Especially for Youth 2007

Angelia went to Especially for Youth last week. It is a WONDERFUL church camp held for various weeks in various parts of the country. She went to the one held at Southern Virginia University in Buena Vista, Virginia. If there is any ONE thing I think every parent should do it's to send their kids to EFY every summer!! For the first few days Angelia didn't like it very much. There was a whole lot of scripture study & a lot of classes. At the time she could have cared less about that, unfortunately. But by the end of the week she had committed to reading her scriptures daily with Brent & his sister, Julie. She came home with a whole new perspective on the church & a whole new love for the gospel. Thank you Heavenly Father. I prayed so hard every day she would feel the Spirit & would be touched by it. The Lord definitely heard my prayers. She said, "Mom, as soon as Josh turns 14 you have to send him to camp. He should go every year!" Leah absolutely loved it! The Spirit was so strong there & had such an impact on the youth. She loved being with so many kids from her own faith. I am so happy she went, so happy for the experience, & so happy for the friendships she made.

Peace Week for Lori !!

Last week was a bizarre week for me. With Angelia at church camp all week & Josh at Peace Camp all day during the week, I was ALONE!! For most moms, "alone time" comes when the kids get on the bus. Well, my kids don't get on a bus since they are home schooled so it felt so weird to be home alone. I am going to admit it was a nice little break. I will even go another step & say a well DESERVED break. Each morning after I would drop Josh off at camp, Gwenda & I would go for a nice walk. She's amazing with that stroller. She goes up those hills like she's not even pushing one. No wonder she's in shape!! And Kaden is a true joy. It doesn't take long at all to fall in love with him. Then, later in the week on my birthday, Diane & Amy, my awesome visiting teachers from church, took me to lunch. We went to Panera Bread. I love it there! It's fast & it's yummy!! And of course, I MIGHT have gone shopping. It's only one of my favorite things to do: SHOP! (not for groceries mind you! Hate that job!)

Another Birthday!

Our family has a lot of birthdays in the summer. We buy as many gifts during the summer as we do at Christmas. Yikes!! But yesterday was my birthday.......my 28th I think. Um....I could be wrong about that, but who's counting. I don't use all these Mary Kay products to then tell my age. (giggle!) I found this old picture that my mom had given me. I can't wait for my kids to see it. They'll get a kick out of it.

Angelia's 17th Birthday!

Today is Angelia's 17th birthday, & she is away at camp. I hope they sing to her!! We packed her a few surprise presents. Now all she needs is a CAKE!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANGELIA!
WE LOVE YOU!!


*This was Angelia's first baby picture

Countdown to the BEACH!!!!!!!!!!!

Angelia









Joshua

I can't stand it! It's exactly 2 months till BEACH time! Our family goes every year, & we all love it. Now.......if I could just get my husband to move there I would be over the edge with happiness! Anyway, the countdown begins. Check out my kiddos when they were little & at the beach!

Today is also the real start of summer as far as activities go. Last week we just vegged out & relaxed. Now the summer fun begins. Josh goes to PEACE camp for a week which is just a day camp in the area, & Leah goes to Especially for Youth which is a church camp in Virginia. Both the kids are excited for the summer plans we have made. Of all the plans we have made though, the beach is our favorite.

Happy Father's Day!

Lonnie, 10 years ago on our wedding day!














My Dad during the service

Brad

Bernie




Since today is Father's Day I wanted to share my thoughts on the fathers in my life. At church today, Phil Sherfey gave a talk on fathers. All of his talks are amazing, & this one was no different. He stressed the importance of fathers & of being mindful of their inspired wisdom in the home. My dear husband has been such a great father, & I don't want to let this day go by without "journaling" my thoughts about him. I want my husband to know how much I respect. love & appreciate him. We were married 10 years this past May, & this past year has been the best year of our marriage. I adore the ground he walks on & cannot imagine my life without him. He truly is inspired in so many things especially with the kids. He is a wonderful father & so much like my very own in many ways. My father passed away from cancer when I was just 14, but I loved him dearly. I still think about him every day. My mom remarried just a few years ago, & her husband, Brad, has now become a father to me & a grandfather to my children. He is a wonderful person who we have a blast with on outings & vacation. He is such a prankster. And of course, I cannot forget the miracle man in our life, my father-in-law Bernie. He just received a new heart a little over a month ago. He is a testimony to me of the will to live if I have ever seen it. He was determined to live & was an example to us all. Lastly, I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father for all of these fathers in my life. They all mean the world to me.

Grammy & Pappy day!

Yesterday the best mom in the world took Josh & I to breakfast. We ALWAYS have fun with Grammy because she is a riot. Laughs are guaranteed. So thanks Mom for breakfast! Josh then went back to Grammy's while I went home & made a ton of chili for my in-laws & for our own dinner. In the afternoon we all went to yard sales. Josh loves going to yard sales & having yard sales. For me, going to them is fun, having them is not. In the evening, we delivered the chili to our in-laws (my father-in-law loves my chili- Thanks Bernie!), & then went home & had dinner with my parents. They brought dessert: STRAWBERRIES & ICE CREAM!! And, they also brought more laughs. They even went outside with Josh before dinner to play baseball with him! What great grandparents! Thanks guys!

Like father, like son

Josh had another baseball game this evening. His team won by one run!! Josh really loves sports just like his dad. Lonnie has been great at every sport I have ever seen him play. We went to high school together, & he was awesome then too! He's just a natural. He masters sports that are even new to him. When I met Lonnie he had just started playing golf. After a few years of playing in a league, he won the Most Improved Player in the whole league. I was so proud of him. One of Lonnie's best qualities though, is his ability to help other players. He can watch someone for just a few minutes & know what they need to do to improve. He has really been able to help his basketball players because of this. (He's a high school basketball coach.) I think it's amazing. Anytime you can help someone with anyone you are gifted. Lonnie says, "If a kid wants to play sports & has talent that's great. But more importantly, he has to have heart. If you can find a kid with both you're really lucky. Those kids will really excel." Oh my, aren't the men in my life wonderful? (giggle)

Strawberry Hill

On Wednesday, Josh & his friend Jacob & I went to Strawberry Hill in Fairfield. His school organized a 3-hour exploratory hike. Even though school is out, they have outings planned all summer that we are able to participate in. It's so nice. Anyway, the hike was so much fun. The boys LOVED it! Josh loved touching the snakes. We learned all about nature, animals, habitats, & the endangered trees not only in our state, but in the country as well. It really made you think about things you normally wouldn't. I would definitely encourage others to go. It would make a nice family or scout outing. And, it definitely was a hike, that's for sure. I'm glad I didn't exercise yesterday. I got quite a workout.

(I would love to post the pictures, but I can't get my computer to take the pics off my camera!! Anyone have any suggestions?)

SCHOOL'S OUT!!

Josh & his cyber school teacher, Wendy, during an ice cream social with the other kids & teachers from the school. He was holding a craft they each had made & were sending to Iraq for the troops. It was a great day. (They had done this earlier in the year.)

Woohoo!! Friday was the last day of school for Josh & I. When I say for "us", it's because I homeschool Josh through a cyber school. By year's end, we are ready to be done just like the kids & teachers in public school. It takes more work than most people realize. I truly love it, & feel so blessed to be able to do it. It is truly one of the biggest joys of my life. I know Heavenly Father is happy with me for doing it. It does require sacrifice, but is SO WORTH it in every way. The relationship that Josh & I have from being together every day is worth more than anything. He is just so HILARIOUS!! He has such a sharp wit & can come up with the craziest things. Many days Angelia & I would "just laugh", which is where I got my blog name. Some days are harder than others, & if you didn't laugh you would be crying. So for this school year, we are DONE!! Woohoo one more time!! Now let's get this summer started....

Angelia's Graduation Slideshow

Much to my surprise I made it through the ENTIRE graduation without crying. I can't believe it!! The graduation was at The Valley Forge Military Academy. Lonnie, Josh, my mom, Brent, Diane, Angelia & myself all went. The weather was beautiful, but VERY HOT!! It was such a great event. Angelia was the only student of the almost 200, that graduated high school in 3 years. And, she finished those 3 years with 18 COLLEGE CREDITS!! I am so proud of her. You know, I see her doing the high school work & the college schoolwork. I see her burning midnight oil I do not have (I'm not a night person). I see her going to a church seminary class every morning at 5:30. I see her going back & forth between college & two jobs. I see her stressed. I see how much it changed her in different ways. But mostly I see.........she is just a really hard worker determined to succeed. Work brings blessings, & I pray that's what Heavenly Father brings her. She definitely worked for them. So I didn't shed a tear at Leah's graduation, but I had a really hard time making this slideshow. I hope you enjoy watching it as much as I did making it.

Angelia's Kindergarten Graduation

Here she was so many years ago. How many of you remember her at this age? Oh my, how time does fly. Where did that little girl go? Notice of course, she was the one with the biggest grin!

Today is too special not to start a blog.

I often look at the blogs of my friends & think it's so neat. I just never take the time to sit & do one. Today, oh today is different. I had to start one on this day. My 16-year-old daughter is graduating from high school today. I just cannot believe it. When she graduated from Seminary on Sunday I realized how hard today was going to be. Many days she drives me up one wall & down the other. She knows it. It's NO secret people. BUT, I love her all the same!

You always wonder how this day will feel. Well, right this minute I am just feeling like my little girl isn't so little anymore. When she started college the day before her 16th birthday you would have thought I would have looked at her as if she was growing up. But I didn't. One day she was in 10th grade & the next she was finishing up her junior & senior years of high school as a freshman in college. How did this happen??? How did she skip two years of high school? Can someone tell me why I said yes to this? What was I thinking? I'll tell you what I was thinking. I always thought Angelia could do anything she set her mind too. She is a smart young woman & so head-strong that I knew she could do it. Now that she has actually done it though...........I just don't know what to say. Tonight, I guess I'll just bring lots of tissues.

I love you Angelia!