Yikes, yippee, whooooweeeee!!!!

Tonight I am filled with so many different emotions -- there is sooooooooo much going on but it's all good. First - Erika is being induced tomorrow morning!!! I think it's finally hit me and I'm so excited and yet so torn about where I want to be and where I should be. I'm still not exactly which day I'm leaving for Idaho but I first have to get through this week -- there is much to do here first. How will I ever be able to concentrate on my work tomorrow????? I totally wish I could be Samantha on "Bewitched" (remember that show - my favorite!) and I could twitch my nose and be with Erika and Jack tomorrow for the arrival of my first grandchild...wow, it still seems like a dream. She is in good hands, though, I know that and she will be fine. Ethan leaves Idaho Wednesday morning so he'll be there and he can tell me all about it Wednesday night when I pick him up from the airport. Addison's Seminary Dinner is Thursday night, our Graduation Party for her is Saturday night, and Seminary Graduation is Sunday evening. By the way, did I mention I work the next 3 days from 7 AM til 7 PM and Addi and I have 2 softball games yet this week?!?! This is most definetely a full week! Lots of exciting things going on and wow, can you believe it -- I am going to be a grandmother -- and like...TOMORROW!!!!!

Happy Mother's Day!

It has been a wonderful Mother's Day weekend at our house. I have been treated like a princess by my wonderful husband and family with all sorts of surprises all weekend long. Today the lessons at church were so special and then we spent time with our families the remainder of the day. It was so fun.

I am so thankful for my mother who gave me life and brought us up in a warm and loving Christian home. I am grateful that she taught us lessons and even that she was strict and expected only the best from us. We always knew we were so loved and that she was always behind us and wanted only the right thing for us. Our mom continues to do so much for our family and we love her so very much. Happy Mother's Day, Mom...you are amazing!

I am also thankful for Joey's mom and the wonderful person she is. Joey is the person he is because of a loving mom and dad who also brought him up in a loving Christian home.

My sister, Tiawanna, and my niece, Ginger, are also very special mothers to me. My sister was like my 2nd mother you could say because she was 9 years old when I was born and she has always watched out for me. I love her so much and wish I could repay her for all she has done for me...I love you, T! Ginger is an amazing mom and I learn so much from her example. She seems more like my younger sister than niece I think because I was 13 when she was born and being the baby in my family she was like a real-life doll to me and I love her so much. She is an incredible young woman and I am so thankful for her. Happy Mother's Day, Tiawanna and Ginger, you are both so special to me.

Lastly, I am so thankful for the mother of my soon-to-be first grandchild. My daughter, Erika, is an exceptional young woman also with so many wonderful qualities. She is beautiful and strong and determined in life. She is such an example to me and I am so thankful to be her mother. Thank you, Erika, for all you mean to me and for the blessing you are and always have been in my life. I love you with all my heart and I am so excited about the baby. I love her so much already. Have a wonderful week and get lots of rest while you can...Happy Mother's Day to the greatest any-day-now-mother-to-be in the universe! I love you!

There are so many other mothers who have influenced my life in so many ways and I am so grateful for each one. Thank you, thank you, thank you. May the Lord bless all the mothers of the world...

Happy 21st Birthday, Ethan!

Ethan Ellis David Chandler
Born Saturday, May 7, 1988 at 8:09 PM

Castle Medical Center

Kailua, Hawaii

8 pounds 9 ounces

Ethan joins a sister, Erika Lindsay (17 months)

You are a wonderful son, Ethan, and I love you with all my heart. You have been such a blessing in my life and I am so grateful for all the happiness you have brought to me as your mother. I hope you have a wonderful birthday in Idaho with Erika and Jack and most of all, I hope this year will be your best and happiest year yet! Always remember who you are and you will go so far in life. I love you forever, son...

Happy Birthday!

Love, Mom

Spring has sprung!

What an absolutely beautiful day it was today! The sun has shone brilliantly and everything looks so green and lush right now -- I love the sights of spring. The temperature is another story but I'm appreciating the beauty and wonderful air-conditioning. It seems the older I get the less I enjoy the hot weather but I do love the pretty sights and sounds of this time of year when everything is beginning to bloom and the birds are singing loudly. It is a great time of year! Joey and I were sitting underneath the back patio one evening last week and he'd been noticing this little bird working hard gathering straw and sticks and taking them ever so carefully when he was still underneath the eave of the patio. Now there's a precious nest built under the corner of the patio that will be neat to watch what happens next...

Yes, spring has sprung. And to those including my family with allergies -- my sympathies to you but hopefully we're seeing the last of the pollen. This time of year is such a busy time and that has been the state of our household -- BUSY! It's a good thing, though. These are a few highlights and thoughts from this past week:

**First, Daddy is feeling better and his foot is much better. He's been suffering with gout in his left foot resulting in lots of pain and elevated blood pressure. I've been really concerned because he's not one to slow down or ever complain but was obviously in much pain. He's doing much better the past few days and I'm so grateful.

**Addison and I are playing softball for the Ridgeway Ward LDS Softball team through the KC Rec. Dept. and looking forward to a fun season. I had so much fun playing last year and thrilled that Addi is playing this year, too. Ginger is also playing and we'll miss Jenny this season but hopefully she'll be back next year after the baby's born! Go Team!!!

Speaking of ball, congrats to Wesley and the LE Varsity Baseball Team who won their Region Championship baseball game on Friday night! :) It was also Senior Night and probably a tough night for his parents, Bubba and Karen. Wesley pitches for the team and is an excellent ball player. He had a big fan club there for the game Friday night! Ginger and Shaun took the boys to watch the game -- Spencer, Andrew, and Carson LOVE Wesley! Way to go, Wes, and best of luck in the playoffs.

**Ethan is going out to visit Erika and Jack on the 6th of May. His 21st birthday is on the 7th and Joey and I gave him a trip to Idaho for his birthday and he'll spend 7 days there. Erika and Jack are really excited, too, and Erika already has plans for Ethan to help Jack put together a shed they've bought. They'll have a great time and who knows -- Ethan just might meet Leighton before I do if Erika goes into labor while he's there!!!

**Speaking of Erika and Jack -- only 3 weeks from today until their due date! I am so excited and hoping she has a smooth delivery. Unless there are complications I'm not going out until the first week of June after graduation...I'm looking so very forward to being a grandmother!

**There's just over a month until Addison's graduation and it's a very exciting time for her. As for me -- I'm having a bit of a hard time since she's my last to graduate...She is such a great daughter and an awesome student. Addi is so compassionate and truly loves her entire family with all her being. I am so proud of her and I know she will make the right decisions about her future and it will be bright one. I love you, Addi!

**Joey is just amazing, too. He is such a wonderful loving husband and is my best friend! I can't imagine life without him. He is so supportive of anything I do and respects my beliefs and believes in all my dreams. (probably more than I do!) He does the neatest surprises and just when I least expect them. Last week we had 4 full days together while we were off work and we went fishing and did all sorts of neat chores together. It seems the more we're together the better and better things get. I am so grateful for him and for second chances... Sometimes we both laugh and Joey will say, "Can you believe it's really me and you again?" and it's almost like all those years didn't pass in between when we were 18 and sweethearts and now. Life is grand!

**As for me, I'm enjoying my work at the hospital but still have this burning desire to do more than I'm doing and to do something that truly makes a difference. I'm excited to begin volunteering for the Guardian ad Litem program through the Governor's Office -- it is an excellent program. I've been working on a couple of other projects and trying to make some decisions regarding which avenue to take...There is much to do and if we want to see changes we have to be willing to step up and speak out. It begins with one voice...

I'm looking forward to a great week this week. We have plans to take the sister missionaries out to San Jose' tomorrow night and then begin my work week on Tuesday. We have ballgames Tuesday and Thursday nights and so by Friday I'll be ready to begin a long weekend! I do love my work schedule -- 3 12-hour days can be really long but I love these 4 day weekends! Have a great week and enjoy this beautiful spring sunshine!

Prom 2009 - LEHS

Addison looked beautiful! She and Wesley had a great time taking photos, then dinner at "California Dreaming" with friends and then on to their Senior Prom.

LEHS 2009

Easter 2009

Easter Sunday was a beautiful day filled with wonderful moments leaving me with great memories of the day. Ethan was able to come home late Saturday night and attend church with us Sunday morning. The Easter Bunny even made it to our house leaving baskets filled with yummy treats and chocolates (and new toothbrushes as he does every Easter!) and then we were off to church. The service at church was so nice and then we were off to grandparents' homes for lunch. Joey, his children, and I went to his parents' house for lunch while Ethan and Addison went to my parents' since Ethan was only home until early afternoon. He had to be back in Florence at work by 4:00 but it was very nice that we were all able to enjoy a great Easter dinner with loved ones. The latter part of the day was spent at my parents' house where we visited with my parents, my sister and my brother and their families. Daddy had not been feeling well and I believe he had a great time watching all the kids play (the young ones and us old ones! Ha!) We rode bikes, had an egg hunt, cruised on the golf cart and then Joey and I enjoyed an evening cruise on Daddy's scooters. That was so fun! The late afternoon cool breeze felt so welcome as we were riding. What a wonderful day. I love the Easter season and recounting the reason for this special day. I am so thankful for Jesus Christ and for the price He has paid for my sins and yours. I am so very grateful for the atonement and the part it plays in my life. My heart aches when I think of the pain He endured and it was for me and each one of us... I love my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. It is my prayer that I may live the life He would have me live and make the choices that will someday lead me back to my heavenly home to live with Him again. I hope everyone had a beaufiful Easter.

I can't believe it's already April!

Wow, I can hardly believe it's April already -- and the 4th day of it -- time sure flies. At our house we're trying to dodge the pollen sneezes and itchy eyes but I guess that's all a part of our wonderful South Carolina weather. Spring is definetely in the air -- and the proof is covering my yellow, which was once and hopefully will be again, silver car.

We've had a fun past couple of weeks. Joey and I enjoyed the day on Lake Wateree fishing back the end of March and we had a blast. Joey caught one tiny fish when we first got there and I thought, YES! This is going to be great! Well, we fished and fished and fished from one end of the lake to the other and nothing else...not one single fish to bring home but that's okay because we had so much fun and it was sooooo relaxing. We'll get 'em next time!

I also spent one day with Ethan in Florence catching up with him and enjoying some one-on-one time with him. He took me out to lunch at Redbone Alley where he works and made me feel really special introducing me to all his co-workers. Then we did a little shopping and talking which was way overdue...another story for another day...Then he came home the following day to spend a night and brought Amsterdam who has gotten so big! He's so cute and is so attached to Ethan. He does some neat tricks and is so hyper! It was nice having Ethan and the grand-puppy home for the night and I'm hoping Ethan will make some great choices in the near future...Kids, no matter how old they get they still pull at your heartstrings...I'm praying really hard for you, Ethan. I love you, son, always remember that...

Addison and I have had a good time lately, too, just visiting between activities. She stays so busy that it's hard to spend much time at one instance with her but I guess at this age you take what you can get and make the most of it. She made excellent grades this past report period and is still debating between colleges, working, attending seminary, and just enjoying her senior year. She's also been attending Wesley's baseball games (he's doing an awesome job pitching! Yay, Wesley!) and keeping busy all the time!

Last weekend was really awesome! It was Joey and my "dating anniversary" and he has always made a big deal of it which means alot to me. He was so sweet and was determined we were getting away for a mini-vacation to celebrate. I worked last week Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (12-hour shifts) and when I got off work Thursday he'd packed and was ready to go! We spent 2 nights in Charlotte (thanks, Tiawanna, for staying with Addison--you're the best!) and we had a great time. We spent Friday at Concord Mills and enjoyed a wonderful lunch at the best Chinese restaurant ever just off exit #2 in Charlotte. Saturday on the way home we found a flea market close to Carowinds and found some cool bargains including a great pair of golf shoes for Joey that he says just may have improved his game this past Wednesday! Ha! He's a great golfer and enjoys the game -- I don't think it was the shoes that helped him! Ha! We had such a great time just getting away for a couple days. Thanks, Joey, for your enthusiasm and your wonderful sense of adventure -- I love you so much!

Work has been good this week and then yesterday on my day off I went to school with Addison for 2nd Block (English) to see her class present "A Midsummer's Night Dream" and guess who participated in the play along with Addison's class -- CHLOE!!!! She and Addison did such a great job and I enjoyed it so much. Awesome job, Addison, and thanks for the invite!

Today I had a neat morning yard-saling after Joseph left for work and then grocery shopping (kinda depressing at how expensive everything is) and now just catching up on some chores at home. I found some really pretty outfits for the baby who is due in only 43 DAYS!!!!! Yippee!!!! I'm so excited! I'm looking forward to catching up on the General Conference sessions I missed today and going to Mom's tomorrow to watch conference with them and spend some time with our family. The Crawford's from Canada are visiting Mom and Dad and it will be nice to see them tomorrow, too. I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and if you're in beautiful South Carolina I wish you luck dodging the pollen! Ah-choo!