Closing out the 2008 year!

We just couldn’t end this year without at least one or two entries to the
“Youngster Forever”
blog.

It’s been a blessed year for the Young family with many memorable things occurring.

Chris & I celebrated 20 years of marriage.

My parents celebrated 40 years of marriage.

On November 4, 2008,

America elected Barack Obama as our 44^th president.

Oh my, what an experience for us all! If only my grandparents had lived to see this moment. A moment even I never thought I would live to see. I have never been so excited or involved an election in all my life. I knew that for me and my family, this election will have a great impact.

The year of 2008 has been a truly blessed year for the Young household.

So, what if I'm 40?

I wish I could at least update my blog once a week. There is so much to tell. Lately, things have been a little gloomy for me.

I turned 40 on October 26th of this year. That particular day was really nothing to celebrate. The day went by like any other day. I was hoping I could just skip over it and wake up the day after. My wonderful co-workers had a nice surprise when I came to work with everything decorated in black. Why black I wonder? Does this mean I can now begin to write my own obituary? I always thought that life begins at forty and boy was I was waiting on it; back when I was twenty.

Well, I have decided that in my forties, I going to slow down and appreciate each moment. In addition, I'm going to pay attention to something very important; myself.

*I don’t have to worry about diapers, car seats, strollers, sippy cups, monogram clothing, diaper rash, or potty training at least not for someone but myself.

*I don’t have to worry (anymore) about young men flirting with me at the mall or in the grocery store. They were really getting on my last nerve!

*I can give young ladies advice and they actual believe me. After all, I’m forty now!

*I no longer worry about stretch marks from childbirth. The rolls of fat have concealed them forever.

*I don’t have to worry about anyone noticing (including my husband) that I have gained 10lbs.

*I’m growing facial hair, nose hairs & other hairs. My youngest, said the other day in all his innocence, “Mom, you need to use daddy’s shaver”, as he uses the tweezers to pull hairs from my chin.

*I can color my hair this weekend some really unusual color like Plush Plum, Sapphire Black, or even Radiant Red, since I am beginning to see the gray and no one will question my motive.

*I have conducted my own action research on push-up bras. No matter how low your breast hang, these bras will make you look wonderful. Just pray the straps don’t break while you are out in public.

*I don’t have to worry about someone asking me if I'm going to have any more children. (But they may ask me in awe, “Are you pregnant?” because of fat that has mysterious accumulated around my waistline)


What a wonderful beginning of life!

I'm Back!!!

With so much going on at work and home, it's been hard to find time to blog. Not that I don't have a lot to say. Just ask one of the office workers or teachers at school. They get to hear it everyday. Unfortantly, I am not able to fill my blog with sweet unforgettable moments, because it seems like all of the events in my life lately are worth forgetting.

Oh, they are not that bad, just that forgettable! Who wants to remember that they had a bad hair day, going from baseball practices, going to football games, rushing home to help with homework, checking not so nice e-mails from your teenager's teachers, cooking dinner (oh, I forgot I don't cook dinner), well going to Brookshires for a box of chicken, and going to bed dreaming of another day of the same. Oh, how fun!

I'm reading others blogs with so many beautiful pictures of their always so well behaved, mostly clean children. Well, I'm finding that it's a little too much trouble to remember to charge the battery for the camera and download the pictures, then make them cute for the world to see. And I don't have time to find any well behaved kids that I can put my kids faces on. Just a little too much Photoshop me!

What I really would like to do is create a blog filled with the "Real" happenings of each day; Like rushing to bed before Chris gets home so I don't have to talk to him. Those who know me no I would never do that. Would I?
Ok, I'm telling to much. I'll save these things for the book.
I would like you to check my new adventure below. Spread the word by putting a link on your blog to the site.

The Great American Story

Michelle Obama in her own words.

Anniversary Party on July 11th

It started at 7 pm and ended around midnight at our home. We had a great time with family and friends, but the old folks couldn’t hang after midnight.
Chris and I had the best time ever!

Our personal theme song was "Can't Let Go" by Anthony Hamilton. My favorite part is the chorus:

"Even if we fuss or fight, try til we get it right
You are my life, I can't let go
Even if we disagree, you can put it all on me
You are my life, I can't let go
I can't, I can't let you go"

My sister Dawn, niece Nikki and my very best friend Sonya put together the best party. We listened to “old school” music from the 80’s; Michael Jackson, Run DMC, MC Hammer, Prince, Janet Jackson, Bobby Brown until way in night. I know we did the Mississippi Cha Cha slide about ten times. No one was really counting!

I think I lost about 10lbs that night. It was a wonderful surprise when CJ presented us with gifts. He took his hard earned money (from Sicily’s) and bought me a webcam and Chris a cover for his motorcycle. It was so thoughtful of him to buy us things he knew we would really want. He even wrapped them for us.

Nikki created a wonderful presentation of past pictures of Chris and I. There were pictures I did not even remember. My sweet cousin, Staci whom just in the last year I have gotten reacquainted with stayed for the event. It meant so much for them to spend this time with us. They were scheduled to leave Wednesday, but stayed for our anniversary.

Sonya and her husband, Tran worked so hard to get everything just right. Dawn who is always late decided to join us around 8:30. We fussed about her being late but let her slide when we saw the beautiful cakes she made. Hey, check out the bling bling and the motorcycle on the cakes.

Chris' close friend Earl and Cedric came too. Earl sang a very sweet song for us.
It almost made me cry. NOT! It will take more than a song to get me to cry.

Chris and I talked about later that night how it seems like just yesterday we said I do and went back to work the very same day. We had no money, no wedding, no ring, and no reception, just YOUNG love. I pray we stay 4ever YOUNG!!!!!!!!!!

It’s Our Anniversary

We came to loving each other not by finding the perfect person, but by accepting and appreciating over time the imperfect person perfectly.

How much time did it take?
20 years = 7300 days = 175200 hours = 10512000 minutes = 630720000 seconds

Born to be Wild!!

With the price of gas at $4.00 a gallon, this was the perfect excuse for Chris to purchase the motorcycle he has been wanting. It took him several weeks to narrow it down his final choice. It's amazing to me that he would want a bike like the one below. Frankly, I think it looks like a bike CJ should have, but to each his own. Especially, given the fact he is almost forty. But he is sporting it well! You go biker man!

The Thames' 40th Year Anniversary

It is written in Genesis 2: 24 ~ 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.' This scripture implies two complete people joined together make one solid couple.

On May 17th 1968, Eddie and Willie Ruth became that one solid couple. Forty years later, they are still that one solid couple. On Saturday, May 23rd, in Philadelphia, MS, we all joined my parents in celebrating their 40th year anniversary. We celebrated in a little community call “Liberty” where my father grew up and spent all his childhood. This was indeed a special occasion for the Thames’ family. Lot’s of memories are built at this spot.

We had an old fashion picnic with family and friends. BBQ ribs & chicken, bake beans, potato salad, etc. Dawn, even set up an old fashion “Thames County Store” with moon pies, bottled cokes, old fashion oat meal cookies, and penny candy for everyone.




We listened to R & B music from the 60’ until dark. Music included tunes from singer like; Otis Redding, James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Al Green, Ray Charles, Chubby Checkers and many more. It was a jamming good time! I think we did the “Cupid Shuffle” and the “Mississippi Cha Cha” at least ten times.

My father’s sisters; Annie and Leola stopped by. Many of my parents’ long time friends from Brandon and other towns came to visit. Long time friends Joe and Brenda Tate even drove up from Pelahatchie. This was their first trip to visit in Philadelphia. I think they left early enough to make a short stop at Williams Brothers.

You can’t come to Philadelphia without stopping at Williams Brothers. Dawn’s in-laws, Mr. & Mrs. Elijah Jones drove in from Brandon. Even Dr. Herman Windham, my father’s nephew and professor at Tuskegee University joined us for this occasion. Around 4 o’clock we get a delightful visit from Debbie, Chris’ wife. Debbie drove all the way from San Antonio Texas to share this once in a life time moment with us. Later that evening to our ultimate surprise, my mother’s siblings; Tobbie, Liz, Norman, & Corleen drove down from Cleveland, OH.

So many community members and friends showed their love for my parents on that day. It was a day that the grandkids will remember for years to come. They just can not believe that Mema and Papa have been together for 40 years. Will said, “Man momma, that’s older than you are!” Then he pauses for a moment, thinking real hard and asks, “Oh momma, how old are you?”

March 17th-24th

Barak Rocks!

Chris is baptized!

Sunday, January 13, 2008
What a day of rejoicing! The day C.J. was baptized. As we were leaving the church after service, he whispers to me. "Mom, I want to come back and get baptized tomorrow." Nearing the door, I asked him quietly, "What if you don't live to see tomorrow?" He paused and said, "I want to do it now then."
And so it was ...

And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

Act 8:39

Marting Luther King, Jr.

TO BE A SERVANT


Every word from a Martin Luther King quote expresses the need for compassion and love. Martin Luther King also believed in dignity of labor. He championed the principles of racial justice.