Shoutin' HALLELUJAH!

I have GREAT news to report, yes I do! Last night, Brittany went out to dinner with her ex-boyfriend, Patrick. She said they needed to talk things out (AGAIN!). He was really wanting to get back together, but I could tell that after Brittany and I had several talks, she was beginning to think differently. In fact, when she got home from practice yesterday, she mentioned to me that Patrick had told her that if they decided to start dating each other, again, he didn't want her to date anyone else because he didn't want to have to share her. WHAT??? Are you kidding me??? HELLO...um, Patrick...I hate to break the news, but my daughter is NOT your property...and you can not tell her what to do! PERIOD! So, needless to say, I told Brittany that he had no business talking to her in that way and she needed to think long and hard about the decision she was going to make in regards to giving him another chance.

So, off she went to dinner and came home about an hour and a half later. I was biting at the bit the entire time...waiting and wondering how it was all going down. When she walked in the door...I just held my breath. She came upstairs and I could tell she'd been crying... A LOT! I asked what had happened and she told me the words I had longed to hear..."Mom, I just decided that Patrick and I are better off as just friends." It was everything I could do not to start jumping up and down and hootin' and hollerin'!!! However, I held my excitement together and went over and gave her a big hug. She said, "Mom...it's still so hard because I didn't want to hurt him." I explained that, unfortunately, as you go through the dating process, someone is bound to get hurt along the way, but you SURVIVE and it makes you a stronger person. She thanked me for all the advice I gave her and told me that she was so glad she listened to me. I assured her that I will never lead her down the wrong path...she just has to trust me. In the wise words of Dr. Phil..."This ain't my first rodeo!"

So, thanks to all of you who said a prayer about all of this 'teenage drama'...I know I certainly said my share! Isn't it amazing how God always has perfect timing and finds a way to make things "all better"? Brittany seemed so happy this morning when she left for school...it's good to see that smile on her face, again!

On a sad note, please keep the family of Chelsea King close in your prayers. She's the 17 year old from California who went missing about a week ago. She was a high school senior and a standout distance runner on her cross country team. She'd gone to a local park after school for a run and never came home. Her body was discovered yesterday afternoon...she'd been raped and murdered. A convicted sex offender has been arrested and charged with her murder. It has rattled me to the core. I can't tell you the times Brittany has gone for a run at our local park...never thinking that something like that could happen. We live in a very scary world these days...you simply can't afford to let your guard down when it comes to your kids. This morning, I'll be taking Abby to the dentist, then we'll have lunch at Chick Fil-A before I take her back to school. Tonight, Brittany will compete in her first track meet of the season...and I'll be right there cheering her on. What happened to Chelsea (and to so many others) really makes me want to cherish the little moments with my girls all the more.