It is official - I am the Mom of a teenager - post 5

MEMORY #5 - When Avery was 3 years and 9 months old, the biggest event ever in his young life occurred.  He became a BIG brother!  He was so excited, until he saw Riley for the first time and realized that he was too little to play basketball.  However, he soon learned that he had a captive audience to talk and talk and talk and talk to.  Mama and Daddy were so excited because they had another boy to love!  The have been inseperable ever since!  I love the way they have always played together!  Later, he became a big brother for a third and final time.  The only request that he had about Landry was that he be a boy...his wish was granted!

It is official - I am a mother of a teenager! (part 4)

My oldest son, Avery, turns 13 on Monday. I am in the midst of 13 memories of him…I know it is a silly Mom thing…but, it is therapeutic for this silly Mom!

MEMORY #4 - No one could have prepared me for the energy that is packaged in a boy. It is something that you can not possibly comprehend until you have one…then when you add another boy…and then another boy! Whew.

Avery’s motto from the time that he could walk seemed to be, “Why sit when I can jump? Why stand when I can climb? Why walk when I can run?” He was ALWAYS on the move. It was shocking! At times I wondered if he had some sort of a problem! (I am a worrier.) Then I finally realized that this is simply the way that the Lord made boys, and the only thing to do is smile about it…and really look forward to nap and bed time! I must tell you, it does not get any calmer as they get older, it just changes; but the energy is still there!

Avery seemed to have bumps and bruises all of the time due to all of the jumping, climbing and running. Three weeks before his third Easter he jumped off of the stairs at a store and blackened both of his eyes and bruised his head. I was so worried that they would not be healed by Easter, because Clark would be taking a lot of pictures! Thankfully, they were! However, he and his Daddy were playing the DAY before Easter and Avery was riding a skateboard on his stomach down our steep driveway. At some point the skateboard stopped and he kept going. I think he used his nose and his forehead as a brake. So much for no scrapes or bruises for Easter!

It's official - I am the mother of a teenager - part 3

My oldest son, Avery, turns 13 on Monday. I am in the midst of 13 memories of him…I know it is a silly Mom thing…but, it is therapeutic for this silly Mom! 

Memory #3 – Avery's first word was Da-da, then Ma-ma, then ball-ball.  Everything was pronounced with the first syllable doubled.   Cook-cook (cookie), car-car, cow-cow and so on.  However, the word that we heard the most was ball-ball.  Avery was fascinated with anything that remotely looked like a ball.  I always wanted him to have a favorite stuffed animal that he would want to sleep with and drag everywhere but, no...he always had a ball.  All of our church family thought it was the greatest thing, so they continually bought him balls. There were balls all over my house!  Bro. Chester once bought him a Christmas gift that had 9 balls in it!   At night, he slept with a few of his favorite ball-balls.  After he was asleep, I would sneak in and take them out of his crib.  

When Avery was 18 months old, he fell in love with football.  Monday night football came on, and he would be WILD with excitement.  He would run, jump and tackle everything in sight!  He could barely talk, but could sing the "Are You Ready For Some Football??"  theme song with gusto!  If he did not have a ball, then his imagination kicked in.  He once turned his pacifier into a baseball and "batted" it across the church sanctuary with his wipes container during Bro. Brown's sermon.  

He has never grown out of the love of ball.  You can still sneak into his room at night, and find his favorite football buried somewhere in the covers...just don't tell him I blogged about it!

It is official - I am a mother of a teenager! (part 2)

My oldest son, Avery, turns 13 on Monday. I am in the midst of 13 memories of him…I know it is a silly Mom thing…but, it is therapeutic for this silly Mom!

Memory #2 –Avery was considered a preemie, due to the fact that he was 6 weeks early and down to 5 pounds by the time we left the hospital. Thankfully, he was very healthy! However, there were several “preemie status” rules we had to abide by until he was a certain weight. My husband – THE NEW DAD – took all of these to heart…plus some! His excitement is one of my favorite memories of being a NEW MAMA.

My Mom visited earlier in my pregnancy, and we fixed up our tiny nursery. It was so cute in pale green and yellow for either Avery or Emily (I never got that Emily, but the way!) We had received SO many gifts (blessings) that the tiny room was packed!

I was so excited to bring Avery home! One of the many hospital rules was the temperature of our home. It had to be especially warm for our very tiny baby. Clark had gone home earlier to get the house to the correct temperature before picking us up. He drove about 10 miles per hour all the way home. My Mom had decorated our house for Avery’s big arrival. It was so cute! I went straight to my organized little nursery to change Avery’s diaper. It was EMPTY…completely EMPTY! THE NEW DAD had moved EVERYTHING to the living room, because it was the warmest room in the house. He even moved all of the toys, rocking horse, clothes…that Avery would not need for months to come in! Needless to say, my mom spent many hours putting the nursery back together again!

Clark also took hundreds (literally) of pictures of Avery…and most of them look exactly the same, as you know a newborn, especially a preemie newborn, does nothing but sleep! Thirteen years ago we were still using cameras with film and actually getting them developed. The little photography shop that we used downtown LOVED the profit they were making from Clark. All of the employees knew Avery! Clark also took hours and hours of video of the sleeping baby! The day after we brought Avery home from the hospital I walked into the very warm living room and saw the video camera sitting on the table with the play button on. Clark had been taking video of himself rocking Avery for about 30 minutes! I love looking back on those new Dad moments.

It is official - I am a mother of a teenager!

"Build me a son, O Lord,

who will be strong enough to know when he is weak,

 and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid,

one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat,

and humble and gentle in victory."

I love this quote by Douglas MacArthur. As a mother, I feel such a weighted responsibility to shape my sons into Godly men. Some nights, in sheer exhaustion, I fall asleep knowing I am accomplishing that, and other nights I weep from the feeling of parental failure! However, when I read this quote that begins by asking the LORD to build me a son…it puts it all in perspective that He is the builder and I am a humble tool.

Another favorite quote…

"Between the innocence of babyhood and the dignity of manhood,

we find a delightful creature of a boy."

We aren’t quite hitting the manhood stage in the Presson home yet; however, Avery becomes an official teenager on Monday. It is his golden birthday…13 years old on December 13th. WOW. This saddens me. I know it shouldn’t, but it does. So, take a walk down memory lane with me in the next couple of days as I share my top THIRTEEN memories of my oldest son…He has been the first to teach my every aspect of motherhood. It has been an incredible journey…

MEMORY ONE – I woke Clark up in the wee hours of the morning, six weeks before my due date. I asked him to stay awake with me for a while, because something just didn’t feel right. Of course, he insisted on calling the doctor. The doctor decided I needed to come to the hospital for a check-up. Clark was FURIOUS, LIVID, STOMPING, and RED-FACED, because I was determined to curl my hair before going to the hospital at 2a.m! We had our baby girl clothes packed for Emily Hope and our baby boy clothes packed for Avery Matthew…since we didn’t know which one we would be bringing home. Once we got to Jackson Madison County General Hospital, it was decided that a baby was determined to join us! I have so many memories of that first delivery…some pleasant and others not pleasant.  Thus, I will spare you the details of most. A few of my favorites are… Nana and Papa (my in-laws) had their phone accidentally turned off so we had to contact a neighbor to tell them they had another grandchild on the way. My parents had to drive from Illinois, and I was so excited that they arrived before Avery was born.  Clark decided, when I was dilated to 8, that he wanted a different name other than Avery Matthew if it was a boy. I told him it was too late for name changes!!

At 5:07 p.m. on Saturday, December 13, 1997 our lives were changed forever with the arrival of a tiny 6lb, red faced, blonde headed baby boy. It certainly does not seem like thirteen years ago. Within the hour, my room was full of family and church family that fell in love with my little man the second that they saw him, however, no one was more in love than me.

"There has never been, nor will there ever be,

anything quite as special as the love between a mother and a son."

A Great Man Named Clark by Riley Presson

I was looking over Riley's school papers this evening and ran across this descriptive paragraph that he wrote about his Dad.  It made me smile!

Man Named Clark

Clark always fixes breakfast every morning.  He does chores that Sis. Presson tells him what to do.  He is very tall, about 5 feet 11 inches tall.  He has a job at CIA.  Also he works hard for his family.  So that is what Clark does for me and my brothers.

This makes be smile because...I am not normally called Sis. Presson at home...and Clark is usually called Dad...but my favorite part... and I quote..."He does chores that Sis. Presson tells him what to do!"  I love that man AND his middle boy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year...Can you see the forest for the trees?

Thanksgiving is HERE, and Christmas is around the corner. There is something so special about this time of the year. I think it brings out the best in all of us! Our minds are going to the things that we are truly thankful for…God, family, and friends. It is a time when we communicate with those near and dear in gift giving, baking, and decorating. This time of the year is a time of inward reflection on our thoughts, actions and attitudes of the past year, and how we want to improve in the coming year.

There is a house in my city that I drive by often. I do not know the people that live there, but I do know that they, like me, love the holidays. Their yard is creatively decorated every single holiday on the calendar. Red hearts are strung in the trees on Valentines Day, a happy bunny pops out of an egg on Easter, and practically every square inch of the house and yard is decorated for Christmas. I am astonished by the time and expense that goes into their holiday creations.

However, the yard is also bursting at the seams with non-holiday “ornaments.” Several old cars are parked in the yard. Used tires lay everywhere, as well as unusable appliances, old mattresses, and even a broken down toilet. Bags and bags of trash are strewn about the yard. It is not a pretty sight. The puzzling thing to me is why they put so much expense into their holiday décor while leaving all of the junk in the yard. In my opinion, it certainly does not make the rubbish look pretty.

I wonder if the Lord sees something similar when he looks at our lives. Have we decorated our outward appearance with sanctimonious standards while our hearts are littered with anger, jealousy, and deceit? Do we plaster on a smile of joy when inside we are blackened with bitterness? I do not feel the Lord finds beauty in our sacrifices of worship and praise when we are hiding back biting and dissention.

Before the most wonderful time of the year approaches, before I take out all of my holiday decorating, before I begin purchasing the perfect gifts for my loved ones, I want to take some time to clear the clutter from my heart. When he looks at me, I want Him to see the beauty of my soul that he longs to spend time with, and not any of the debris that I might have accumulated in the past months. May I string the lights, hang the wreath, and bake the cookies with a pure heart, so that the brightest light of all might shine through me during this Thanksgiving and Christmas season.

Happy 10th Birthday Riley Lance

September 21, 2010...Riley is TEN years old!  A decade worth of memories of my middle man!  Riley has a smile that lights up his face!  He wins hands down as my most emotional son!  He definitely has the most kissable cheeks in our family.  I remind him of this every night.  When Riley loves someone, he loves them with all of his heart (especially his Mama, I am not braggin', just statin' the truth!)   He is stumbling into those tween years making the emotions go up and down even more.  Seems like not so long ago, that he was so mean that I cried myself to sleep every night!  He started the terrible twos at about 15 months and stayed in them until 40 months.  And then all of a sudden, a sweeter than sweet boy stood in the place of my frightening toddler...and he has been the same ever since.  Happy Birthday Riley Lance.  I love you with all of my heart! 





"My son, if your heart is wise,

My own heart also will be glad."

Proverbs 23:15

A Labor Day of Cook AND Freeze!!

I DID IT!  I am so excited, proud of myself, and EXHAUSTED!  I have many friends that cook and freeze and have been a tad envious of the fruits of their labors.  So since it is LABOR DAY, I decided to labor away the day...in the kitchen. 

Many of you know I am now working full time outside of my home and also part-time in the evenings, so dinner prep must be SIMPLE.  I took advantage of my wonderful day off, and got busy.  I must brag just a tiny bit on all that I have accomplished.

2 dozen muffins made - 1 dozen eaten, 1 dozen frozen

Taco meat for 2 taco dinners

Meat for empanadas

Ground beef for spaghetti with marinara sauce

1 upside down pizza

Cubed chicken for Sundried Tomato Chicken Alfredo

Shredded chicken for Lisa's Rice and Chicken

Shredded beef for barbeque sandwiches

Chocolate Chip Cookies - I guarantee there will not be any left for freezing by the end of the evening!

Okay - now that I have it typed out it doesn't look like that much!  But, I am still excited.  It will be so nice to come home after a very tiring day and already have the main part of my meal done. I also have ALL ironing done for the next 5 days for 4 out of 5 family members.  PRESSON PROGRESS!   I am done bragging on myself.  I did have a very handsome person who cleaned up after me in the kitchen.  I love him!   Hope you all had a wonderful Labor Day!

The Note

It is dark outside. She is tired from working one job, and is wishing she was finished with her second job. The frustrations of the day way heavy, her heart is crowded with complaining. Luckily, she just finished cooking and cleaning up supper, and homework is in the backpacks ready to be delivered to all three teachers tomorrow. As she sits at her computer working, an unusual quiet can be heard in the house. Then the “whispers” start in the next room.

Don’t ask her again! She has already said no once.

Let’s ask Daddy, he might let us do it.



You know if Mama says no then Daddy will say no, too.


He might say yes if he could just read over the paper.


Call him at work, and talk to him about it.


No, I think he needs to SEE the paper. That might help him decide to let us do it.

(A boy walks innocently into the room.)

Mama, what time is Daddy coming home?

Daddy called and said he is working very late. He won’t get home until after you are asleep tonight.


( A frustrated boy walks back to his room.)


What are we going to do? Daddy really needs to SEE this!


(More quietness as three boys are deep in thought.)


I know! Let’s put it in his Bible tonight!


Yes! You know he’ll read his Bible before he goes to bed no matter how late he gets home, and then he will see it!

The sounds of relieved boys fill the house.  The quietness is gone. The Mom’s heavy heart is lightened. Her complaints and frustrations of the day seem petty and minimal. Thankfulness glows warmly in the place that ungratefulness had darkened. She stops working to write a quick note to the man who is helping her grow three men from the sprouts of young boys. She pens words of thanks to him for being the man and the Daddy that he is, and slips it in the place she knows he will most certainly find it.

Things With Wings

The day finally arrived, August 16, 2010. Landry has been counting down the days, hours, minutes until this wonderful event of KINDERGARTEN! I have known it was getting closer and have been trying to be excited with him, but to be truthful I have not been excited. It is one complete chapter closed in my life of Motherhood. I know Avery and Riley have both been to kindergarten. It is not something new for me to go through, but yet there was always Landry still doing the “baby” things! And now all of the baby moments are fully behind me, and my heart is saddened by that. I have ALL big boys now.

Many of you that know me personally, know that I have been on an emotional roller coaster as of late, and the tears have been flowing freely for many different reasons! Last week I opened the mailbox to find a postcard from Landry’s teacher telling him she was looking forward to having him in her class. Of course, this set me off again. Avery began begging me to please stop crying because he just couldn’t stand to see me cry anymore. Thus, I have been trying to hold it in for those few moments when I am alone.

Today, Landry looked so big in his desk with his little plaid shirt and new transformer tennis shoes. He was so proud of himself. He got his crayons out and began to color the butterfly paper his teacher gave him. Butterflies were so appropriate for that moment…butterflies are things with wings. Wings give freedom. Wings give a chance to discover new things, go new places. Wings give encouragement to leave the nest.

As much as it hurts me to think about, I know that the Lord has also given my three sons wings. I recently watched one mother cry as her only daughter discovered her wings and walked down the aisle to meet her new husband. This morning, I cried with another mother whose son is spreading his wings and going to college at the end of this week. I watched my now 4th grader roll his eyes when I tried to kiss him goodbye, and looked into my now 7th graders eyes as he silently pleaded with me NOT to take his picture in his new classroom. Wings not only give freedom and discovery, but they also bring about much change. But, like that butterfly that struggles out of it’s cocoon to unfurl its new found freedom, wings bring life and beauty. Wings make the world a new place of wonder. So, as I begin on this elementary trek with my youngest son, I am going to do my best to encourage Landry to experience all that he can and to spread those wings! I have high hopes that they will always fly him back to his Mama!

Faith in the Fire by Lisa Newcomer

My sister, Lisa Newcomer, recently gave a devotion to the Sunday School Staff at the church where I grew up in Aurora, IL.  She sent it to me this morning, and it spoke to my heart!  It certainly gave me the FAITH BOOST that I was so desperately needing!   I asked her permission to share some of it with you...Hope you are as blessed by it as I was!


When preparing for this devotion I started thinking of the different individuals in the church who are going through trials right now. I am sure each one of you are going through something in your own lives. Whether it be sickness, financial needs, lost loved ones, or other types of trials, God is still faithful!   He is still good to us all. He does help us and is with us always. Think back on past situations that seemed impossible at the time BUT God brought us through them. Life is hard! When I think of all the sickness our church family is facing... Sis. Sue Darby, Bro. Bill Darby, Bro. Ralph Darby, Bro. Kitner, Bro. Dorf, Sis. Gunter and on and on. Life is especially hard for them right now.  Life might be hard for YOU right now too. We all have lost loved ones that we want to see living for God. Due to my husband's back surgeries, we have faced financial problems these past 3 years, because he is not able to work. I know many of you are facing job loss, and financial problems also. Through it all, we can still say God is so good. Our faith and trust are in HIM.


This quarter our Sunday Schools class is studying about Faith. The name of our book is "Faith Works".
The lessons are called, Faith Hopes, Faith Gets Back On Track, Faith Pleases, Faith Obeys, Faith Provides and more.

The lesson "Faith Hopes" tells us- "Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for. The evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1

One of the lessons was "Faith Gets Back On Track".  Sometimes, even when we have a strong walk with the Lord, we still have a bad day.  Perhaps our "bad day" consists of sickness, financial need, or we fail God.  At times, we mess up big time. What does faith encourage us to do?  We pray and keep on believing.  We don't give up, and we get back on track.

Another lesson, "Faith Sees the Promise", talked about how people can make promises to us and then break them. People can hurt and fail us. Numbers 23:19 says, "God is not a man that he should lie. He is not a human that he should change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has He ever promised and not carried through? (New Living Translation)  God Keeps His Promise!! The Bible story in this lesson was of God promising Abraham and Sarah a son. Abraham was 75 when God made him that promise. When Isaac was born he Abraham was 100 years old. Abraham and Sarah waited 25 years for their promise!

The next lesson is "Faith Obeys God."  After waiting 25 years for a son God puts Abraham to a test of obedience, his hardest test ever. God asked him to offer his own son for a sacrifice. Yet Abraham obeyed, and through his obedience God provided a sacrifice.  God made a way out!

(Proverbs 3:5-6" Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not on thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him and He shall direct thine paths."

The Message Bible says it like this,

"Don't try to figure everything out on your own. Listen to God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go. He's the one who will keep you on track. Run to God! Run from evil!")


The last lesson is just as powerful as the others, "Faith Provides."  Matthew 6:32-33 "But seek ye first the kingdom of god and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you."   God knows EXACTLY what we need, and will give it to us if we trust Him to provide. The Israelites did not trust God. They forgot the way He had brought them out of the wilderness, how He had provided for them. They complained and whined, without putting their trust in him.  Let's not look back like the Israelites...but let's remember Faith Provides!

We ALL need His healing today, His protection, His help, His provision. We can't forget all the good things God has done for us in the past. We can't let go of what He has brought us through, when at the time there did not look like any way out or any hope. Faith in God provides a way out.


An Excerpt From the Secrets of Happiness Book:

Are You In The Fire Today?

If you could talk to the three Hebrew children about the fiery furnace perhaps they'd describe their experience with the Lord this way:

"The fire was all over us. Our robes were ablaze, but amazingly, our skin was unaffected. We had no idea what was going on. Then something moved over in the ashes; we were not alone!

"Suddenly out of the smoke came a shining, gleaming... person. We never got His name. He never said it. He never said anything in fact, but just knowing He was there brought comfort in the fire. His presence created protection in the midst of the crisis.

"Now, we don't mean that the fire went out. No, it still burned, but the brightness of the flames was eclipsed by the brilliance of His presence.

" We never saw Him again; He only showed up when we need Him most. But one thing is sure, looking back, we're glad that they dragged us from the presence of the wicked king into the presence of the righteous King. for in His presence we learned that, 'No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper." (Isa 54:17)

Are you walking through the fire today? If you are, remember you're not alone - He's there with you! Take courage! When He brings you out you'll know Him better, trust and have faith in Him much more, and have something to say to others that's really worth sharing.


Thank you Sis for being my guest today on Presson Ponderings!  I admire you for YOUR faith and your walk with God.  I am excited to see the wonderful things that the Lord is going to do in your family!

Thankful Thursday

There are exactly 30 minutes left in this particular Thankful Thursday...so I will list 30 things that I am thankful for...please note the evening is getting close to midnight so the brain is getting fuzzy!

1.  Thankful for the rain we had this week! 

2. Thankful that I am finally getting used to staying at home at night when Clark goes out of town.(Instead of heading over to Mom & Dads).  I feel this is a good thing for me to accomplish at the age of 37!!  LOL!

3.  Thankful for cute texts I get from my husband when he is out of town.  Lets me know he is thinking of me and missing me... like I am missing him!

4.  Thankful that Riley got to go out of town with Clark.  He has a hard time getting away from his Mama...and it is good for him to spend time with Daddy.

5.  Thankful that Clark did not let Riley call me to tell me he missed me when they were 5 minutes into their road trip.  Especially since it was 5 a.m.

6.  However, so glad Riley WANTED to call me !

7.  Thankful that my Dad and Avery got to go golfing this afternoon.  A year ago today, my dad would not have been able to golf due to illness.

8.  Loving that my taste buds are SLOWLY coming back after this terrible summer cold!

9.  Thankful that it is SUMMER!

10.  Thankful that I am able to ask God to lead and guide me when I have tough decisions to make!  He knows the end from the beginning.

11.  Thankful for Landry, because he hugs me a zillion times a day!

12.  Thankful for coffee - enough said!

13.  Thankful that this year will bring me a new GREAT nephew AND a new GREAT niece, and a new nephew IN-LAW(in Feb of '11)!  Such blessings to my family!

14.  So thankful for BOYS clothing hand-me-downs that I receive from family and friends.  I have boxes and bins of clothes that are waiting to be grown in to.  Such a blessing!

15.  Thankful for my newest black purse my mom got me - super cute!

16.  Thankful that I have been cancer free for 8 years this coming fall!

17.  My church...I wanted to move to this area for one reason and one reason only, so that my children could grow up at FAC.  My parents retired here after I made that decision, so that was a big plus also.

18.  Thankful that I am the baby of the family.  It has always had many wonderful benefits.

19.  Thankful for in-laws that love me beyond words.

20.  Thankful for blog followers!  Love the encouragement they bring and kind words they say!

21.  DUCT TAPE!

22.  Thankful for Godly parents that I have raised me in the truth, and that in turn I am raising my children in the truth!

23.  Thankful for the Dollar Store...I can always find a little gem there.  I might not ever use it - but I like to find it!

24.  Thankful for Kleenex and Cough Drops!!!!!

25.  Love the feeling of knowing I can sleep late in the morning!

26.  Thankful for conveniences such as cell phones, dishwashers, internet, microwaves, hot rollers, coffee pots, and so on and so on.  Don't think I could have survived the pioneer days!

27.  Thankful that I can say the person mentioned in #2 is my closest friend and the greatest blessing in my life! 

28.  Thankful for my job...praying that it picks up very soon!

29.  Thankful for 3 boys that have taught me the joys of motherhood!

30.  Thankful that this is number 30, because I'm getting really sleepy! 

Sweet Dreams!

Summer Focus

I seem to lose my vision during the summer.  It usually starts to get cloudy around Memorial Day and begins to become clearer in time to purchase school supplies.  I have come to realize this happens because we do not keep a consistent schedule during the summer months.  We  stay up late and sleep longer the next morning.  Our meals take place at random times throughout the day.  We visit fun places and do exhausting things.  All of this activity and change is causing me to become visually impaired.

Do not worry, I don't need to make an appointment with Lens Crafters.  However, I do need to make an appointment with my Heavenly Father.  The One who sees all and knows all.  I realized this when  reading a flyer from my home church that we visited while on vacation.

The pamphlet encouraged the reader to focus on having 20/20 Vision in their Spiritual walk.  The 20/20 Vision theory is blindingly simple.  To attain a heightened spiritual vision, the pamphlet encourages us to strive to combine 20 minutes of prayer with 20 minutes of Bible reading per day.  The paper went on to say that it might not always be that easy.  For me, in the midst of vacations, swimming, picnicking, summer colds, Dollywood, watermelon, and camps, we don't always TAKE time for focused prayer and Bible reading.  Instead, we need to MAKE time to implement this daily discipline.   Such a simple thought yet powerful...don't take time...but make time! 

I want my sons to have a daily commitment in their walk with the Lord.  I want their insights, outlook, point of view, and illusions to be focused on Him each and every day of their lives, not only as BOYS, but more importantly as MEN.  The most often quoted verse in the Bible concerning visions is Proverbs 29:18, "Where there is no vision, the people perish...".  I am responsible for the souls of three particular "peoples."  I want to make sure that their view of a Christian walk is not blurred or distorted in any way.  I believe a parents greatest heart break is when their children perish spiritually.  Therefore, I must MAKE time to have 20/20 Vision. 

My prayer is that a clear vision will birth inspiration.  Inspiration will provide momentum and give the energy to do extraordinary spiritual things.  And in turn that will give so much meaning to marriage, motherhood, and LIFE...even in the midst of a busy summer!

We are having Christmas in July!

ACHHOOO!!! Summer colds are cruel and unusual punishment! ACHHHOO! They are a complete oxymoron! Colds should be for winter...when you can put on your fuzzy robe and bunny slippers and snuggle up with hot chocolate and your box of Kleenex! They should not be happening when the sun is shining and the water rides at Dollywood are calling!

The Summer Cold has hit us like a snowstorm in July! It all started with Landry. He started coughing BEFORE we left for vacation. It hung around the whole time that we were vacationing. (Our vacation started in Jackson, TN where we attended Tiffany McCoys wedding...then we headed to Mt. Vernon, IL and let the boys have some hotel swimming time. My WONDERFUL husband got the boys an adjoining hotel room so the two of us could have our OWN room. I love him! The adjoining doors stayed propped open the whole time...I was a little nervous with them over there, AND I snuck Landry into our room after he fell asleep, just in case he woke in the night. They swam until their toes were wrinkled and got their fill of Animal Planet. Then we headed to Laura's house in Plano. We ate, laughed, rested, had a day in Chicago, worked on Meg's wedding plans, picnicked, fished, had family portraits taken, churched, picnicked and fished some more. I got to thrift shop - ALONE - and get a pedi and mani with Amy!! And Clark also got to golf AND jet ski - without 3 boys tagging along! It was a wonderful, wonderful vacation!) On the looong drive home, Clark's throat started hurting and he sounded like he voice lowered several decibels. Once we got home Landry's cough got worse, and Clark went and spent what little vacation money we had left at the Pharmacy.

The next day I took Landry to the doctor to find out the he had bronchitis and a sinus infection. Clark continued to cough and sneeze. In the midst of all of this my mom has been diagnosed with another wintertime ailment - PNEUMONIA! She has been extremely sick. Riley and I started our sore throats,chills, cough and drippy noses yesterday.

THEREFORE, I am rebelling against summer! Last night, I got out my warm fuzzy robe and thick purple socks. I made hot chocolate for our sore throats, and have pulled out extra blankets for us to stay bundled up in. SO while the rest of you are enjoying the fun of summer...the Pressons are experiencing mid-December. I have even considering stringing some Christmas lights. KIDDING! AACHHHOOO!

Sum, Sum, Summertime!!!!!!!!!!!!!

IT IS FINALLY HERE! Summertime! Once Memorial Day gets here there is no turning back! You must grill, swim in a little plastic pool, dig in the sandbox and eat watermelon to start your perfect summer. We did all of that and more on Memorial Day. This picture was taken at the end the long fun day! Landry and his second cousins, Kayla and Hailey Gomez and Lucas Stinnett, were sunburned and tired. This is one of my new favorite pictures!

We try to wring every last little bit out of Summer that we can. Each year I have the boys make a summer list of FIVE things that they want to do. After much thought and list making we organize it all on a June, July & August calendar. I tape it to the inside of the pantry door, so that they can see what it coming up each week. It is a great way to make sure you fit all the fun that you can into summer. August is sneaky and can get here vErY quickly.

Here are a few things that we will be doing this summer...

AVERY'S LIST
1. Family Game night at least 5 times. (This night usually turns into family war night due to the competiveness of ALL of the men in my family)
2. Dollywood as often as we can.
3. Eat at Bubba Gumps in Gaitlinburg and play lazer tag(I think this should count as 2.)
4. Go to Grandma's house and play with Jose, ALL DAY LONG. (Jose is one of Avery's FAVORITE friends.)
5. Eat at Wasabi's (This is a family favorite!)

RILEY'S LIST
1. Go to Jackson to see Nana & Papa
2. Go to Illinois to see our IL family.(We are planning to do #1and #2 in one BIG trip!)
3. Buy a pool. (This one is done)
4. Go to the zoo and aquarium (again, thinking this should count as 2!)
5. Eat at Wasabi's (...hmmm, this is a good excuse to go 2 times!)

LANDRY'S LIST
1. Our WHOLE family spend the night with Grandma, including Daddy!!
2. Eat at Cheddars (Maryvilles NEWEST restuarant! Yummazzing!)
3. Bowl at Thunderworld
4. Spend the night at a hotel and swim in their BIG swimming pool.
5. Go to Chuck E Cheese - everyday! (This will not be happening everyday!)

I have added a few FREE things like trips to the Library, taking watermelon to the mountain streams in Townsend, picnics in Cades Cove, and so on. Daddy has added golfing as much as possible in there to.

All in all it sounds like it is going to be a SUPER DUPER SUMMER! I thrive on making memories for my children, and in the midst of all of it I hope they feel the presence of the Lord, and long to draw closer to him each and every fun-filled summer day!

May you have a wonderful and safe summertime with your family and friends!

Glasses and Contacts!

Our baby starts kindergarden this fall. That is all I can say about that right now! However, it brings back memories of our very first kindergarden preparations with Avery. I took him in for his physical, and we found out that Avery had VERY POOR eyesight! This was a shock to me, because he never gave any indication whatsoever that he was struggling with this! The most shocking thing of all is that Avery is pretty much blind in his left eye! I felt like a horrible mother for not knowing this for the first FIVE years of Avery's life! He was such a cutie in his new glasses.
It was a whole new world for him. The day he got his glasses we drove to Nashville for camp meeting. He read EVERY SINGLE mile marker between Jackson and Nashville. He was so excited, because he said he did not realize the signs had numbers on them!! Again, felt like a horrible mama. He wore his glasses 24/7. We would have to go in his room at night and slip them off.


We also had six weeks of patching his right eye in hopes of waking that left eye up! Patching - Is - Not - Fun. Especially with a busier than busy boy!


His favorite patch was his "pirate" patch...


I was so thankful when the patching was over. It did help the left eye a little bit. Thus began the many years of broken glasses, frames bent beyond recognition, weekly trips to the eyedoctor to get re-adjustments, and so on. Speed up time SEVEN years...and we now have CONTACTS...and instead of starting kindergarden, we are starting seventh grade! I am proud of my oldest son. He keeps life exciting, he scares me to death because he never looks before he leaps in any of life's circumstances! I am prayerfully looking forward to the next phase of Avery's life!

In This Home...

In This Home...
WE DO hugs and kisses
please and thank you
fun
together
LOUD...really well
I'm sorrys
LOVE
prayer time
mistakes
Star Wars
real
snack time...often
God first in all things
GOLF and basketball
smiles
grace and mercy
yes sir and yes ma'am
church!
Daddy knows best
make your own bed
silly
patience...at least, we try
family
all things boy

Episode in the Elevator

My sons have terrific abilities to remember many things that I have long forgotten in the midst of trying to remember when book reports are due, dentist appointments are scheduled, and when to pick up my husband’s dry cleaning. Yesterday we were in the doctor’s office elevator and Riley asked me if I remembered the time when he was three and the elevator stalled with us inside. The memory is much funnier, and less scary, now than it was at the time.


We were in Chattanooga visiting a conference for my husband’s job. While at the conference, the decision would be made by the company if we would be moving to Maryville from Jackson within the next couple of months. Considering that I was 7 months pregnant and unsure of where I would be living when my baby was due, my stress level was through the roof. Harley-Davidson was also holding a conference there along with several other large businesses.


Avery, Riley, and I were in one of the many elevators along with 3 of the Harley-Davidson conferencees. I was trying my best to keep Riley and Avery from gawking at the men with looonnngg braided beards and very descriptive tattoos, when suddenly the elevator STOPPED and the doors DID NOT open. One of the very kind tattooed gentlemen told me they would call someone and get it taken care of.


The hotel told us that they would get someone over there as soon as they could. I must admit I was getting a little nervous, and my unborn Landry was choosing that moment to dance on my bladder, so I got a piece of paper out of my purse to fan with along with a few toys for the boys to play with while we waited. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Harley #1 point to my very large 7 month figure. Harley #2, visibly paled, whipped his cell phone out and very nervously told the hotel to hurry up because there was a pregnant lady stuck in the elevator with them. I quickly reassured them that I was fine...but they decided to take matters into their own hands.


Harley #3 physically pulled the elevator doors open with his bulging tattooed arms. Looking back, I am not sure that this was the safest way to go about this, but they did not take time to ask for my opinion. We realized that we were stuck between two floors and we could see the floor that we needed to be on out of the top half of the elevator.


Harley #1, #2, and #3 were REALLY nervous by this time. Before I knew it, Harley #2 had jumped out and up to the floor. Then, Harley #1 and #3 were lifting me (All of me) up and out. Next, Avery and Riley popped up. It all happened in a matter of seconds. I thanked my very kind helpers, and they hurried off as fast as they could. Evidently, the thought of having to deliver a baby scared the wits out of these ‘tougher than nails’ motorcycle men.

Lessons learned from the long ago elevator experience...
1. Always have toys in the purse for entertaining purposes of small children.
2. Use the restroom BEFORE getting on the elevator when 7 months pregnant.
3. Outward appearences should not dictate my reaction to the soul that is inside.
(In other words, looks can be deceiving.)
4. No matter how tough they are, not matter how great they are at being providers for the home, no matter how many engines they can work on, or tree houses they can build...MEN could never ever handle having a baby!!!!!!!!!

Lord, take me back to the Landmarks!

The newspaper headline read, “Tanks for the Memories.” It went on to tell the story of our water tower, a prominent landmark in our city. The name of our city, Maryville, was painted on its side. My husband read aloud the details to our family. The decision had been made to take it down. The article stated the water tower had not been in use for years and the cost to maintain it could not be justified. This “old way” of delivering water to the city was outdated as there were now more efficient ways to provide the service. The tower itself had become a relic to be looked upon fondly by those who remembered the days when it provided life-giving water to the city. What had once been imperative to the city’s survival was now a rusty, peeling eyesore.

We watched over the next several weeks as they disassembled the large water tower. The bowl at the top slowly came down, piece by piece. The large pieces of steel were lowered to the ground, cut up with a torch, loaded on a truck and hauled away. The skyline of our town would be forever changed. My eight year old son spoke up, “No one is going to know where they are after it is taken down.”

Sadly, my son’s remark gave me pause and caused me to consider a spiritual parallel. Over the years I’ve seen spiritual landmarks suffer the same fate as our city’s water tower. We have watched as many of our spiritual landmarks have been torn down just like the water tower. Modern technique and the church social club mentality have become more important than the things that have formed our foundation as a movement. They have slowly quit using our spiritual landmarks and have found that it is easier to just tear them down. Some ask, “Why keep them on display if we are not going to use them?” The cost of “maintaining” the landmark is thought to be too high. It seems many would rather conform than offend.

Many are no longer taking their children to visit the landmark of HOLINESS. Its story is not told in our churches, therefore a love for it has not been established in the hearts of our children. Because of this, the power of Holiness is becoming a distant memory of a past lifestyle. Their parents and grandparents visited and took snap shots of this spiritual landmark, but it is no longer considered a necessity for today’s generation. A love for Holiness was not developed. In its place is an empty lot with a ‘For Sale” sign where anything can move in.

The landmark of BIBLICAL DOCTRINE is also being replaced. The teachings that were once lovingly studied and taught by our forefathers have been buried in our church archives instead of in the hearts of the saints. Many have built cathedrals of unconditional love and grace in the place where doctrine once stood. The next generation does not realize the soul saving necessity of it.

My husband read the conclusion of the article. The water tower that once proudly welcomed travelers to our city and let them know they were in Maryville, was now being sold for a small price on Ebay. Surely those who once appreciated the life-giving flow of water from the tower could have never imagined the day it would been torn down and sold for scrap. How often has it been decided that the destruction of spiritual landmarks were necessary to draw in a bigger crowd with bigger bank accounts? Unfortunately, our religious culture seems perfectly at ease selling off the spiritual landmarks that have guided our past. However, my salvation and the salvation of my family, is not for sale…at any price.

Destroying spiritual landmarks is not a new thing. Solomon allowed worldly pleasures to replace his God-given landmark of WISDOM. Samson gave up his ANOINTING for the love of this world. Esau traded his BIRTHRIGHT for a bowl of soup. Hophni and Phinius traded their PRIESTHOOD for the riches of this world. The rich young ruler passed on SALVATION to hold on to something that he could not keep. Saul traded his KINGDOM for the jealousy of those to come. Each of these was once a major landmark in their lives, but they were laid aside for what they thought were bigger and better things.

My son’s words continued to come back to me as the weeks of demolition continued. How many of our churches will lose their way because of the spiritual landmarks that are slowly being removed from our spiritual landscape? I am determined to take my children to the landmarks of holiness, doctrine, and righteous living until it is indelibly imprinted on their hearts. I want them to be so in love with them that they will never tear them down, though the years go by. May the foundation be so firm under these landmarks that they will never crumble when it comes time for them to make lifestyle decisions of their own. I pray my children have a sign on the spiritual landmarks of their hearts that reads, “Not For Sale.”

The name says it all!

It's all in the name! I love unique names! If a store or a restuarant has a cool name then it automatically makes me want to GO! Clark and I had more discussions/arguments over what we were going to name our children than over anything else. Names are important. I work for a huge company (from my house, which is even cooler)...if I said the NAME you would know it...however, they work for many other smaller businesses. I have started jotting down some of my favorite names, and if I ever visit the state in which they are located - I might just have to stop in...

Full Yum Carry Out - you won't leave here hungry!
Get U Driving School - the name just says it all, doesn't it!
Marcella Wild - I once knew a girl named Marcella, and she was indeed W.I.L.D.
Wok N Roll - how cute is that??
Hairs 2 U
Flippin Pizza
Doodlehooper - not sure what they sell, but I think I need one!
Garden of Eat'n
Kum On Inn - They probably have a wrap around porch, with a granny in a rocker.
Talk of the Town - I can see the Steel Magnolia ladies visiting here!
Just Fur Pets
It's the Pitts by Richard Pitts - go Richard!
Zang Wang Dollar Surplus - ANY Dollar Store is fun - this one REALLY sounds fun!
Stuff UR Face - Avery might actually get FULL at this eatery!
Hello Georgous - Don't hate me because I'm beautiful!
The Full Belly Deli - LOVE this name!! So funny!
Off The Wall
Lock and Load
Johhny Garlic - If you visit, please leave Johnny a breath mint!
Big Fred's Burger Hut
Body Anointed Day Spa Christ - WHAT???
Socks II Shoes - cute - I like both!
Dunedin Meds of Canada - this struck me as funny, because its a company in Florida!
EIEIO - nuf said!
Eleanor's Bras & Breasts - hee hee!
Pure Hell Customs - NOT visiting this one!
El Taco Loco
Pink Fox - hmmm??? Might should stay away from here too.
Dung Day Spa - Seriously, would you want to go to a spa with the name DUNG in it???

Hope you have a fun Saturday. Open House at the Pressons tomorrow - so I will be cleaning up a storm!

WORDLESS WEDNESDAYS

Shhh...I know we are not supposed to add any words to WORDLESS WEDNESDAYS...but sadly, that is an impossiblity for me! This is Avery at 18 months. One of my all-time favorite pictures. Clark had set the ice cream out to get himself some, and then got a phone call. While he was talking on the phone, Avery ate ALL of the ice cream out of the carton (it wasn't full, thank goodness!) So cute and sweet...can't believe he is 12! By the way, he would so still do this! Happy Wordless Wednesday!

I would like a PB & J, but hold the peanut butter, please.

Warning...serious Mama bragging ahead...if you are the kind that roll your eyes when Mamas start telling why their child should be the eighth wonder of the world then bail from this blog NOW...okay, you have been warned.

The Pressons have a love/hate relationship with peanut butter. My middle man, Riley, is deathly (sadly, absolutely NO exaggeration with deathly) allergic to peanut butter. So, we are very careful with it whenever anyone eats it at home. Landry on the other hand is NOT (thankfully) allergic to it...and that is where the LOVE comes in. He eats it on his pancakes, crackers, apples, carrots, sandwiches with banana, sandwiches with jelly, and often asks for a big scoop of it on his plate.

On Sunday, February 28th our pastor asked our congregation to begin fasting each Wednesday for our upcoming Easter services. Many raised their hands in agreement. The next morning, I was fixing Landry's ritual pancakes. When I reached for the peanut butter he shrieked, "NO peanut butter, Mama!!" He then reminded me of Bro. Carpenter's request. I was still a little puzzled why my FIVE year old was reminding me of this. He calmy told me that he was going to fast from peanut butter. I began explaining that our pastor was asking this of the adults, and he told me that he had decided he was going to join in also. I was still not getting the depth of my little man's decision, and reminded him that Bro. Carpenter had asked that we fast only on Wednesdays. He FIRMLY told me that he had decided to fast from peanut butter every single day until Easter.

WOW! I must admit that I was amazed at his commitment! Landry still sleeps through most of our Sunday night services, I am astonished that he even heard our pastors request!! Tears began to fall as I spread plain old boring butter on the beloved pancakes. I was so thankful for the spiritual depth that Landry was experiencing at this young age of five.

Later that morning, he asked for his morning snack of apples and peanut butter, but WITHOUT the peanut butter...It was getting to the point where I was speechless. The next morning, I thought that the fast might be "over." I still would have been super proud. 24 hours without peanut butter for my pb lovin' 5 year old would have been awesome! But no...he requested plain butter on his pancakes AGAIN! I talked with Landry about the reasons why we fast...about how we are telling the Lord that we love him more than earthly things. I told him about how we go to the next level in our relationship with the Lord when we fast, and how it was important to spend extra time in prayer for the things we were fasting for. He seemed to understand all of this completely. At this point, I was filled to the brim with pride...the good kind of pride. The kind that make your heart rejoice!

Day after day went by and the fast got harder and harder. But, Landry's determination was beyond amazing. One day he stood at the pantry doors with the saddest expression, and I asked him what was wrong. He said, "I really, really want peanut butter and crackers but I know I CAN'T!" He settled for an ice cream sandwich...which is yummy too! The fast did come to an end this week. Avery asked for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and Landry started sobbing quietly. I asked if he would like to stop his peanut butter fast and he sadly agreed. I told him how proud our whole family was of him, and how much the Lord LOVED him. I think a 3 week peanut butter fast is absolutely AWESOME!

I am overwhelmed by his faith and his commitment to his Savior. He puts many of us to shame with our excuses of why we don't go further in God than we've been before. He has inspired me to fast more, pray harder, and trust the Lord for greater things. May I enter the presence of the Lord with childlike faith. I know Landry has touched the Lord in a great way these past three weeks. My son is going to do great things for God...not when he is a teenager, not when he is a grown man. But right now, when he is a five year old boy that still falls asleep in church.

Sleepy talk...

WHY? Why am I on here at 10:45 when I should be in the bed!!! I have not been in blog land for 2 weeks. Many reasons why...

First, our sweet little dog, Meggie was killed 2 weeks ago today...we have all been suffering from this. It hurts to talk of it. My boys, especially Avery, have been mourning. Our house has been very quiet and sad. Avery is still having dreams that Meggie is alive, and he says it hurts so much when he wakes up and remembers. Tears have flown freely for days and days. We can't seem to help ourselves. Everything reminds us of her. She was so loved by my boys! On Tuesday, Avery jumped out of the van after school and whistled for her...his shoulders and spirits sagged when he once again...remembered. Please pray for us, sometimes loving hurts!

Second, BUSY...like the rest of you...how do you find time to blog while so busy??? Today has just been one of those CrAzY days. I had 75 apps to type for work...that is a big number for me, especially on a Wed. We had a Homebuilder bake sale at church tonight...all I can say is WOW...so many goodies...THANK YOU to all of you that helped. Especially Sheila - she went all out...she needed to make at least 2 dozen Mountain Dew Cakes. Leslie, as always, goes above and beyond to help me...she also bought Avery the new Toby Mac CD in hopes of putting a smile on his face, and it DID...we jammed all the way home with Mr. Toby. Clark got called out on a job in the middle of church so he is somewhere between here and KY. If he were home, I guarantee, I would be snoozing instead of filling you in on my busy day! Once I cleaned up from the bake sale, I had to run home and finish a few of my 75 apps before the 11 pm deadline...just barely made it.

Everyone is finally tucked in after bedtime snack, and a few more songs from Toby. Hopefully, I will be back soon with some more eventful news and clearer thoughts...I have a couple of MAJOR article deadlines coming up soon...so say a prayer for me for that...whew...k, I'm definetly starting to drift.

G'Night!

Happy 15th Anniversary to Us!

Clark and I are celebrating our 15th Anniversary on February 25! 15 years...amazing! It was a perfect wedding, a perfect day! Clark and I spent 2 years dating long distance, and all I could think about was that I was going to get to see him everday. I was crazy, wonderfully in love with the boy that you see in the pictures and I am madly in love with the man that he has become.

Our Rehersal and dinner...we were starting to get nervous!

Right before we walked down the aisle, my dad said, "You do not have to do this if you don't want to." I looked at him totally astonished and said, "I do want to do this - let's go!" He was NOT wanting me to move to Tennessee.

My wedding party, full of family and friends!

I heart him!

It was all over! Getting ready to leave with all of the envelopes that had $$$$! Our first stop was McDonalds, because we had not been able to eat anything...and we were starving!

Learned very quickly how hard it is to say goodbye...homesickness became a close enemy!

Our reception in Jackson...they MADE me put that dress on again!

Didnt want to, but did..wish I could get into it now!

Our first home...a start of a wonderful life...

so many blessings have been given in the past 15 years...

a husband's love...

3 wonderful sons...

who could ask for more?