Summer is half way over.

Wow it has been just over a month since I last updated although I did find a draft in here that I started but trashed it so I could do this one. Things have been moving along here with Samantha putting every check away for a vehicle as well as Dennis working every overtime he can get so we can but a another vehicle ourselves.

It is hard to believe that in a little more then a month school will be back in session. Since I last updated Samantha did buy that running stroller and uses it too. The only other thing she spent money on was her shoes for work, and some new bras. If she keeps losing weight like she is she will need a whole new wardrobe soon.

Dennise has also took up running and is loving it just as much as Samantha, when she gets home she rushes through her chores so that she can get out there for her run. Sometimes she takes Deanna. Deanna will be running more for soccer this year so it is good for her, somedays they even take Dorothy but she can't run as far or as fast as them so they only take her when they all go so that they can spread out and make sure everyone has a running partner. I am so very proud of my girls.

Running is something I could never do and something the Dr.'s said I shouldn't do, something to do with my kidneys. Either way I am doing good with my weight loss, down a bit more this week. Whoot whoot every little bit helps.

Deanna finally learned to ride her bike without training wheels and now I can't keep her off of it unless of course she is running, or swimming. I am so proud of her. She really hasn't been able to ride her bike all that often and this is really the first year that she was able to get some riding in, so this is a big acheievement for her. Yeah Deanna. P.S. Dennis bought Deanna a new bike so that when she learned she would have a surprise, can't wait to see her face when he springs it on her. He also bought Dorothy one she has been wanting one for a long time, and her dreams and wishes are about to come true. I will be sure to post pictures when he finally gives them their surprise.

This is the last week of summer school for Deanna, and Dorothy until school starts back up, as well as the last week for Dennise volunteering at the school. I was told they were glad to have her and what a great help she was to the program. I am so proud of her.

My son ordered his first professional T-shirts for his Magic career. We ordered 7 alone for our house. Can't wait to wear mine. I think we will order from the same company when we order our shirts that Dennis will design. He also landed a much better paying job. The one he should have had last year but things didn't work out. I guess it wasn't in God's plan last year so now he won't have to scrimp as much as he was.

Lilly is going great. She is talking up a storm, and is just as cute as my own kids were, she is just a little extra special because she is my grand daughter. I love being able to see her every day. I know when my parents were alive they either saw my kids every day or we called them. I have always wanted my kids to have a close bond with their grandparents. I was able to succeed with my own but it is still a work in progress with my husband's side. Oh well keep trying we will until they kids decide they have had enough.

I guess that is the short version of catching up. Hope you are all having a great summer.

A quite Saturday.

Today was a quiet summer day. Dennis worked this morning, the kids slept in. I got the laundry done, some folded, dishes washed, kitchen clean, dinner prepared, you know the regular mom things. I also got a few blogs up over on one of my other pages here, before Dennis got home. He was up for a little bit before he headed off to bed because he has another shift tonight. The girls went swimming, we had dinner, did baths, and soon enough it was time for Dennis to get up for work.

Samantha is also working tonight as well, her first week of work and she scored some overtime which she will be using to get a jogging stroller so she can run with Lilly more often. Her regular stroller just can't handle it, and the new stroller will be so much better for hiking, which we use to do when Deanna and Dorothy were little. Those strollers are great for all kinds of terrain.

Once Dennis was up we did our snuggles and stories as well as Deanna's reading time. I am bound and determined that she will go back to school in the fall reading better then when she left for the summer. I am sure summer school will also help with that, but so far she is doing well, and even looks forward to our reading time. It is just Deanna and Mommy time, so she loves it. Last night because we went shopping so late, we didn't get to it and she came in to the room and said "Mommy when are we going to read again?", I told her we would do it today which we did, so I am very proud of her. Usually when you say it is reading time she doesn't want anything to do with it but with taking the time and setting a time where it is just her and I really turned things around instead of doing all of their homework at the same time like we have in the past.

We have always spent one on one time with each of the kids, as well as taking sets, all of them, and even alone time just for Dennis and I, but this little bit of extra time has really made al of the difference in the world. I am so proud of her accomplishments already and we still have the rest of the summer to go.

I have started Dorothy reading just the letters while we are reading. It is coming slow, I don't know what they did all year in Head Start but she doesn't know her letters as strongly as I think she should but then again the rest of the kids were 5 when they started kindergarten, not 4 like she will be in the fall.

The girls and I all started a weight loss challenge with Run with Jess which we are doing pretty good at but then again it is only 2 weeks into the 13 weeks of the program but have that blog over at Pam's fight to lose weight if you would like to take a look.

Ok time for me to watch a little Fringe before turning in for the night, unless I get my second wind then maybe I will poke around the internet a bit or read. Hope you are all having a great summer so far.

Samantha's Graduation

Today marked another special day here in Marksville. Last year when Samantha told us she might be pregnant, we sat down and had a talk about what her furture could be like. First thing she said was that she didn't want to be like her Aunt. I do have to say that made me very proud in deed. She sure has the determination of a Graham in her.

Abortion and Adoption were NEVER an option, quitting school was not in the cards, leaving us just to figure out what our choices were after this. Now years ago when Dennis and I decided to have 6 kids, we knew there was a chance that we would have a child go through teen pregnancy and planned on how we would deal with it, so we already had a plan in motion if we ever needed it. This I would encourage you to do if you already haven't think ahead about what might happen and plan accordingly. Of course with that said we still made plenty of mistakes over the years raising our kids, but so far they aren't that bad, and are making their way in life.

One of the first things I did was contact Samantha's teacher's and the rest of the staff, telling them she was pregnant, would be staying in school, and that no one was to speak ill of her pregnancy. I did find out one of the staff had talked another student in getting an abortion. I told that staff person right out that if I even had a wiff that they said anything but positive things to my daughter that I would make sure they not only lost their job, but could never work in their field again. A teen mother can have a positive experience if given the right support network.

One of the first things we found out is that they didn't have a Physical Education Program for pregnant mom's. The school's way of dealing with it was to have them sit it out on the sidelines. Samantha's Dr. agreed with me, that this just was not right, and since Samantha wanted to stay active, remember she is a runner, I had to make call after call so that they provided Samantha with things that were appropriate for each stage of her pregnancy. They did O.K, but really Samantha was not the first teen pregnancy, and certainly won't be the last and that I know of they still don't have a plan B, but only did this for her because we pushed so much.

As Samantha's pregnancy continued she had the support from most of her friends and family the whole time, oh there were those who thought she would quit once she had the baby, and some that even thought she would quit before the baby even came, but she didn't. When she went on maternity leave from school we had a great tutor, that was very supportive of her, and made sure she had all of her work done and turned in on time, even getting ahead so when she went in labor she wouldn't fall behind.













The time came and Lilly was born, she continued with her Tutor, while learning to nurse Lilly, and even went to the school to take her exams, even though she was offered to hold off on some of them till the next year. When last school year was over for some reason some thought she wouldn't return in the fall. Well guess what? She did.



Breastfeeding was something I did, and had hoped Samantha would do but it was her choice. When she was little when her friends were feeding their baby dolls bottles, she was lifing up her shirt and breastfeeding hers. With that being said she took to it like water and was determined to see it through, sore nipples and all.





She was the first teenager to enter our school needing a breastfeeding room, which they did not have, so she spent most of the school year in a room off of the nurses office. At first the nurse didn't really talk to her, and when she told the nurse she needed to come twice a day, because Lilly needed more milk, she wasn't happy at all, but by May when Samantha was weaning Lilly, they were talking and getting along.

Now back before this year began we got a call wondering if Samantha was returning to school, in which we said yes, and when we also told them she was going on the Senior Trip we got a surprised look. Samantha and I worked really hard to get her into as many Senior activities as we could to earn her points to go to Washington D.C. with her class. Money got tight and we didn't see how we could come up with enough to pay our share but we made some payments. News came that Samantha's whole trip had been paid for by a generous donation, and we even got 50.00 back which we sent with Samantha on her trip.

She had a great time and Lilly did awesome. When she returned she had gifts for everyone. The year was coming to an end quickly, and she was doing great.

So here we are Graduation day. Am I proud of Samantha? You bet I am, she continued school, seeing it through. Sure she heard rumors and whispers, but she didn't let it stop her from going for her goals. Graduating, getting a job, buying a car, getting her license, and going to college.

She graduated today, starts her job on Monday, has her permit, and starts college in the fall. Looks like 4 out of 5 so far. Being a teen mom has not held her back as much as some would think. My daughter is a Awesome mom, fantastic daughter, and growing up more and more each and every day.

They talked about two students today one who never missed a day since Kindergarten, and another who took quite a few years to graduate. Yes I thought it might be Samantha they would talk about, but we all know they can't do that, they can't tell anyone about a teenage mother who is making her dreams come true. A teen who had the support of friends, family, and community. It might lead to an outbreak of teen pregnancies. Oh well. All I can say is that she made everyone in Marksville very proud today with her accomplishments.

Samantha on stage with her rose.

Papa showing Lilly where Mommy is.
Lilly making her rounds, yeah she is holding her hands out for Nana.















Here is the Taconic Hills Class of 2012.



Here is Samantha and Daddy balling their eyes out.


Don't care how old my kids are, they will never be too old for hugs and kisses.









Marksville from left to right.
Paul, Samantha holding Lilly, Taylor, Buke, Deanna in front, Dennise in back, Dorothy in front, Me, and Dennis. The only one missing is Bryan who we were missing very much today.



Samantha did it.



Yeah that is right Marksville style like only we can do it. Love you Samantha. So very proud of you. You are AWESOME!








A little side note here. I wasn't able to get pictures of Grandma Marks, and Grandpa George because they took off, right after the graduation. They told Dennis to take his time and they would be waiting by the cars. Well we rushed Samantha through the pictures, leaving her without getting many of the ones she wanted with her friends so that we could get back to the cars to get pictures with her Grandparents.

When we got back to the cars all we found was a card that had been left in the van. Let's just say that Dennis was not happy at all, and to make amends to Samantha for his mother again letting his kids down he whispered to me we were going out for lunch. Who are we kidding she didn't come to Buke's graduation at all, didn't even get him a gift. Sure that 100.00 was nice that Grandma gave Samantha but it was not the hug and pictures she wanted, or the time she wanted to spend with her on her special day. Yeah we had to see the sadness in her eyes again.

As it is when Dennis called his mother last night to tell her that we were not going out to eat that Samantha had chose to have a Party instead before he even got to tell her she already had an excuse to not go and eat with us. Like I said before every time the kids have graduated from Middle school on up we have invited them out to eat and every time they have an excuse not to attend. This time it was that a client had coughed or spit in her mouth who had Hepatitis C, so she had to go to the hospital for tests or a shot or something.

Dennis thinks it might be just an excuse, a good one to bail out this time on her grandkids, but then again if it did happen then we sure hope she doesn't get it, you know it takes decades to get really bad, and that she will be ok. Either way I hope she takes the time to come to her party, or Samantha just may be done too. My parents were greatly missed today, and even though they are in Heaven, we still felt their love, as well as the many memories of time spent with the kids, that will never be forgotten.

Thinking back over the years.

Today was a quite day here which was nice as we have been so busy lately, and much needed before the busy week a head. Only a few short weeks and Samantha will be graduating and then starting her summer job, before she goes off to college. Time sure flies by.

Speaking of time flying by I just saw a picture online of a grown man, who I used to babysit for when he was a baby. I used to change his diapers. It is funny because that family was my first paying job to do baby sitting for and I really enjoyed helping them out with their kids. Before this I helped watch my brother's kids when they went out for a bit, but I don't ever remember being paid to do it.

I have always enjoyed watching kids, so I suppose it was only natural that I open my own child care once I got older. Back when Dennise was born I started working for several people and found out for years I was watching way to many kids then our state allowed you to do. Sure I was lucky and didn't have any problems but I am thankful to God for that one. It didn't take long to settle on a name for our business "Marks Child Care". What is harder to believe is that is has been over 15 years that I have had my business with a few years off when Deanna was born due to me working outside of the home.

Now that we are settled I have been open officially for almost a year, and I really enjoy it. I love it now that some of the kids are grown that they still remember me and have no problem coming up hugging me, or asking how I am doing and if I am still watching little ones. I do have to say though that I did turn down the church in helping out with the little ones because all of my other days including church days in the past I was looking after kids and it was my few hours away from takaing care of children, giving me a break and time to praise the Lord, without someone under foot.

I am just ever thankful that I am able to be a positive role model for the children I have helped raise over the years and that I made such an impression on their little lives that they still take the time to stop chat and of course give hugs. This really shows to me that I did my job well. Getting a child care worker that will treat your chidlren like there own is so important to their well being, and a parents sanity, that their kids are safe and well taken care of.

We have had kids that have had no father figure in their life really become attached to Dennis, as well as kids that did many of their firsts with us. Going to the store, going out to eat, movie theaters, museums, the many activities I came up with to keep their days busy and full of excitement, the lessons they learned that my parents passed down to me, as well as being a part of our family for holidays when their parent or parents had to work, and even some calling my parents grandma and grandpa because they were such a big part of their life.

I guess if there is one thing I can be thankful for is a loving heart that I can share with everyone including the little ones, and seeing them grow up and making good choices in their adulthood really makes me feel proud that I too was a part of their lives no matter how small or big a part I played in it. So to all of the little children who were apart of "Marks Child Care" or even before we had a name, we are proud of all of your accomplishments.

Another Busy Update

We have been quite busy here in Marksville the last few months leaving me only enough time to keep a few of my blogs updated at any given time. If you see some of my other blogs here you will see I have been doing some more reviews, as well as getting my first sponsored give a way which was really nice. I hope to get a few more now that I am getting better at getting my blogs up.

Today was a easy quite day. Although I didn't get  the clothes folded, I did get the noise the van was making fixed and it didn't cost us a thing. The Dealer just had to make right what they should have to begin with. I do have to say I was sweating because with only a few dollars in the bank I wouldn't have been able to pay them if I wanted too. I also took care of a few things on line and even got to chat with one of my Gather friends on the phone.

We recently paid off a big bill and are well on our way to paying off yet another bill, which is really nice. A few weekends ago we took Samantha to get her Prom Dress, and accessories, then last week we took Dennise out to get some much needed clothes, not that Samantha doesn't need new clothes she just picked her Prom Dress over getting some new clothes. Her 18th Birthday is coming up in a few days and she will be getting her permit to drive. She is also hoping to land a real nice job this summer to start saving up for some wheels of her own. Dennis and I both worked for our first set of wheels so we expect our kids to do the same.

Deanna has been busy with her after school programs, while Dorothy will be getting ready for kindergarten round up pretty soon. I actually got  the papers in the mail today. Bryan just had his 15th Birthday and we hope to be able to go up and visit him soon. Dennis has been putting in as much overtime as he can so we can pay down our bills that much faster, so we haven't really had time to go up to do a family meeting with his counselor which has changed yet again in a very long time. Their schedule and ours just don't see eye to eye.

Buke and Taylor have moved into a new apartment which is much bigger and they don't have to hide their cat anymore. Her name is Sable and she has her very own room. Unless they decide to have kids Sable is all I am getting, and I won't even see great grand children from her as they got her fixed...bummer. Buke is working on his magic for his next set of shows, so he has been busy with that as well as Taylor deciding to work full time until she changes college's and goes back to her original dream of  being a Chef.

My human grand daughter Lilly will soon be one year old and is just the cutest thing. She reminds me so much of her mother, and she is so well behaved, much like my kids were. She just makes me so proud each and every day as well as Samantha she is doing a great job raising Lilly.

Dennise is so busy with all of the things she is doing in school we just need to keep track of what thing she is doing and where she needs to be. She has several concerts coming up, as well as the play, and what ever else she decides to get involved with. She is a great helper and doesn't mind volunteering for different activities.

As for me I recently saw the Surgeon for my Neck and once I see the next set of Dr.s and they set up a time, I will be getting the lump in my neck removed. The surgeon wants it out, so that is what we are going to do. Until we went to that visit Dennis wasn't too worried about it. For a few days after he was very easily upset by things and dealt with them the only way he knows how which is by being angry at everyone and everything. Of course that week was full of surprises so that didn't help things one little bit with his anger, but they say everyone deals with emotions in different ways and this is how he does it. Even though I am a bit worried about what the future holds I will trust in God to see Marksville through, he is always there for us, always leading us.

I hope to be back again soon to fill you in on some other things that Marksville has been working on. There are not many days we are not busy, and believe me busy is good for us. Have a great night everyone, and don't be afraid to comment.

Busy Busy Marksville

Marksville has been very busy so I apologise for the delay in posting an update. First I would love to invite you over to my other blog site Pam's Place To Win A Give A Way, and enter my very first sponsored give a way for Print Runner. This will be a quick post as Buke is coming over to visit for a while. He doesn't get over half as much as I would like him to visit. I think we visit him more, but out schedules keeps us from doing it as often as we would like.

I have a appointment with the Surgeon for my neck next week, and Dennis starts Physical Therapy for his knee. On top of that we have a bunch of Birthdays and school functions coming up in the next month along with Easter. Some how we have managed to never have an Easter Egg hunt, but this year Dorothy and Deanna asked so they are going to have one. We will have to get a little something for the older ones too, they like chocolate too.

I know the kids are excited about the upcoming Easter Egg hunt at the Park and being able to have a chance to find the Golden Easter Egg as well as getting pictures with the Easter Bunny. I picked up some new stories about Jesus and his resurrection so they have that to go with their Easter Flicks. In past years we have just had a big dinner on Easter, some chocolate, while most importantly reminding the kids that the day was really about Jesus and what he gave for us, rather then the Easter Bunny, with tons of candy, and toys. Not that we don't love candy because we do, but I wanted my kids to understand what it means for their faith.

This year I am making the long awaited Easter baskets I have been wanting to make for years. The one that I have been telling everyone about but haven't made them myself. Should be fun and Dorothy and Deanna will be surprised too. I think I might even make Lilly a little one just for her too. Well my son should be here any minute so I want to get the camera ready so we can get some nice pictures. So with that you have pictures of the baskets, and of course the visit with my son coming up, for a future post. Have a great day everyone and hope to update you again really soon.

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