Cracks...in our foundation!

Ever since I left the kids' father...My children hear from old friends who ask,

"Is your MOM happy?"

Funny how these "old friends" don't seem to know the answer,

and have to ask my children.

On the surface, my life is HAPPY!

But their are cracks that threaten our very foundation.

Leaving was not an EASY decison...and one I did not take lightly.

This was a decision I made after prayer, study and lots of meditation.

I had NO IDEA that so many people would invest so much EMOTION and JUDGEMENT on a decision that would affect them so little.

So when you ask my children if their mom is happy,

you put a crack in our very foundation.

My children are SMART and they know what you are asking!

I was GIVEN a promise when I left.

It was about my children.

BUT it required me to do my part...which I'm trying SO hard to do.

And I believe that if I do my part,

God will do his part.

I also believe HIS love can fill those cracks...

and rebuild the foundation.

And in so doing,

our family can have ALL the happiness that God has promised all his righteous people.

And hopefully,

no more questions about my happiness...and only your own.

Rachel's 5th Grade BLESSING...

Remember the movie

"MEAN GIRLS"

with Lindsay Lohan and gang?

We had our very own "Mean Girl" movie last year when a group of

very "mean" girls decided to start

a "mean" club against Rachel.

Those same girls were going to be in Rachel's 5th grade class.

I have to admit, I was nervous for her!

So on the first day of school,

I paced the floor,

looked at the clock on the wall a million times,

and then dropped to my knees 5 minutes before school was out.

I was praying that I would know what to say,

if things had not turned out her way!

So imagine my surprise when she came running up to me after school to say,

"Mom I'm not in that class...they had to switch me today!"

Small mistake made...small mistake fixed.

She didn't have to be in the "MEAN GIRLS" class after all.

Made me get back down on my knees...and thank GOD for yet another blessing.

And when I saw her at school today,

I couldn't have been more grateful to see my daughter so HAPPY.

ALL Summer Long...

We had the AWESOME opportunity of vacationing in Montana and Utah

this summer!

I had SOOOO many pictures that I decided to create a

SCRAPBOOK.

Thought I would share some of those pictures.

Lost shoe

I lost this SHOE yesterday at the LAKE.

It is my very favorite shoe in the whole world. I've owned this shoe for 6 years.

I'm learning that sometimes we need an

"OUT with the old, and an IN with the new!"

Not always...just if there is a need for CHANGE!

Change happened for me several years ago!

Turned out it was the BEST change that could have ever happened to me!

So I'm thinking it was okay I lost my favorite shoe.

Makes me wonder what amazing SHOE I will find instead!

Welcoming Little Ellie!

On Saturday, August 15

Beautiful Little Ellie Rose Chesley was born.

She was born 25 days early.

Weighing in at 7 lb. 20 inches!

But on August 1, 2009, we got to celebrate with

SUMMER, DEANNA, GRACIE and SYDNEY.

I absolutely LOVE this family of GIRLS and love that they all wanted to participate!

Shannon, Lisa and myself - the shower planners with our GREAT friend and mommy to be...Deanna!

Putting the finishing touches together!

Cathy's RUM Cake...delicious!

Congratulations to my beautiful, talented, spiritual and amazing friend...Deanna!

Doing the RIGHT thing!

Rachel found a $100 bill in the COSTCO parking lot.

She turned it in.

(Thanks to Ron for helping her do the RIGHT thing!)

On July 15, she got a call.

It was COSTCO.

No one had claimed the money...and it was hers!

After some thought,

she decided to use the money to redecorate her room!

I took her shopping to MY

favorite store...HOME GOODS!

She found the comforter she wanted right away!

But it was too much money...

so we decided to go look in the CLEARANCE section.

They had THE EXACT same comforter, (two of them)

for $45 cheaper!

Wow...what a deal!

And what a blessing for DOING THE RIGHT THING!

So we took down all the old stuff...

and the GIRLS had an idea!

And I couldn't stop their entrepreneurial spirit!

They wanted to do a

GIRLS ONLY YARD SALE!

So I did a quick email...to the ladies of QUEEN CREEK FRIENDS

and the girls went outside to sell their stuff!

However, it was 110 degrees outside...

so they made do with a splash PARTY and invited friends to join along!

I'm sure these TWO really do LOVE each other!

SOLD everything (but a yellow pillow)

Way to go girls!

Katie's TURN!

When Katie heard I had visited JACOB for lunch,

she informed me it was,

HER TURN!

Lunch with her scheduled...lunch with her complete!

My older kids are now scheduling lunch dates with me as well! I have a feeling I will be at the school A LOT this year! :)

"That was LONG!"

Upon arrival at the end of the school day,

I asked Jacob about his first day.

My voice was filled with excitement and enthusiasm

until he announced,

"That was LONG!"

The excitement and lack of fear from earlier in the day was

GONE!

He was tired, cranky and worn out!

Later that night when it was time for bed

I told him he would need to get lots of rest for school...

he started crying and informed me he would not be going back to school!

Then after a few hugs and kisses,

he said he would go to school,

BUT....just "HALF of it!"

This morning he was still telling me the same thing!

"No school!"

So I promised I would meet him for lunch and would bring a treat!

Jacob told me after I took this picture, "No more pictures!"

He told me school was much better now that I had shown up!

He also wants me to do it EVERYDAY!

Disclaimer: A 5-year old took the picture of Jacob and I. Pretty darn good I thought!

New School Year...Surprising Feelings

Today was the FIRST day of school 2009-2010

Christopher started 7th grade, Rachel 5th, Katie 3rd and Jacob Kindergarten.

I have looked forward to this day since Christopher started kindergarten 8 years ago.

I was so excited when they announced it would be all day kindergarten I literally

started JUMPING up and down.

But I have had some surprising feelings in the last two days.

I will MISS my kids a lot.

We had such a GREAT summer and they are GROWING up so fast.

I worried dropping Jacob off in class today whether the

BIG world out there

would take the innocence away of his YOUTH.

Would they take care of him...would he know where to find his lunch...would they know how to make him feel better when he was feeling sad...would they know when to send him to the bathroom?

I started to CRY.

He wanted me to leave...he was playing LEGOS and assured me he was fine.

Sometimes we wish for things to happen and then when they do...

we wish we hadn't wished so hard!

I assured the teacher I could be back at 10:30 for lunch if he needed help!

She promised she would call me if he needed me.

We moms are funny creatures ourself...aren't we?

All because of the LOVE we have for our children.

Christopher is DONE taking "First day of school pictures!"

Rachel my cute 5th grader!

Katie my cute 3rd grader!

Jacob my cute Kindergartner!

Rachel was so excited to walk Jacob to class!

Jacob was so EXCITED...no fear at all!

Katie's best friend and neighbor - Bailey

Rachel is a little nervous this year...she has some girls that were mean to her last year in her class! We are praying for a better outcome this year!

Ron had the opportunity to give all the children "Father's Blessings" before school started!

Jacob was so excited to have his "first" before the school year blessing that he RAN to get the chair and then folded his arms and closed his eyes so he could be first.

Ron gave all of them a HUG and KISS afterwards and Jacob gave him the BIGGEST hug of all.

I absolutely LOVE these children I was blessed with to RAISE.

Good luck to each one of you this year!

By the way, I'm REALLY proud of ALL of you!

LUCKY us!

The kids and I were

LUCKY ENOUGH

to spend our last week of summer vacation at the Beach.

Thanks to my good friend Jamie who invited us to stay at her parents home in

Riverside, CA.

That gave us the opportunity to go to the BEACH

for the entire day...and the best part?

Britni, Hailee and Leo got to join us!

Jamie also invited our great friends the Christensens' to come too!

So what do you get with

11 kids, 3 moms, 1 step daughter and 2 grandbabies?

A 3 day trip of fun, craziness, laughter, seashells, boogie boarding and so much more!

This hammock became the ultimate JUNGLE gym. The kids spent hours on this thing!

Jacob and Nathan NEVER spent time apart.

We started our day at the BEACH having lunch at Ruby's Diner on the Pier.

These two boys make my heart melt. One of my favorite pictures!

Hailee is the sweetest, funniest and friendliest little grandbaby.

She even gave her Grandma Jana a wet kiss...such a cutie!

Leo didn't LOVE his trip to the beach...but he does LOVE his mommy!

Saying GOODBYE...to these cute grandbabies is hard. They grow up so fast!

The kids had so much fun digging holes looking for seashells...and their favorite CRABS!

Our oldest 4 kids spent HOURS boogie boarding.

Christopher's sunburn on his back proves it! OUCH!!

11 kids and 3 moms, 5 crabs and one boogie board

I think we have started a NEW tradition!?! What do you think Jamie! :)