5/9/2010...MY 2ND MOTHERS DAY WITHOUT YOU HERE.  BARELY MADE IT THROUGH THE FIRST YEAR.  HAD SO MANY THINGS GOING ON THAT I HONESTLY DON'T REMEMBER MUCH ABOUT LAST YEAR.  IT COMES IN SPURTS AND THEN LEAVES AGAIN.  SOMETIMES I REMEMBER SOME THINGS AS IF IT HAPPENED YESTERDAY.  OTHER THINGS, I HAVE TO JUST SIT AND THINK....TRYING TO REMEMBER 'EM.  THE MIND, IT PLAYS WITH YOU.  I VISIT OTHER SITES OF THOSE WHO HAVE PASSED AND I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW THE PARENTS (MAINLY THE MOTHERS) MAKE IT...YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR. 

     IT'S ONLY BEEN 16 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AND 4 DAYS (MY WAY OF COUNTING) AND THERE ARE TIMES THAT IT FEELS LIKE YOUR LAST CALL WAS YESTERDAY.  WE WENT TODAY AND WORKED AT YOUR BILLBOARD (CRASH SITE) AND JUST STOOD THERE LOOKING ~ TRYING TO PICTURE YOU COMING DOWN THE ROAD, NO BRAKES, CUSSING BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE ANY BRAKES, WONDERING WHAT YOU WERE GOING TO DO.  YOU'VE GOT TWO OTHER PEOPLE IN THE TRUCK WITH YOU, THEY AREN'T BUCKLED IN (BECAUSE THEY ARE GEARING UP) AND ALL I CAN THINK IS:  YOU MUST HAVE BEEN SCARED.  I TRIED TO SEE WHAT YOU WERE SEEING WHILE COMING DOWN THE ROAD.  YOUR OPTIONS WERE:  GO STRAIGHT AND CRASH HEAD ON INTO THE EMBANKMENT AND CRUSH THE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK IN ON YOU AND MATT OR DO WHAT YOU DID AND CUT THE CORNER / CURVE AND HOPE FOR THE BEST.  YOU TOOK THAT ROUTE ~ BECAUSE THE OTHER OPTION YOU MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT WAS TO GO INTO THE OTHER LANE (ON COMING IN A CURVE) AND I KNOW YOU DIDN'T WANT TO GO AGAINST WHAT YOU WERE TRAINED TO DO.  EVEN THOUGH YOU WERE IN EMERGENCY MODE, LIGHTS GOING - YOU WEREN'T SURE IF THERE WOULD BE ANY ON COMING VEHICLES AND DIDN'T WANT TO RISK IT.  SO, I STOOD THERE THINKING ~ YOU DID WHAT YOU HAD TO DO.  YOU JUST DIDN'T KNOW THAT "YOU" WOULDN'T MAKE IT THROUGH IT. 

     IF YOU COULD HAVE BEEN ON OUR END OF THIS - THAT NIGHT.  WE HAVE SCANNERS IN EVERY ROOM.  WE HAD JUST GOTTEN HOME FROM SOME FRIENDS HOUSE THAT WERE HAVING A NEW YEARS EVE GATHERING.  WE WERE JUST TALKING OF YOU & YOUR BROTHER.  DOING THE FIREFIGHTING THING.  THAT WE HAD JUST SPENT HALF THE DAY WITH YOU AT YOUR NEW STATION.  CLEANING AND COOKING YOU DINNER.  NOT REALLY FEELING LIKE STAYING ANY LONGER, WE LEFT.  GOT HOME AND TURNED THE SCANNER UP A LITTLE.  GOT READY FOR BED AND HEARD THE TONES GO OFF.  IT WAS FOR STATION 2.  NO RESPONSE.  IT SOUNDS AGAIN.  NOTHING.  ON THE 3RD TIME - YOU GET ON THERE AND ASK FOR PERMISSION TO RESPONED.  YOU GET THE OK AND YOU'RE 'EN-ROUTE.  THE NEXT THING WE HEAR IS:  SOMEONE ELSE'S VOICE COME ACROSS THE SCANNER SAYING THAT ENGINE 6 HAS BEEN IN A WRECK.  THERE'S ENTRAPMENT.  KENNY JUMPS UP AND SAYS THAT'S NOT JARRETT.  IT SHOULD BE JARRETT TALKING.  HE SAID: THEY'VE HAD A WRECK.  I SAID: NO, THEY CAME UPON A WRECK.  HE YELLED NO....IT'S NOT GOOD!  THAT'S NOT HIM.  HE - HIMSELF WAS DOING THE RAPID DRESS AND TOLD ME TO STAY AND LISTEN - TO TRY TO HEAR YOU COME ACROSS THE SCANNER.  I GRABBED MY PHONE AND CALLED YOUR BROTHER.  TOLD HIM THAT YOU HAD HAD A WRECK.  THAT YOUR DADDY WAS ON THE WAY AND TOLD HIM WHERE IT WAS.  ALL I HEARD WAS THE PHONE DROP.  I YELLED YOUR BROTHERS NAME OVER AND OVER AGAIN.  THEN, HIS MOTHER IN LAW PICKS IT UP AND ASKS WHAT WAS WRONG.  THAT SEAN JUST TOOK OFF AND I HAD TO REPEAT EVERYTHING.  I GOT DRESSED AND STOOD THERE.  WAITING & WAITING TO HEAR YOU - BUT NOTHING.  THEN, ALL OF A SUDDEN - SO MANY TONES WERE GOING OFF - I COULDN'T MAKE HEADS OR TALES OUT OF 'EM.  DIDN'T KNOW WHO'S STATION WAS BEING TONED OUT!  EVEN LIFE FORCE WAS PUT ON STAND BY.  I KNEW THEN - I HAD TO GO.  I WENT TO A NEIGHBORS HOUSE AND WHEN HE OPENED THE DOOR, I JUST STARTED CRYING - ASKED IF HE COULD TAKE ME - THAT YOU WERE RESPONDING TO A CALL AND HAD A WRECK.  BY THE TIME HE GOT DRESSED, YOUR DADDY CALLED ME AND TOLD ME TO COME STRAIGHT TO THE HOSPITAL.  I COULD HAVE WALKED FASTER TO GET THERE.  THAT WAS THE SLOWEST CAR RIDE I'VE EVER HAD.  WANTING AND NEEDING TO GET TO YOU AS FAST AS I COULD AND THE NEIGHBOR JUST SLOW- ASS POKES ALONG.  PULLED UP TO GET OUT & YOUR BROTHER COMES OVER AND SHAKES HIS HEAD NO....HUGS ME AND SAYS YOU DIDN'T MAKE IT.  I LOOK AROUND AND I SEE ALL THESE PEOPLE - WHO WERE ALREADY THERE BEFORE ME !!!  ALL BECAUSE I HAD TO TAKE THE DAMMED SLOWEST RIDE OF ALL TIMES.  HOW I FAILED YOU!  I COULDN'T EVEN GET THERE FAST ENOUGH.  (YOU KNOW THAT OLD SAYING:  IF YOU WANT SOMETHING DONE RIGHT - DO IT YOURSELF!) I HOPE THAT THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN - BUT, I'LL DRIVE MYSELF THE NEXT TIME!

     THESE ARE THE THOUGHTS THAT CROSS MY MIND - JUST ABOUT ON A DAILY BASIS.  THOUGH LIFE HAS CONTINUED - BECAUSE IT HAS TOO...MY MIND IS FOREVER THINKING OF JARRETT AND ALL THE WHAT IF'S, HOW COME AND WHY'S.  I'VE NEVER THOUGHT THAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE OTHER TWO FIREFIGHTERS.  NEVER! 

     THE ONE THING THAT WE CAN BE THANKFUL FOR ~ IF WE SHOULD "HAVE" TO BE THANKFUL FOR LOSING HIM...IS THAT:  JARRETT LOVED WHAT HE WAS DOING AND ENJOYED EVERY MINUTE OF IT.  THE FIRE CHIEF SAID THAT HE HAD JUST VISITED WITH JARRETT THAT MORNING AND HE HAD A SMILE FROM EAR TO EAR AND SAID HE WAS READY FOR IT ~ THE NEW WORK SCHEDULE AND BEING AT THE NEW STATION.  HE WAS HAPPY. 

      KNOWING THAT YOU ARE PUTTING YOUR LIFE ON THE LINE - EACH & EVERY TIME YOU PULL OUT OF THE STATION.  NOT KNOWING IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE BACK OR NOT.  BUT YOU LOVED IT! 

     THAT'S WHAT HELPS US...KNOWING THAT JARRETT LOVED IT WITH EVERYTHING THAT HE HAD IN HIM. 

     FOR THE PAST YEAR, WE'VE HAD TO FIGHT FOR HIS RIGHT AS A ''SINGLE'' STATE OF GA. EMPLOYEE.  THE STATE OF GA. HAS A BENEFIT PACKAGE AND THE LAW WAS CHANGED TO WHERE ONLY MARRIED STATE OF GA. EMPLOYEES WHO PASS AWAY - THEIR FAMILY OR THEIR CHILDREN WILL RECEIVE THAT PACKAGE.  IT'S NOT ABOUT THE MONEY...IT'S THE FACT THAT JARRETT ( & OTHERS) DO THIS JOB WITHOUT THINKING THAT THEY SHOULD BE MARRIED FIRST - BEFORE SAVING SOMEONE OR THEIR PROPERTY. 

     I MISS YOU AND WISH SO MUCH THAT THIS DIDN'T HAVE TO HAPPEN.....  MY HEART IS BROKEN AND WILL NEVER BE THE SAME! 

     I LOVE YOU MY JARRETT  ALWAYS, MAMA

4/28/2010...JUST ANOTHER UPDATE.  KENNY JUST GOT A PHONE CALL TELLING HIM THAT ''THE HOUSE'' PASSED THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE CURRENT LAW THAT DENIED US YOUR BENEFIT PACKAGE.  IT NOT ONLY DENIES US YOUR PACKAGE, BUT IT DENIES OTHER STATE OF GA. EMPLOYEES FAMILIES THEIR RIGHT TO THE BENEFIT PACKAGE SHOULD SOMETHING HAPPEN TO THEM.

WE DON'T EXPECT THE GOVERNOR TO SIGN IT INTO LAW.  WE WILL CONTINUE THIS FIGHT FOR THE SINGLE STATE OF GA. EMPLOYEE...THEY HAVE RIGHTS TOO.  THE GOVERNOR SHOWED HIS TRUE COLORS EARLIER THIS YEAR AND HE CAN KISS MY ~~~. 

MY LIFE WAS MY BOYS! EVERYTHING THAT I'VE DONE - I'VE DONE FOR THEM.  THIS IS NO DIFFERENT!  YOU'RE NOT HERE AND I STILL HAVE TO DO WHAT I HAVE TO DO AS A MOTHER. 

MISS YOU ~

LOVE YOU MY JARRETT ALWAYS, MAMA

4/28/2010...JUST AN UPDATE ON THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE LAW THAT DENIED US JARRETT'S BENEFIT PACKAGE FROM THE STATE OF GEORGIA.

     SENATOR JEFF MULLIS IS QUOTED AS SAYING: "WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE A RIGHT OUT OF A WRONG".  REPRESENTATIVE JAY NEAL IS QUOTED AS SAYING:  "THE BILL IS ANTICIPATED TO BE VETOED BY GOVERNOR SONNY PERDUE". 

     WE HAVE YET TO HEAR FROM SENATOR MULLIS HIMSELF.  HE HASN'T RETURNED ANY OF KENNY'S PHONE CALLS.  HE'S NOT MADE ANY ATTEMPT TO CONTACT US TO TELL US ANY INFORMATION WHAT-SO-EVER.  WE HAVE TO FIND ALL THESE THINGS OUT ON OUR OWN - THROUGH OUR OWN CONTACTS.

     WE FEEL THAT MR. MULLIS IS DOING THIS AS A POLITICAL MOVE.  HIS SEAT IS UP FOR ELECTION AND I'M SURE HE'D LIKE TO STAY IN IT.  AS FOR THE GOVERNOR SONNY PERDUE, HE CAN'T RUN FOR ANOTHER TERM - THANK GOODNESS!  IF HE COULD - I WOULD HAVE TO GET ME A 2ND JOB JUST TO BE ABLE TO TAKE OUT A FULL PAGE AD TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW JUST HOW HE TREATED ME IN OUR JANUARY 7TH, 2010 MEETING IN ATLANTA.  HOW HE SHOWED HIS TRUE COLORS - HE WAS RUDE!  HE'S AN ASS AND THAT'S BEING NICE.

     MISS YOU ~

LOVE YOU MY JARRETT ALWAYS, MAMA

4/27/2010...ANOTHER MEMORY ~ SEAN, KAYLA & MIABELLA CAME OVER FOR KENNY'S BIRTHDAY...SO, WHILE VISITING & TALKING, KENNY GOT TO TELLING ONE OF THE STORIES OF WHEN HE HAD TO KEEP THE BOYS ENTERTAINED WHEN I HAD GONE TO WORK.  HE WOULD PULL THE BOYS AROUND IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN THIER RED RIDER WAGON.  HE FIXED IT UP TO HAVE AN EXTRA LONG POLE ATTACHED SO HE COULD PULL THEM BEHIND HIS BICYCLE.  WELL, ON ONE OF THOSE OUTINGS, HE TURNED THE CORNER AND JARRETT FELL OUT.  THE BOYS WERE PROBABLY 4 AND 5 YRS. OLD AND WHEN HE GOT HOME, HE GOT SOME WOOD, MADE RAILINGS / SIDE BOARDS AND ATTACHED 'EM TO THE WAGON...JARRETT DIDN'T FALL OUT ANYMORE.  SEAN KNEW IT WASN'T HIM THAT FELL OUT ~ MEANING THAT JARRETT WAS IN THE BACK AND HE WAS UP FRONT.  WE KEPT THAT RED RIDER WAGON UP UNTIL ABOUT 3 YRS. AGO.  DON'T KNOW WHY WE GOT RID OF IT...WISH WE STILL HAD IT! 

MISS YOU, LOVE YOU MY JARRETT ALWAYS, MAMA

4/24/2010...JUST WANTED TO WRITE AND SAY THAT I WAS THINKING OF YOU TODAY.  THE ''24TH''...THE AGE TO WHICH YOU WERE WHEN YOU PASSED AWAY.  HAVING TO WORK WITH NUMBERS ALL DAY EVERY DAY - THEY JUST HAVE A DIFFERENT MEANING TO ME THAN MOST PEOPLE.  A FEW CO-WORKERS WERE TALKING ABOUT ''MY LAUGH''.  HOW IT'S A CONTAGIOUS LAUGH.  THEY KNOW WHEN I'M AT WORK AND SOMETHING HAS BEEN SAID THAT'S REALLY - REALLY FUNNY.  THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN TOO MUCH ANYMORE.  THE DEEP DOWN - JUST CAN'T HELP - BUT LAUGH ~LAUGH...BUT I CAN SAY:  YOUR LITTLE NIECE CAN SURE BRING A SMILE AND LAUGH TO US.  WE JUST WISH YOU WERE HERE TO ENJOY IT AS WELL.  SHE'S A BEAUTIFUL LITTLE BABY.  YOU'D BE PROUD OF YOUR BROTHER ~ THOUGH SHE'S GOING TO TAKE AFTER HER MOM ON HAVING THAT NATURAL BEAUTY ABOUT HER. HOPEFULLY, SHE'LL HAVE YOUR BROTHERS SKIN TONE TO GO ALONG WITH THAT NATURAL BEAUTY. 

     WE MISS YOU JARRETT ~ LOVE YOU ALWAYS, MAMA

4/15/2010...JUST ANOTHER MEMORY ~ TODAY.  WE USE TO GO UP TO GATLINBURG / PIGEON FORGE AREA FOR A LITTLE MINI VACATION.  THERE WAS A RESTURANT UP THERE IN THE PIGEON FORGE AREA THAT WAS CALLED:  J & S RESTURANT.  WE USE TO CALL IT:  JARRETT & SEAN'S.  WHENEVER WE WERE THERE AND WANTED TO GO OUT TO EAT ~ WE WOULD SAY: LET'S GO TO JARRETT & SEAN'S.  IT WAS A CAFETERIA STYLE RESTURANT AND HAD DOWN-HOME COOKED MEALS.  THE BOYS NOTICED AT ONE POINT THAT MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT WERE IN THERE WERE ''OLDER''.  WE TOLD 'EM THAT THEY KNEW WHERE THE GOOD FOOD WAS. 

     ME & KENNY EVEN TOOK A DAY OFF WORK JUST TO TRAVEL UP THERE FOR A ''LUNCH DATE''.  DROVE BACK HOME AND GOT HERE  BEFORE THE BOYS GOT HOME FROM SCHOOL.  THEY NEVER WOULD HAVE KNOWN IF WE HADN'T HAVE TOLD 'EM. 

     IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS LIKE THAT ~ THAT YOU DON'T REALIZE ARE MEMORIES IN THE MAKING...UNTIL SOMETHING LIKE THIS (LOSING A CHILD) HAS HAPPENED. 

     ME & KENNY TOOK A TRIP BACK UP THERE LAST YEAR AND TRIED TO VISIT SOME OF THE PLACES THAT WE USE TO GO TO AS A FAMILY (THE PLACES TO WHERE WE STOPPED IN TO SHOP FOR THINGS FOR THE BOYS).  I ENDED UP BREAKING DOWN AND CRYING AND HAD TO WALK OUT.  JUST COULDN'T STAY IN THERE. 

     WE HAD MADE THE ATTEMPT AGAIN ~ THIS TIME IT WAS A LITTLE BETTER.  DIDN'T STOP IN THE STORES THAT HELD ''OUR'' MEMORIES ~ INSTEAD, WE STOPPED IN AND SHOPPED FOR OUR NEW GRANDDAUGHTER.  NEW MEMORIES HAVE STARTED. 

     WE HOPE TO START NEW ONES WITH HER.  SHE'S BEAUTIFUL!  JARRETT WOULD BE A PROUD UNCLE AND WOULD SPOIL HER ROTTEN!!!  IT BROKE SEAN'S HEART TO NOT HAVE HIM HERE WHEN SHE WAS BORN ~ HE BROKE DOWN, JUST LIKE THE REST OF US. 

     WE MISS YOU JARRETT ~ WISHING YOU WERE HERE EVERY SECOND OF EVERY DAY. 

LOVE YOU MY JARRETT ALWAYS, MAMA

3/25/2010...JUST TO UPDATE EVERYONE ON THE JARRETT LITTLE ACT.  IT HAS PASSED WITH A VOTE OF 50 TO 0.  IT HAD TO PASS 3 READINGS AND WILL NOW GO BEFORE THE GOVERNOR.  WE AREN'T HOLDING OUR BREATH - BECAUSE HE CAN STILL VETO THE THE AMENDMENT AND WE WILL HAVE TO START ALL OVER - ONCE HE IS OUT OF OFFICE.  ONE OF THE SENATORS WHO CO-SPONSORED THE BILL THAT DENIED US JARRETT'S BENEFIT PACKAGE IS THE MAIN ONE WHO IS SPEARHEADING THE NEWLY AMENDED BILL.  THERE WERE 2 AMENDMENTS WRITTEN.  ONE FOR THE SENATE AND THE OTHER FOR THE HOUSE.  THAT WAY IT WOULD HAVE AT LEAST 1 CHANCE OF MAKING IT TO THE 3RD READING.  KENNY HAD MADE MANY - MANY PHONE CALLS.  HE HAS CONNECTIONS AND ''KNOWS'' ALOT OF PEOPLE.  THOSE THAT HE KNOWS...KNOW SOMEONE IN EITHER THE HOUSE OR THE SENATE.  HE WOULD CALL 'EM AND TELL 'EM OUR STORY AND HOW JARRETT'S DEATH HAD EFFECTED US AND OUR FINANCIAL SITUATION.  (KENNY IS UNEMPLOYED AND I AM THE ONLY SOURCE OF INCOME).  JARRETT WAS PAYING RENT WHENEVER HE WASN'T HELPING OUT HIS FRIENDS OR CO-WORKERS WITH THEIR BILLS.  SO, ALL OF HIS BILLS FELL ON US TO GET PAID.  THEN, TO BE DENIED HIS BENEFIT PACKAGE.  THAT WAS A SLAP IN THE FACE.  THE STATE OF GA. SURE DIDN'T CARE TO SEND US OUR CHECK BACK WHEN WE PAID JARRETT'S TAXES THAT HE OWED.  SO, WE HOPE THAT THE GOVERNOR WILL SIGN THIS NEW AMENDMENT INTO LAW AND IT WILL HELP THE FUTURE FAMILIES OF THOSE WHO LAY DOWN THEIR LIFE WHILE HELPING OTHERS.  THOUGH NO AMOUNT OF MONEY CAN EVER REPLACE YOUR LOVED ONE! 

WE MISS YOU,

LOVE YOU MY JARRETT ALWAYS, MAMA

3/22/2010...THE NUMBERS ARE IN YOUR ''TICKER'' TO THE AGE THAT YOU NEVER GOT TO BECOME DOWN HERE.  YOU HAD YOUR 25TH BIRTHDAY AS YOUR 1ST HEAVENLY ONE.  HOW I'M TRYING TO LEARN TO ACCEPT IT...BUT, I JUST CAN'T DO IT YET.  IT'S BEEN 14 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS & 5 DAYS.  THE LONGEST NIGHTMARE THAT I'VE HAD TO LIVE. 

I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW TO MOVE ON...PEOPLE JUST THINK THAT IT'S THAT SIMPLE & EASY.  AS IF WE ARE SUPPOSE TO FORGET THAT YOU WERE EVER ALIVE AND HERE FOR 24 YEARS, 5 MONTHS,  7 DAYS & 12 HRS. 

I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO COME & VISIT ME.  IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE YOUR LAST ONE.  I COULD USE  A HUG, A SMILE, A KISS, A LOOK AT YOUR FACE, YOUR BLUE EYES, YOUR SMILE - FROM EAR TO EAR. 

MISS YOU, LOVE YOU MY JARRETT  ALWAYS, MAMA

Thought of you today, but that is nothing new. I thought about you yesterday and days before that too. I think of you in silence, I often speak your name. All I have are memories and pictures some are in frames. Your memories are a keepsake, with which I'll never part. God has you in His keeping, I will ALWAYS have you...... in my heart!! ♥♥  3-18-2010

3/11/2010...HAD ANOTHER MEMORY OF THE BOYS WHEN THEY WERE ABOUT 3 & 4 YRS. OLD.  THEY PARTICIPATED IN A ''WALK'' TO HELP RAISE MONEY FOR MDA.  THEY WERE ATTENDING A PRE-SCHOOL HELD AT A CHURCH.  THEY WON THE WALK AND THEY RAISED THE MOST MONEY.  FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION & FUND RAISING ~ THEY WON A TV.  WE STILL HAVE THAT TV.  IT'S GOING TO BE AN ANTIQUE BY THE TIME SEAN'S LITTLE GIRL GROWS UP TO WANT HER OWN.  SHE'LL GET A KICK OUT OF IT - WHEN I SHOW IT TO HER. 

MISS YOU!  LOVE YOU MY JARRETT ~ALWAYS, MAMA

3/8/2010...READING WHAT NICKI JUST WROTE - REMINDED ME OF THE TIME THAT JARRETT TAUGHT TYLER HOW TO FLIRT WITH THE GIRLS....HE WAS SO SMALL....BUT, THOSE BLUE EYES OF TYLERS - HE COULD GET THEIR ATTENTION.  I THINK JARRETT USED TYLER AS A ''CHICK MAGNET''....THEY HAD FUN TOGETHER.  HE LOVED TYLER AND TYLER LOVED JARRETT.

LOVE YOU MY JARRETT ~ ALWAYS, MAMA

3/6/2010...IT'S STARTING TO GET A LITTLE WARMER OUTSIDE AND YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.  YOUR DADDY WILL BE BURNING THE FRONT YARD BEFORE TOO LONG.  THE MEMORY OF THIS IS:  JARRETT WOULD DRIVE THE FIRE TRUCK TO THE HOUSE ON HIS OFF DAY - WITH THE EXPLORERS ABOARD~TO HELP TEACH THEM ON HOW FAST A YARD CAN BURN AND GET OUT OF CONTROL.  HOW TO WET DOWN THE HOUSE & WATCH HOW FIRE TRAVELS.

     LAST YEAR WAS YOUR FIRST YEAR TO NOT BE HERE.  THIS YEAR IS NOW YOUR SECOND YEAR.  I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY YEARS I'M GOING TO HAVE TO COUNT BEFORE I STOP. 

     I WISH YOU WERE HERE!  I MISS YOU!  LOVE YOU MY JARRETT~ALWAYS, MAMA

3/2/2010...I RECENTLY JUST HAD ANOTHER MEMORY OF WHEN JARRETT FIRST STARTED 6TH GRADE.  IT WAS THE 2ND YEAR THAT THE 6TH GRADE WAS INTERGRADED WITH THE " MIDDLE'' SCHOOL. 

     HE WANTED ME TO HAVE BREAKFAST WITH HIM ONE MORNING AND I DID.  GOT THERE, GOT OUR FOOD, FOUND A TABLE TO SIT AT...AND NO MORE THAN US SITTING DOWN - HE SAYS THAT HE DOESN'T FEEL GOOD.  HE WANTS TO GO HOME.  HE'S SICK. 

     SO, WE GOT UP & I CHECKED HIM OUT.  GOT HOME, TOLD HIM TO SIT AT THE TABLE & START ON HIS WORK & I WOULD FIX HIM SOMETHING.  HE SAID HE THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO GET SICK.  HIS STOMACH WASN'T FEELING GOOD.  SO, I STARTED ASKING HIM QUESTIONS ABOUT SCHOOL, IF ANYONE WAS BOTHERING HIM, " BULLING'' HIM.  HE SAID NO.  THAT THEY HAVE KEPT ALL THE UPPER GRADES AWAY FROM THE 6TH GRADERS.  SO, I ASKED WHAT ALL HAD HE BEEN DOING IN SCHOOL - TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY ALL OF A SUDDEN HE WASN'T FEELING GOOD AND WANTED TO BE AT HOME. 

     THE MORE WE TALKED...THE MORE INFORMATION I GOT.  HE TOLD ME ABOUT HIS ''GYM'' CLASS.  STARTED TELLING ME ALL ABOUT THE EXERCISES THAT HE WAS HAVING TO DO.  IT ALL STARTED MAKING SENSE.  HE HADN'T HAD GYM CLASS IN OVER 2 YEARS AND THE EXERCISES THAT HE WAS HAVING TO DO WAS WORKING HIS STOMACH MUSCLES AND THAT WAS THE SOURCE OF HIS STOMACH PAINS. 

     SO, WE SAT THERE AND TALKED AND THAT'S WHEN HE CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT HE WAS GOING TO START WATCHING WHAT HE EAT AND STARTED EXERCISING. 

     (IT WAS FUNNY AT THE TIME...YOU KNOW THE FACIAL EXPRESSIONS, THE HOLDING OF HIS STOMACH - SHOWING ME JUST WHERE IT HURT).  BUT, WITH THAT AND OUR TALK - HE KNEW THAT HE HAD TO START TAKING CARE OF HIS BODY.

     JUST THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE THIS ONE...TOO.

LOVE YOU MY JARRETT, ALWAYS ~ MAMA

~THE JARRETT LITTLE ACT~

2/18/2010...THOUGH THE SPELLING OF JARRETT'S NAME IS WRONG...THIS IS A START.  THE CORRECTION TO THE SPELLING OF HIS NAME WILL COME LATER.  IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED IN READING THE UPDATED AMENDMENT TO THE LAW THAT DENIED US OUR SONS BENEFITS BECAUSE HE WAS SINGLE AND HAD NO DEPENDENTS.  (A STATE OF GA. LAW)  THE WEBSITE ADDRESSES ARE BELOW.  THEY HAVE TO BE PASSED AND THEN SENT ON TO THE GOVERNOR - TO WHICH I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT HE WILL PASS IT....HE WILL VETO IT.  BUT, WE WILL KEEP TRYING UNTIL WE GET SOMETHING DONE. 

THIS IS HOUSE BILL 1230....

http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/fulltext/hb1230.htm

THE NEXT WEBSITE ADDRESS IS FOR THE SENATE BILL 414...

http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/fulltext/sb414.htm

2/17/2010...WE JUST GOT NEWS THAT A BILL HAS BEEN WRITTEN IN YOUR NAME AND WILL BE PRESENTED TOMORROW.  IT WILL NEED A NUMBER & WILL HAVE TO HAVE 3 READINGS TO PASS.  WE AREN'T GAURANTEED ANYTHING ~ BUT IT'S A START.  SHANNON JUST SO HAPPENED TO BE IN ATLANTA ON A WORK RELATED - PRE-SCHEDULED EVENT AND SHE GOT TO SEE & HOLD THE BILL WITH JARRETT'S NAME ON IT.  THIS IS REPRESENTATIVE JAY NEAL WITH THE BILL.