Footprints in the Sand, by Leona Lewis

You walked with me, footprints in the sand

And heped me understandwhere I'm going

You walked with me when I was all alone

With so much I know along the way

Then I heard you say

I promise you, I'm always there

When your heart is filled with sorrow and despair

I'll carry you when you need a friend

You'll find my footprints in the sand

I see my life flash across the sky

So many times have I been so afraid

And just when I have thoughtI've lost my way

You give me strength to carry on

That's when I heard you say

I promise you, I'm always there

When your heart is filled with sorrow and despair

And I'll carry you when you need a friend

You'll find my footprints in the sand

When I'm weary, well, I know you'll be there

And I can feel you when you say

I promise you, I'm always there

When your heart is filled with sorrow and despair

I'll carry you when you need a friend

You'll find my footprints in the sand

I promise you, I'm always there

When your heart is filled with sorrow and despair

I'll carry you when you need a friend

You'll find my footprints in the sand

This song is dedicated to my mom, who has always been there.

Ever Changing

I recently came into contact with two people from my past, not by choice, I can tell you that!!! It's amazing to think about the stuff I use to do, the people I chose to be around. Those people are still in the same place they were two years ago. I find it kind of amusing.

Retail During the Holidays

Nearly killed me. Our store was under staffed and over worked!!! This was my first year working in retail during the holidays, there was no way of preparing for this. I have always hated the crowds at the mall when shopping during the holidays Working in the mall when the crowds are shopping for the holidays in much, much worse!!! First there is the parking, all I wanna do is park and go to work, but no, I have to drive around and around and then end up parking in the garage. Which wouldn't be a problem if you didn't have to walk around the entire outside of the mall to get to your car at night. Second there are the constantly changing sales, Lane Bryant had a new sale every 3 days!!! Third there are the very messy, mean customers. I am not saying all the customers were this way, its just that the bad sometimes out weight the good.

This is My Now-Jordan Sparks

There was a time I packed my dreams away

Living in a shell, hiding from myself


There was a time when I was so afraid

I thought I'd reached the end

Baby that was then

But I am made of more than my yesterdays


[Chorus]

This is my now, and I am breathing in the moment

Cuz I look around

I can't believe the love I see

My fears behind me, gone are the shadows and doubts

That was then,

this is my now.


Had to decide was I gonna play it safe

Or look somewhere deep inside

and try to turn the tide

Find the strength to take that step of faith


[Chorus]


[Bridge]

And I have the courage like never before, yeah

settled for less but ready for more

Ready for more


[Chorus x2]


This is my now

Wheel of the World

By Carrie Underwood

Love goes out, out like a light

Out like a flame, and you can't find it anymore

Just when you think it's lost in the rain

It comes back knocking at your door

It's the wheel of the world turning around

It's the wheel of the world turning around

And around

God put us here on this carnival ride

We close our eyes

Never knowing where it will take us next

Babies are born and at the same time, someone's taking their last breath

It's the wheel of the world

It's the wheel of the world turning around

In the blink of an eye

It can change your life

And it never even slows down

It's the wheel of the world

I don't know what it is

I'm flying high

Then I'm wondering whyI'm sinking on this ship, going down

Life keeps on moving anyway

It's the wheel of the world

It's the wheel of the world turning around

It's the wheel of the world

It's the wheel of the world turning around

It's the wheel of the world turning around

And around

And around

It's the wheel of the world turning around

It can open your heart

It can break you apart

And it never even slows down

It's the wheel of the world turning around

It's the wheel of the world turning around

It's the wheel of the world turning around

It's the wheel of the world turning around

And around

Everyday

Emotions run high this time of year. The 2 year mark is coming up. Last year I stayed home and drowned in my grief. This year it will be just as hard as it has always been. This year I decided to work. I don't want this day to take me over, this day is not any harder than the others. I miss her EVERYday, I feel the void in my life EVERYday. Hopefully by going to work it will get my mind onto other things.

Get Credit!!!

Getting customers to apply for our credit card is a very important part of my job. Let me just tell you that it is harder than it sounds. It has been a big learning process for me, learning how to sell credit. As an employee you are required to get at least one credit per shift, that means 5 a week for me. The new Full Time Key Holder, Rachel has played a huge part in me improving my credit results. She taught me what to say and encouraged me. Unlike the boss who constantly dogged us out if we weren't getting any credit. Well obviously encouragement works better than discouragement. For the month of September I only got 5 out of the 25 credits I needed. For the month of October I got 30 out of the 25 credits I needed!!! OH YEAH!!!

Bye Bye Brown Hair

I am no longer a brunette. I am going through a coloring process to go back to my natural hair color. Its a slow process, but it will be worth it in the end. I go back in 8 weeks to finish.

From Princess to Queen

I have evolved. Yesterday, being Halloween and all, the girls and I at the store dressed up. I started out with the whole princess thing, but it turned into a queen thing. I know what you are thinking MJ, Brenda no longer a princess? Has the world gone mad?!?! No, it hasn't gone mad, I have just been promoted, that's all. I wore my senior high school prom dress (which, by the way, fits me better now than it did then! How many women can say they are smaller now than when they were in high school? ) a crown I got at Disney years ago and an array of my sparkiest brooches. The girls at work loved it and got what I was going for. It was alot of fun dressing up. But I must say, when I was getting ready for work today, it wasn't as much fun without the tiara. Just felt like my outfit was missing something.

Rocki in Front of the Rocki's

I Can't Make This Stuff Up

A very busy crazy Saturday afternoon at Lane Bryant. The day begins with the store being a mess from the previous evening. My co-worker and I spend the first two hours of our day cleaning up the place. Then the adventure really begins. A customer comes in with her 2 teenage daughters, while the mother is looking around, the 2 girls take it upon themselves to walk around the store and "fix" our mannequins. By "fix" I mean, pop their collars and undo buttons to make our mannequins more "sexy". Do they not realize that these are MANNEQUINS?!?! Then our credit card system goes down, not once, not twice, but THREE times, meaning we cannot process any sales that involve cards. At 2 o'clock one of the girls doesn't show up for her shift, so I have to call someone else in. And then it happens again with a different girl at 6 o'clock! Two no calls/no shows in one day, crazy! Then just as I am about to leave, I see a father standing outside the store with a stoller, his child comes in and knocks down one of our big posters that are in the window, the dad sees what happens and tells his kid to RUN. And they start running down the the walkway in the mall!!! And to top it all off, my car and a few other cars in the parking lot got egged that day. I can't believe people still egg cars?!?!

Just Keep Swimming

Mom is at school at Camp Blanding, which is home to a very lovely lake. The Scotts and I drove out there to visit her two weekends in a row. It is so much fun out there. Nice cool water, cool breeze and great company. I also got a chance to work on my sunburn (haha). We kept trying to think of different games in the water, being in a lake there weren't to many traditional water games we could play. We had a handstand competition, sycronized swimming and a water dance off. Lots of fun, we lost some and we won some. But it was a great two weekends, it was nice to relax and not worry about work.

Fly Away, Be Free

We let Star go last Wednesday. It was really hard to let this one go, she became very attached to us and us to her. She was a mocking bird and made all of these really crazy sounds. We let her go at Camp Blanding, that place is crawling with mocking birds, and she should be able to find some friends there. Here are some pics I took before we let her go.

Little Birdie Part 2

We have just discovered another little baby bird yesterday. This one is the youngest one we have ever had. And we just let Apollo fly free about 3 weeks ago. This little girl has bones for wings, very long legs and neck. I posted soem pictures of Apollo down by his blog. Here are some pictures of our little Star. Not the best pics, but they will have to work for now.

Star with her mouth wide open, waiting for food.

Star with a mouthful of food.

Tattoo

Yes, I got my tattoo in memory of Kierra, no, you will not be seeing a picture of it on this blog or on my MySpace. This tattoo is very personal to me and I would hate for someone to take away from it. You will have to see it in person. I love it and has alot of meaning. It was inspired by the artwork of Amy Brown. I played with the colors a little to make it more personal. I am in love with it and can't stop looking at it.

Little Birdie

I have always had a love of birds, especially little baby birds that can not yet take care of themselves. Its seems every spring, a new little baby bird finds their way to me. This year is no different. My moms boss found a bird on the base, so she brought her home to me. I broke out my little bird cage, liquid bird food, and I made a little nest for her to sleep in. She is doing well and eating alot. I have named her Bethi, after my moms bosses daughter. She is just the cutest little thing, she is already learning how to balance on my finger. And at night she nestles into her little nest, SO CUTE!!!


*UPDATE* I have since discovered that Bethi is actually a boy. Oops!!! He now goes by the name Apollo.

Today

Well to day was a very busy day at work. I, and about 8 other girls had to be at the store at 6 in the morning. Meaning Brenda had to wake up at 4:30a.m. I spent the whole day sizing and resizing bras and panties in Casique. Our new manager starts tomorrow, so the store needed to look perfect. We didn't finish until about 2:30, and the store was packed when we left. I am super tired, yet I can't see to fall asleep. Oh, and I am getting my tattoo on Saturday, Kierra's birthday.

Let's See...

What has been going on in the life of Brenda? I have been in my new management position now for one month. There have been some ups and downs. Stress is a bitch!!! The Store Manager quit and we will have a new one on Monday. Which I couldn't be happier about, the store was slowly dying, and now we will be revived!!! I know alot of the girls that work there now will be leaving soon after the new manager starts, they are so use to working(or not working, I should say) with someone who really didn't care about the store and what happened to it. So its a new beginning and I am very excited and looking forward to some hard work.
I have been so busy working a full time schedule that I haven't had much time to see the people that are most important in my life. I was able to go out twice last week though. I more stuff to tell you about, but I have to be at work at 6 in the morning, yay!

BIG NEWS!!!

After 2 months with Lane Bryant, I have been promoted to Full Time Key Holder at the Lane Bryant at the Avenues Mall. I am very excited about this oppertunity and ready for Monday to begin!!!