Dear Daddy,
It has been a little over a month since you left us and it has been very difficult. 59 is to young for you to no longer be here. I may be in my 30's but I still need you and it hurts like hell. For a long time the tears would not come. I was angry at you for leaving us, there was so much left unsaid and undone and I was mad because I would never have the chance. I was hurt because my kids will not get to grow up with you around for them, all the promises you made them are now forever broken. I miss you like hell and it hurts way to damn much. I never wanted to feel this way ever. I am heartbroken. I feel like I am a little girl lost in this world without my daddy.
Any man can be a father, but it really takes a special one to be a daddy, and you were it. You were my daddy. I may have never called you daddy but that is who you were/are. I don't know where to go, where to turn, what to do. A girl needs her daddy, she always needs her daddy and I am to young to be without you. My kids are to young to be without you.
I keep questioning WHY. Why did you have to leave us? Why did you have to die? Why did you have to get sick? Why didn't you just tell the doctors how bad it was getting so that they could help you? Why did you want to leave us?
I know that you are in a better place and I know that you are not suffering, but I want you here. I want you with us. I want you to be at home. I want to be able to call you on the phone. I want you to be here for birthday parties and holidays.
The tears have had a hard time coming since they first told me, except for the funeral. But now they are coming and it is the little things that will make me just lose it and will make me cry. A song. A movie. A story. Anywhere and anytime. I was driving down the road radio surfing and I came to a ZZ Top song and started crying, I never thought that Legs would make me cry, but it did. I cried when I finally changed your phone over to moms name and picture.
It is hard to deal and I feel so alone. I know I have people around and people who are there for me but I still feel alone. I don't feel like celebrating anything, I don't feel like having fun, I don't feel like being around people. What do I do, how do I get past this? What do I need to do? How do I deal with it? How do I deal with you being gone?
Through it all I want you to know that I love you so much and I miss you like crazy. I know I will not feel quite this much sadness when Larry and Eddie pass away. And I do not want to feel this much pain and sadness for a long long time, so you have to promise that mom will be around for many more years.
I know that one day I will see you again and that we will be together when I walk through those Golden Gates, but I just wish with every fiber of my being that you were here with us and that I could talk to you. But I want to know that you are here, I want to know that you are watching over us.
I will forever carry you in my heart and I will remember you and I will carry all our memories.
I love you always daddy!!
Love,
Me
Monday, May 10, 2010
Thursday, May 6, 2010
French's recipes for mother's day
ZESTY HAM GLAZE
An easy glaze to finish the Easter Ham or Turkey. Serve extra for dipping.
Prep Time: 5 min. Cook Time:
1/2 cup FRENCH'S® Spicy Brown Mustard
1/4 cup FRENCH'S® Worcestershire Sauce
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1. MIX all ingredients in small bowl. Brush mixture on ham frequently during the last hour of baking.
2. BASTE on ham frequently during last 30 min. of baking.
3. GOOD with roast turkey or chicken.
Makes 1 cup
Mustard Potato Salad
5 pound white potatoes, peeled cut into chunks and boiled
3 eggs, boiled, peeled and chunked
1 C. Dukes Mayo
1 C. French's Mustard
2 Tbsp Onion Powder
2 Tbsp Garlic Powder
2 Tbsp Paprika
2 Tbsp Pickle Relish
1. After you boil potatoes place in a bowl, add boiled egg.
2. Add all ingredients and mix well. You may have to add more mayo and mustard until creamy.
An easy glaze to finish the Easter Ham or Turkey. Serve extra for dipping.
Prep Time: 5 min. Cook Time:
1/2 cup FRENCH'S® Spicy Brown Mustard
1/4 cup FRENCH'S® Worcestershire Sauce
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1. MIX all ingredients in small bowl. Brush mixture on ham frequently during the last hour of baking.
2. BASTE on ham frequently during last 30 min. of baking.
3. GOOD with roast turkey or chicken.
Makes 1 cup
Mustard Potato Salad
5 pound white potatoes, peeled cut into chunks and boiled
3 eggs, boiled, peeled and chunked
1 C. Dukes Mayo
1 C. French's Mustard
2 Tbsp Onion Powder
2 Tbsp Garlic Powder
2 Tbsp Paprika
2 Tbsp Pickle Relish
1. After you boil potatoes place in a bowl, add boiled egg.
2. Add all ingredients and mix well. You may have to add more mayo and mustard until creamy.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
One year
1 year ago today I had my son. In this past year it has been so fun watching him go from that little newborn to watching him hit milestone after milestone. It has been just a joy seeing his little personality develop. He laughs, giggles and smiles all the time. He is my bulldozer and always goes goes goes, I am amazed that I can even manage to get him down for a nap because he is always so busy.
He loves to play. He loves when I sing to him, he loves music. He is a big flirt when it comes to the ladies, he will smile and show those dimples that I love. He ADORES his sister and loves to be around her, he just lights up when she walks into the room. He is a mommy's boy, and me leaving the room he is in is not an option, unless it is nap time. He loves his naps and still takes two 1 to 1 1/2 hr naps a day. He loves to explore and can go from 0 - 60 in no time flat. He loves torturing our cat. He LOVES snoopy! He loves his daddy to and likes to play rough with him. He is very vocal and will tell you all about it too. He is not yet walking but that will come in due time and I know that when he is ready he will be off. Right now I think he is like why should I walk when I can crawl and get anywhere I want just fine. So I really think it is the lazy factor going on. Haha. He rearly ever crys, unless he is just waking up or I leave the room.
He goes for his one year checkup tomorrow and I can not imagine that anything will be wrong. He is perfect and I could not be more blessed to have such a wonderful little lamb.
I will leave you with a couple of pictures, the first is from the day he was born and the second one is from today:
And did I mention he has 8 teeth already. And I think that he is trying to get the first of his 1 year molars coming in.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Proud Parent
Through out my years of parenthood, there are various times in which I am proud of my children and things that they accomplish. Most recently my 7 year old daughter entered a picture she took of a butterfly into the PTA Reflections contest at the beginning of the year. In December she took first place for her school. In January we got a letter from the PTA saying that she had won an award on the County level. Well the Award Ceremony/Banquet was last night. She won the Award of Merit (Bronze Medal). She did not make it to district, but I am so very PROUD of her accomplishment.
Just winning first place for her school was awesome, but to move on and win an award on the county level is pretty awesome as well.
On top of everything else she is the first, in her schools history, to win on the county level for her school.
I AM SO VERY PROUD OF HER ACCOMPLISHMENT!!!!!!!
Just winning first place for her school was awesome, but to move on and win an award on the county level is pretty awesome as well.
On top of everything else she is the first, in her schools history, to win on the county level for her school.
I AM SO VERY PROUD OF HER ACCOMPLISHMENT!!!!!!!
Here is the picture that she submitted:
And this is her receiving her award:
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Email from Delegate Chris Peace
Dear Mrs. McGuinn,
As you undoubtedly recognize, delivering a balanced budget this year will require heroic decision-making. The task is difficult and yet it is our charge to keep. Former Governor Kaine complicated matters by presenting a draft budget with latent defects and an income tax increase. The resulting effect was a severely imbalanced budget requiring approximately an additional $2 billion in cuts. This impact accounts for declining state revenues and presents this Assembly with a cumulative $4.2 billion budget shortfall over the 2011-12 biennium. The question is whether increasing state revenues from taxes and fees or reductions in spending will best address this dilemma. Virginia legislators are proceeding to protect taxpayers and took the first step Sunday February 21st towards balancing this spending plan for the next two years with as little impact to K-12 education as practicable in this unprecedented economic climate. The initial spending roadmap calls for zero tax increases and eliminates $125 million in additional fees presented by the outgoing administration.
Given that Virginia is dealing with the lingering effects of the worst economic recession in over 70 years or since the Great Depression education, which is the single largest component of the state budget, simply can no longer be held harmless to balance the state budget without a job-killing tax increase. Governor McDonnell and our own legislative leadership indicated that new tax proposals are a nonstarter while we recover. Voters feel the same way. Unfortunately, most the “easy” fixes have already been used in FY09, and closing the shortfall will have to be accomplished in large part through the use of more on-going cuts which will likely have an impact on certain government functions including public education.
Over the last 10 years, the General Assembly has increased the Commonwealth's funding for public education by almost 60%. In the meantime, over the last 10 years, student membership only increased by 7.2%. So, while funding increased by 60%, the number of students increased by less than 10%. Clearly, the Commonwealth has invested significantly more than dollars in education than is required to meet the demands of population growth and more than inflation when times were good. Prior to last year, public education was held harmless while other state agencies and services were reduced during several rounds of budget cuts.
In the House of Delegates budget which was approved February 21 in our Appropriations committee and will later be considered by the full House this week, K-12 spending reductions are inclusive of requests from localities for greater flexibility. The House eliminates many state mandates which bind dollars used locally. This structural reform provides additional local flexibility and by so doing generates approximately $310 million each year for local school divisions. Ultimately with the relaxing of these state mandates the net impact on school divisions is approximately $40 million per year statewide.
Among other areas for saving, the House budget suspends secondary planning period standards and saves $185.7 million in FY 2011 and $188.1 million in FY 2012. The establishment of a Lottery Proceeds Block Grant for At-Risk, Early Reading Intervention and PreK programs provides flexibility to localities to determine levels of participation for each of the three eligible programs. The block grant would be allocated on a per pupil amount. The local school division will be able to fund programs beneficial for their students and not fund programs that are underutilized. The House budget also restores the funds for the School Lunch program with projected additional revenues from the state’s participation in the Lottery Power Ball game and saves $5.8 million each year.
The Local Composite Index (LCI) amendments to former Governor Kaine’s proposed budget provide $29.5 million to unfreeze the LCI update in FY 2011 from reduced rates for the cost of competing adjustment (COCA). The COCA primarily benefits Northern Virginia school divisions. Governor Kaine did not “freeze” 2012 LCI. Savings from COCA provides an additional $91.7 million in FY 2011 in order to provide an 80% hold harmless payment to those school divisions, like ours, whose LCI is increasing based on the re-benchmarking. The budget contains contingent reserve language related to the potential for two additional quarters of enhanced federal funding amounting to $23 million that will fund the remaining 20% needed to hold all localities 100% harmless.
I have long supported enhanced resources and more dollars to the classroom. In the House budget, schools will have the flexibility they asked for to increase class sizes by one student as outlined below without any reduction in state funding. Further, ratio requirements for Prevention, Intervention, and Remediation programs, Limited English Proficiency, Elementary Resource, Gifted and Talented, and Career and Technical have been waived.
Several weeks remain in the budgeting process and there are many other areas of importance such as public safety, transportation and health and human resources that will see similar reductions. I reiterate that delivering a balanced budget this year will require heroic and possibly unpopular decision-making. While the task is difficult the state will have a budget and collectively we will weather this unprecedented economic climate and the effects of the worst economic recession in over 70 years. Right-sizing and creating a more efficient government will be the right decision for the future.
I welcome your continued feedback on the budget proposals as they materialize. Thank you again for your input. I am honored to serve as your Delegate from the 97th District.
Respectfully,
Delegate Christopher K. Peace
97th House District
804-698-1097 (Richmond Office)
804-730-3737 (District Office)
As you undoubtedly recognize, delivering a balanced budget this year will require heroic decision-making. The task is difficult and yet it is our charge to keep. Former Governor Kaine complicated matters by presenting a draft budget with latent defects and an income tax increase. The resulting effect was a severely imbalanced budget requiring approximately an additional $2 billion in cuts. This impact accounts for declining state revenues and presents this Assembly with a cumulative $4.2 billion budget shortfall over the 2011-12 biennium. The question is whether increasing state revenues from taxes and fees or reductions in spending will best address this dilemma. Virginia legislators are proceeding to protect taxpayers and took the first step Sunday February 21st towards balancing this spending plan for the next two years with as little impact to K-12 education as practicable in this unprecedented economic climate. The initial spending roadmap calls for zero tax increases and eliminates $125 million in additional fees presented by the outgoing administration.
Given that Virginia is dealing with the lingering effects of the worst economic recession in over 70 years or since the Great Depression education, which is the single largest component of the state budget, simply can no longer be held harmless to balance the state budget without a job-killing tax increase. Governor McDonnell and our own legislative leadership indicated that new tax proposals are a nonstarter while we recover. Voters feel the same way. Unfortunately, most the “easy” fixes have already been used in FY09, and closing the shortfall will have to be accomplished in large part through the use of more on-going cuts which will likely have an impact on certain government functions including public education.
Over the last 10 years, the General Assembly has increased the Commonwealth's funding for public education by almost 60%. In the meantime, over the last 10 years, student membership only increased by 7.2%. So, while funding increased by 60%, the number of students increased by less than 10%. Clearly, the Commonwealth has invested significantly more than dollars in education than is required to meet the demands of population growth and more than inflation when times were good. Prior to last year, public education was held harmless while other state agencies and services were reduced during several rounds of budget cuts.
In the House of Delegates budget which was approved February 21 in our Appropriations committee and will later be considered by the full House this week, K-12 spending reductions are inclusive of requests from localities for greater flexibility. The House eliminates many state mandates which bind dollars used locally. This structural reform provides additional local flexibility and by so doing generates approximately $310 million each year for local school divisions. Ultimately with the relaxing of these state mandates the net impact on school divisions is approximately $40 million per year statewide.
Among other areas for saving, the House budget suspends secondary planning period standards and saves $185.7 million in FY 2011 and $188.1 million in FY 2012. The establishment of a Lottery Proceeds Block Grant for At-Risk, Early Reading Intervention and PreK programs provides flexibility to localities to determine levels of participation for each of the three eligible programs. The block grant would be allocated on a per pupil amount. The local school division will be able to fund programs beneficial for their students and not fund programs that are underutilized. The House budget also restores the funds for the School Lunch program with projected additional revenues from the state’s participation in the Lottery Power Ball game and saves $5.8 million each year.
The Local Composite Index (LCI) amendments to former Governor Kaine’s proposed budget provide $29.5 million to unfreeze the LCI update in FY 2011 from reduced rates for the cost of competing adjustment (COCA). The COCA primarily benefits Northern Virginia school divisions. Governor Kaine did not “freeze” 2012 LCI. Savings from COCA provides an additional $91.7 million in FY 2011 in order to provide an 80% hold harmless payment to those school divisions, like ours, whose LCI is increasing based on the re-benchmarking. The budget contains contingent reserve language related to the potential for two additional quarters of enhanced federal funding amounting to $23 million that will fund the remaining 20% needed to hold all localities 100% harmless.
I have long supported enhanced resources and more dollars to the classroom. In the House budget, schools will have the flexibility they asked for to increase class sizes by one student as outlined below without any reduction in state funding. Further, ratio requirements for Prevention, Intervention, and Remediation programs, Limited English Proficiency, Elementary Resource, Gifted and Talented, and Career and Technical have been waived.
Several weeks remain in the budgeting process and there are many other areas of importance such as public safety, transportation and health and human resources that will see similar reductions. I reiterate that delivering a balanced budget this year will require heroic and possibly unpopular decision-making. While the task is difficult the state will have a budget and collectively we will weather this unprecedented economic climate and the effects of the worst economic recession in over 70 years. Right-sizing and creating a more efficient government will be the right decision for the future.
I welcome your continued feedback on the budget proposals as they materialize. Thank you again for your input. I am honored to serve as your Delegate from the 97th District.
Respectfully,
Delegate Christopher K. Peace
97th House District
804-698-1097 (Richmond Office)
804-730-3737 (District Office)
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