August Revisited

We didn't make too many plans at the beginning of the summer.  Knowing that Grayson would arrive sometime in July, we kept our summer schedule pretty flexible, and anticipated a rather low-key, lazy season.  Well, now that we are into September, I wonder where the time went, and would have to say that August was especially busy.  In chronological order, here in words and pictures is a summary of our recent events:

When Brent was Bishop he promised the YW that he would take them on an High Adventure.  They always felt it was unfair that the boys had "cool" and more extreme summer activities; so, last fall we planned a YW High Adventure.  Even though he is no longer the Bishop, our current Bishop was grateful that he was willing to still take the girls on the promised trip.  We went to Upper Priest Lake in Idaho and backpacked into a remote camp site.  My pack weighed 40 lbs!  The first day we went about 7 miles fully weighted.  On the second day we used day packs, but hiked about 16 miles, up and over Plow Boy Mountain.  On the third day, we were fully weighted again as we hiked out the 7 miles.  It was hard!  The girls were amazing and we had a good time.

We were clean and full energy before we started!

Brent helped one girl carry her pack on the way out. . . probably was carrying close to 80 lbs!

Back to parking lot. . . we survived!

As we were enjoying a "reward" day at the lake on our way home from the High Adventure, I received a call from my brother Jerry that my Mom was in the ICU in Provo.  She had pneumonia and a collapsed bowel.  Since she is a stroke patient, and already very weak, her prognosis was a bit scary.  Therefore, on Monday I got on a plane and headed to Utah to check on her.  Coincidentally, that was the exact day that Jace was arriving in Utah from his summer in Africa!  He had been gone 10 weeks, and oh what an adventure he had!  I could post so many amazing pictures of his time there.  Just go to his Facebook page to check out his album "This is Africa."  Here are just a few:

That crazy kid bungee jumped off a tower over the Nile!! 
Thank goodness he didn't tell me about it until it was over. 

He taught business and accounting classes to micro/non profit business owners in Uganda. 
He loved teaching, and quickly grew to love the people as well.

He got to play in the local community basketball league!  Wow . . . white men can jump!

Love this picture. . . aren't the children adorable?

A family he spent quite a bit of time with.

Jace was in Africa on July 15th and missed being "live" for Grayson's birth.  We were actually on the phone together when Stuart came into the room with Baby G for the first time.  I think I hung up on Jace pretty fast!
 These two pictures are of Jace meeting Grayson for the first time.

I stayed until Thursday, at which time Brittney, Grayson and I flew back to Spokane.  Mom was stabilized and responding to treatment, so we felt OK about keeping our vacation plans.  We were headed to Trinity Lake for a repeat of our fabulous houseboat vacation.

Grayson's first plane ride.  He did awesome.

Trinity Lake was just as wonderful as last year.  If possible, there were even LESS boats on the lake with us.  School had started that week for the locals, so I swear we only saw a handful of boats all week.  Like Camille said, it is a true vacation for the McLaws Family. . . we are forced to ignore our cell phones, computers, etc. (except for Brent's Ipad we shared and a basic verizon phone we bought with pre-paid minutes since we wanted to check on my Mom).  We are captive on this houseboat and when not out on the lake skiing or boarding, we really did truly just relax.  We had "McLaws Movie Matinees" every afternoon (Brent brought a projecter, large white sheet and speakers.  No wimpy TV arrangement for us!) followed by board games or naps.   Of course we ate very well.  Having a full size kitchen is great.  The water truly is waveless. . . in fact we are probably even more snobbish about "Daddy water" than ever before.  We hope to be able to go again next August.  Here are a few snapshots:

Grandpa B and Baby G

I think this was an early morning ski run.  Stu's just waking up.  It's too bad that babies don't know that their
Daddy needs their sleep when they are on a houseboat!

Jace looking pretty smooth out there!

Grandpa B jimmied up a little "lifeboat" for Grayson out of some life vests.  He loved it. 

The Maxfield Family



It's what I do best. . . I'm the flag Mom!

Ahhhhhhhh!

What a group of manly men! 

Stu trying out the skurf board.  I think he was trying to lasso the boat!

Russ looking pretty sharp.  He never stopped. . . that guy would go forever.

"Stu the Fearless."  We decided that a helmet was prudent (to go with his glasses that were tied to his head!)

The kissing couple again. . . aren't they the cutest?

After our week at the lake I hitched a ride back to Utah with the kids and sent Brent home alone to Spokane with the boat and gear.  Since Mom was in the hospital, I wanted to be there.  Luckily she was discharged from ICU and sent to a specialty hospital in Orem.  As she was on a ventilator and feeding tube, her recovery is going to be slow.  Fortunately her body is healing, and as of today she is free of pneumonia and her bowels are unobstructed.  Her struggle will be regaining her strength.  She is extremely deconditioned and very weak.  She is "resetting" her health care and learning to live with less pain meds and working at becoming stronger so she can go home.  We hope that within the next several months she will be much better.   We are all trying to be her cheerleaders and encourage her to fight for a better quality of life.  One silver lining is that I have been able to spend more time with my brothers.  They all are great examples to me of caring and loving sons. 

On Labor Day weekend Brent joined us in Utah and we prepared for Grayson's blessing day.  It was a wonderful day all around.  When I think back to how long we have all waited for this miracle, it is truly overwhelming.  We are so grateful for him and it is amazing to not only feel the joy personally, but to see the joy and happiness radiating from Brittney and Stuart and their little family.  They had such good support from family and friends on this special day. 

Everyone who came to celebrate with Grayson. . . family and friends.

These men all participated in the circle as Grayson was blessed.

Our family. . . it's growing!  Yea!

Me and my beautiful daughters.



Mommy Brittney

Daddy Stuart

Grayson is starting to smile! 

He grows everyday.  Look at those cheeks!

Our beautiful baby boy.

Auntie Camille and Grayson have a special bond.  He is always good for her. . . he loves her!

On Labor Day we enjoyed a fun family day too.  We had a yummy breakfast at Kneader's and then that afternoon we went up American Fork Canyon and hiked for a while.  It was Grayson's first hike, and he was quite the little dude.  In fact, he was just ahead of his Dad the whole way!!! (lame joke, I admit!)  After hiking Jace was able to join us for dinner and a movie.  He spent both Saturday and Labor Day in the library studying. . . no messing around when you are in the accounting junior core.  It's going to be a busy semester for him. 

Whew, so that's the last month or so!  Super long post, so if you are still with me here, thanks for sticking it out.  Like I've said many times on this blog, family is where it's at, and I'm so grateful for all my family.

Grayson

Almost 29 years ago, I became a mother for the first time.  Motherhood has truly been one of my most honored roles, and I am grateful daily for our awesome children.  I have often heard people say that being a grandparent is even better.  I wondered about that. . . how could that be?  I think I am beginning to see just how that statement may be true.

Brittney on her "birth" day!  She was a beautiful 9 lb. baby herself.  See any resemblance?

Little Grayson Stuart Maxfield was born on July 15th, weighing 9 lbs, 1 oz., and 20 inches long.  Brent and I are giddy grandparents!  I think the "joy and rejoicing in your posterity" concept stems from your own experiences of raising your children, and culminating in witnessing these very same adult children feel such happiness and instant love for their first brand new son.  Essentially, I'm "over the moon" myself, but I'm especially thrilled for Brittney and Stuart as they begin their own parenthood path. Whew, what a story this little guy has!  It took a long time to get him here and we are just so grateful for a healthy, beautiful boy.   Our family has been blessed with a miracle.

Grayson just minutes old. . . talking to his Dad!

Here's the scoop in a nutshell:  I left Spokane on July 9th and spent the first 4 days in Richfield with Mom and Dad.  I just missed seeing my other siblings who were there for the July 4th holiday.   On July 13th I headed back up to Provo to be on "baby watch."  On Saturday morning, July 14th, Brittney's water broke.  Good.  I just kind of knew that she would go early, and was pleased that I was back up north.  Long story short, after almost 24 hours of labor, lots of prayers, thoughtful decisions, and wise medical advice, the decision was made that a c-section was necessary.   Our little baby was "sideways" and somehow laying on the cord.  Trying to help him get repositioned proved stressful, so all the options had been exhausted.  Thank goodness for hospitals and modern medicine (how many times have we said that in the last couple of years???)  Like Brittney said, "I don't know why I expected a routine delivery. This whole experience has been anything but routine!" In the end, however, we still got the prize--Grayson was born strong and healthy, and that's all that matters. 

As he locked eyes with all of us for several hours after his birth, it was like he was calming us down, reassuring us that everything would be OK, that he had arrived and that it didn't matter how he got here--he was here.  He looked so intently at each of us and we all felt as if we knew him--it was just a matter of becoming reacquainted.  Grayson is a spirit with a purpose, that is for sure.  Before he was even born he was teaching and guiding.  Perhaps the lesson that we are being taught in Grayson's "birth story" is to never give up, to have hope and faith,and always to trust in the Lord in all things.

So, I warn you!  The Grandma Ang "bragging" has begun.  My grandchildren will always be the cutest babies on earth. (Every Grandma says that!)  Grayson is the first of many. . . I know it in my heart and soul.  I don't know why having babies is a challenge for my daughters, but  I do know that with God, all things are possible.  Here are some pictures of our time in Utah for this happy occasion.  Enjoy.

Grayson just looking at his Mom saying, "Thanks Mom!  I Love You!"

Finally snoozed off. . . long day for the little guy!

2 days old. 

Grandma Ang and Auntie Camille having their first chat!

Grandpa Brent bought Grayson an entirely appropriate baby gift. . . a life jacket for the boat!
 He wrote on it:  "Welcome to earth Grayson!  You are going to love it here!  Love, Grandpa B"

Grandpa B and Grayson bonding like only boys can do. . . napping!

Grayson is 1 week old in this "0" onesie. . . a gift from Aunt Lindsay and Aunt Jen.  They are stickers that you can use each month to document the first year of your babies life.  He has already changed in 1 week. . . crazy!

More thoughtful soul searching with my baby.

I think the saying on his shirt is entirely true. . . his Mom does rock!
(Actually Dad rocks too. . . in more ways than one!)

We visited Richfield so my parents could meet their 4th great-grandchild.  Dad is positive that Grayson looks just like him.
  I'd say that currently, there is some resemblance!

Grayson and I on my birthday. . . best gift ever.  I'm going to miss my little guy.

This was the sign in Brittney's hospital room.  So very true! 

Girl's Camp

Last week we joined the Young Women of our Ward and Stake at Girl's Camp.  I'm the Mia Maid counselor for our ward, and Brent was asked to participate as one of the stake priesthood brethren.  We left early on a Tuesday and traveled about 3.5 hours west to Ensign Ranch on the west side of the Cascades.  Our stake owns a camp only about 40 minutes away, but this year our leaders took us to this wonderful facility for an extra special experience.

While the rest of the country has been sweltering in heat, the northwest has actually had a rather cool spring.  When we pulled out in 5 school buses (Brent and I following in our car pulling a trailer full of gear) it was raining cats and dogs!  I thought we were in for a miserable week of weather.  By the time we arrived at camp, the rain had stopped.  The YCL's and leaders were able to set up camp without soaking our gear while the campers went on a 5 mile hike.  That was a true blessing.  The rest of the week the weather cooperated nicely.  On Wednesday it was beautiful blue sky and this was the day set aside for canoeing, slip-n-slides, volleyball and outdoor games.  Perfect.  Ensign Ranch is huge--there were actually 3 stakes there, and we never really saw one another!  The activities this place provides is what made this camp so fun.  Thursday and Friday the girls rotated around to the following stations:  archery, rifle range, orienteering, ropes course, horseback riding, climbing tower, and various certification classes.  We had over 200 people there--about 180 girls and then leaders and Priesthood.

Brent was in charge of the compass/orienteering class.  He did a great job.  He taught them about compasses, maps, GPS, and avalanche locaters.  In their final "test" two groups were created and asked to locate 2 lost young men--Peeta and Gale!  He had hidden pictures of these "Hunger Game" hunks, so the girls were very motivated to locate them.  I helped him with this class, and also participated in the "Nature Hike" which actually turned into a first aid/mock disaster class.  I was the "crazy lady" whose only visible injury was a bruise on my head, but I wandered around crying, moaning, and calling for my baby and claiming that the last memory I had was shopping for pink shoes at the mall!  We staged about 7 of us with very real looking injuries and required the girls to think fast on their feet and assess the emergency.  It was quite fun. 

The theme for our camp was Job 23:10 -- "When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold."  We were embracing the Olympics theme.  Each ward choose a country to represent--our ward was Italy.  We had fun decorating our camp and using all things Italian in our devotionals and firesides.  By the time Saturday morning rolled around, everyone was ready to come home.  We really enjoyed Ensign Ranch and had a lot of fun with the darling young women in our ward and stake. 

Some of our YW.  They were braiding each other's hair--something they did every day!

Getting ready to climb the tower!  It's pretty well known that I'm really afraid of heights, but I gave this a shot!  I actually got about 3/4's of the way up, and then made the mistake of looking down.  I then started to get queasy and lost my nerve.  I decided to come down since others were waiting for their turn.  I do consider it a small victory that I got as far as I did.  I actually liked it!  The next time I try, I'm just not going to look down--just keep looking up!

That's Brent climbing the tower.  He also spent that day belaying the rest of the climbers.  He actually worked really hard at camp the whole week.  We really needed the brethren that were there.  They were so helpful.

At the rife range.  Brent also manned this station.  It was fun shooting a 22! 





Our targets.  Well, no surprise, but Brent definitely did better than me.  I hate to admit, but I think my eyesight is fading a little bit too.  He had his glasses on, or else he wouldn't have hit the target at all!

"Bishop McLaws" (everyone still calls him that) working around camp.
He's wearing the T-shirt with the theme on it.

That's me as "the crazy lady!"  (And besides, it wasn't hard for me to claim to be crazy and looking for my baby. . . the point was that I don't even have a baby. . . he's actually 6ft. 3in. and in the wilds of Africa somewhere!!! The girl's were suppose to calm me down, ask questions and treat me for shock.)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!!

HOPE EVERYONE HAS A WONDERFUL 4th of JULY!!!

Adventures

Our family has always loved to travel.  Almost yearly we go on a wonderful adventure of some sort.  These vacations require planning and saving, but we have never once regretted our time together.  We have visited Europe, Mexico, Hawaii, Australia, Alaska, and many spots in the US.  As our family grows (yea!!) it will be more difficult, no doubt, to pull off long, elaborate trips, but I think the experiences have exposed our children to the "hows" of travel, and the worthwhile memories it brings.

Brittney was able to do a study abroad in London while at BYU.  Camille also completed a Study Abroad with the business school where she visited quite a few European countries.  This past winter Jace called and announced that he also wanted a study abroad experience--his country of choice?  Africa!  He left two weeks ago for Uganda for 10 weeks..  He is working with a group called HELP International teaching business and accounting classes to micro businesses.  They also do some humanitarian work, and teach classes about hygiene and social issues. . . he's helping teach a class to teenage boys about respecting women and sex ed!  Oh my! 

We were able to talk with him last night and he is having a fabulous time.  He "poops in a hole" and showers with a bucket.  He does his laundry by hand in a big tub and hangs it on the line to dry (I would LOVE to see him do that!)   He said that surprisingly, the weather is almost perfect:  it is the dry season there right now so it is about 85 during the day and 65 at night with low humidity.  Lucky.  He is eating a lot of fruit and some sort of local sandwich thing.  He mentioned how interesting it is to see their attitude about food--they truly just eat to live, and don't live to eat.  Food is simply fuel--a necessity, basic, no fan fare.  There really aren't restaurants and socializing doesn't evolve around food.  So opposite of us Americans.  Makes sense why we as a nation are getting bigger and bigger. 

So, here's to Jace and his African Adventure!  Admittingly I'm slightly jealous, but I think I'm too old for the primitive college student type of trip.  We are actually on our way to our own adventure. . . YW Girl's Camp!   Who knows, I may come home with my own crazy stories to tell.

Church is about an hour away.  He said that this week they had a baptism after church and baptized a family of 5!
 He said that it was "super cool" and made him just a bit nostalgic for his missionary days in Japan.

At a soccor/football match.  I had to laugh--Who knew that LeBron made it to the game??

Face painting outside the soccer stadium.  Crazy fans!

A group of African women they taught.

This is one of their business classes.  They speak English in Uganda, but of course it is heavily accented and there are native words here and there thrown in.  He said they just speak slowly to one another and they can communicate just fine.
 He is learning a few Ugandese phrases too. 

Lugazi, Uganda.  Definitely different than Provo and Spokane.  Isn't the world a wonderful place?

For Good

One of the truths in life is that the older you get, the less important the "day of your birth" really is.  Of course everyone likes a party and having birthdays is better than the alternative :), but when it falls in the middle of the week on a Tuesday night or isn't a "milestone" birthday (i.e. 80th!!) a creative surprise is difficult.  Brent had a birthday on June 12th, and it ended up being one of his most favorite in recent memory.

As noted, he was recently released as Bishop of our ward.  The past few months have been an adjustment for him as he is no longer involved personally one-to-one with many people.  He especially misses his time with the youth. . . and they miss him!  Several weeks ago some of the kids came up with the idea to have a special celebration in his honor to thank him for being their Bishop and their friend.  When we collaborated to find a day to surprise him, it worked out beautifully that his birthday was around the corner.  Now the only trick was to figure out how to surprise him!

Well, the past year we have had a darling exchange student from China in our ward, Eva Chang.  She has been hosted by the Hoke family, and quickly became so very loved.  In fact, she welcomed the missionary lessons and was given permission by her family to join the Church.  She was baptized in March.  She is going back to China this week and we will all miss her so much.  So, this was the plan. . . Brent thought we were going to a going-away party for Eva, and Eva thought we were having a party for Bishop McLaws!  Both were clueless (so to speak).  Brent thought we were just "stopping by" for a short time before I took him out for a "special dinner."  (Really. . . we eat together every night.  Believe me, going out to dinner is something we probably do way to often!)  He was so surprised when we walked into the Colvin's home and all the kids were surrounding the piano.  They had prepared a perfect song as a tribute--
"For Good" from the musical "Wicked". 

I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you.

Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good.

 It well may be
That we will never meet again
In this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me
Is made of what I learned from you
You'll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend...

Because I knew you
I have been changed for good.

Needless to say, Brent and I were wiping away a few tears.  It was a beautiful tribute.  The words were so applicable.  When we serve others, we love  them and we are left with many handprints on our heart.  We then enjoyed a yummy barbeque and swim party.  We are so blessed to have so many wonderful friends in our ward.

So, Happy Birthday to Brent! 

Also Happy Father's Day to all the wonderful fathers, brothers,

son, son-in-laws and friends in my life.  

You are all great examples to me.

That's Eva with Brent on the left.   Isn't she beautiful?
The upper right is a group picture of all the kids who were there.
Bottom right is his birthday cake.

On the left I'm holding Sam Nielsen.  Lindsay and Sam were visiting for a few days.  Such a cute kid.
In the middle is  a picture of Brent with the YW.  They are all awesome!
The right is a picture of the party hosts--The Colvin's.  They are great friends.