Family pictures are back!!

Go here to view a 'few' of them :)

<3
L

Oh wow....

I just realized it's been over a week since I've updated the blog. That is soooo not like me, we must be pretty busy :)

Last weekend I made some new friends over a bonfire, dinner and cage fights. I'd never been to live cage fighting and I have to say I was suprised that I enjoyed it so much, however, it could have had something to do with the company I was in...good times.

The painting is now complete!! I didn't finish it, I gave up after the girls got their rooms done and hired the rest of it out. The best thing I ever thought of :) The only things left to do are: new blinds hung in the dining room and living room, counter top over the dishwasher, shelves in my closet, Emily's TV hung, a computer desk to be built and finding a place for all of the things that were taken out of the computer room that are currently taking up space in the dining room we NEVER use :) Pictures, for those of you waiting patiently for them (Cindy), below :)

Allyson decided to join the band this year...because she can. We'll see how long this lasts, but she signed up for the Trumpet and she's already been blowing that thing every night since she got it. It's pretty cute to watch her :)

Nothing too exciting going on this week unless you think another trip to FLORIDA is exciting!! Yep, my friend Sheri and I are Miami/South Beach bound on Friday and returning Monday!! Short visit but much needed time away to get our ducks in a row!! Plus, I've heard that Halloween in SB is like nothing we've ever experienced, so I'm pretty pumped!! Being in the sunshine won't hurt either....

Thanks for checking in....

L

Ally's 'new' room...Hi Lybbi.
Emily's 'new' room.
The dining room, currently the 'storage' room.
The new micro and micro cabinet :)
The kitchen walls are bleeding :)
The living room.
The tiny bath room with the new cabinet.
My room :)

In my house...

There is no rest for the weary :) In the last week, most of my house has been painted, all the carpet has been laid, everyone has moved into their own rooms to their new beds and accessories have purchased and put in place. Now, when I look around my house, it looks like a completely different place. Which is what I set out to do when I started, so mission accomplished :)

Last weekend, between home improvements, I went to a concert at the boat, spent some quality time with my fave cuz and watched the girls get dirty while painting their room. Of course I had my camera, so to see pics, go HERE.

Other than home improvements, not a whole lot going on around our house. Thanks for checking in :)

L

Home improvement update...version 2

It's been a busy weekend in the Young house!!

Friday night, dad and I finished up painting Emily's room so it could be ready for Emily to put her hand prints all over her walls :)

Saturday morning, waking up to snow changed our agenda for the day (we were scheduled to get family pictures done...outside). My room (aka the computer room) got new carpet!! Since the carpet was laid in my room, mom and I spent the entire day putting ALL of my new furniture together. It all looks beautiful...the rest of the day was spent cutting in Allyson's new room, painting trim and moving stuff around.

Today, Emily FINALLY got to put her hand prints on the wall...under the supervision of Granny. While they were doing that, dad finished painting Allyson's room and I painted doors and door trim. After letting that dry, Allyson got to put her paint-y hands all over her room. Both girls did a very nice job...the rooms actually look pretty awesome!! They should be proud of their 'handy' work :)

Tomorrow, carpet for the rest of the rooms!! Tomorrow night the girls new beds will be put together.

Have I mentioned how much I hate painting?? I have 4 rooms to go...I'm looking towards the light at the end of the tunnel! I will be SOOOOO glad when this is all done and my house is set to rights. It look awesome when we're done....and I can look at it and say, I had a hand in this.

I'll put pics up when we're all done...Thanks for checking in!!

L

p/s - mom and dad, I know I don't have to tell you....but thank you for all your help. Your slave drivers, but I'd still be painting the first room if you hadn't been. Luv ya.

Home improvement updates...

In the last week, my 'new' bed room has been painted, the living room has been painted, the small bath room has been painted and the 'hallway' in between the bath room and the living room has been painted. Our new bed room furniture has been picked up and currently being stored while waiting for the new carpet. The new window coverings have been delivered. How exciting!!

All of this made possible with the help of mom and dad. Thanks guys, even tho you make up one JY...your here, when he can't be, to help me out.

I love you guys!!

L

Reflections of late....

I never before considered myself to be selfish, ever. I am the most selfless person you'll ever meet, at least in my opinion.

Since losing J, I have become the most selfish person I know. I don't like it. I'm selfish in my grief, but I am not the only one going thru this. Believe it or not, I have to remind myself of this, a lot. I don't like it.

Sometimes, while sitting alone in the house after the girls have gone to bed, I find myself focusing too much on what I don't have or what I've lost and not enough time focusing on being thankful for ALL of the things I do have. I've hurt a lot of people with my selfishness. I don't like it.

I working on changing it.

In the words of a wise man and the best BS'r, be patient grasshopper.

L

Just some random pics....

The closet is painted!!
Second coat on the walls in my bedroom.
Us peeps at O'Hana Steakhouse.
Sheri and I at O'Hana.
Shana and Sheri at O'Hana.

Dear ?????,

Thank you for the flowers that were delivered to my office yesterday, they are beautiful.

L

Just when I thought it was ok....

To start listening to country music again, after a 5 month hiatus, I fall face first into a song titled 'Address in the Stars' and I'm all....are you kidding me with this sh*t? And GD if I didn't just break down and bawl driving down University Ave.

Address in the Stars

I stumbled across your picture today
I could barely breathe
The moment stopped me cold and grabbed me like a thief
I dialed your number but you wouldn't be there
I knew the whole time but it's still not fair
I just wanted to hear your voice
I just needed to hear your voice

What do I do with all I need to say
So much I wanna tell you everyday
Though it breaks my heart
I cry these tears in the dark
I write these letters to you but they get lost in the blue
Cause there's no address in the stars

Now I'm drivin' through the pitch black dark
I'm screaming at the sky
Oh cause it hurts so bad
Everybody tells me, oh all I need is time
Then the mornin rolls in and it hits me again
Light ain't nothin' but a lie

What do I do with all I need to say
So much I wanna tell you everyday
Though it breaks my heart
I cry these tears in the dark
I write these letters to you but they get lost in the blue
Cause there's no address in the stars

Without you here with me
I don't know what to do
I'd give anything just to talk to you
Though it breaks my heart
Oh it breaks my heart
All I can do is write these letters to you
But there's no address in the stars

You can listen to it HERE on YouTube...You have to hear it to feel it......

L

Edit: This song is amazing not only because this happens to me everyday BUT J's mom always refers to him sitting on his own star watching over all of us.

Happy Anniversary Babe....

Today we would have been married for 15 years. Those 14ish years that we were married were the best and worst of my life. But without them, I wouldn't be the person that I am today and I wouldn't have our 2 beautiful daughters that I thank God everyday I have...Since we started dating, when I was 17, I've spent over 1/2 my life with you.

I remember 15 years ago, 2 days prior to our wedding, you had a 48 hour bachelor party. I was so p*ssed about that. Not because you were out having fun, but because you were out having fun without me.

The night before our wedding, I remember it like it was yesterday...Shana and I had just gotten home from having dinner and were sitting around mom's kitchen table talking when the phone rang. Mom answered and immediately her face turned white and she started stuttering. Shana and I are all, what the heck is going on?? Mom hangs up and she says, we have to go to the hospital there has been an accident. That's all we knew. I was scared to death. We got to the hospital and found out that all 3 of the groomsmen were involved in a car accident, 2 were thrown from the vehicle and one was trapped inside, none of them were you....After checking on everyone and after Shana and I 'borrowed' some face masks and chased each other in the hallways, mom, Julie, Shana and I headed home. On the way home (at 3a), we decided we were hungry and stopped off at Perkins where we were all silly as hell, delirious with fatigue.

Saturday morning dawned bright and early with all of us dragging a$$ to the wedding rehearsal (who's bright idea was that??) where we found out we were a groomsmen or two down. We moved the ushers to groomsmen and two of my cousins stood in as ushers. I was p*ssy the whole time from lack of sleep and all the last minute changes and I took it out on you....you hated that. While sitting on a picnic table you took my hands in yours, looked into my eyes and said' "I love you, I want to spend my life with you and I'm sorry this day isn't turning out the way you envisioned it." How could I stay mad after you said that. Those sweet, heartfelt words have stayed in my heart all this time.

I remember standing at the top of the aisle and dad asking me if I really wanted to do this....I looked at him and said, "yes, yes I do." I have never been more sure about anything since then. I walked down the aisle towards the rest of my life...how was I to know I'd only get 14ish years? We didn't make the most of them. I wish we would have.

Last year, we spent our anniversary at our favorite place - O'Hana Steakhouse - with 8 other peeps (mom & dad, my sister & Travis, the Rankin's and the Richardson's) and out for a drink with TA after that. When we got home, we hung out and messed around with the puppies....It was a great day. I still have the email you sent me that day at work, I read it daily. It simply says, "I love you, happy anniversary Bear." You weren't into flowers, that's ok I'm allergic. You were barely into card giving, that's ok too. But you were always free with the love...and that's all I ever wanted.

I'll be thinking of you when I'm at our fave hang out with my buddies. Happy anniversary babe. I miss you.

L