Observations

She had seemed to have changed really ever since her dad left last weekend. She seemed more subdued and sorta sad. Even when her friend spent the night she just sorta seemed a little gloomier than before. I was thinking that the depression she had developed last fall in SC was beginning.

Then today, lo and behold, old Jade is back. She set the table and chatted nonstop and was happy as could be.

She has a bad cold and maybe she was just feeling "under the weather" earlier??? Praising God it isn't depression.

Awana Grand Prix Winner

Grandpa helped her make a truck for her Awana (kid's Bible Study group) Grand Prix. They had the race and she won first place for design and second place for speed!! Woo Hoo!!

She's a writer

She had a friend spend the night Friday night. I took them skating yesterday. Her friend fell and cometofindout maybe broke her arm. Here is Jade's get well letter to her. Just like her great grandmother is and her mother always was, she is quite the gifted writer. Oh Poo it is not letting me copy and paste it but she truly writes from the heart and it is soupy sweet. Amazing.

This week her photography club is participating in a Media Festival. Somehow they have taken photos and created a powerpoint about our big state test. I've never been to a media festival before so I am excited to see one.

Steel Magnolias

I was watching it and told Jade I needed to use the computer. She asked what I was watching. I said, "Steel Magnolias." She asked what it was about. I said, "Southern Women." After I played on the puter an hour I went back in the den and she in fact was still watching it. Is she a true Southern Belle or what??? Funny girl!!

Wiz

Jade was in the Wiz play at school Thurs. night. Her dad Toby came to see her in it and stayed until Saturday. She was so glad to have him come visit. They were so cute to see together. But she really has a smart mouth around him which is very sad to see. The counselor has her work cut out for her.

Of course, she was very sad when he left. She said she was going to call her friend who would help her. I said, "Help you what?" She said, "You know, help me cry." It broke my heart.

She is still sorta blue but getting better.

A teeny tiny breakthrough???? It's a start.

We have been trying to work with Jade on her mouth. She is just like some others and just says whatever she thinks without thinking it through how it sounds. "It's not what you say, but how you say it." As my mom used to say and I am saying over and over and over.

Last night she was making coleslaw :) as I washed dishes. She was mad because her friend couldn't come over so we weren't talking much. She opened the refrigerator and something inside it? really ticked her off. She said, "Do you always have to.....I'm not going to say it." I have NO idea what ticked her off but she stopped herself even though she was mad and FINALLY for once realized that lashing out and spewing off at the mouth is NOT always the best thing to do when mad.

I have No idea what made her mad but was so proud of her for not saying it. I know her personality will not change but it is a baby step in the right direction!! :)

It is official

Gary and I went after school today and got "sworn" in. We are now Jade's legal temporary guardians. We had to raise our right hand and everything. We have to let them know once a year how she is and if we move and everything. In GA they take legal guardianship very seriously!!

This morning

When I went to wake her up, on her bed lay her Bible and Devotional book. It is so amazing to me that she chooses to read them on her own every night. We read them together on school nights but she reads them by herself on weekend nights. I have to believe that God is really working in her young life. I also ordered her some Christian hip hop cds to listen to on the way to school each morning.

She's a winner!!

Jade participated in the county Science Olympiad today and won third place in her event which was Name the Scientist.

Good few days!!

Monday we went to visit an aunt in a town about 30 miles from here. She started right off after school being a smart alleck so I just quit talking to her period. I didn't even let her say the blessing when we stopped for supper. I told her to say her own silently. We ate in complete silence. After we visited my aunt she seemed to feel better. I think her helping others really helps her. Does that make sense? Anyway, she seems to enjoy visiting the aunts and her mood has improved. She's been in a better mood ever since. Who can figure?

Somewhat rough weekend

Not one of the best we've had. Jade has been whiney and knowitally and sassy most of the weekend. Gary blew up at her Friday night and I did Saturday. Sometimes it is just more than we can take and we blow. She started it at church again this morning and I'd decided she'd just spend the entire afternoon in her room thinking about how she is supposed to talk to us (and all adults). Wellllllllll, while we were at church it started snowing and she was just beside herself. The old Jade was back and we had a great day. We made snowmen and drank hot cocoa and had a fun day. She fixed supper for us tonight.

A sweet thing she did do though in spite of it all. I don't read her her devotionals on the weekend nights cause it's usually late when she goes to bed and just not at structured as the weeknights. Last night I heard her reading her Bible and Devo by herself. It was very sweet.

Another cute thing in spite of her attitude was we went Easter Dress shopping at the mall yesterday. I had a gift card from Penneys. She picked out about 7 to try on and LOVED trying them on. I was glad that she still picked some really cute dresses and not all "tween" style dresses to try on. It was a hard decision but she did finally pick one of the 7. It was fun.