White Christmas?

I think our snowman is happy about the snow, he looks peaceful

It is a snowy morning here. I think it is very pretty.

I am a little sad. I am still sick. Too sick to have our BrandNavigation Christmas party tonight. We had to cancel. I can not cook for 15 with the flu. I was looking forward to a festive evening. Maybe it's for the best so the staff doesn't have to drive at night in this weather.....

I am so sad I will never get to wear my adorable dress I bought for this Christmas Season. Oh well. I put on the Christmas Music on the iPod and will try and rest and get well. 

lgc

cuzins

The cousins came for the weekend.

We convinced Juri and Kinley to cook for this Italian family.

I am not sure if Grandpa is trying to tell Juri how to cook or how to vote (*/*) You know Grandpa


Juri let me help him cook, well slice really, it was still an honor to share my kitchen with him. I didn't do so well, his knife was almost as big as I am.


Kinley is an excellent assistant to Juri, she has an elegant way of describing the dishes they prepare. She also makes a delectable tiramisu!

The menu was Grand!

The food was not only mouthwatering to look at it was a delicious dinner. Yummy!

Juri is not yelling at me about my slicing... He is excited about the 25 year old balsamic. It was amazing. I want it for Christmas.

Kirsten is beautiful and glowing as always, I like her.

Our Nephew Anthony is not only a handsome young man, he is really a joy to have around. He is pretty cool, he reminds me of a young man I know close to his age that I miss a lot.


Grandma chats with Kirsten, relieved for once she doesn't have to clean up after an Italian Chef.


These two cousins are so pretty. I think at times they could pass for twins.. Not identical just twins. They enjoyed Juri quite a bit. He reminded them of an Italian Joe (ours).

Politics were discussed.... A lot....

The downs times were spent as they always are in this family. In front of computers, cell phones etc...


We loved having some other Chiaravalle's here. Our time was short but sweet and treasured. I am so thankful for the love of family and the simple magic that relationships bring. Having Juri and Kinley cook was a very special event and I will store it in my heart for a long time. Thanks to all.

God Bless & Good Night. Sorry about so many pics and so few words. I have been sick and am  tired. I love you Kiki but I don't love your flu.
-lgc

Weekend

Let's see if I can actually do a post in 35 minutes... That's how much battery I have left.

We drove over the pass this weekend to pick Laura up from school for her first semester break and to watch the Sisters Outlaws play football at the stadium at Oregon State (Laura's School).

It was a snowy/icy drive but pretty.I just get so nervous driving on ice. Poor Bill...


Once we were over the mountain, I calmed down and enjoyed the beautiful scenery of Oregon. We really do live in such a pretty state.


Sadly the Outlaws lost the State champ. They were ahead at one point but the opposing team just out played them. It was a good game and I really enjoyed watching it in the huge Reeser Stadium. It was fun! Laura is now safely home for a month fighting boredom with helping me on a few projects... Including her laundry, woo hoo!


I spent the rest of the weekend trying to get the home decorated for the Christmas Season. We have three dinner party type events in the next two weeks so I wanted to get the home feeling festive! I went with a white/gold/ silver theme. It my look a little plain in pictures but I think it is pretty and elegant. I now feel like I am ready to entertain house and party guests!





It getting cold here... It's been in the teens at night, brrrrrrrr. How many months of this do we have left? Oh my..... At least we have family coming soon, then times with friends, then family again. I am thankful for these heartwarming events that will make our home cozy and warm.

Have a good week o.k. Mine is BUSY! CRAZY BUSY! (o: and I am not even talking Christmas shopping. I have yet to purchase a single thing there.... hmmmmmmm Good thing we are celebrating in January!


Smile.
Why so serious?

Nice Visit

Yay I get post about my quick trip to go see Michael. I was waiting for some pics from him, I got them today.



My camera charger is lost so he took a few shots with his iPhone for me. I miss having my camera very much. The sad part is first my camera was lost and I had the charger now I found my camera and have searched everywhere for the charger... it seems to be gone for good )o:

Anyway, I had a nice trip down to LA to visit my youngest son. The flight down there is so easy I can actually be at his house by 10:00 a.m! So I woke him up and we were off to Disney. Let me tell you, the time to do Disney is the week after Thanksgiving. There are NO crowds, none, no lines, well.... a half hour for Nemo but considering the 3 hour wait times in the summer...

It was fun I like Disneyland, a lot, and I enjoy Michael so much. It makes me miss him even more. He is such a fine guy. I am amazed at what a great young man he is, he is just outstanding. He makes a mom feel so proud.

It was very Christmasy at the Park and I enjoyed the festivity of the decorations very much!



Bill came and met us for dinner after his meeting with the billionaires..... It didn't go so well.... Billionaires are not the easiest to make happy! Then we all went back to the Park to enjoy the evening.




Exhausted from a very early a.m. and a busy day I enjoyed sleeping in the next a.m. (since Mikey had a class) while Bill headed back to OR to work. Then after Michael's class I met him at the mall and we did a little shopping for him. I was wishing I had several more hours to shop and to be with my son but I had a flight to catch... So hugs and love goodbye back to LAX

As I stood waiting for the Car Rental bus I tried to soak in the warm sunshine and 75+ degree temp knowing I would end up in the 20's with snow on the ground. Blah! So home now. It's home and I love it but the weather is not my friend!

Thank you Michael for sharing a day with your mom. You are a gem and I love you!

Beach Boys

It was great spending time with Michael down in LA this last weekend. Here we are on the pier of the beach near Balboa. As we were walking along we saw these people who caught a tiger shark. It was bigger that this picture shows. Michael took the picture with his cool iPhone and then emailed them to us.

Dad (Bill)

freedom...

Wow, I don't even know where to begin, but then I don't want to write to much... Bill said... "blog for 10 minutes people like reading it".

What a week and a half we have had. I literally feel like the Lord has put this family through... I don't know, something like a Grape Press??? I guess I am trying to say, it has been excruciatingly painful but only good has come from it!

To be in the middle of the complete stress, and I mean complete, of Operation Christmas Child and to have your son call you with the harsh reality that his life is immediately unraveling right before his eyes as he is speaking to you... O.K. beyond stress, I do not know a word to descibe what happens to your heart, soul, being.... I suppose despatate descibes where I have been for the last 4 to 5 days. The funny thing is, I can only praise God. He is so faithful, beyond all we can ask or imagine. I thank Him in this trail that we have been thorugh and are going through. He is right here with us directing the way. I am so thankful!

I guess what I can say is.

I am thakful for my children. For all 6 of you. For your love for one another. Your encouragement to me, your brother, your prayers, your wilignness to do whatever it takes to make things better.. You are wondeful. I love you all so much. My husband. What a dad. To just drop everything to be there for his son. He is a fine man and a finer father. It was eye opening to go through one of the most difficult weeks of my life and not have him here. I appreciate him so much more. I made it, but barely.

I resigned with OCC half way into the week. Don't get me wrong. I finished my commitment for this year. We got just over 5300 shoe boxes! Woo Hoo! I will just not be serving in the ministry at the capacity I have any longer. Of course I will still do as many shoe boxes as I can!!!!

Anyway...for two main reasons. I simply can not stand the Area Director and the way he lords over me Collection Week. This bratty little Lawson girl does not need am incompetent leader telling her how to handle the responsibility she has been given.

Secondly, I want to be available to my family. You mean the world to me. The way OCC ties up my calendar from Oct - Nov is so frustrating to Bill because it is a good time to visit our kids and such. Lord willing we will have Grandkids someday that are not dogs and I want so desparately to be involved in not only your lives but theirs.

So I am free, atleast feeling free! (o: Exhausted from almost no sleep but free and humbled at God's hand on our lives. I wish I could write how this whole chain of events has been so carefully orchastrated. It's just to much to write. I can say that it has been a week of seeing the hand of God move in our life and I am thankful.

LGC

Tired

I came into work this a.m. to do a few quick things. So I am taking a minute to post.

I am really tired (have not been sleeping well at all) and I am really discouraged. If you think of me, could you pray for me, please. I am on the verge of tears going into the Collection Center today. I do know why but I won't go into. Please just pray for me. I am only 2 days in to 9.

Thank You!

-L

Dad's Weekend

I wanted to do a very quick blog, highly driven by pictures!

We had a GREAT time with Laura this weekend at OSU.

My goodness, what a beautiful campus Oregon State is and we were blessed with the most awesome Autumn Weather! We just enjoyed getting to know her life, her campus, her home away from home, so very much. You will find pictures of her room, us on campus, us going to the game, at the game, etc...

(Which was so exciting!!! 2 fights, 4 ejections, several bad calls, Huskies almost taking it over in the last 2 minutes, GREAT Band Shows, DRUNK PEOPLE, REALLY HIGH (ALTHOUGH) GREAT SEATS, etc........ it was a blast! Frezzing, hence fouth the muppet picture of me, BUT A BLAST)

We ended the weekend with a crazy fast trip to IKEA. (The last pic) With Laura's bike and all the IKEA in the car (we decided to bring her bike home because she is just walking evrywhere and we don't want it ending up like Michael and Alyssa'a ahve )o:)
We are trying to get 2 rooms cleaned up for houseguests on Tues & Wed this week. It's insane!

I have Operation Christmas Child this week, so you will not hear from me for days. I really do get sick to my stomach just thinking about how busy I am going to be... I am so unprepared )o:

Please pray for shoe boxes and for GRACE!

Enjoy our weekend o.k. Sorry they are so random and all. I just need to get a decent nights rest before the a.m.

Love You and God Bless.

-Leila















-Leila xoxo

my everyday / night....

Well what do you do on a cold Tuesday night.... Blog your life I guess! So this is my house, right now tonight. I love technology in that way!

My husband, he is in 'fix up the house' mode. Here is what he is doing right now, painting, again.... I admit I am just watching (o: , oh and having a glass of wine and blogging.....


I DID help paint this room, Michael it is yours if you don't recognize it. I know it's not that hard, SINCE THE COLOR LOOKS EXACTLY THE SAME!!!!! Why we get our arms so sore for a shade change is beyond me... but the floor looks nice don't you think? We are Sophey proofing most of the floor upstairs.



I also helped paint your room Wil (floor goes in tomorrow). I know you are all aware of the extreme lack of color change here also... It is fresh paint though, believe it or not!




So where is everything? Everywhere, it's such a mess. Laura's room has somehow become the largest 'Holding Spot'. Sorry honey, now you can see why I keep telling you, "Don't come home this weekend". We have told Laura we will not touch her walls, so we have not. One of the perks to being the baby I suppose....



Boys here you go, this is your bathroom. I think everyday to myself, "Gee I hope Griffey can get in there easily enough to do (you know what)". Who knows the last time that box was cleaned, uck! It's been like this for weeks.




Laura's bathroom is a bit more accessible. You just have to work your way around this cabinet somehow... We just go downstairs.



This is the good news! This is the 'completed project'. I like it, it's cool, swanky, yet warm and fun! Welcome to the entry into the 'Loft / Media' room!




I guess you would call this the Loft part of it. That is my very own desk back there, I like it a lot. I LOVE my red chair. It's even comfy, you just gotta love IKEA.



The part Bill loves... The Media. He LOVES his TV. Honestly I am still scratching my head..... that he actually really did set the surround sound up all by himself. Go figure, after 21 years of marraige, who would've known? I guess with the boys moved out he has decided it's time to take things into his own two hands. Way to go Bill! Good years of training him sons! (o: Sadly though... BILL HATES THIS RED CHAIR. I picked it, cheap and cute I thought. So if anyone loves it, it's yours. He wants to replace it with something call a "Barcelona Chair."



So you've seen what's going on here tonight... This is my everyday too. My lovely Laura. I do talk to her everyday (almost). Michael, imagine that! (o: She is pretty dang cute. Still trying to be like her big bro Wil, even in college, in her halloween costume..... Quite fetching, don't you think.


I will end tonight with this photo, taken at my feet. I call it a "Zonkapooh". Sophey is not handling the time change so well, she is a little confused. She is thinking, "it gets dark and we don't go to bed yet????"
Poor doggy!

Hope your everyday / night is at least a tiny bit as interesting as mine.
(o:
-Leila