she needed to go potty! After she colored on the wall she had to sit there another 2 minutes!
Seriously, before you consider having a little girl you will need to understand that with her sweet face, giggles and kisses comes a side full of drama, tears and ear busting screams. I am not saying that I regret having her but I am pondering ever doing it again! LOL
It is so much work to raise her in the fear and admonition of the Lord. Oh... it would be easier to give her what she wants and let her go on her merry way but I know that is not what God has called us to do as parents. I am praying that all of this hard work and many prayers will be rewarded with a wonderful woman that lives a life in full surrender to the Lord. Anna Beth has such a wonderful heart and takes such good care of those around her and I know that one day all of these mornings of frustration will bear incredible fruit!
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Mommy... I put a bow on it!
Anna Beth slept in this morning so after she woke up we made our usually phone call to check in with Daddy, we then headed downstairs for breakfast. After eating our bowls of cereal. starting a load of laundry and getting the kitchen in working order again, I headed back upstairs to separate the laundry. Anna Beth was contentedly watching Sesame Street so I thought I was in good shape to get a few things done.
Upon arriving back downstairs, I discovered that Anna Beth had "re-arranged" the 3 loads of laundry that I had folded the night before. She had taken every towel, blanket, and piece of clothing and laid them flat one on top of another. I looked at her with a grin on my face and asked what she was doing. She informed me that she had put a bow on top and indeed she did. There was a small hat atop the giant pile of clean laundry! LOL After a phone call to Daddy that involved lots of laughter I began to "unwrap" the laundry. At the middle of the pile I found my "gift." It was her wet wipes box. After a game of chase and tickles through the house I began to re-fold all the laundry! LOL While my house is in a state of continuous mess due to episodes like this, my heart is full with the knowledge that God has given me a child that will delight me all my days!
We finished the morning off with cheesy eggs and apples for lunch! I am excited to see what amazing and funny thing that she will come up with next. I am hoping that she will take a nap so that I can get the house cleaned for our trip and some more laundry done. We will see if the cooperation will continue but I know that God's gift to me will continue to leave me laughing, crying, frustrated and fulfilled as a mother. My life is full of blessings and today I have had to stop and take the time to thank God for them.
I was recently told, by a very old friend, that those hard days will get better as she gets older and while I am grateful that that is true, I also do not want to loose these moments waiting for the easier days to come. They go so quickly and even though there will be days that I sit in a parking lot and cry out of humiliation for the behavior that my child just exhibited, the days are also full of those sweet and sensitive moments. Those moments that Anna Beth asks me to read her a book about Jesus, I can listen to her pray, I can hear her giggle in delight and I can hear about something new that she has learned or discovered. They are ever fleeting. My baby is growing up and she reminds me that she is a big girl everyday!
Thank you my gracious Father for the child that you have given to Brian and I. Thank you for her strong sense of who she is and her willingness to defend that. Thank you for the guidance and the people that you have sent along side of us to encourage us as we raise this precious child. Thank you for such a strong and supportive husband that adores both of us. You have given me one of the greatest gifts that a woman could ever ask for, my family!
Upon arriving back downstairs, I discovered that Anna Beth had "re-arranged" the 3 loads of laundry that I had folded the night before. She had taken every towel, blanket, and piece of clothing and laid them flat one on top of another. I looked at her with a grin on my face and asked what she was doing. She informed me that she had put a bow on top and indeed she did. There was a small hat atop the giant pile of clean laundry! LOL After a phone call to Daddy that involved lots of laughter I began to "unwrap" the laundry. At the middle of the pile I found my "gift." It was her wet wipes box. After a game of chase and tickles through the house I began to re-fold all the laundry! LOL While my house is in a state of continuous mess due to episodes like this, my heart is full with the knowledge that God has given me a child that will delight me all my days!
We finished the morning off with cheesy eggs and apples for lunch! I am excited to see what amazing and funny thing that she will come up with next. I am hoping that she will take a nap so that I can get the house cleaned for our trip and some more laundry done. We will see if the cooperation will continue but I know that God's gift to me will continue to leave me laughing, crying, frustrated and fulfilled as a mother. My life is full of blessings and today I have had to stop and take the time to thank God for them.
I was recently told, by a very old friend, that those hard days will get better as she gets older and while I am grateful that that is true, I also do not want to loose these moments waiting for the easier days to come. They go so quickly and even though there will be days that I sit in a parking lot and cry out of humiliation for the behavior that my child just exhibited, the days are also full of those sweet and sensitive moments. Those moments that Anna Beth asks me to read her a book about Jesus, I can listen to her pray, I can hear her giggle in delight and I can hear about something new that she has learned or discovered. They are ever fleeting. My baby is growing up and she reminds me that she is a big girl everyday!
Thank you my gracious Father for the child that you have given to Brian and I. Thank you for her strong sense of who she is and her willingness to defend that. Thank you for the guidance and the people that you have sent along side of us to encourage us as we raise this precious child. Thank you for such a strong and supportive husband that adores both of us. You have given me one of the greatest gifts that a woman could ever ask for, my family!
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Finally... a good day!
I awoke this morning with high hopes that the day would be positive with Anna Beth and so far that is true. It was a slow and lazy start but has continued with having the 3 girls from next door over to eat frozen pizza and watermelon. They then all moved to the back-yard to climb in the big blow-up pool to swim. They are taking turns between laying out, the sprinkler and the pool. LOL I am actually having some time to myself to get caught on work and have a peaceful moment as the oldest is keeping an eye on Anna Beth for me. What a blessing!
Last night we went to an Electronic store to deal with a customer service issue which pushed me over the edge! The manager was rude and condescending to both Brian and I. He actually said that he did not have to fix the mistake that the company as a whole made and he was doing us a favor. I have never had such bad customer service in all my days and I went so far as to contact the headquarters this morning via email and let them know that I was willing to take this to the Better Business Bureau if they did not respond! I understand people make mistakes but there is never a reason for rudeness. Needless to say, we are never returning to that store!
After that we headed to Toys R' Us. Anna Beth had received a $25 gift card from Brandon and Emily for her Flower Girl Services. This was the first time that we had ever taken her to a toy store so she was completely overwhelmed. Anna Beth ran from one aisle to the next squealing like crazy! lol I have not seen her that excited in several days. We finally decided on a Lite Bright, Hello Kitty flip flops and a Hello Kitty pink purse. She had to have a little help from Daddy to pay for all of her purchases but she had no idea that he did as he stood on the other side of the counter to pay the difference. It was a great stress reliever after what had happened earlier.
I have spent most of my afternoon getting fraudulent charges taken off some our bills and about to head into the world of work. Overall a great day and I am looking forward to what the rest of the evening holds!
Last night we went to an Electronic store to deal with a customer service issue which pushed me over the edge! The manager was rude and condescending to both Brian and I. He actually said that he did not have to fix the mistake that the company as a whole made and he was doing us a favor. I have never had such bad customer service in all my days and I went so far as to contact the headquarters this morning via email and let them know that I was willing to take this to the Better Business Bureau if they did not respond! I understand people make mistakes but there is never a reason for rudeness. Needless to say, we are never returning to that store!
After that we headed to Toys R' Us. Anna Beth had received a $25 gift card from Brandon and Emily for her Flower Girl Services. This was the first time that we had ever taken her to a toy store so she was completely overwhelmed. Anna Beth ran from one aisle to the next squealing like crazy! lol I have not seen her that excited in several days. We finally decided on a Lite Bright, Hello Kitty flip flops and a Hello Kitty pink purse. She had to have a little help from Daddy to pay for all of her purchases but she had no idea that he did as he stood on the other side of the counter to pay the difference. It was a great stress reliever after what had happened earlier.
I have spent most of my afternoon getting fraudulent charges taken off some our bills and about to head into the world of work. Overall a great day and I am looking forward to what the rest of the evening holds!
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