Sweet 16!

I remember it like it was yesterday. It was my 16th birthday and not even the rain (my birthday is in April so it ALWAYS rains on my birthday) could dampen my spirits. I was young, carefree and I thought I was in love! My boyfriend who was 3 years older than me brought me roses









and surprised me with matching Baltimore Orioles t shirts and a home game at Camden Yards. We had a great time blowing money on hot dogs, sodas and peanuts. I was a good christian girl and he was a good christian boy so at the end of the night, we exchanged a quick kiss and said goodnight.............


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October 16, 2004. The first time I heard her voice. Carmen, Judah's birth mother sounded so nervous and unsure of herself. But she was firm in her decision to give her unborn baby a better life. We thank God every day for the difficult decision she made...............









It was payday and only by a miracle from God, we were able to pay the entire mountain of bills we had accumulated. Every last one of them...paid in full! We had $16 left in our checking account, but we were rich as far as we were concerned...............










Ahhhhh, There's nothing like it in the world! It's something I treat myself to occasionally when I've had a bad day or just feel like a little pick me up.
A 16 oz. fountain drink all to myself! Mmmm mmmm good...........









16 years, 16 days, $16, 16 oz. None of these "16's" are the 16 I'm most happiest about in my life at this moment. It's the 16 lbs. that I've just shed that makes me want to shout from the mountain top! I did it! I really did it! I made it past that 15 lb. marker that I could never make it past when I've tried all those countless diets in the past. What a sense of accomplishment I'm feeling today! It kind of makes all those tears I've cried all worth it! I made it! 16 sweet sweet pounds!!!!!