Last Post of 2011

I feel like such a slacker!  It has been months since I last updated my blog.  Rather than go into lengthy explanations, let me update a few highlights:
1.  Fall was wonderful.  We enjoyed out nighttime ritual of sitting outside by the fire and cooking so-more's.
2.  I finished my Nursing classes towards my BSN with a gradepoint average of 3.93.  Not too bad!  Although, I don't graduate until Spring of 2012.  I have a few painful general ed classes still left to take.
3.  Work - it has been wonderful, hard, stressful and overall the best thing I've ever done in my work-life.  I love my fellow managers, director, and co-workers.  I feel like I've found my niche.  I'm grateful that my co-workers have been patient with me as I've made changes in the Unit.  It's hard for them to get used to a new manager, but they've been wonderfully "underground" with any complaints - I'm grateful for that!
4.  New Granddaughter - Khailyn.  We're grateful for her safe arrival.  She's beautiful!!
5.  Ups and Downs - Yes!!  I wish I could say that I'm handling the "downs" better, but it would not be truthful.  The personal trial our family has experienced continues to be a "refiners fire."  I feel Heavenly Father's love for us...I'm just overwhelmed by the difficulty of the trial.  The other hard part is the loneliness of the journey.  I have no doubt that each of us have our own trials that challenge and refine us.  I just wish I had more hugs from family and friends, more time with my husband (alone), more time doing fun things, and more time studying the gospel.
6.  Service - this has been a year of service.  I am grateful for the many opportunities that have been placed before us to strengthen family, friends, and strangers.  Losing yourself in service is a true principal and I'm truly grateful for the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others.
7.  My family - this past year I've seen my children overcome obstacles and be mindful of the needs of others.  One thing that the Clement's children have all understood - being grateful for what they have and being willing to share.  My children are so unselfish.  They really don't ask for much of anything and they understand the principal of "waiting" or "doing without."  I worry about that sometimes, but then I realize that they have a true understanding of the value of hardwork and being resourceful. 
8.  2012 - More distance between our family and 2010.  More focus on health.  More focus on reading the scriptures.  More time with my husband...I miss him.  With our recent trial, we have done our very best to "divide and conquer" in caring for the needs of our family, but we really need to spend some quality time together.  I look forward to seeing my Mom and Marlin.  I need time with my Mom!  Maybe I can figure out a way to see my siblings...that would be incredible. 

A few photos are below that summarize the past few months - Happy New Year everyone!!

2011 Nursing Magnet Conference in Baltimore!

Michelle, ?, Amy Body, and Tanya Creech at the Magnet Conference

Brian at the Church Trunk or Treat

Abigail at the Pumpkin Patch - Farmer's Market

Nicolas putting his great carving skills to good use!

Our lovely yard in the Fall

Our family with the Elders on Thanksgiving Day

Abigail's first Christmas Parade

Thanksgiving Dinner

I love making Katie happy!

Melissa as "Mary" in the Ward Outdoor Nativity!

Dad and Katie decorating the tree

Let there be light!

Christmas morning....I was exhausted and Melissa was all smiles!

Katie the Abominal Snowgirl!

Greydee dee with Abigail

Love this photo of Melissa

Katelyn, Nicolas, and Kimberly - my lovely nieces and my handsome son

Natalie, Brian, and Kylie

It's Time to Leave the Beach

Last Day at the Beach

It's been a great vacation!  Tabb, Nicolas and Melissa were with us through Tuesday and then for the last 4 days it's been me and Katie.  Our days were so peaceful and quiet.  I read a 900 page book in the Outlander series, worked on homework and even got 3 weeks worth of assignments completed.  We walked on the beach, played by the pool, and ran a few errands.  We worked a game of bowling in too.  Doesn't sound like alot of excitement, but that was the last thing I needed.  I think I'm ready to go home and face the busy Fall.  Melissa will be ending her after school program.  It will be a huge change for her, but it represents great progress.  We'll enjoy some Fall activities - Farmer's Market, our evening outside fire circle, and baking.  I've got a trip to Baltimore for 4 days and will leave on October 3rd.  I get to attend the biggest Nursing Conference in the US.  I can hardly wait.  It's one of the most inspiring and interesting conferences I've ever attended.  Three years ago I got to attend the Magnet Conference in Salt Lake City.  It was so wonderful to take my nursing leaders on a tour of Temple Square and to eat dinner in the restaurant that Tabb and I took his parents to when we were first engaged.  I'll never forget seeing the Mormon Tabernacle Choir perform.  It was without words and several of the people I was traveling with were visibly moved.  This trip may not have the emotional tie to the Church, but it will help to know my new nursing leaders better and to help me be a better manager.  Tabb will hold down the fort.  Robin and Daniel are good supports to Tabb and will be a listening ear at least if things get worrisome at home.  Well...best get to cleaning the Unit so we can go to Williamsburg and visit with my mother in-law, Audrey, until tomorrow.  It will be great to see her!!

Fort Story

Friendly Sea Gull

Lunch at El  Azteca



Cavalier Hotel



Bowling with Katie



Breakfast by the Sea



Vacation At Last!!!

Me and Katie watching the waves!

We arrived at the beach on Friday. (Nicolas, Katie, and I).  It has been windy, rainy, and cold, but wonderful all the same.  Tabb and Melissa joined us yesterday.  I've never seen the water to rough and the waves so high.  It is great to watch.  There's red flags all over the beach because of the dangerous surf.  I'm so glad we're here together.  The kids are having a great time!!

Nicolas and Melissa - crazy kids - the water is freezing!

32 years - we haven't changed much!

Need a little help from Neptune in calming the sea!

Every castle needs a princess!!

Good Bye Summer....Hello Fall!

Can't say that I'm sad to see summer go. We were not able to get away this summer.  Year Round school makes it a challenge.  I had plans to go to Water Country and Busch Gardens, but it didn't exactly work out.  On a good note, the children are off to a good start in school.  Hard to believe that Nicolas is in the 8th grade, Melissa 7th grade, and Katie 5th grade!  I'm so proud of them!  I feel like we finally have some "normalcy."  It has been the longest 2 years of our lives, with more hurdle's, trials, and blessings than I can express.  It makes the "normalcy" that we're experiencing seem like one of the greatest gifts the Lord has ever bestowed on our family.  We still have a enough challenges though to keep us humble!

Tonight Melissa and Nicolas are at a Youth Church Activity - an outdoor movie.  Melissa is venturing out more.  She almost didn't go, but when we got to the Church parking lot, she suddenly changed her mind and went on the activity.  I'm such a goof ball....I cry everytime I see her enjoying herself!  Katie, Tabb and I are spending an evening together.  Sis. Jorgensen is helping Tabb organize his library.  Tomorrow Tabb is getting custom bookshelves for his vast Church library.  I've tried for years to motivate Tabb to clean his office and organize his books.  It took Tabb seeing how Sis. Jorgensen had organized her husband's library and he committed himself to doing the same thing.  I got the added benefit of Tabb letting me get Den furniture.  It was used from Craigslist, but really, really nice.  So we both have something "new" to be excited about.  I just might start crying again!!

Last week, I went to see my mother in-law.  We were buying a used Buick LaSabre from Newport News and I stayed 3 days in Williamsburg.  My mother in-law and I had the best time.  It was wonderful to spend time with her.  She recently lost her companion - Sonny Chapman.  After both losing their spouses they found love again.  Sonny actually taught Audrey to drive when they were in their teens.  They were engaged in their early 20's, but my mother in-law broke off the engagement and married my father in-law - Lin Clements.  To see Audrey and Sonny rekindle their romance was wonderful.  A few weeks ago, Sonny became very sick after an infection from knee replacement surgery .  He died suddenly 2 weeks ago.  It breaks my heart for Sonny and Audrey.  I am so impressed with my mother in-law's perspective on life and death.  She is grieving, but she has an attitude that looks forward and not backward.

My mother and Marlin are moving from Fernley, Nevada to Sparks Nevada - right outside Reno.  They were going to move to Oakdale, California, but they found a better alternative.  Nicolas will go visit them in December for 2 weeks. In closing this post, I have to say how much I love my job!  I work with the best coworkers. Although I miss all my friends at WakeMed (and I loved my job at WakeMed), I realize that I'm in the right place, doing the right job.  I feel supported and part of an amazing organization at Rex Hospital.  It is a blessing to be associated with an organization that truly understands its mission and supports/values the coworkers who carry out the mission. The leadership is truly committed to excellence.  I can't say enough of how much I love Rex!! 

Earthquake

I've been pretty slack about updating my blog, but I can't  miss recording history!  So where were you when the 5.9 earthquake hit (epicenter in Mineral, VA)?  I was in  my office at Rex Hospital.  At first, I noticed shaking of my computer monitor and the walls were vibrating.  I ignored it for a few seconds, but when it persisted, I stood up and the floor was shaking slightly.  I opened my office door to find several other employees standing in the hallway asking if I felt the shaking in the floor.  It lasted about one minute and no damage occurred.  Although, a few people were a little worried....East Coast people would rather face a tornado.  It reminded me of San Francisco.  The first earthquake I ever remember happened in the middle of the night.  I remember feeling the bed shake and then it was over.  So...in terms of natural disasters, this was nothing more than a reminder of the wonders of the earth.  I'm grateful nothing more happened than a gentle reminder of the earth's power.

By BOB LEWIS, Associated Press

MINERAL, Va. — One of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded on the East Coast shook buildings and rattled nerves from South Carolina to New England on Tuesday and forced the evacuations of parts of the Capitol, White House and Pentagon. There were no immediate reports of deaths, but fire officials in Washington said there were at least some injuries. The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake registered at magnitude 5.8 and was centered about 40 miles northwest of Richmond, Va.  Two nuclear reactors at the North Anna Power Station, in the same county as the epicenter, were automatically taken off line by safety systems, said Roger Hannah, a spokesman for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The earthquake came less than three weeks before the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, and in both Washington and New York it immediately triggered fears of something more sinister than a natural disaster.  At the Pentagon, a low rumbling built until the building itself was shaking, and people ran into the corridors of the complex. The shaking continued there, to shouts of "Evacuate! Evacuate!"  The Park Service closed all monuments and memorials on the National Mall, and ceiling tiles fell at Reagan National Airport outside Washington. All flights there were put on hold.

Catching Up

Thankfully this summer is moving along quickly!  (I'm not a big fan of heat and humidity!)  The kids start school again on Monday, except for Melissa.  She'll start at the end of August.  So far Nicolas has enjoyed a week at EFY, Melissa has gone to Girls Camp, Tabb went to hear the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in VA, and Katie has been with Mommy helping with a Church activity.  We've had fun, but I'm still hoping to get to Williamsburg soon.  I've had no vacation in well over a year and I'm feeling it!  I'm hoping to see my Mom this Fall.  My new project is to figure out a way to be home each day by 4pm.  With school starting, I need to get the family organized with homework and activities.  I've been trying to convince Nicolas to take a drumming class this Fall.  I think he'd have alot of fun in Marching band next year.  He's not interested yet, but I think the social group will be good for him.  Here's some photos from this summer so far.

My husband - Captain America

Zombie Apocalypse - Girl's Camp

Nicolas on the far back wall - EFY (Buena Vista Virginia)

Melissa - front on the left

Nicolas with a "friend" at EFY

I need a vacation.....

I would go most anywhere right now just to get away!! Don't see it happening this summer. This is the first year in 10 that we haven't joined a pool. It seems such a $$ waste since the kids are out only for the month of June and then return to school in July. School is winding to a close next week. The kids have had a good year. Nicolas will be in the 8th grade at Durant Middle School. Melissa passed 6th grade (which is amazing since she only had 5 months of instruction). Katie is cruising into 5th grade. Her biggest worry...."Mom, I don't want to go to 5th grade because all of the girls talk about each other too much." My guess is that middle school will open her eyes to the fact that elementary school gossip was nothing comparatively. I'm happy that I have the summer off from school. This Fall will be busy with Adult Nursing II and the dreaded statistics class. Well...today we'll just do Saturday chores, make homemade ice cream tonight, and be grateful that life is blissfully boring!!

Happy Mother's Day!

Daniel, Robin, and Abigail!!

Abigail

Kylie and Grandma

My beautiful mother in-law with Tabb and me.

I am so grateful for my Mom....she's strong, loving, and a very caring
person. She raised me to be a kind and compassionate person, and if it wasn't
for her, I doubt I ever would have become a nurse. I appreciate so much all of
the sacrifices my mom made for me and my siblings. She gave up a lot to make
sure that we all had a great future.


My mother in-law, Audrey, has been a second Mom to me. She has always shown
me love and supported me in all that I do. She also raised my sweet husband.

I'm grateful to Robin for being such a loving daughter in-law. She's
patient with me. I do try to not give advice or be pushy. She's a wonderful
mommy to Abigail and a great wife to Daniel!!

I am so blessed to have such loving children: Daniel, Brian, Cory, Nicolas,
Melissa, and Katie. Today I was served breakfast in bed (french toast and eggs,
with OJ). This evening, they have prepared my favorite dinner: pot roast and
mashed potatoes. We're having strawberry shortcake for dinner. Tabb has done all
of this hard work - thank you honey...it means alot!! The best part of being a
Mom: seeing your kids live the gospel of Jesus Christ! I have shared with them
so many times that by living the gospel, they'll always be on track and be able
to withstand the pressures of life! Just a few minutes ago, Melissa came up to
me, gave me a hug, and said, "Mom, I'm happy." Now, that's a Mother's Day gift
to remember!!

The Kids

Mark, Marlin, Mom, Carolyn, and Me

Katelyn, Carolyn, Marlin, Mom, and Me