Good works...that's one of those amazing wonders of mankind that just simply amazes me. It's more like dominos than checkers, more like hurricane force winds and waves than a calm stream, and just one of those awesome gestures that leaves your heart so full of gratitude and love. It's the thing that you just can't give away for keeps for it keeps coming back to you. It seemed that the week started out a little yucky and I had a mini-pity-party with my feelings. Well, thanks to my sweetheart (who'd taken a day off from work together with me Monday so we could paint at the rental house only to realize the renters were still there 4 days past their deadline date, etc. - another story for another day) well, he turned the day around and we did what we could and then went to his house, loaded up the four-wheeler on the trailer, and spent the next three and a half hours riding dozens of trails at his hunting club. The weather was gorgeous, just cool enough for a jacket and very sunny, and the woods were gorgeous. We saw so many deer tracks and I think he pointed out every place he'd killed deer the past ten+ years. (It was great seeing the excitement in his eyes and hearing it in his voice as he shared his hunting adventures and his prized bucks over the years he'd gotten with his bow!)
After playing awhile and getting muddy and dirty we got ready Monday evening and headed out to Sandhills for Five Guys Burgers and Fries and to Target to browse - another favorite date-night place. He completely turned around what I'd almost labeled a wasted day earlier in the morning.
A day or two later I had another neat experience at work about service and learned a valuable lesson. I have a dear friend who sends me a "hi, have a good day" type of email every single day and it always makes me smile. It seems I can't surprise this friend first - he always gets me first and he truly is a genuine friend.
Another day or so later I read Christy's blog about the primary song "I'm Trying to be Like Jesus" and by the way, thanks again, Christy. I commented to her that I'd considered myself tagged and vowed to do some act of service daily anonymously. Serving others, especially in the right spirit has always been the best medicine for the down-in-the-dumps syndrome so I probably had a somewhat selfish motive for service because I wanted to feel that warm fuzzy feeling you get when you truly serve. Well, this is where my story really begins and the real purpose of this post tonight. The good works, they kept coming back. I did not expect it and really, in all actuality I'm not real sure how to take it because I'm pretty stubborn and very independent. However, my heart is so full tonight. Last night before going to bed (or actually this morning at 1:35 am) before falling asleep things looked dim - from projects to vehicle brake problems to finances to chores - I felt so overwhelmed. My mom has always taught me to pray about things and turn it over to our Heavenly Father and then let go. (that's the part I have such a tough time with - the "letting go" part because I just want to fix things and make it all better and keep on going) Just before falling asleep I could imagine my mother, even at this late hour, saying, "Things always look better in the morning." (Okay, I'm also thinking it's already morning and not looking better yet. Perhaps it's like it is on Christmas Eve- no matter how late you stay up you still have to fall asleep for Santa to come - even if it is well into Christmas morning!)
This morning I woke up and thought, "Wow!" What a difference a day makes! Addison took me to work after seminary and I had curb-side drop-off service and did not get drenched in the rain before work. (Blessing #1) I was able to accomplish a lot in the early part of the day at work. (Blessing #2) Joey and Addison got together and made a plan for getting the Jeep taken to the shop after school to have the brakes fixed (and yikes! Both rotors had to be replaced and the metal-on-metal sound we've heard the past few days was very real - it was in really bad shape) The Jeep got fixed and in the meantime I had curb-side pickup after work by my sweetheart in his truck (I refer to his truck occasionally as my gray Dodge chariot because it's much like the Dodge truck he drove when we were sweethearts in high school. It brings back fond memories of the good-ole days!) Okay, this was blessings #3 and 4. I'd given my friend Abby a gift I'd made her (a Joy in the Journey ceramic tile plaque) and got to see her again just before leaving work and this was also a blessing - she's so sweet. Well, by this point I'm thinking, okay, who can I do something for or what kind words can I offer someone in need - then the answer came when I got into Joey's truck. He was and is sick with what appears to be looking like the flu. (poor guy) He followed me home after picking up the Jeep from the repair shop and allowed me to be his nurse tonight. He acted like he loved the chicken soup and crackers and even the pudding. This made my heart feel a million times blessed. The other main event of my day that just took the cake, I mean just blew me away was a card I took from the mailbox this evening with something inside from my dearest and bestest friend Anne in California. Anne, you know what you did, and I am still a little in shock about what I found inside the card. You know good and well you shouldn't have and now I can't hardly wait to send you a surprise back in the mail. To have only spent two days with you in the past what, 16 years, we truly have always been soul-mate friends. You probably know me better than I know myself and you are such a special person with so many wonderful qualities. Thank you for being the forever friend you have been to me for the past 20 years and I pray that someday I will have the opportunity to do something amazing for you - I love you, girl, and I miss you so much. Those years in Hawaii will always be my most fondest memories with the best friend of a lifetime. (Geez - and even with all those little kids we had - yours, mine, and whosever wanted to hang with us - good grief - we did all those things with a thousand kids tagging along - can you imagine the stuff we'd get into if we lived closer now that we don't have little ones anymore?!?! Ha!) We were and still are a pretty amazing duo don't you think - even when we had little Billy-Doug tagging along - we were still the coolest!! Ha! Ha! What a hoot!!!! Does Paul still like the marshmellows in cereal = I never get that kind of cereal without thinking of that kid and Paul with the marshmellows and I have a good laugh!!!! Just had to post these photos of a blast from the past! Ethan was just a newborn and look how small the girls were - it doesn't seem like that much time has passed! This is what true friendship is all about - lessons I learned from you, Anne.
Anne, was this Jennifer's birthday, about May or June 1988?(Ethan was just a newborn and check out that new perm I had-
the labor perm we'll call it! Can you believe we were perming hairthat night and I was having contractions?! What fun memories - Ha!)
The McDonald's playground in Kailua - kids loved it!
Addie Marie and Erika Lindsay - "Little Anne and Mini Valencia"They were too cute!!
And just look at us now after all those years -- I think we've still got it!
Well, the day is about gone and yippee, it's the weekend. Addison is spending some time with her Dad, Donna, and Ivy this weekend so it will be quite different around our house. She hasn't been in some time and I know Ivy must be delighted to have her big sister around for a couple days (Addi on the other hand will be worn out! Ivy loves to entertain Addison and she is such a character!) Ethan had a good week at school and may come home tomorrow. When I spoke to Erika earlier she said she and Jack had spent a big part of the day in Idaho Falls looking at vehicles and just having fun. Best of luck to you kids finding a car, I'm truly sorry about the Honda, Erika, I know how proud you were of your car but I'm just grateful you're okay. Joey left just a little while ago to go home and rest and I hope he feels much better in the morning - he has a fever and just feels lousy. As for me, I'm a little excited about planning my day tomorrow - I just want to go do good things...I love the new plaque Addison received in Young Women's that says "Good Works" and what a beautiful reminder to us - it's such a great feeling to serve and yet on this day today, it kept coming back and just really strengthened my testimony about the Saviour's love for me, just plain old me, Valencia, in small town, South Carolina. He loves me through and through and knows me so individually. Today I know that he placed my angels in my path to remind me - and two days ago when you mailed this card, Anne, how did you know my heart was heavy and my burden was overwhelming that day? Yes, I know that Redeemer lives, He lives and He loves me even with all my weaknesses and failures - He loves me. I have a testimony of the power of love in our families and with our friends and fellowmen. I so love the scripture which speaks of "inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." My prayer is that I can demonstrate the lesson of "good works" more valiantly in my life and that I may know of the things my Father wants me to do. I pray also that I may an instrument in His hands and that I can be a better servant delivering joy to others with a spirit as has been given me. I am thankful for my precious family, for my brother and the generosity he exemplifies. I'm thankful for my sister who is also my dear friend and the enormous heart she has and the countless hours she spends on seeing to other people's needs before her own. My parents, wow, what an example they set and what great people they are - they love all and they are so loved. I hope to be more like them everyday. I love and appreciate my sweetheart, Joseph, and his patience and the lessons he teaches me at the most inopportune times sometimes - he has the heart of a giant. What a blessing friends are - those far away who are so dearly missed, I pray they feel of my love for them. I love life and I'm thankful for it and for the opportunities we have to struggle so that we might more fully recognize the blessings in our lives. Without the bitter we'd never appreciate the sweet. (ever tried good cold orange juice with a chocolate bar - ooh, the chocolate is just not right with something else sweet - it just ruins it!) Tomorrow, I want to make a difference - somewhere - sometime - to someone. Good works ... it's so contagious!
party and the game was really fun. You had to carry a penny between your knees then drop it in the jar -- Daddy got it in first try! You go, Daddy! He's so amazing! 
It's also been so fun having Janet (Sis. Oakley's daughter) here visiting this week from Seattle.
having him home even if just for a day and a half and having him at church with Addi and me today. Chloe got so excited when Ethan got home -- she loves him so much! It was cute!
Jody, Perry, and Kyle got a new PT Cruiser convertible that is just beautiful and we were admiring it. And wasn't today such a beautiful day so they had the top down and I had to get a picture of them. They are so sweet. Lunch was terrific as usual and then we sneaked a few zzzzz's (actually a lot of them) and then headed home after visiting with mama and daddy outside for a while. Daddy was showing us his pretty flowers 
Addison poses after her first strike! Then she
We tried to eat at RedBone Alley, Outback, Chili's, Red Lobster, Ruby Tuesdays,
Addison and Jordan stayed in the car while Ethan and I went in Piggly Wiggly to get
Just gotta love these young people!
Perry, Jody, and Kyle on their very special day-We love ya'll!
