August...

I don't know about you, but to me it felt like August slipped right in and immediately filled itself with so many activities and going-ons for our family and then sped right out like lightening and I'm still wondering if maybe I missed something because it all came and went so fast! No regrets, though, except that maybe it would've been a little slower...What I have now are such fond memories of such an eventful month and many blessings that have left my heart full. Some of the highlights of August include:

• The Big Split of our former Camden Ward
• Erika and Jack's visit to South Carolina with Leighton
• Changes in our Home (thanks to my wonderful husband)
• My Sister's Birthday Celebration
• Girls' Night Out for Karen's Birthday
• My New Job Offer/Transfer at the New KershawHealth Elgin Campus
• My Best Friend in California Became a Grandmother

and some great time with family and friends.

For a while we've been anticipating that our ward at church would split so the news was not a surprise but have to admit that it was still a little tough. I was excited about the change because change generally means growth and change is good but my goodness, I didn't expect to miss so many of our "church family" so much. However, we have many new people from the Ridgeway Ward and we do see our other Camden Ward friends between meetings so it's nice. The brand new Elgin Ward is going to be great -- it already is. And, I have a new calling as primary pianist for the children's Primary so I'll be gaining new piano skills that have gotten very rusty. It's an exciting time!

During the month of August Joey made many home improvements to our home -- my favorite being our hall bathroom and our freshly painted white kitchen cabinets, which I've wanted for many years! :) It brightened up the kitchen so much and I am so grateful for all Joseph's hard work and his dedication -- he is amazing and I love him so much! The hall bathroom (guest bathroom) also got an amazing face lift with new flooring, a new toilet (thanks to Mom -- we said she must've had to hold the handle to flush one time too many and purchased a new one for us -- thanks, Mom, I love you!!!), new paint, and a wallpaper border. It looks so different! It transformed from blue, green, and yellow flowers with a white floor to a black tile-look floor with red and beige accents in the border -- very different! It looks so much better and Joey and I had a great time doing this project in one evening. (He's a great work partner!)

My friend, Karen, and my sister, Tiawanna, both have August birthdays and we had a girls' night to celebrate each one. For Karen's birthday we celebrated at Olive Garden for a full three-and-a-half hours! We laughed sooooooo much! Our waiter was a hoot and we had such a great time. For Tiawanna's birthday, Karen was out of town and we missed her. Darla, Jody, Tiawanna, Addison, and I went to the Tokyo Express and to the movies to celebrate and I really thought we were going to get kicked out of the theater for the giggles. It was hilarious! Then we took a drive through SandHills and Darla had us all in stitches! Let's see -- was it the dancing in the street, the glamorous glasses, or the buggy ride I took her on in the Penney's parking lot...Geez, I think it was all of them that still has my tummy sore from so much laughing. THAT we need to do again -- talking about laugher therapy! Darla's the one to call for just that! Ha!

Another neat thing that happened to me in August was that I interviewed for a position within the hospital which will be at the new Elgin campus (KershawHealth Elgin Urgent Care) and was offered the position. I am really excited about it and think it will be pretty neat to be there at the beginning of a brand new facility and it will be fun learning new things. I love people and serving and feel this will be a growing opportunity for me. I absolutely LOVE my job now in the Women's Center and I so much love the people I work with. However, I get pulled so much all over the hospital and at times to areas I am not comfortable with and feel it is time for a change. I am looking forward to this new adventure.

During the month of August my dear friend, Anne, in California who was my best friend in the whole world when we were in Hawaii became a grandmother to a beautiful baby girl, Ellie Mae. She is a baby doll and is the answer to so many prayers. I am so happy for their entire family and this tremendous blessing to all of them. I look forward to meeting Miss Ellie someday! Anne's other daughter, Addie, who lives close to Erika in Idaho is also expecting a baby girl in November -- what a great year for Anne! "Grandmotherhood" sure agrees with you, Anne! :)

We had so many good things happen during the month of August and I've saved the best thing until last to write about and that was Jack, Erika, and Leighton's visit to South Carolina and spending with us. This was Leighton's first time meeting the rest of the family besides Addison and me and it was HEAVENLY! Addi and I picked them up from the Greensboro, NC airport Wednesday the 26th and we stopped first at Mama and Daddy's and were they so happy! We had such a good time with them here. Leighton slept right next to me every night and the joy I felt each time I woke up and saw her there. She is such an angel and I love her so much. Erika and Jack were so funny and had a list of places they wanted to eat while here which included Chic-Fil-A, San Jose', Rush's, Lugoff House of Pizza, and Leo's Chicken Wings. They also had planned an overnight trip to Hilton Head to celebrate their anniversary. Joey and I got to have Leighton all to ourselves Thursday and Friday while they were away and enjoyed every second of it! Leighton's Blessing was Sunday, 8/30/09 at church and it was a wonderful day. Another major highlight is that Jack's parents (Bob and Joanne) and his brother, Thomas, also came from Idaho for a long weekend so they could be here for Leighton's blessing day. We loved having them here and it was such a wonderul weekend. We had a cookout at the lake on Saturday night when they all arrived to celebrate Leighton and the Maxfield's being here. What a great time we had! I think I'll have to devote an entire blog post to Leighton's visit and meeting everyone in South Carolina. It is an event that I cherish and hold close all the memories made that week. When they left this past Wednesday I felt like a huge part of my heart left with them on the plane -- I know it did because that baby girl is so precious to me.

Well, that just about covers the month of August for happenings in our family. It was a fun month with lots of wonderful memories left behind. I can hardly believe that September is here and oh my goodness, Christmas and the end of the year is just around the corner. 2009 has been an extremely fast year already -- I can hardly believe it.

Time -- enjoy it -- it passes very quickly...

Cabinet Project -- Joseph is amazing!

We have been wanting to make some changes and updates in the kitchen for quite some time so this past week Joseph took on a project and painted our kitchen cabinets. It made quite a difference brightening up the kitchen so much! I was so excited to come home and this is what he was doing! He is so amazing and when he gets an idea into his head and takes off and he gets things done! Thanks, honey, for all you do for our family and for our home -- you are incredible! I love you and look forward to cooking up lots of good things together in our new kitchen!

Chloe...

Whatever did we do before we had Chloe, also known to Joey and me as "K-wozy Bell" (spelled like it sounds) is hard to remember! She is such a wonderful part of our family and we love her so much. She is much more than a family pet -- she is our baby. Chloe usually wears clothes but these photos were taken shortly after her bath. Chloe loves the sound of Joey's truck coming into the driveway, snuggling, going to Grandma's house (she adores Joey's mom!), and outings to Sonic! She LOVES, LOVES, LOVES Sonic -- I think because that's the first place we took her the day we got her because Addison had to go to work there that night and the smell must be very familiar to her. She gets so excited when you pull into the drive-thru and knows her hamburger is about to come through the window! Plus, I think she loves the attention she gets from all Addi's friends working the drive-thru who know her by name -- she feels pretty special! I am so grateful for this sweet baby who loves our family unconditionally, who protects our home with her ferocious bark (maybe thieves will think she's a vicious dog!), who greets us with her adorable smile when we come home at the end of the day, and who just loves...simply but most amazingly loves...

Twixt-n-between...

Just a little while ago after coming home from work I got online to check out Erika's new layout of her blog she'd called me about earlier in the day. The layout is so cute and after admiring it a few minutes and then checking out Leighton's new "photo of the day" blog which I love, too, I went back to Erika's blog post today and the wording really touched me. She referred to her busy time with work and a new baby and not having much time... As I read the words the memories and thoughts ran faster and faster not only through my mind but also through my heart with a twinge that caused tears to well in my eyes. Oh how I remember those days and times and I'm reminded so much the last couple days as well. Scrolling down the posts on Facebook this week are numerous posts about school registration, summer coming to a close soon, school supplies, and the like...It hit me just like the last semester of school last year when my lastborn child was graduating and it was like a ton of bricks pounding my chest everytime I thought of graduation day and of the "happy and oh so proud but yikes, this is it" feeling! It was the most happy/sad time I've experienced and a time that I will treasure. When my kids were younger, believe it or not, I was the mom who cried on the first day of school every single year as other moms were rejoicing the kids' return to school. I wanted them to be home longer... On the last day of school when others were fretting summer plans and daycare I was thrilled to have the kids home for the summer and looked so forward to free movie day at the theater, the Rec Dept pool, family swim at night, late night movies and camping out on the family room floor even on work nights, playing outside until well after dark, and those fun things that make for family memories. Then when it was time for back-to-school shopping I loved this as much as the kids since office supplies and the like are a real hobby of mine, too. This was always such a fun time gathering the things on their lists. Well, I am realizing and accepting reluctantly that this phase is over for me even though I have college to look forward to with Addison in the fall. Much, much different than returning to grade or high school but a new phase that will bring much excitement with it as well I'm sure. It is an unfamiliar chapter of life for me, though, and not one that I thought would be quite so challenging. I'm not referring to getting Addison ready for college but rather what this chapter in life means to me, to Valencia...not Erika's Mom, or Ethan's Mom, or Addison's Mom (which by the way have always been my most favorite and cherished names over the years) but to "Valencia" and this is a challenge. You see, over the years I've been so busy with school years with the kids that I've forgotten what I'd looked forward to after the kids were done with high school. You know, all that "time" that you think you don't have when your kids are small? Remember that stuff called "time for yourself" that we all looked forward to as young mothers with small kids? Well, news flash alert -- It is not quite as exciting as I'd thought it would be...yes, I just said that...it is not what it's all cracked up to be. Life truly is a journey and joy is most happily enjoyed along the way, not once you reach the destination. If you're anything like me, well, I've just not decided where my destination will be or what it may consist of. I've just not decided what I want to be when I grow up yet and not so sure I'm quite ready to be all grown up. Wow, I can't believe I just admitted that on the blog!!! Ha! I must feel like the participants at AA when they stand and introduce themselves! Ha! Just kidding, but seriously, this new phase I'm calling "twixt-n-between" is going to be interesting. Now don't get me wrong, I have so many other things going on that are wonderful like my marriage which is like a fairy tale come true for me and it is so precious to me. Joseph and I have so many adventures and it's a great thing! I have two wonderful stepchildren, Abby and Alex, who are still in school (10th and 8th grades) and I have fun with them and attend their school activities with Joseph. I have a new grandaughter that I am so thrilled about and I'm excited about all that's going on in my children's lives. But now it's time I'm thinking of what "Valencia" may want to be or do and it is quite challenging...It's a good thing even though I am in no hurry whatsoever. For instance, I want to learn to sew, I love to write, I love to serve and want to do something with my time doing more service in something I believe strongly in, and I want to make a difference. Now, when I begin channelling my thoughts and plans I sink sometimes and don't make a whole lot of progress. However, my intentions are incredibly huge! I'm just having a little lapse trying to figure out how to get started and which direction I should take first. Well, where am I going with this blog -- here it is: Enjoy your time, Erika, on what is truly important. I wish I'd done more of that when you, Ethan, and Addi were younger. So what if you play with Leighton all morning and the dishes are a mile high -- guess what -- the dishes will wait while Leighton is changing every single second. The time that you look forward to -- well, things fill it and you wish you hadn't wished some of it away. Before you know it, it's the future. You are doing the greatest work you will ever, ever do right now, and it's wonderful and you are doing such a fantastic job! This "time" that I have right now I am determined to put to good use and do something good with it! There is a whole world needing good help and needing some positive changes and I think I have what it takes to make some of those changes come to pass or at very least, put some ideas to work! :) I've just got to get focused and figure out my directions. In the meantime, though, my oldest great-nephew Spencer is beginning kindergarten this year and in my "off time" I'm going to see if Ginger will give me the privilege of picking Spencer up from school a day or two a week... it will surely bring back some of the most fondest memories of my life!

"Enjoy the little things, for one day you'll look back and realize they were the big things!"

Good night...

Happy and blessed...

Just a couple days ago I'd posted a "status" on Facebook stating what I was doing (I was in Idaho enjoying time with my new grandaughter) and a dear friend commented in a way that truly made me think. It had to do with being so happy and maybe something was going to happen. It was a really neat comment and made me feel really good (thanks, Celina, you're so sweet!) and my thoughts since then have been just this -- I AM SO BLESSED and YES, I am So Happy! July has been a great month just jam packed with all sorts of fun happenings and I truly feel so very blessed.

One thing I'm so thrilled about is that Addison is back at home. She'd gone to spend some time with her younger half-sister, Ivy, at their dad's house after finishing her senior year. After returning from EFY and some time in Idaho she has been back at home and I could not be more at peace with her here. She is so fun and keeps me on my toes. Addison has a heart of gold and was really trying to help out her dad with Ivy while being a good example for both of them. Even though she'd been coming home on the weekends for church and lunch at her Grandmother and Grandaddy's house with the family, I'd missed her immensely and her coming back home was such an answer to so many prayers. Chloe had missed her so much, too, and is excited to have her back home, too, as you can see in the photo! (One is as spoiled as the other! Ha!) Having you at home until you leave for BYU-I this fall makes my heart so full, Addi. That's one of my biggest blessings this month...I love you, Addison...

Secondly, I've gotten to spend some time with Ethan this month that's been really nice. Just last Wednesday he came home from Florence while I was still at work and when I got home from work around 7:45 PM he'd made the most delicious meal for our family. He's become quite the chef! He prepared eggplant parmesian with fettucine noodles, a ceasar salad, and bread. It was amazing. He'd even used fresh garlic cloves and I don't think I've ever even bought fresh garlic I'm ashamed to say -- I just use the powder form! Ha! Our home smelled better than Olive Garden when I walked through the door. It was an incredible night and I felt so special -- actually our whole family did and Joey and Addison loved it as much as me! Thanks, Ethan, that was a great night I'll never forget. He'd brought Amsterdam (his puppy - my grandpuppy) home with him and it touched my heart seeing how that little dog follows Ethan's every step and genuinely loves Ethan to death! He has taken such care of him since receiving him for Christmas. I love you, son...what a special blessing you are to me...

Last Friday morning I left the Columbia Airport at 6 AM en route to Idaho Falls to spend a few days with Jack, Erika, and Leighton. Leighton has been struggling with reflux and has been really colicky. When I'd spoken to Erika a few days prior she sounded so tired since Leighton had not been sleeping much and had such tummy issues. Jack is an incredible dad and husband and was doing so much for both Erika and Leighton and my heart went out to him because he's in school full-time and works full-time at Applebee's. He was finishing his last week of this semester and preparing for finals so I decided to go and visit after Joey encouraged me and told me if I felt I needed to go that he supported me in my decision. (He is so wonderful!!!) It must've been meant to be because I bid on a ticket clear to Idaho Falls which is usually very, very expensive on Priceline and my offer was ACCEPTED! I was ecstatic! Yes, I was off to Idaho on Friday and I had the most amazing time with the kids, especially Leighton. We had a lot of one-on-one time and I am so grateful for that experience. Money cannot buy those moments and I will be forever thankful I was able to go and spend that time with her. She is changing so much everyday! Oh, how I love that little baby girl...Upon arriving home last night I was greeted at the airport by Joey and Alex and what a good feeling to see him! I'd missed him and look so forward to him making that trip with me next time. It was a great feeling waking up next to him this morning and getting to sleep in a little after a very long day of traveling yesterday.

Today was also a wonderful day -- It began with the usual things after returning home from a trip - the unpacking and laundry and sorting the mail and the like...Then Joseph, Alex, Addison, and I took a little trip to Blythewood to visit Mom and Daddy at the car lot. That's always a lot of fun! We showed them the photos of Leighton on my camera from the trip and caught up on all the "going ons" and made some plans for next month when Jack, Erika, Leighton, and Jack's family come to South Carolina for Leighton's blessing on the 30th of August! We're planning a get-to-gether at the lake for the Maxfield's and then a great dinner at Mom's on Sunday after church. It will be a great weekend! From there Joey, Alex, Addison, and I headed to the base for groceries but first stopped for a couple games of bowling and it was so fun! Wow, I bowled terrible today but it was really fun. Then we grocery shopped which made Joey really happy at all the bargains we found at the commissary -- we'll be eating good for a while! :)

Tomorrow I return to work and it will be neat -- I've missed my co-workers and appreciate them doing some switching around to cover me for my trip to Idaho. It has been a wonderful week and I am so thankful for so many things. Nothing in this world can bring more happiness than the love of our families and for this I feel so very, very blessed. So many things can make us smile or even laugh and many things can seem to bring us happiness for the moment but true joy is found in living the commandments and the love of our families. My heart is so full tonight as I ponder the things I've been so richly blessed with the past few years...I am so happy and so very much blessed...Good night...

Time with Leighton...

I have been in Rexburg, Idaho since Friday (at precisely 4:25 PM MST) and it has been absolutely perfect with the exception of wishing Joseph was with me to take in all the wonderful moments of our beautiful grandaughter. As the pilot announced we were 20 minutes from landing in Idaho Falls, Idaho my tummy filled with butterflies like crazy! I was so excited! I exited the plane, not even caring about my luggage (which they thought at first was lost but found after a little while) and I ran out to Erika's car and it was heaven! Leighton looked so beautiful in her little white dress and her big blue eyes just glistening in the bright sunlight. Yes, I'd gone to heaven...

I'd told Erika when I made my plans to come that I was coming to help and that she and Jack should make some plans and take advantage of some date time while they had a 4-day babysitter. They had a great date night last night when Jack got off work. They got all dressed up and headed out for dinner and a movie. Erika was excited to surprise Jack with the new "Five Guys Burgers" (one of Jack's favorite from the east coast last summer) which had just opened right next to the theater in Idaho Falls. They had a fun time and I had such a wonderful time having Leighton all to myself for the entire night. She was an angel...I sang and she cooed and laughed (no, I can't sing, but she acted like I could...made my night!) and I love that baby girl more than words can ever explain. She has my heart wrapped around her tiny fingers and I'm already dreading the time I leave Tuesday morning...She has slept in the room with me and I've gotten up with her during the night. What a special time that is when all is quiet and after she cries a little while I'm making the bottle she quickly calms, drinks her bottle, and then just looks at me so intently with those big blue eyes just like she knows my thoughts...it is incredible! I have not hardly left her side since arriving except for a quick trip to the store yesterday evening to pick up a few things and right back. She has been so sweet. She has reflux and is on a special formula and can be a little colicky and it breaks my heart. She is such an angel and I love her so much...

Tomorrow Erika works part of the day and I'm excited to spend some more one-on-one time with Lei-Lei and watch all the things she's doing. Her expressions are already so impressive -- it's as though she knows exactly what you're saying -- they are priceless! I am hoping tomorrow passes very, very slowly and that I can savor every singe millisecond of the day. I love you, Leighton, and I am so thankful for these few days with you.

Forever,

Your Mic Mic

Letter from our Father...

This past Sunday in church Addison took something out of her purse and began reading it. I glanced over and it caught my eye. It was a copy of a letter she'd received in a class when she attended EFY two weeks ago at BYU-Idaho. I was so touched and thought I'd share it here:

My dear daughter,

I just wanted to remind you today of how beautiful you are because there is a father of lies who will try to deceive you. He will try to tell you that you are not good enough, not attractive enough, not thin enough, not strong enough, not smart enough, not righteous enough, and that you are simply unimportant to Me. He will try to tell you that you have broken one too many promises, that you have fallen one too many times, that you have lived one too many lies, and that you've been going in the wrong direction so long that it is pointlesss to turn back now.

But guess what?

You do not belong to him. He is not your father. I AM.

You see, you are My creation. My workmanship. You have been born of My thought, every part of you placed together by My hands. You have My thumbprint upon you. You are a princess, did you know that? You are MY child, a daughter of the Most High God. I look at you and I see a precious priceless pearl. There is no ocean I would not swim, no mountain I would not climb, no price I woud not pay to have you and to be with you and call you MY own. I already have. I have done all that I could, given all that there is. I desire to be with you every moment of every day. How I long for you to talk to me everyday. My love for you never grows cold. My promises are never broken (contrary to what he might lead you to believe). My character never changes. And you, my child have been made in my image. I love you dearly, unconditionally and completely. I understand every emotion that you have. I count every tear that you cry. I know every hair on your head. Adn do you know what?

I even know your weaknesses and your failures and your fears. I know those hidden parts of you that you wish would go away. Those dark corners of your world that you stuff deep down, praying that no one will ever see. I have seen them and they do not or will not change my love for you. Nothing will. I love your heart and I desire all of it. I just wanted to remind you today of how beautiful you are and how precious you are to ME.

With immeasurable love,

Your Heavenly Father

Hope you liked this letter as much as I did...