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It's been so long since I posted a blog, but I finally felt something warranting posting.

I LOVE MY SISTERS!!!!!!   Growing up with my sister has always been happy memories.  Even though my twin sister and younger sisters Robin and Danielle are 4 years apart, we've always been able to hang like we're the same age.  A good time wasn't a good time unless you hung out with the Ethridge Sisters.  We can even wear each other's clothing.  It's great....if anyone knows the Ethridge sisters, our weight fluctuates, so all we have to do is call the other sister who is bigger or smaller at the time and say I need some clothes.  We switch up just like that.  We may threaten each other about not messing up certain special pieces of clothing, but it's usually all good. 

Danielle lives in Georgia and is in her 6th month of pregnancy which is high-risk and has a 15th month old and a 5 year old.  She also gets bombarded with Worship Pastor stuff and singing obligations and it's strange that people don't realize how sick she is.  She gets pulled so many different ways.  You can't even tell when she has problems unless she tells you.  She doesn't let anything get in the way of her worship.  She's always been my hero in the worship deparment.  She knows how to throw down and get you to praising and worshipping God like you never have before.  She writes the most beautiful songs to God.  And she's so beautiful.  When she smiles, her eyes do this squinting thing...just precious.

 Robin lives in Lucama and has taken my mother in her home (God bless her soul).  When we were little, Robin was fragile in the body but one of the most stern people I knew.  I've seen her change to "I don't want any kids, rugrats, any other name you want to fit in here" to being the most dedicated mother to the most beautiful 2 little girls.  She has a marriage to a wonderful man who will do anything for her.  He's a man of God.  I consider it a great marriage. She's a great example to me and I try to fashion myself after her in regards to my marriage.  She shows me how to be a dedicated wife to my husband and mother to my children.

Runnette lives down the road from me and is still recovering from physical injuries of a car accident 13 months ago that left her with screws, pins, and washers in her legs and ankles.  She can be in the worst pain and get up and limp her way to work where she stands, climbs ladders, and lifts objects. She got out of a 12 year relationship.  Guys, you know that had to be hard. She is taken care of her 20 year old daughter who has brain injury/memory problems and some paralyzation from a car accident when she was 14 years old.  Rue started her own business and can decorate and put gift baskets together like no one I know.  She's definitely the creative twin.  I call my sister and she comes to my rescue.  I load all the bad stuff on her.  Plus she has an unconditional love for the people in my life.  She encourages me through her strength.  We still can look at each other and know what each other's thinking....that's Twin Power!!!  Rue is truly showing herself to be a "strong sista". 

My sisters and I hardly have time to get together like we did before we had marriages, families, church and work obligations,etc., but when we do, it's like time stands still.  We were able to get together for Christmas and for my dad's birthday 1/6, which we made a special trip to his gravesite.  We got to sing some songs we hadn't sang in a long time and still got "the look" from my mother when we played around too much.  Our husbands truly don't understand us at times.  We can be quite crazy with our private jokes that only "the sisters" know.  Our children get along just like sisters.  And yes, Rue is the mean aunt. 

I'm dedicating this blog and my profile picture to MY SISTERS for being there for me and loving me unconditionally....just like Christ does.  It's great to be able to be yourself.  It's also great to not have any expectations from my sisters.  I've got to say it again.  I love my sisters.  No matter what any of them are going through, I'm here to pray, support, and maybe counsel them from time to time just like they are here to do the same for me.  It's funny.  I can seek advice from other people, but then I can turn to my sisters and they'll say something that I needed to hear and that's all I had needed in the first place.  We're biological sisters and sisters in Christ....a double whammy.  I think the icing on the cake of our lives would be to be able to travel and sing together more.

Through good times or bad times, ~ with the kids voice from the movie Little Darlings~ "We Luuuuv Each Other."

So, my son is 3 months old and I have been in pain ever since having my child.  Well, I'm scheduled for a hysterectomy next month to deal with it.  It's weird.  Sunday, the sermon was on learning to worship no matter what you're going through.  My pastor had asked my husband to do an interview with him in front of the congregation after the sermon regarding playing the guitar and worship during certain circumstances.  So, I e-mailed my pastor asking him why does he always interview my husband, I clearly go through more stuff than him and I have to lead worship....well, he surprised me and called me down with Charles.  I should've known.  Anyway, I was stating how it's easier for me to worship when I'm going through because I've learned from past experiences that it's easier to run to my heavenly father instead of other people for comfort.  So, when I got hit with this new dilemna, I had mixed feelings.  I smirked first because I knew that something was going to happen to test out my testimony from Sunday.  Then the feeling was that I wanted to cry, kick, scream, throw a tantrum, ask why, beg the Lord to let this cup pass from me...but then, I'm like, "I know the Lord is going to take care of me and all things work together for those who love Him...and I really do love Him."  So it's ALL GOOD!!! 

That's right folks....I've got a bun in the oven.  While I'm writing this, I'm thinking of my baby sister who is 33 years old and just had her second child about 2 weeks ago.  I'm also thinking about my niece from my oldest sister who has 2 children that are older than my daughter and I'm wondering what the heck am I doing.  But I always had this thought in the back of my mind that I was going to be the last sister to have the last grandchild.  I kept thinking that it was upsurd being that I'm 41 years old and I have a 21 year old son and like to had a fit trying to remember how to raise my soon-to-be 3 year old daughter.  God has always revealed things to me and I thought maybe God could've missed the mark on this one, but I should've known when I her His voice, believe Him.

But you know what?  I'm happy.  I feel good.  I'm hardly having symptoms and people have said that I'm already glowing.  That's cool with me.  Please pray that I keep in my rememberance that this is a blessing from My Father and that I keep joy in my heart.  Especially pray that I don't give my husband too much grief while going through this pregancy. 

I'm sure I'll be blogging some good stuff in the near future.

Blessings.

So, I'm sitting here at my computer at the Capitol listening to my sister's song "Oil of Praise" and just worshipping quietly and thinking about all the things I want to accomplish before the year's end and trying to figure out how things are going to work out in regards to my life.  Before I continue, I want to say to family members who are saying to themselves that I'm wasting taxpayer's money, I have served the Governor over and beyond my call of duty this week and I deserve this little break.  Now continuing....A cleaning woman (a black woman in her late 50's with a beautiful complexion, quiet demeanor and always has her hair done and a smile on her face) that I've said hello to for years, but that's pretty much it, came into the office to clean up some.  I liked the curls in her hair and started up a conversation about it.  Let me tell you, if you saw how my hair looks right now, you'd probably tell me to make an appointment with her stylist.  I usually get my hair done every other week, but it's been a rough month and I decided to go natural for a while, so I have these waves in my hair that I'm trying to maintain.  Sometimes it looks like I put my finger in a light socket...but I'm trying to to tell myself that it's okay since a lot of women are doing the twisty, dread, braid thing....it can't look that bad. 

Well, to get back on the subject, the woman starts talking to me about enjoying life.  She told me of how she lost her mother, her husband to cancer, and her sister to an anurism in a 3-year period.  She told me that both her husband and sister were hitting the 30-year mark in state government and were getting ready to retire but died before they could really enjoy the fruits of their labor.  So she told me that I should take time and enjoy my family and my life because when it's our time to go, it's our time to go and we should stop being held down by the weights and cares of this world.  We need to take time out to smell the roses, GET OUR HAIR DONE!!!!  So let this be an encouragement to all.  Live your lives!!! God Bless!!