Amazing

I have a lot of amazing people in my life and it's about time I told you about one of them.  Her name is Valerie and she is my neighbor/friend or basically my right hand (wo)man.  I've known her since we moved in which is over five years. We both moved in around the same time, but she had been going to church before me and knew more people etc.  I was so impressed when I first met her because without even knowing me she invited me to stay at her house during the time that Emma was in kindergarten. We hadn't moved in, but Emma was going to the school here. It was no use driving 35 minutes back to my parents' where we were living so I just hung around town for two hours until she was done. It was hard trying to entertain a baby and toddler and the park and Wal Mart started to get  really old.  Her invitation was much appreciated.  That was just the beginning of many kind gestures.

 Here we are in December with some of our kids. 

Valerie is such a giving person and she has taught me so much about serving.  She's the one to call when you're in a bind like you're running late again and you need her to get your kid off the bus even if it means she has to take him in her car because she's in the middle of dropping off other kids in a carpool. Yeah, that was Tuesday.  She's the one to call for just about anything actually.  Before you call 911 call Valerie. And if you accidentally put her number on the RSVP of your daughter's birthday party invitation, don't worry because she'll take messages.  Oh, and if you're pregnant and don't want anyone to know it yet, make sure you don't go can peaches with Valerie because you'll almost pass out and have to let out your secret.  And if you're going to try and sell your house make sure Valerie's your neighbor because even though she doesn't want you to move she'll still let you hang out in her yard and sit on her porch swing and spy on the people walking through your house. And last, if you ever need a babysitter call Valerie because even if she's scheduled to have a C-section that morning, she'll do it for you.

There are so many things I love about Valerie, but one is she's honest with you even if it's going to risk hurting your feelings. Because of this you never have to guess what she's thinking. It's wonderful.  And you always feel comfortable around her because even though she thinks or does things differently than you, she never makes you feel like her way is right and your way is wrong. I'm just hitting the tip of the iceberg people! If I could be more like her than I would be pretty amazing.

Our kids are all around the same age except one. I skipped out on that round but I joined for the last round and our babies are a few months apart. Here's a cute picture of the girls from the other day. Isn't little Annie a cutie?

Flower Girls

Hey, Valerie doesn't even read this blog. Today is a good day to tell her about it.