New Friends and a Room with a View!!!

For Mother's day this year, Chris gave me this beautiful outdoor furniture! I love it!! It is nice to eat outside and I feel like I have a another room with a beautiful view! Thanks Chris!

Did you know that Chris has been in scouts for 8 out of the last 10 years??? Well in our ward we have the blessing of having two new Young Men that recently moved here from Haiti, Rosner and Stevenson Storm. They now know a lot of English, but at first Chris was able to use his french and translate for them. We take them home most of the time from church and we enjoy their friendship. On this Sunday we had them join our family for a little barbecue!
My view while we eat!! It has been a beautiful spring and Summer - love it!!!
Did you know that I think Michigan is gorgeous????

Girls on the Run!!!

Last year Tiana was interested in the Girl on The Run program, but I jumped on board a little too late and we couldn't do it - I promised her that she could participate this year! The more I learned about the program - the more I was impressed. I heard that they needed coaches, but I really felt like my plate was already pretty full. The night that I finished coaching the reading program at the school, a parent came up and asked if I would coach GOTR. I laughed and told her I would think about it. If you know me, you know that my exercise consist of lifting M & M's into my mouth one at a time!!! I presented the idea to Chris, and he said, "I think you should do it, I think you would enjoy it." I think I presented it to him so he would say, "Ah, Honey, you are already busy enough!" I thought about it for a few days and decided that it would be a lot of fun and a great experience for Tiana and I to share together! I called the mom that talked with me and she said that the position was filled. I couldn't believe that I was actually a little disappointed. Well about 4 days before the practice they called me, and they had one coach that couldn't do it anymore and asked if I would be willing to take over, and oh, and can you attend training all day tomorrow. I decided that I could do that!!

At training I learned what a great program it really is!!! It teaches girls about self esteem, being kind, nutrition, being a friend, to be happy being you and of course, we ran everyday. The goal at the end is to run the GOTR 5K!! I loved teaching it!! The lessons and activities were great and the girls were darling!!!! It was so fun to be with Tiana and have this experience together. I had a great co-coach and I made a good friend! During the last couple of weeks was when my mom was sick and I visited her and then attended her funeral. I felt sad to abandon my girls, but great ladies stepped in and took over. Tiana and I really wanted to run the 5K. We came home from the funeral the night before the run!! We were tired and still sad, but we wanted to do it. My mom was so proud of me for doing this. She would tell everyone that I was running a 5K and to her it was like the Boston Marathon! Again, I felt my mother's presence with me!! I could here her say, "Oh Valerie, you have so much fun!" as the girls were cheering and doing their cheers. I knew that she was with me as Tiana and I ran across the finish line holding hands!! It is hard to have her gone, but so wonderful that she has such a strong spirit that I can feel it at the moments I seek it!

I am hoping to be able to coach again this year! We were able to take a bus over to the run!

This is Tiana and her friend Eden!!They are dear friends. Eden is a runner and Tiana wanted to be by her for the race. I told her that we would try, but that we probably couldn't keep up since we had been out of running for a few weeks. Eden had stomach cramps during the run, so she had to walk a lot. I was sad she was hurting, but happy that we could stay together.

Hannah and the assistant coach Morgan

The 5 K was held at Waldo Stadium! The field was filled with excited girls!!!

There were 3 teams at our school!! This is our cute team!

What would girls run be without a little bling!!

Abby and Tiana with coach Teresa!



The girls had a great time making up a cheer for the Molly Barker the founder of GOTR! It was very cute and the were so excited to have a chance to preform it!

The girls all having fun!!

We did it!!! I was a little tearful as my little cutie held my hand running into the stadium and crossing the finishing line!!! A moment I will hold close to my heart forever!!!!

Tiana's Choir Concert

Tiana has loved being in choir!! She stays after school one day a week for an hour and I am amazed at how much they accomplish in that hour! She loves being with her friends. She has a beautiful voice and learns the songs quickly. Well, this post is a little out of order. Her concert was on the same day that my mother passed away. For years my mother wished that she felt well enough to go to the girls performances, I felt her there listening! It was a sad time and my heart was broken, but I LOVED seeing my beautiful girl sing!!!

Love this girl!! All of the students wore these vest and they looked so nice!

This is Mrs. Husk, she is the music teacher at the intermediate school!! We Love her!! She is so amazing! I love the songs that she picks. Every year there has been a spiritual song and it makes it extra special! She loves the children, but has great control over the group. Sadly, Mrs Husk is retiring - we will really miss her!