Congrats Little Sis

Hats off to my sister, Callie, for graduating high school! I am so proud of her and wish her the very best!

The Greatest Man I Ever Knew

A week ago today, I was saying my last goodbyes to my Pop. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. My Pop was the greatest man I ever knew. I often pray that every man could be the type of person my Pop was. He was an awesome father, father-in-law, Pop, husband, and friend. I can only hope for a man that will treat me as well as he did my Nanny. They were married for 51 years and lived their lives for each other and their family. It’s still so hard to believe that he’s gone. Cancer is such an evil, evil, evil thing. I never wanted to say goodbye to Pop, but God knows I never wanted to see him suffer. I am so thankful for the opportunity to be able to tell him I loved him, let him see Avery, and spend his last days with his family. So many people never get a chance to say goodbye. However, the pastor at the funeral said that these aren’t really goodbyes, only “see you later’s”.
I am so grateful that I had Avery before my Pop passed away. My Pops name was Lawrence Bruce and I named Avery, Avery Lawrence, after him. I always said if I had a son that he would be named after Pop because if my son was only half the man Pop was I had raised a good man.
On another note, I feel somewhat strange at the emotions I’m feeling right now. I didn’t cry at the funeral home, funeral, or burial. I don’t know why. My only conclusion is I had seen Pop suffer severely his last days and when he took his last breath it felt like a sense of peace came over him because he was in the arms of God and not lying there in pain.
Pop was never supposed to die. Pop was someone that was supposed to be around forever and ever. I know that it will finally “hit me” that he really is gone soon and I am so scared for that day. Until now, I just take one day at a time and smile at the fact that my Pop is resting in heaven without cancer and pain.
I love you Pop and I will see you later!






Athens - Lawrence Bruce Couch, 78, of Athens, passed away Sunday, March 22, 2009.
A native of Clarke County, Mr. Couch was the son of the late Ernest and Ester Bradberry Couch. He owned and operated Athens Super Market for a number of years and retired from Bells Food Store. Mr. Couch served in the Georgia National Guard and was a member of Princeton United Methodist Church.
Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Vickie Lorene Bales Couch of Athens; daughter, Cathy Heard (Shaefer) of Bishop, Ga.; son, Eddie Couch (Kim) of Mt. Airy, Ga.; grandchildren, Justin Couch (Brenna), Amanda Tibbs (Shawn), Cristin Heard, Callie Heard, Andrew Shirley and Bridget Shirley; great-grandchildren, Avery Heard, Bowie Couch, Brady Couch and Emma Stratton; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held 11 a.m., Wednesday, March 25, at Bernstein Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Russell Repetske officiating. Interment will follow at Evergreen Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m., Tuesday, March 24, at Bernstein.
The Princeton United Methodist Men's Group will serve as honorary pallbearers.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Princeton United Methodist Memorial Fund, 2390 S. Lumpkin St., Athens, GA 30606.
Bernstein Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. www.bernsteinfuneralhome.com.

Avery's 3 Month Pictures

Finally got the pictures back from our 3 month old session! I can't believe how much he's already changed since these were taken! Melody always does a wonderful job!

Back To School

I went today to Athens Tech. and they said I had been accepted back into college and that I would be getting Pell Grant and HOPE grant!!! So it's official...I am going back to school!

I keep smiling thinking about it. It makes me look back over the past year and a half and think of how everything in my life has changed and how far I have come as a person.

I went to ABAC (a college in Tifton) for 3 years. I wasn't the best student and because of some stupid choices I flunked out. My parents decided to they weren't going to pay for me to live in Tifton anymore and I was on my own. I got a good job working at a law firm and paid for everything myself. I learned so much and I learned the value of a dollar for the first time in my life. I got pregnant in this time period as well and had to grow up even more... and fast!

When I was about six months pregnant my mother and I were talking and I was telling her that I was proud of myself for being able to manage my job and all my expenses on my own the past year, but much to my surprise-she wasn't so impressed. She told me I hadn't done anything in a long time to make her proud. What a blow to the chest that was. Can you imagine how hard it is to hear your mother tell you there wasn't anything in a long time for her to say "I am proud of you!"

Well guess what...

I can't wait to show everybody who ever doubted me being able to be a single mom, work a full time job, and go to school that I CAN DO IT!!! No one is going to bring me down and I cannot wait to get my diploma and say I TOLD YOU I COULD!!!

Habitual Violator

So I will publicly admit that I am a Habitual Violator for the "crime" of locking my keys in my car. I am known state wide for this violation. I committed this crime 5 times in 1 month. Yes, yes, I know-"don't you think you would learn"? Well, I try to learn and remember, but it keeps on happening.

However, my latest lockout incident happened this morning.

I went to crank up my car so that it would be warm for Avery and I when we headed off this morning. It wouldn't crank. "Shoot", I said. So I ran back in the house and told my dad and mom and asked if I could borrow the Yukon. I hurriedly got Avery's car seat buckled in the Yukon and transferred everything from my car into this one. I run back inside and get Avery and rush out the door.

I get all the way to Brenna's and get Avery out of the car, change his poopy diaper, chat with Brenna for a minute and run back to the car to hurry off to work.

Thinking I was going to be terribly late, I sped the entire way. Lucky me, I was going to be early to work, so I stopped by Chick-Fi-La and grabbed some breakfast.

Right when I pull up to pay it hit me..."OH MY GOSH...MY KEYS!!!" Yes, my office keys were on the same key chain as my car keys that were still in the ignition of the car that wouldn't crank.

So I called a co-worker, who had already called in sick today, to come let me in. While I waited for 20 minutes I sat in the hallway of my office building and ate my very tasty Chick-Fi-La breakfast burrito.

How does this happen to me? I think I am cursed!

A Peaceful Night

So I woke up this morning and rolled over for that one more minute worth of sleep. Something didn't seem right-Avery wasn't in the bed. He's supposed to be in my bed. He wakes up every night at 3am for his feeding. I began to go into major-major panic mode. Where in the world is my son? Did someone come in and take him or did he roll off the bed? So I hurried to his room and checked the crib and there he was. I genitally put my hand on his chest to make sure he was breathing.

AHH my precious son. There he was, snug in his crib. He had slept through the entire night. 8pm-7am!!! Wow! Yes, he has slept till 4 or 5 before...but this was a major accomplishment. It has taken us 5 months (because today his is 5 month birthday) to sleep an entire night through and oh my gosh it felt so good!!!!

5 Months

About 13 months ago I was faced with the fact that I was going to be a mother. Not just any mother-a single mother. I remember thinking for so many months..."how am I going to do this?". Well January 16th marks 5 months that I have been a single mom. 5 months that I have gotten up every night to feed my son, change his diapers, bath him, play with him, hold him, (and much more stuff...)but most of love him! Yes I will admit that it's very very hard sometimes and somedays it's all I can do to not give up, but what I realize most is that it's NOT IMPOSSIBLE! I have the greatness of my family and friends to help me, but I will say this and not feel shameful-I and I alone have made the choice to make this situation the best it can be. It is my choice daily to get up and work hard to be the best mother I can be and to provide and make sure my son never goes without. I can also say that I am proud of myself because it would be so easy to give up sometimes, but I haven't and I won't!



So here's to single moms around the world!


With the smile of the newborn
And yet the fear of the unknown
A single mom steps up to life's responsibility.
Who will be there to help?
How long hard will the struggle be?
These rip through her mind as a thorn.

And yet, the radiant smile of the newborn
Reminds her that she is not alone.
For she has him cradled in her arms.
They will make it somehow, some way,
For they have each other and the dawning of a new day.
And the faith that God Himself will be their Father always.