Lissy Edmonson...1968-2009

My sweet friend, Lissy, passed away last night after a long fight with cancer. I have been thinking all morning about her and how she lived her life. She loved God first. So much that it just radiated through everything she did. Watching her as a wife to Joel and a mother to Jackson and Mason was so special. She loved them so much. But the part that sticks out to me today is just how she lived each day. She didn't try to be like anyone else, compare herself to others, but she lived each day to be the best Lissy she could be. So, from today on, I am going to try to live my life to the glory of God and be the best "me" that I can be for Him. Thank you, Lissy, for living your life in such a way that makes us all want to be better people and strive each day to bring glory and honor to God. You will be deeply missed, but your legacy lives on.

Hair poll...

Not that any of you are still reading, but if you are, I am taking a hair poll. I have let my hair grow out some and have also let my bangs grow out. And now I am bored :) If you were me, would you go short with no bangs or longer with bangs? Here are two pictures to give you examples. Thanks!


http://jaimepressly.nu/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/jamie_pressly_317a564b9931796092003.jpg

http://www.hairboutique.com/tips/images/_MG_8910_250h.jpg

Wow...I did it!! (longer post than anticipated :))

Well, I set out this past week to change my household. I was tired of being exhausted at the end of the day from dealing with behavior problems. Problems that were there only because of my laziness and lack of consistency.

Luke, my 4 yr old, hadn't taken a regular nap since he was probably 2 1/2. And I just decided that there was NO reason he shouldn't be taking naps. I would always say, "Well, Luke doesn't take naps anymore. When he does, he just doesn't go to bed at night." NOT TRUE!! He would be a little nightmare by 5:00 and I just decided to make a change. So after the kids left for school Monday morning, Luke and I sat down and talked about our new schedule. He was a little upset that Mommy was going to make him "take a rest" but he didn't really worry about it too much right then. I told him we weren't going to whine anymore and he was going to obey Mommy. Right after that, something happened, I don't remember what, and he got whiny. So I immediately put him in time out and told him that behavior was not acceptable anymore. I turned around and walked out and told him I would talk to him when he was quiet. And then it happened...he got quiet!! HA!! I had done it. Playtime came, lunch time came, and then it was the dreaded naptime. I told him for the first day, he had to lay quietly for 20 minutes. If he stayed quiet and in his bed for that time, he would be able to get up. Well, he fell asleep that day and has taken 1.5 hour naps each day since then. I am telling you, I am like a new woman with almost 2 hours to myself every day!!

I also have stopped eating out and drinking coke. It's been 2 weeks tomorrow since I have eaten out (with one exception where both little kids got to eat free, big kids were at school) and 1 week since I have had any carbonation. I feel great.

Needless to say, it's been a big week in my house. I even cut out texting today. Those who know me know how big of a deal that is ;) But I just couldn't justify paying for it anymore.

So, this big long post to say...Yay ME!!! I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me HIS strength ;)

You're gonna miss this.

I took a quiz on Facebook tonight. "Which country song are you?" I have been complaining a lot lately about how much work I have at home, how the kids are driving me crazy, I don't have enough "me time". But tonight, after we got home from our closing, we were supposed to go out to eat with Stephen's mom and stepdad. Luke was really tired because we had been running around all day. So he was just losing it, meltdown after meltdown. Campbell was starting to lose it too. So we decided to just stay home and have a quiet night here, dinner at the table etc. After dinner we went to the park in our neighborhood and played for a bit. So, to my point...I came in and got on Facebook and took this quiz. I think God was trying to tell me something.

This was the song that best describes me: You're Gonna Miss This.

She was staring out that window, of that SUV

Complaining, saying I can't wait to turn 18

She said I'll make my own money, and I'll make my own rules

Mamma put the car in park out there in front of the school

Then she kissed her head and said I was just like you


-Chorus-
You're gonna miss this

You're gonna want this back

You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast

These Are Some Good Times

So take a good look around

You may not know it now

But you're gonna miss this



Before she knows it she's a brand new bride

In a one-bedroom apartment, and her daddy stops by

He tells her It's a nice place

She says It'll do for now

Starts talking about babies and buying a house

Daddy shakes his head and says Baby, just slow down


-Chorus-
You're gonna miss this

You're gonna want this back

You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast

These Are Some Good Times

So take a good look around

You may not know it now

But you're gonna miss this


Five years later there's a plumber workin' on the water heater

Dog's barkin', phone's ringin'

One kid's cryin', one kid's screamin'

She keeps apologizin'

He says They don't bother me.

I've got 2 babies of my own.

One's 36, one's 23.
Huh, it's hard to believe, but ...


-Chorus-
You're gonna miss this

You're gonna want this back

You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast

These Are Some Good Times

So take a good look around

You may not know it now

But you're gonna miss this

You're gonna miss this

Yeah, you're gonna miss this

We are HOMEOWNERS!!!!!

After months, literally, of setbacks, we finally closed on our house today!! We have lived here as renters for 5 years, so I didn't expect it to feel different coming home after the closing. But it did. It was awesome!!! I am so thankful to God for providing this opportunity for us. I pray we use His blessings wisely.

So incredibly sad...

A long time friend of our family, Sherry Herald, passed away today. She has a daughter that's my age, her only child, Ashley. Please pray for Ashley and her family. Not sure what they are going to do without Sherry.

I am fighting the urge to go be with them. Why do I have so much going on that I can't get out of on days like this????? Ugh.

One overwhelmed mom...

I wanted to be a mom my entire life. I loved babies, always wanted to babysit, carry babies around at church, etc. And I love the fact that the only thing I ever wanted to do, I am doing right now.

I do not take my job for granted. I do not take the responsibility of raising my kids lightly. But right now, I am so overwhelmed. My house is a mess, MESS, there are no groceries in the house, my car is a mess, I don't feel good about myself physically, blah blah blah.

I know that there are millions of moms who feel the same way, but today, I feel alone in my struggle. How do you all cope with getting everything done, when really, all you want to do is lay down and watch a TV show without having to pause it 27 times? Please don't get me wrong, even with all the struggles, I still wouldn't want to be anywhere else. Just one of those days.

I'm back!!!

I thought I would take this Father's Day to restart my blog. I took a break for several reasons, but I have had so many people ask tell me I should get it going again. So, here I am.

First of all, Happy Father's Day to my sweet husband. He is working so hard out in the heat today refereeing soccer. But we celebrated last night. The kids got him some x-box games and cards. I think he liked them. He loves getting things that they can do together.

Happy Father's Day to Ray and PaPa (Stephen's dad and grandfather). We wish we were with you today. We miss you very much.

I spent the day with my dad and grandfather. I wasn't going to go, but I am glad I did. We ate lunch and then sat on the porch and watched the kids play. If any of you remember, their porch is my favorite place on earth. I needed to be there after the weekend I experienced.

My best friend Staci lost her dad on Thursday. He was one of the kindest men who ever lived. And he loved life. Please keep them in your prayers. Her grandfather is also in the hospital right now.

And last, my dad's childhood friend Sherry is in the hospital after several complications from a minor surgery, and the doctors have said there isn't anything else they can do for her. Please keep her, her daughter Ashley and the family in your prayers.

It's good to be back.