A Day At The Spa...

Seeing as how my cousin Shauna and I share the same month for our birthday's, we decided to do something a little different this year and treat ourselves to a day at a Spa. What an amazing day! We chose a package that included European Facial's, followed by a totally amazing pedicure, and then a manicure. Talk about feeling pampered, it is truly a must for all ladies!!!:):) We ended the day over dinner and I was once again reminded, life is so much more meaningful when it is filled with wonderful friends! Thank you, Shauna for suggesting this day. I am already looking forward to next time.:)


I love pedicures, but this one beat them all!


Shauna receiving her first ever manicure!!!:)


Two very relaxed and pampered friends!

A Summer Day Picnic

Growing up I loved picnics, and I still do. I have many fond memories of packing a lunch with lots of goodies, loading up the car, and heading to a nearby park or even better still, the mountians. When the kids woke up this morning we decided that today would be a perfect day for a picnic. With it being so hot, staying here in town was not an option so, we decided to make the short 30 minute drive up to Winchester to spend our day. The kids helped me load the picnic basket and everything else that is essential to having a fun-filled day and off we went. It couldn't have been more perfect. The weather was so beautiful and we stayed for several hours playing in the park, taking walks, floating boats, and just being together. We can't wait for the next time, only Daddy will have to go with us!!


We're here...


and Brittan is so happy.


Playing on the playground equipment...











My two hungry munchkins.:)


Enjoing every bite!


My reading material for the afternoon.


Brittan found his "boat"


Getting their boats in the water.


What a sweet view!


So fun to watch together.


Brittan was trying desperately to read the signs...


But actually it was Brooklyn who did the reading for us.


Brooklyn explaining to Brittan something about the water.





Good-bye for today, Winchester Lake

Please Pray With Me For Sheila

My cousin Brett was one lucky guy the day he was able to capture the heart of Sheila. She is a great addition to our extended family and I am lucky to be able to call her my friend as well. Right now she is by the side of her Mother in LA, who Doctor's say doesn't have long to live. I don't have all the details, nor do I need them in order to ask all of you to pray for her right now during this difficult time. I know that like anyone else, she desires to have her Mom alive to watch her little girls grow up, to share with her all the milestones in their lives, and to just have her very best friend to share in her life. It looks like God has other plans for her Mother and so I am asking that all of you pray for Sheila as she goes through this very difficult time. She is facing some dark, lonely days ahead and I want her to feel the love of Christ surrounding her and carrying her through this time. Thank you!

Happy Birthday To My Dear Friend Shauna

Today I want to shout out with this blog post a very "Happy Birthday" to my dear friend, Shauna

Although we have known each other our entire lives, it has been in the last 6-7 years that we have become such close, dear friends. Being related, we often ran in the same circles, but having a little age gap in between us, in the early years of our lives we were both in different stages. I always looked up to her, thinking that she was so beautiful, someone who I wanted to imitate and be like. And it didn't hurt that she had one very cute, boy named, Brook, hanging out with her either, thus how I got to know Brook way back then. (Thank you, Shauna!! He still counts you as one of his nearest and dearest) And we grew up...

In the past several years I have grown to love Shauna more deeply. It is in those years that I have discovered her true beauty. Her mother raised her well and she should be so proud! She is incredibly kind. Always thoughtful. Very talented (although you would never know it, she hides it!!). An amazing wife and homemaker. A wonderful cook. She loves to laugh, to have fun, to shop, to do anything outdoors that involves her family and friends, she is a dare-devil, and truly the greatest role model of mothering(besides my own mother)that I know. I love watching her with her children. Each one of them is totally and uniquely their own. She has 4, and yet, she has the most amazing ability to be, totally and completely, connected with them. She knows how to discipline them, how to love them, how to make them know individually how truly special that they are, and all the while keeping them all connected, but individualized. She has TIME for her children. She puts them first and foremost before any of her own personal wants and it shows. So many mother's are trying their best to be the "Text Book" mom, but not Shauna. She is who she is, not trying to be this amazing, award winning, attention getting, person who is doing it all for show. No, she is just being who she truly is, the one God created her to be, and she is blessing so many lives by her quiet, kind ways. The perfect role model.

She is known for her kind ways. There is never an unkind word that comes out of her mouth about anyone. She hates conflict, will almost run from it, but has the ability to keep on loving those around her that have hurt her or have unsuccessfully tried to draw her into some form of it. She is steady. Because you change, she doesn't have to. She is comfortable in her own skin, knows who she is, and I love her for it. There is nothing that you can put a finger on in her life that does not exemplify the love that she has for Christ and the way that He is working in her life.

Shauna, I love you! Thank you for the friendship that we share. I trust that this is a very special day for you. All the memories we share are forever in my heart and I look forward in anticipation to all the many more to come. You are a blessing to me, a friend that I daily thank God for. He blessed my life tremendously by placing you in it and for that I will truly be forever grateful! Happy Birthday my dear friend. Looking forward to "our day" in a few!! Much Love, Valerie

A Few Random Pictures From Our Week At Camp

Everyone knows that you have fun at Church Camp and this year was no exception. Both, my kids and I, were sad to see it come to an end, but in truth they would have probably asked us to leave anyway, we were out of clean clothes. Never have I ever had so much laundry to return home to do!! I lost count at 22 loads. UGH! That is definitely not one of the highlights.

We got to be at Camp for the entire week and it was truly wonderful. Everyone should experience Church Camp, but it is a must to have your own trailor! We have had ours for about 4 years now and it is truly the way to go. It makes the entire adventure much more bearable!:)

The kids enjoyed playing with their friends, I loved being with mine, and making some new ones along the way, but more importantly I came home spiritually renewed and refreshed. I purposed in my heart that it is something that I want my children to look forward to each summer just as I did as a child and now as an adult. It is good to have a week that you set aside to focus, not only on fellowship, but also a time where you take a look at you inner self and see if it coinsides with what Christ has for you. My desire it to please Him in all I do and say and worshipping with a group of fellow believers for several days is such an encouragement to me. I love Camp! Enjoy the few pictures that I took along the way...


A couple of nights before we went to Camp, we had the Mullin's family over to swim.:)



My sand lovers!:)


Happy Birthday to Brent who had his 34th b-day while we were at Camp.


The kids playing in the sand.


The girls buried Brittan's legs in the sand and then ran for some more water. They told him to stay there, he lasted a remarkable long time before I told him he could go play if he wanted...


He was happy to finally be free!:):)But he was so patient!



Ellie Keep & Brittan having a snack and a visit.


Shauna, Me, My Mom, Shirley, Chera, Mindy, & Monica - we snuck away from camp one morning and went to pay a visit to Shirley and what a fun time we had!:)


My kids playing with Chera & Mindy.


We had all the kids match for the 4th.


Our Little Family on July 4th

Seward Reunion

My parents instilled into their children the importance of family. To this day, there is nothing more important to me than my own immediate family. They are my best friends, my greatest supporters, my strength in times of weakness, my advisors, my heros, my spiritual mentors, the ones that I would rather be with than anyone else in the world. And I know that the saying goes, "you can choose your friends, but you can't choose your family," well, in my case I feel pretty fortunate! I couldn't have choosen any better than what God gave me. I love my parents and each one of my brothers and sisters dearly!

A couple of weeks ago we attended a family reunion on my Mom's side of the family at the home of her cousin, Shirley. I was so excited that we were able to be there because family is so important to me and I want my children to grow up knowing their heritage. We had a wonderful time with all that were able to attend and Shirley was an amazing hostess. Thank you, Shirley for putting this together and I am so happy that we went ahead and had it even though there were several that were unable to attend. It was a fun group that you had there and I look forward to doing it again. Here are some pictures from our afternoon together...



Mindy & Me


Ray Dean & My Dad


Some of the kids playing in the beautiful fountian.


Brandon, Shauna, Brook, & Jaron working on the Family Tree.


The Family Tree


Several of the men chatting...


And from another angle.


Sally, Janelle, Chera, My Mom, Ruth


Brooklyn & Kendra met some "new" cousins, too.


Kimberly, can't remember her daughter's name (sorry), Mindy, & Me


Brooklyn & Rochenda enjoying some lemonade.


Grandpa & Uncle Dean


Zachary, Rachelle, Shauna, & Me posing by the Family Tree.


Some of the second cousins getting reaquainted


Beth, Rachelle, & Zach enjoying the shade.


Shirley had everyone sing Happy Birthday to Brooklyn & had her a little "cake" made out of a banana. Very Cute!


First Cousins!


First Cousins along with their spouses.


Second Cousins!


Second Cousins along with their spouses.(the ones that were able to be there)


Third Cousins!