Spring Break 2014

For the kids spring break this year, thanks to Carlos and Melannie's help, we decided to go to Disney World for 3 days.  We stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, and went to 4 parks (Animal Kingdom, Epcot, Magic Kingdom & Hollywood Studios) in 3 days.  To say our feet were tired and sore would be an understatement.....but we had a great time.  As the kids are getting older, I'm finding myself longing for as much "family time" as possible, because I know before long, they'll be adults and out of our house.  :(  Time goes by so quickly.  

Hunter & Grace at our hotel

Our family at our hotel

On a ride in Animal Kingdom

Hunter & Grace in Epcot

Hunter at Magic Kingdom

Grace at Magic Kingdom

The kids (& a gorilla) in Animal Kingdom

Grace at Hollywood Studios

Hunter at Hollywood Studios

At the Coke museum in Epcot

One year ago....

March 16, 2014 marked one year since I said goodbye to my dad.  As weird as it may sound, the year has gone by both quickly and slowly at the same time.  I find some days I go about my day without really thinking about him, but then others are really tough still.  Funny how it can hit you all of a sudden...that instant knot you get in your stomach...realizing yet again that he's really gone...that MY DAD is no longer here on earth.  There are so many "what if's" and "if only I had's", but I know it's out of my hands now.  Life is so short...a constant reminder to make the most of every day, every moment. Cherish those you have in your life.  

Zooming Out

Our focus determines our reality; our internal attitude is more important than our external circumstances.   When we are in a low place in our lives, it seems we want to drag others down with us.  We want them to feel sorry for us...to complain and get mad with us.  It takes great strength and determination to dig ourselves out of the pit and "zoom out" (to look for the bigger picture).  It's definately not an easy task...one I fail at almost ALL the time, but a necessary one.

So....as hard as this season of my life has been, I am now striving to "zoom out".  I'm sure this is something I'll have to remind myself of daily, if not hourly, but nevertheless, something we should do.

I'll end with some pictures and the 2 lists I came up with the other day -- 5 things I love about my kids.  When all around us seems so hopeless and unfair, to look for the positive enables us to continue on/to "zoom out".

What I love about you, Hunter:

1) your ability to be sensitive to others 
2) you love to give
3) you're outgoing
4) your longing TRY to do the right thing
5) how you like things picked up and organized

What I love about you, Grace:

1) your outgoing personality
2) your hard work/dedication with school work (homework, studying, etc)
3) the ability to sense a problem/issue, and try to find ways to fix/help it 
4) the perfect mixture of girly-girl and tom-boy
5) the attitude you have that nothing is too big for you to do/accomplish (self-confidence)

My dad, Jeff Edwards

For years I didn't have the best relationship with my dad.  It was distant and one where we saw each other only about twice a year.  It's not what I wanted, but what it became.
On January 2nd, I got a call from my step-mom that dad had been rushed to the ER for respiratory distress.  His blood oxygen level was at 57%, so they weren't really expecting him to make it through the night.

Amber and I drove down the next day to see him (and really say our "goodbyes" to him).  Little did we know that he'd pull through this and live yet another two and a half months.

During those two and a half months, I vowed to travel down to see/visit with him (some while he was in the hospital, some in the hospice house, and some at his home) every Wednesday-Friday...and I am ever so grateful for those days I got to spend with him (and thankful for my family who helped take care of my kids so I could do this).

I feel like our relationship grew stronger during that time, and that is something I will always remember and love.

On March 16th at 5AM, he passed away in his sleep.  He looked very peaceful when I went to see him....what a way to go.

His memorial will be on March 24th at 2:00pm at his neighborhood clubhouse.

I love you, dad.

What a rough few months we've had.....

Whew...where do I start?  You ready for this?  LOL

In September, I had my surgery (total hysterectomy/hernia repair/removal of adhesions from my bladder)...Marty's mom came to help out for 17 days (couldn't have done it without her).

In mid-December, Marty's mom (age 72) found out she needed her aortic valve replaced, so Marty flew up there for 5 days to be with her while she was in ICU.

Then on 12/26, we drove to Jacksonville to spend some days with his family in Ponte Vedra Beach.

From there, we drove to Ohio to see out friends in Cincy for 5 days.
While there, poor Grace got the flu....she had to drive back home sick. :(

On our way back home from Ohio, I got word that my dad was in the ICU in Ocala in respiratory distress (difficult time breathing).  For you with medical knowledge, his pulseox was 57% on admission!

That next Friday, Amber and I drove down there (3 hr drive one way) to see him, and at that point....thought we were saying our "goodbyes" to him.

It's been 24 days since then, and he is still alive....living in a hospice house near The Villages, on 6 liters of O2, and is bed bound.  Amber and I take turns driving down there for days to be with him...and just soak up these last days with him.  Angela lives close-by, so is with him almost everyday.

It's been a very emotionally draining time for us all lately.

Grace & Hunter in the snow in Ohio

All four of us

My dad with Hunter & Grace

Hunter & Grace on Christmas 2012

HALLOWEEN 2012

We did things a bit different this year....kids are growing up and starting to want to "do things" differently.

Grace went trick-or-treating with some friends from school (thanks Ragsdale's for letting her tag along with you all).

Marty, Hunter and I went to our church party, then drove around and let Hunter trick-or-treat down some roads in a subdivision.

We all dressed up this year (including me and Marty)!  A fun night for all!

Grace as a NERD

Amy as an "OLD MAN"

Hunter as a GATOR'S FAN

Marty as "MITT ROMNEY"

Marty and Amy (Mitt and Old Man)

Grace with her friends

Time -- goes so fast

It's hard not to grow weary in the day to day grind, but when you stop to look back at where you've been, and what your kids were like (and looked like) when they were younger compared to now.....it hits you!  
Lesson: Learn to "stop and smell the roses".  Enjoy each moment you are given...while glorifying God in all you do.  

Grace - 10 yrs old

Hunter - 12 yrs old

My babies awhile ago