What follows are my personal thoughts from my myspace page on the struggles our family have been through in the past few months and my feeble attempts and making a change....Its in reverse chronological order with the most recent first. Please let me know if you have any thoughts or ideas or that i'm not alone!

Sunday, November 04, 2007

Whatever
Current mood: confused
Category: Life

So Ashleigh told us today that her mother has now resorted to talking about MY daughter. Her mother called my daughter fat. How childish can one person be?

She also said that her mother says alot that she hates me. And now she resorts to talking about my daughter. I just told Ash that she will never hear us talk about her other family because we know that she loves them too. I told her that when Mommy says bad things just remember that we love her and she loves us and its ok. I cannot believe that one person could be so insecure and childish to be no better that taking about a 9 year old child. I really dont know what else to say....

e

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

How can people be so mean?? Tired of trying??
Current mood: disappointed
Category: Life

Well, yet again another disappointment.. I talked to Ash last night on the phone and she asked me if i was going to her Halloween party at school today. Actually, I heard her Mom tell her to ask me if I was going... I told yes, I would be there in the morning to help out and stuff. (This is the first year I have been at her party because of work or previous engagements) So I wake up at 6, get ready in my scarecrow costume (this years class theme for ash) and set out for the Boro. Well at 720 am I get a text from her mother saying Ashleigh was not feeling well and would not be at school today. WTF? Can you be serious? What have I ever done to this woman to make her hate me so much that she would keep that precious child home from her Halloween party?? Well, needless to say I had bought Halloween straws, sticky eyeballs and Halloween pencils for treats for the kids in her class so I went ahead to the party and helped anyway.

I just cannot understand how one persons heart can be filled with so much hatred. All I have ever done is treat Ashleigh like my own and love her dearly. Anyway, so I was really angry this morning but I'm over it now and just disappointed.

E

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Just to vent - this is a long one
Current mood: determined
Category: Life

Ok, so I was feeling kinda brave Sunday. lol.

It all starts Sunday afternoon. My little stepdaughter Ash (might have been rebelling against me, listening to her Mom, or just in la-la land) took over three hours to clean her room. This was after she had conned our neighbor Roz into doing half of it and I being the "wicked" stepmom I am told Roz to go play with Savannah because it wasn't her job. Anyway...I was on the couch watching sci-fi (I always have my blinds open)and trying to read freakin poetry for Eng Lit when who do I see drive by but Ash's Mom. OMG! Ash comes out of her room and says, "I just saw my Mom drive by. She told me that she does it everyday I am here to check on me." WTF?? I said (calmly), "Well, that's ok baby. Mommy's have to worry about their babys."

By this time I am FUMING. **And, yes, I know she probably reads this** I get on messenger and tell Billy (the deployed hubby). He is PO'ed. He says call the cops for stalking. I said honey, its a public street and she has that right. He goes off saying why does she do this?? I basically told him its probably because she has seen that we are strong in our marriage and is totally jealous.

So I decide I am going to say something to her when I drop off Ash on Sunday afternoon. We pull up to the gas station, I told Ash to sit in the car for a sec so i could talk to Mommy. I calmly walk over to her car. First, I say,"Could you tell me when Ash's open house is at school and when are the parent-teacher conferences?" She OF COURSE says she has no idea. A lie I am sure. **At NO time during this did I raise my voice or say any curse words even though I really really wanted to** I asked why she felt the need to drive by our house, 30 miles away from hers, every weekend. Immediately she is on the defensive. Says its a public road and she can drive down it any time she wants to. I told her I realized that. Then she lays into me. Tells me I do not love her daughter, that I am the whole reason behind ALL the court and problems. I told her that I had no problem taking her to court EVERY time she didnt do what she was supposed to. Calmly and nicely. I told her that I love Ash with all my heart. She just called me a f'in bitch and told me to send her her daughter. Then she says and YOU nedd to start paying child support like YOUR supposed to. I say, its out of his check, insert name here and it has already gone thru the state. Over 900 this month, so that is something you need to take up with the state. I calmly walked over to the car, got Ash out, gave her a hug smooch told her I loved her and got back in the car.

But it doesnt end here...we pull out of the gas station onto the highway and she FLIPS ME OFF with Savannah in the car. OMG. How classy...what a lady. I cannot believe this woman has the nerve to tell me that I am a bitch and I have no love for her daughter. No, I've only been in her life for the past four out of eight years and during that time i have no love. WTF? I am the one who plans outings for her and Savannah EVERY weekend they are here so they dont sit at the house and cry for Billy....I am the one interested in her mental health, begging her to sign her up for counseling and she wont...I am the one who doesnt have to fight for Ash, I could have simply given up on that beautiful, loving, sweet child...But I have no love.. OK.

I feel better...

Monday, October 22, 2007

GREAT LETTER!!!
Current mood: lazy
Category: Life

Dear Ms. McKenzie,
This is in reply to your e-mail to Vice President Richard Cheney regarding your family's desire to visit with your husband's daughter whie serves overseas in the U.S. Military. Due to the nature of your concerns, your e-mail was forwarded to the Administration for Children and Families, the Children's Bureau, for response.

I appreciate that this must be a very difficult situation for your family. However, the circumstances you describe in your letter relate to amtters over which the States have legal jurisdiction, through their family courts and agencies. Although the Federal government does not have legal authority to interfere in individual family law matters, we can provide the following information that may be of assistance....

**Next paragraph tells about MilitaryHomefront

**Tells about calling the Tennessee Bar Association for discounted or pro bono work for an attorney who might want to take on this issue.

** Tells about CHILDHELP, resource agency to help children

Constituent input and advocacy are important factors in generating changes in Federal and State law. Since you believe that military families are in need of more support, you may find it helpful to take this matter to your Congressional legislators to seek an amendment to Federal and State laws.

I hope that the information we have been able to provide proves helpful.

Susan Orr, PhD
Associate Commissioner
Children's Bureau

****
I thought this was a GREAT letter with awesome information in it. From the Department of Health & Human Services, Administration on Children, Youth and Families....

Friday, October 05, 2007

Our New Website
Current mood: determined
Category: Life

Please visit our website at www.standupforsoldiers.com! Thanks everyone!!!

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

Fall Break Visitation
Category: Life

Ok, so yet AGAIN we have been denied visitation with Ashleigh. Went to pick her up for the 2nd half of fall break and noone showed up. Called the lawyer and he said all we can do is take her back to court AGAIN. Anyone else see problems with this situation????? Now the ex-wife wont even answer her phone or text messages. AAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGHHHH!!!!!!!!!

Monday, September 17, 2007

Response from the VP’s Office
Current mood: accomplished
Category: Life

Just wanted you all to know that I got a letter from the VP Cheney's office today. It is as follows:

Dear Ms. McKenzie:

Thank you for contacting Vice President Cheney for assistance in dealing with an agency of the Federal Government. The Vice President has asked me to respond.

We are forwarding your matter to the Department of Health and Human Services. That agency will review the facts and either start a case, reopen your old case, or explain their previous decision on your former case, as applicable. We have requested that they respond directly to you with a copy to us for our files, and we expect this to be done at the earliest possible opportunity.

Thank you for contacting the Vice President.

Sincerely,

Jenny Rose Folson

Special Assistant to the Vice President for Correspondence

That was the letter. Just fyi.

E

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Response from Senator Corker
Current mood: accomplished
Category: Life

Just fyi... I just got a call in response to the emails and letters I have been sending to Senators, Congressmen, and Washington. An aide (I assume) in Senator Bob Corker's office just contacted me in response to my letter about Billy(the deployed hubby) and our efforts here at home to remain in contact with my stepdaughter Ashleigh. She said they had received my letter and she would be forwarding it directly to Senator Corker. She said she just wanted to check on me and see if we needed anything as a family. I was excited that someone actually listened! She seemed concerned, but I am sure its her job to maintain contact with the voters. Anyway, just wanted to pass that along.

E

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Deployment Hell
Current mood: aggravated
Category: Life

What follows is a cc of the letter i have written to congressmen and all of the local news stations, let me know how you feel:

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing this letter on behalf of all of the families left behind. Surely my family is not the only one who is having to suffer while our husbands and wifes fight for our freedom and yours.

My name is Elizabeth McKenzie. My husband is CPL Billy McKenzie with the 1175th National Guard out of Tullahoma, TN. He is currently in Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. My husband is a good father, he is my hero and I am frustrated by the lack of support that father's and stepfamilies are receiving while their loved one is deployed. My husband has an 8 year old beautiful daughter. Her name is Ashleigh and her has not spoken to her in three weeks. Her mother has broken off all contact Ashleigh has with her father, myself, and my 9 year old daughter. We are a very close family and are heart broken by the lack of support we have seen from the school and judiciary system. Because of my husband's 30% decrease in pay, we cannot afford an attorney without putting ourselves into a large amount of debt. Why should we suffer because he is fighting for our country??? This beautiful child is suffering because her father is a hero and a soldier.

I would love to see you do a story on the rights of the fathers and mothers who have been deployed, and also their families who have been left behind. Please help me bring this story to the attention of everyone who has no idea what happens when a loved one is fighting for thier freedom.