Galveston, Texas, March 6, 2014, 2:44 p.m., C.S.T.~

Howdy from the Texas Coast!  This is your friend, Teeka Daniels, writing!

I hope this finds y'all doing well.  As for me, I'm in my last class for the day, which is English/Creative Writing.  Since I got my homework done, I'm writing in my journal, as a way to pass the time and wait until the last bell of the day rings, signalling the end to yet another school day.

I know by 3:15/3:30, Momma will be here to pick me up.  I always love seeing her at the end of a school day, especially if it has been a disaster (in which today was not).  I am in high school now; I'm a freshman.  Hard to believe that the last time I'd written in my journal was three years ago, when I was a lowly sixth grader!  Sheesh!  Where did all the time go??

I am now 14 years old.  No longer a little girl (though I sometimes feel like one next to some of the more developed or "mature" girls in my grade!).  I'm a dyed-in-the-wool teenager with teenage problems and concerns.  

I miss the elementary school days.  Back then I was so carefree and didn't have as many problems as I do now (though I did lose my brother, Ja'Vonte, five years ago, in 2009, when he was six; he died of complications from the swine flu; had he lived, he would have been 14 this year).  I was 9 when I had last written.

Now I'm worrying about things like current events, our government, the future of our country, wars, and stuff like that.  I'm also worrying about whether a boy will go out with me or cystic acne (acne that forms huge painful bumps) and trying to keep from people from saying mean or nasty things about how I look or making fun of my name, among other things.

I am happy to report that Momma has remained sober for over five years, which is a huge accomplishment for her because she was a heavy drinker; that was all she cared about.  Then she wised up after we got her to go to AA meetings and she learned of other ways to deal with the stresses of life without turning to the brown bottle.  It has been a huge sense of relief on all of us.  Daddy is still getting disability; he can't work, but he isn't nearly as depressed as he used to be because he's now going to church, and he's got us going to church, too.

We go to church as a family.  We go to a Baptist church, and it's way cool, especially since I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and savior two years ago, when I was 12.  I may still have my problems, but now I can turn to God whenever things threaten to overwhelm me; it's made a huge difference!!

Well, I hate to go, but it's about time for class to end, and I'd best be gathering my things before I go see Mom in the parking lot.  I will write in here again soon; sorry it's been eons since I last put something in my journal! (Forgive me??)  I will try to do better this time; I promise!  Take care and God bless; 'til later, this is Teeka DaSha'e Daniels saying so long!

~Teeka DaSha'e.  :)