Today Is A Good Day

Today has been a good day. For the first time since my hubby has been gone I slept wonderful! I have had some "issues" with some family members and I have just prayed, thought about things and talked to some good friends. Now I have a whole new outlook today! I decided there is always going to be something that I do that people don't like, there is always going to be something that I don't do or isn't my fault that I will be blamed for and I can't please everyone. The decisions my husband and I make are our decisions and our decisions alone and we owe no one an explanation about it! If they are mad....so be it! I am not going to waste one second, that I could devote to much greater things, on a losing battle. SO I no that sounded harsh but for my sanity I needed to say it! Whew! This morning a coworker gave me the prettiest glass vase with a purple flower and a lady bug on it.....inside were Purple Iris'! BTW, purple is my favorite color! How sweet! Then my boss said that we are taking a late lunch and our office will be closed from 1:00 - 3:00! Yeah! Two-Hour paid lunch with a free meal at a good restaurant! Can't beat that! Not to mention today is pay-day! Oh yeah....the most important part...I lost 5lbs! I am sure it is just water weight but who cares! Today is a good day.....

For Those That Can Relate...and Those That Can't!

1. If you love something, set it free. If it comes back, it will always be yours. If it doesn't come back, it was never yours to begin with. But, if it just sits in your living room, messes up your stuff, eats your food, uses your telephone, takes your money, and doesn't appear to realize that you had set it free....... You either married it or gave birth to it.

2. Reason to smile: Every 7 minutes of every day, someone in an aerobics class pulls a hamstring.

3. They keep telling us to get in touch with our bodies. Mine isn't all that communicative but I heard from it the other day after I said, "Body, how'd you like to go to the six o'clock class in vigorous toning?" Clear as a bell my body said, "Listen fatty....do it and die."

4. My mind not only wanders, it sometimes leaves completely.

5. The best way to forget all your troubles is to wear tight shoes.

6. The nice part about living in a small town: When you don't know what you're doing, someone else always does.

7. Just when I was getting used to yesterday, along came today.

8. Amazing! ! You hang something in your closet for a while and it shrinks two sizes!

9. Sometimes I think I understand everything, then I regain consciousness.

10. I read this article that said the typical symptoms of stress are eating too much, impulse buying, and driving too fast. Are they kidding? That's my idea of a perfect day.

Water...Ugh

Why is it so hard to drink water. I mean it is just water! It is like the more I try to drink it the less I want it. It is very important to have plenty of water and it has lots of good side effects ........BUT WHY CAN'T I DRINK IT! I have tried and tried but I fail every time. It is not that I don't drink it, it is the fact that I don't drink enough. To make matters worse when I try to cut back on drinking anything but water I end up going just about all day without drinking anything....just to keep from drinking water! Crazy.....

Brian MIA: Letter From Training Center

I got my first contact from the training center today. I received a letter basically just saying he arrived safely and just told general information about boot camp. I was so excited to get the letter but I wish it were from Brian instead! I miss him so much! Hopefully, I will be getting a letter from him in the next couple of days. As promised....I will keep you updated!

What The HECK Is Wrong With Me!

I am going through MAJOR "missing my husband blues" today. Am I going to have to join some kind of HBCA? (Husband at Boot Camp Anonymous) Will this go away or will I be tortured for the next 46 days! (Yes I have counted!) The only way I can explain it ....it is like hot flashes.....one minute you are fine the next you are burning up. Well one minute I am fine and the next minute I am missing him like crazy. I promised him that I would write every night but I did not realize until now exactly how much we tell each other and how much we are involved in each others life. By the time he gets his first letter it will be like a novel! I just hope he is doing well.....I am sure he is fine but I just can't help to wonder. I have to hear these four things from my five (almost 6!) year old EVERYDAY. "Momma, when is daddy coming home?" "Momma, I miss daddy." "Momma, remember when daddy......" and "Momma, I bet daddy would like to do this." I sure hope the time flies by!

Weekend in a Wrap

Well the weekend was not as horrible as I had imagined it to be. I kept myself very busy in order to keep from missing my sweet hubby! After work Friday I went to a friends house to see her new baby nursery and then we took the kids out for ice cream. Afterwards, I went to my friend Jessica's house to help pick out paint for her living room. I then went home and crashed.....and actually slept late Saturday! I guess the week finally caught up with me! Saturday Jessica and I took our kids to the park for a picnic. Then we flew kites, ran a obstical course (that tired us adults out more than the kids) and then took the kids for ice cream. (As you can tell my daughter had a sugar rush all weekend!) It really was one of the most beautiful days this year! Saturday night I ate at a fish & chicken place with another friend and her family. (Cock of the Walk....funny name huh.) We had a wonderful time and the food was as good as usual. Baylee and I then came home and watched movies until we feel asleep and slept all night in the living room! Today we mainly sat around and watched TV. I did clean out the garage and wash a few clothes. My mom and my little brother came over and we went for a walk at this very peaceful Botanical Garden near my house. Afterwards, Baylee and I went grocery shopping and now I am getting ready to clean out the fridge and unpack the groceries. I just thought I would get a little writing in before bed. My daughter has been sleeping in my room with me since her daddy left but she is going to sleep in her own room tonight, so hopefully things will go well for both of us! This weekend was definitely bitter-sweet! Baylee has asked me at least twice a day when her daddy is coming home! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

Brian MIA: I lied...

Okay I lied! That was not my last MIA post for awhile! I was checking my email right after my last post and I got this one from Brian at the USO. (If you don't know the USO is where the miliatary people go to "hang out" until their next flight or whatever.) It really touched me that he emailed me BUT made me feel so better! I will post the email even though he will hate me for it when he gets home! Oh well, I can deal with that!

To : tiffgarrett@hotmail.com
Subject : Hello From Philly

Hey baby,
I saw they had a computer with internet so I wanted to drop you and and everyone there a line. I hope no one misses me to much, and want you all to know I'll be fine. See you all on May 16. Love you all. Especially YOU and BAYLEE.

**One correction to his email - Actually I THINK they said his graduation will be May 14th and the 16th would be the day that we would fly home together.....BUT who cares at this point! I am just glad to hear from him and even more glad that he remembered my email address because he asks me AT LEAST once a week what it is!

Brian MIA: Sad Eyes

Well this will be my last Brian MIA (Missing In Action) update for awhile! If I could draw I would draw sad eyes because that is how I feel! Brian called me a moment ago to tell me that he made it to Philadelphia and that he was at the USO waiting on the bus to take him to Cape May, New Jersey. He said there was not really much to see this trip because it was dark but if I flew into Philadelphia that it seemed really pretty, at night anyway. He said the flight was fine and that he was just really tired. He definitely sounded that way! That really makes me sad! This has been very physically and emotionally draining on him. I will just pray, pray, pray for him! Then wish for God Speed on his first letter getting here because I miss him like crazy already! This too shall pass................boohoo!

Brian MIA: Sweetest Thing

I got an unexpected call from my husband! He was supposed to call me from Philly but called me from North Carolina and then he will call me from Philly, too! He said he missed me & Baylee already and used some pretty good logic with me. He said, "You know now that I am gone you are in a better situation because that means you are two hours closer to seeing me and when you go to bed tonight you will be one day closer to seeing me." YEAH! He is a sweetie! So I don't have my pouty face anymore.......even though there are still tears in my eyes at least I have a smile on my face!

Brian MIA: Not So Funny

Well I have been told by about 5 or 6 people in the past week how funny I am or how they like the "funny stuff" on the site.....well today I am not so funny. I am somewhat of a "Gloomy Gus"! The past two days have been two of the most emotionally draining days I have had in years. I won't get into ALL of it right now but basically it started out with me thinking I was going to be with my husband for a couple of hours why he swears in and finishes up paperwork. It ended up that I was with him most of the day (which actually consisted of me mostly sitting in a waiting room) and then Baylee and I got to eat dinner with Brian and walk him to his hotel room. He was devastated because he had to tell her good bye. No sooner did we get in the car did she ask about him. She slept with a bear that he gave her for Valentine's day and hugged/kissed it and said, "Good Night, Daddy. I love you." Of course, that got the tears rolling with me and when I told Brian about it this morning he had a few tears. We had about 22 phone calls yesterday but Brian would not let me answer the phone. We were both in the mood that yesterday and this morning we needed it to be about "us". We have been so busy doing stuff we forgot about "us" and he was really starting to feel the pressure of having to leave so he felt it was best not to add anymore stress. I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYONE who was checking on Baylee and I. Brian really appreciates everyone that was trying to wish him well. I have seen the website and seen all of my emails but to be honest could not really respond at the moment. I am at least trying to hold it together while I am at work! His flight is in "transit" right now and he should arrive in North Carolina around 3:00. I know he will at least get to call me from Philadelphia when he gets there. I will give everyone an update when he gets there.I am so proud of him and I know he will do great I already miss him though! So in saying that.....I think I am just going to pout for the rest of the day....not because I am not happy for him BUT because I am sad for me!

Time Flys

Time flys not only when you are having fun BUT when you are not looking forward to something! I am feeling a little like this picture.....a SAD BABY! Brian found out that he will now have to stay in a hotel Monday night and I can't stay with him. That makes me sad because that is one day less that I will get to see him. WHICH means that Sunday night will be the last night we will be able to spend time together in our own house. ONLY THREE MORE NIGHTS....*sob**sob*. Thus far the game plan is to take him to the military recruit office Monday morning and then just play it by ear. I will know more later but as of now it seems like I won't get to go to the airport or anything with him. I guess that is to keep people from acting like fools when their "babies" leave! I made him laugh by telling him I would lay down on the floor and hug his leg and scream, "No!" like you see these crazy people do in movies! Ha! I just hope that this goes by fast, but unfortunately I don't think it will! He is not even gone yet and I miss him already!

Daily Devotional

True peace only comes from the Prince of Peace.
Peace does not mean that everything around you is calm and tranquil; true peace means that you are able to remain peaceful during the storms of life.

But this peace, which the Bible promises is available to believers, can only come from God. Jesus said, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace" (John 16:33). In other words, Jesus came so that you could have peace.

Paul tells us, in Philippians 4:6-7, that we can have peace if we don't become anxious about life but instead give our worries to God: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Hand over all of your problems to the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, and He will give you a peace that passes understanding -- a peace that is beyond comprehension.

Things Frequent Flyers Experience

1. No flight ever leaves on time unless you are running late and need the delay to make the flight.

2.If you are running late for a flight, it will depart from the farthest gate within the terminal.

3.If you arrive very early for a flight, it inevitably will be delayed.

4.Flights never leave from Gate #1 at any terminal in the world.

5.If you must work on your flight, you will experience turbulence as soon as you touch pen to paper.

6.If you are assigned a middle seat, you can determine who has the seats on the aisle and the window while you are still in the boarding area. Just look for the two largest passengers.

7.Only passengers seated in window seats ever have to get up to go to the lavatory.

8.The crying baby on board your flight is always seated next to you.

9.Guys, the best-looking woman on your flight is never seated next to you.

10.The less carry-on luggage space available on an aircraft, the more carry-on luggage passengers will bring aboard.

Daily Devotional

God has given us His Word as a guide for our life. However, His Word won't help us if we don't study it, know it, and live by it. Therefore, we must diligently study and apply God's Word if we wish for it to have an impact on our lives.

Jesus promised, "If you abide in My word ..., you are truly My disciples. And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free" John 8:31-32 That's a promise that if we abide in His Word, we will know the Truth, because His Word is the Truth.

Why is it so important to follow God's Word? Because HIS Word keeps us from turning aside to the right or to the left; it keeps us on the straight and narrow path that leads to life. (See Matthew 7:13-14)

Therefore, abide in HIS Word, because HIS Word will keep you from sin.

Busy Week

This has been such a busy week! Monday night I ate out with some family members at one of my favorite resturaunts. (Kyoto's Japanese Steak House) It is one of those places where they cook your food right in front of you. It is YUMMY! The serving sizes are UNREAL! Every time I come out of there I feel like a stuffed cow! Tuesday night my daughter's grandparents came over to have a "play date" with her. Last night Brian, his mom, Baylee, Terry and I all ate at a new resturaunt in Flowood, Logan's Roadhouse. I thought the food was really good and the company was even better. I am so glad that my mother-in-law and I have such a good relationship now. She is a sweetie! Tonight Brian and I are going to the grand opening of "Headliners" (I mentioned this in an earlier post). I am SO tired but excited for the extra "fun" time I get to spend with Brian before he leaves. Tomorrow night we have to run around and do last minute errands before he goes out of town. Saturday night his dad's family is coming to see our new house and take us out to eat for Brian's "going away" party. Sunday afternoon will be interesting. It will kind of be a "come and go" gathering for any of Brian's friends and family who want to see him before he leaves. It has been a really good past couple of weeks and I have stayed busy which has kept my mind off of things but I do wish I would have had a little more alone time with him. Of course, anytime is special. I am just glad he has been having fun and had his mind off of things. I can imagine he is probably pretty nervous.

I know you are thinking....blah, blah, blah!!

Hero

We are all too familiar with Mariah's song....

And then a hero comes along with the strength to carry on And you cast your fears aside and you know you can survive So when you feel like hope is gone look inside you and be strong And you'll finally see the truth that a hero lies in you

.....but have you really thought about it? "The Hero Lies in You". Are there things in your life that you have done or things that you are proud to have brought yourself through...especially if during those times you did not think you would make it? Okay, so if you haven't thought of yourself that way is there one person in your life or a person in general who is your "Hero"?

Wonderful Weekend

I had a really good weekend! I am feeling pretty refreshed today but really not in the mood to work! Friday night my hubby, daughter and I grabbed a quick dinner and made a quick trip to the store.....then we raced home to get in bed by 8:45pm! Okay, okay....I know we sound like old people (especially since we went to bed before our five year old)...but we have had alot going on and needed the rest! Saturday morning we hung out around the house and then my in-laws came over for what turned out to be a very enjoyable two hour visit. Afterwards, my hubby and I had a date night. We went to eat at Up The Creek and the went to see the movie Secret Window. (Which I DO NOT recommend....boring!) Sunday we lounged around that morning then met the in-laws at Planet Rock and then had dinner at Corky's. After dinner we made our second trip to Wal-Mart for the weekend where my husband bought our daughter a new bike for her birthday and I got a DVD with my favorite actress in it (Julia Roberts)Mona Lisa Smiles. It was a good "girlie" movie! So that is pretty much it for my weekend! How was yours?

How Sweet

Brian has his sweet moments but this one just got me. I was standing outside while he was working and he just started staring me down. I was like, "What??" He said, "Nothing. I was just trying to get a good picture of you to take to boot camp with me." Well, of course, I start crying like a big baby BUT come on .....who wouldn't! So I just had to add this for the world to see ......MY husband REALLY will miss me while he is gone! I guess absense does make the heart grow fonder!

*sniff*sniff*

Headliners...I'm A Vip!

I am SO excited! Tuesday my husband won VIP passes to a new club that is opening in Jackson! The name of it is Headliners Entertainment Resort. It is a quadplex of dining and entertainment. The 30,000-square-foot building will house a Cactus Cafe, Banana Joe's Island Party, Rascal's Comedy Club and Headliners Live, a room whre local and national musical acts will perform. This is an AWESOME thing for Jackson! We have really needed something like this for awhile. My husband and I don't go out very often but when we do it is with another couple and we have the hardest time deciding on what to do. All of us are so laid back and no one ever wants to make a decision. This is perfect because everyone has options and everyone is satisfied. The only other place that has ever really stuck around in Jackson is "The Dock" which did have a club in the same parking lot and you could pay one price to get in both BUT that was really not my "thing". Inside the sports bar at Headliners will be three large projection televisions, eight big-screen TVs, pool tables, video games and an open patio facing Ridgewood Road with two cabana bars. My brother in law was offered a position to DJ but turned it down because he has too much on his plate already. He, however, is working on an ad for them in a magazine he co-owns called, The Jackson Free Press. I think the tickets are for Thursday, March 18th.....I will do an update to let you know how it goes!

Things You Can Control...and Things You Can't

Things You Can Control......
~Your reaction to others
~Your to-do list (and the number of items on it)
~How your day is spent
~Your goals
~How much time you're willing to spend on a particular project
~Your self-esteem and self-worth
~How you treat others
~Your exercise and eating habits
~The communication of your needs to others
~Telling people when you're stresses out and need time alone or help with projects
~Whether or how much you smoke or drink alcohol
~How old you act
~The way you raise your children

Things You Can't Change......
~The age or stage of development your children are in
~The way you were raised
~Whether the stoplight turns red or green
~How fast other cars are driving
~Other people
~The timing of your teenager's mood swings or your toddler's temper tantrums
~Your age
~When work or a project takes much longer than expected
~Waiting for your doctor 30 minutes after your scheduled appointment
~A death, illness, or accident in the family
~The Calendar
~Being laid off from a job
~Messes made right after you clean the house

Heart Attack...Nearly

Brian, my husband, has just nearly made me have a heart attack. He calls me and said Mark, his USCG recruiter, just offered him a position to go to Iraq. He told Brian that it would be more pay and he could get through school quicker. Basically, he would go to boot camp for two months, come home for a couple of weeks, go to school for nine weeks and then ship off to Iraq for 8 months! Ummm....hello.....I don't even know how I am going to make it for two months! I can't imagine going almost a year without seeing him! He, of course, turned it down for now and said he would consider it next year. (Yikes!) The reality of all of this is ......... there is ALWAYS a possibility of him having to go.......not just on a volunteer basis but because they make him. That will always weigh heavy in the back of my mind. I just have to remember that this is what he wants to do and I am VERY proud of him. It seems scary but I have to compare it to this.....would you really go to medical school and then never even practice medicine or deal with patients? More than likely you wouldn't so what he wants to do is protect his country so why get a job doing that and worry the whole time that you might actually have to do it?

Relationships 101

I have had a "gloomy" disposition lately. I have had alot going on and have had a few other people in my life that have had to deal with some of the same things. In saying that....I have done alot of reading and this is one of the things I came across that really hit home for me in more ways that one.

In small doses, competition can motivate you to achieve more. Constantly comparing career successes, wardrobes, bank accounts or your love lives can wear down your self-esteem and you relationship with a friend or family member. Competition becomes unhealthy when it makes up feel bad about yourself. One of the main ingredients in a positive relationship is that BOTH people feel that they can be themselves and don't have to impress each other. People tend to harbor an irrational belief that there's only so much good stuff to go around. The root of the problem is not yours or their good luck it is yours/their own flagging sense of self-esteem.

"People who try to beat others all the time are attempting to bolster their self image." says psychologist Tina Tessina.

If you are the competitive party:
* Think Before You Speak: Catch yourself before you say something that might hurt someone
*Acknowledge Your Issues: Take a look on the inside of yourself.
*Don't Beat Yourself Up

If you are on the receiving end:
*Talk to him/her: Create some distance; He/She may sense something is amiss and look at his/her own behavior at what is causing the distance between the two of you.
*Avoid His/Her Triggers
*Know When To Let Go: If the problem is excessive, you have to consider whether this is someone you can have a "relationship" with.

***Some so called relationships are not worth the abuse ....so move on with no regrets.

USCG

My dear sweet husband is leaving in two weeks to go to USCG boot camp. Those who know me KNOW I will be a sobbing little baby! I don't know what I will do without my sweetheart for two whole months! I won't even get to hear his voice until the 5th week! BOOHOO!

Various people have had some questions about boot camp and what all it consists of. I am posting this site so you can check out what exactly Brian will be doing the next couple of months.

For the family and friends of Brian....several people have asked me about writing to him while he is gone. Since it takes so long to get mail and since he won't have time to respond to everyone individually we decided it would be best if you would send me the letter and I will send it to him when I send mine. I am SURE I will be sending him a letter AT LEAST once a week! *wink* Also, I will be updating via this website with any new information, letters or phone calls I get from Brian while he is gone!

ABC's of Tiffany

A - Always on the go!
B - Beautiful Daughter - Baylee!
C - Cares for Others
D - Dancing.....love it!
E - Easily amused!
F - Friendly - too friendly sometimes...
G - GREAT husband named Brian!
H - Hunter is one of my brothers.
I - Ivey is my maiden name.
J - Justin is my other brother!
K - Know ALOT of people
L - Love Julia Roberts movies!
M - Mary Higgins Clark - love her books.
N - Not TOO Nosey! *wink*
O - Oceans ...... I think they are beautiful.
P - Practical
Q - Quiet...okay...well NEVER!
R - Ready for fun.
S - Savoir is Jesus Christ.
T - Trustworthy.
U - UNCONDITIONAL love for my family.
V- Very crazy dogs Tyson & Storm.
W - Willing to admit when I am wrong.
X - "X" 'cited about life! :)
Y - Yogurt & Ice Cream are my favorite!
Z - 'Zats all folks!!!!