A Child's 10 Commandments to Parents.

When I first became a mother I had an image in my heart and mind of what kind of mother I would be.
To say that I have lived up to that image for the past 680 days would be a falsehood. If, on March 22, 2010, you had asked me if I would ever be guilty of hastily snapping at Olivia- I would have said never. If you had said that I would question myself, and my patience with Olivia- I would have told you that you were mistaken.
Sadly, I am guilty of both and more. A fact that I am not proud of, but a truth of my life. I pray every moment of every day that God give me the patience, grace and wisdom to parent Olivia.
When I found the Child's 10 Commandments for Parents it was just what I needed to read that day.
I think sometimes we get bogged down with the day to day and lose sight of the ultimate goal of parenting. That is, to raise Godly children. Sometimes when I'm having a particularly difficult day, I'll read through this list. Some days I only have to read a few before the conviction strikes and I'm reminded of my purpose. Some days I read the list 10 times.

1. My hands are small; please don’t expect perfection whenever I make a bed, draw a picture, or throw a ball. My legs are short; please slow down so that I can keep up with you.
2. My eyes have not seen the world as yours have; please let me explore safely: don’t restrict me unnecessarily.
3. Housework will always be there. I’m only little such a short time—please take time to explain things to me about this wonderful world, and do so willingly.
4. My feelings are tender; please be sensitive to my needs; don’t nag me all day long. (You wouldn’t want to be nagged for your inquisitiveness.) Treat me as you would like to be treated.
5. I am a special gift from God; please treasure me as God intended you to do, holding me accountable for my actions, giving me guidelines to live by, and disciplining me in a loving manner.
6. I need your encouragement, but not your praise, to grow. Please go easy on the criticism; remember you can criticize the things I do without criticizing me.
7. Please give me the freedom to make decisions concerning myself. Permit me to fail, so that I can learn from my mistakes. Then someday I’ll be prepared to make the kind of decisions life requires of me.
8. Please don’t do things over for me. Somehow that makes me feel that my efforts didn’t quite measure up to your expectations. I know it’s hard, but please don’t try to compare me with my brother or my sister.
9. Please don’t be afraid to leave for a weekend together. Kids need vacations from parents, just as parents need vacations from kids. Besides, it’s a great way to show us kids that your marriage is very special.
10. Please take me to Sunday school and church regularly, setting a good example for me to follow. I enjoy learning more about God.

Tired.

I.am.so.tired.

Going back to work has left me with little energy;

and whatever energy I was able to summon was gone the minute I stepped through the front door.

Olivia has been fighting off a cold {I think} for about a week now. She developed a fever last night while she was staying the night with my mom.

I called Chance on my way home and I could hear that sweet girl crying for me in the background.

That, for me, is the most heartbreaking thing about going back to work.

I so enjoyed my time at home with her {and truly have enjoyed being back at work}

but when I hear her cry for me, it's so hard to remember all the reasons I went back to work to begin with.

So that's where I am.

Stuck between utter exhaustion

and heartbreak.

Searching for a happy medium for everyone.

A Few of my Favorite Things - Valentine Edition

These precious little mail boxes.

Sweet little owls.

This is how much I love you..

Valentine Play Date

Make Someone's Day.

{via}

I believe that we are all put here to help one another through this thing called life. One way I do that is through food; another is words.

Remember the excitement you felt when you were a child and you received mail? I was so thrilled, that I'd be shaking by the time I got the envelope opened. Why can't the joy of 'happy mail' follow us into adulthood? 

I make it a point to send those that I love cards. Sometimes it's for their birthday, sometimes their anniversary, and sometimes its for no reason at all. Those are my favorite cards to send. The one's that come unexpectedly, and {hopefully} bring a smile to the face of the recipient. So when DaySpring gave me the opportunity to review their fabulous cards, I jumped at the opportunity. Yes, the cards were beautiful and well made with just the right words; but I saw them as so much more. These cards gave me the opportunity to bless someone I love. Lots of them have cards in the post man's bag right now! 

I think it's so sad that our society is getting away from card writing. {Does anyone send thank you notes anymore?} It's such a simple and quick way to reach out and show those that we love how much they matter to us. So go check out the 'thinking of you' section over at DaySpring, grab a card and get writing. And for goodness sake, the next time someone does something nice for you.... write.a.thank.you.note!

It's Back! Wordy Wednesday..

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This quote couldn't have come at a better time for me.

I officially went back to work in my 'career' yesterday. It's kind of bittersweet.

I've weighed the pros and cons of returning for 10 months now.

Here's a very abbreviated example of what my list included {of course there was a list!}

Pro: added income for our family, having a sense of self outside that of a wife and mother, rejoining my 'family' {I really missed some of those girls!}, the sense of accomplishment when I met my sales goals.

Con: more time away from Olivia, less flexible schedule, less time to complete everyday tasks {I feel a lot of list making/multi-tasking in my future}, fear that I might -yet again- get burnt out.

But yesterday was nice.

Sure some of the cast of characters that I had missed for so many months had moved on. But it felt good to be back at work, in a career that I feel confident.

And I'm so thankful to Him for blessing me with the opportunity to go back to work. In a time that so many are struggling to find work, I know that I'm truly blessed.

**I'll be back later with some more exciting news.. in case me returning to work and opening an etsy shop wasn't enough for one week!!

It's Official!

I'm shaking I'm so excited!

 I've finally done it.

Prim and Paisley is now open for business.

It's a small start, but I'm just getting my feet wet. I'm a shallow end kinda girl.

So head on over here, and get your shop on!

22 Months

I feel like is say the same thing in every monthly update. But it's so true- I have no idea how 22 months could have already passed us by. Olivia, you have grown up so much in the past month. Everyday you shock us. You are incredibly smart and we love being able to help you learn and grow. You're finally starting to eat better. And you love chicken and ask for it all the time. You've also gain a healthy appreciation for chocolate milk (we went through 2 gallons of milk in 3 days!) You still love your books, but have really taken to imaginary play. You play with the kitchen your Dee Dee got you for Christmas daily. You tell us you want to "cook." You're such a good little mommy and take very good care of you babies. You also still enjoy Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (and can finally say Mickey, where as you used to call him "Mouse") and Bubble Guppies- but you ask to watch the "Fox and the Hound 2" movie your Gramma got you everyday. You watch it at least twice a day. You got a new cousin a couple of weeks ago when Aunt Lindsay and Uncle Brandon welcomed sweet baby Wyatt. You have gotten better about loving on him and aren't as jealous of him when I hold him. Sweet girl, you bring so much joy to so many people; and Mommy and Daddy feel incredibly blessed that the Lord chose us to be your parents.
You have an such a sweet spirit and we can't wait to see what He has in store for you.

Update on our friend Sevy..

Sevy has made what can only be called a miraculous recovery. The doctors say that there is no medical explanation for his current condition. I don't need a medical explanation. I know exactly Who healed him. It has been so wonderful to watch our entire community come together to rally around Sevy. He (& the Lord) have truly changed the heart of our city. So many businesses have hosted events to benefit him, and even more people have given time and money.

Friday night Chance and I attended a benefit hosted by one such business and had a wonderful time. Chance's best friend is the lead singer of a band and they drove all the way from Lexington, KY to come play that night. Here's a video of a duet he did with another local celebrity (Jennifer Fox- she is ah-may-zing.. packed house every time she plays)

(If you stick around to the end, you can spot Chance and I in the background at the 5:16 mark.)

At last update, Sevy had been moved from ICU to a regular room, and was sitting up in a chair cracking jokes. All this just a week after we were told he had a 10% chance of surviving. 

God is so good!

7 months to go...

Last August I shared a list of things that I wanted to do before I turned 25, a bucket list of sorts.
My 25 before 25.

I've got 7 months left until I turn 25.
So I thought I'd do a little update.

Sell something that I made.
Shop the 400 mile yard sale with my Gran.
Take Olivia to the Memphis Zoo {where Chance and I got engaged.}
Visit Maria again in Springfield, TN. {By myself}
Visit Nikki in Lexington, VA. {With Olivia}
Visit Ashley in Newport News, VA {By myself}
Visit my family in Texas.
Visit my family in South Carolina
Finish our house.
Get a new car.
Finish Olivia's quilt.
Re-finish a piece of furniture.
Take Olivia to the St. Louis zoo again.
Take Olivia to Mommy and Me gymnastics classes.
See Beth Moore speak in person.
Finish "1,000 Gifts" by Ann Voskamp
Run a 5K.
Actually celebrate our 5 year anniversary with Chance.
Have a yard sale.
Host a sew day to benefit ConKerr Cancer.
Get a massage.
Make a quilt for Lindsay's baby.
Finish Olivia's baby book.
Take and edit Kelsey's senior pictures.
Complete the "Night Light" devotional with Chance.

I've got some work to do..

Urgent Prayer Request

A friend of ours is currently in a fight for his life. He is a wonderful guy and just a joy to be around.
The following is from the Paducah Underground website, where they have set up an paypal account to raise money for Sevy.

"Aaron Severns is currently fighting for his life at the Lourdes Intensive Care Unit in Paducah, Kentucky. He is affectionately known by all simply as "Sevy." He is battling a hematoma on his brain which was the size of a baseball. Sevy was given slim chances of survival and likely faces some brain damage. He does not have health insurance and will undoubtedly have medical bills, therapy, and other financial demands pressed upon him. Sevy is the epitome of charisma and loyalty. The world is noticeably diminished while he lays in a hospital bed. Please, if you can contribute any amount of money to help offset the cost of his treatment then click that "Donate" button. There is no question that he would do the same for someone in his position."

You can visit the site here to find out more, and donate if you feel led to do so.

Something new...

There's something very new and exciting going on...

Can't wait to share it with you.

Stay tuned.....

Last Saturday.

Last Saturday I faced one of my greatest fears. Last Saturday I thought I might lose my best friend, my husband.

To say it was scary would be an understatement. It's no secret that Chance and I have been through our share of 'rough patches,' and I have spent many hours wondering what my life would be like with out Chance. But there was a finality in my fears that night. It was paralyzing.

We were eating dinner on a rare night out. Having a great time- I was thanking God for those moments. Chance told me he wasn't feeling right. We'd been passing a nasty cold around at our house; so at first I thought that maybe he was starting to feel bad again. Then he bit his tongue, hard and started getting really hot. He was instantly drenched in sweat.. He stood up and then he fell.
Words like heart attack, stroke and seizures were swimming in my head. Just moments before I was thanking God for the night we were having and in a heartbeat my prayers switched to begging the Lord to give us more time.

When the paramedics arrived his blood pressure was 76/42. We were transported by ambulance to a local hospital, where we spent the next 2 nights. After a chest x-ray, many panels of blood work, 2 EKG's, a cat scan, a 2D echo of his throat and heart, a full stroke assessment, and an MRI the final diagnosis was that he had what is known as a vagal response. Which caused his blood vessels to open up {making him feel disoriented} and when he stood up from his seat his body was unable to fight the gravitational pull on his blood. All this to say that his brain was deprived of oxygen and he lost consciousness.
Odds are that this was a one time ordeal and it will never happen again. I pray that this is the case.

That night reminded me that nothing is guaranteed. My next breath could very well be my last. I want to know that I have lived not only the length of my life-- but also the width of it.

Banana Split Cake = Pure Awesomeness

This cake is one of my favorite recipes. It is scary good. I made it last night and we've almost cleaned the pan already!! I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

{via}

Banana Split Cake

• 1 box of vanilla wafers
• 4 sticks of butter, melted
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups of powdered sugar
• 2 20 oz. cans of crushed pineapple, drained
• 5 bananas, sliced
• 2 cups of Cool Whip
• 1 small jar maraschino cherries
• 1 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Run the vanilla wafers through your food processor. Once they are well crushed, mix in 1 cup of melted butter. Combine well and firmly press into the bottom of a 9x13 pan.
Combine sugar, eggs & the remaining butter. Beat in your stand mixer until the mixture is light and fluffy. Pour sugar mixture over the wafer crust and spread until smooth.
Layer the crushed pineapple onto the cake, followed by the banana slices.
Spread the whipped cream over entire cake. Top with cherries {& pecans if you so choose.}
Refrigerate for at least an hour before serving. Although it is much better if allowed to set up in the fridge over night!

Wyatt Parker Davidson

Allow me to introduce you to the newest member of our family.

Wyatt Parker Davidson

Born January 11, 2012 at 4:58 pm

7 lbs. 5.4 oz.

19 inches.

Born to Lindsay and Brandon Davidson.

Eagerly welcomed by big brother, Shade Brian Davidson

The first boy to join our family in 3 generations.

Be still my heart.

1.3.2012

Sister Sue is still not feeling well.

Poor baby girl.

We went to the doctor today.

Got a third round of antibiotics.

Hope they work this time.

My brain isn't exactly working today.

So I'll leave you with a few pictures taken while we waited on the doctor.

Be back soon...

A new year .. a new me.

I don't do resolutions. I think that's just setting myself up to fail. Year after year I lose motivation around January 15th. So this year I'm not making resolutions- just stating things that I hope to do. If they happen great, if not - I've always got 2013 to look forward to. {unless those crazy people are right and the would really ends in 2012.} The last one cracks me up, but I really want to! I think it'd be hilarious!!

Here's my list: