m e a d o w l a r k

i just want to thank ALL of you pedley’s for posting on here all of the time.

i enjoy hearing about all of your lives and what is going on in each of you. i love your hearts! you are each so unique but at the same time it sounds like you are a very strong family who really likes each other. you make me smile (o:

i am sure you are loving having your wife and mom back home. she is so great and did a wonderful job caring for shari.

keep up the blogs!

x

leila

hmmm….

I feel like I should write a post, because I REALLY enjoy it when people in this family post. Although I am not so much in a writing mood… It’s me a dog and an old cat. Bill’s in LA, Laura lonely at college )o: Please, PLEASE pray for connection for her and for her to grow through this difficult and lonely time. She is just so awesome and beautiful I want her to find that out for herself.

anyway….. since I don’t feel like writing I do have this very cool pic that was taken by a kindred spirit of mine on a recent little trip we took, (a trip that was a blast). This is the REAL Black Pearl, of Movie Fame. As you can see it is a little ’stuck’ right now. You can see it is behind barbed wire, for protection I suppose… It is in the water. It is waiting for Documents to leave the Country it is stuck in, (it was down there for filming and is STILL ’stuck’ there… Mexico) anyway… It’s kinda cool, it’s a real picture of the real thing. I hope some body out there appreciates it! I have not even seen the most recent movie yet! @#$%%$#

Well we had the other family here this weekend. It was such a fun time. It is so great to grow closer the older we get. The adults all enjoyed…. well other than one older gentleman…… and the cousins warmed up to one another eventually (once they were able to break away from the lap top madness) and had a fun time as well!

We had good laughs, tough talks, played games, good talks, a dinner on the lawn at one long table (it REALLY felt like Tuscany), Bernie Jr played and sang by firelight, the cousins went frog hunting and the dogs (other than the Sofa….) were nuts!

Here are some pics of our ‘Other’ family weekend.

They REALLY did talk to each other and have fun, eventually!

Adam and his ‘hottie’ cousins!

It was so great when Bernie played. Rachel loved going through Laura’s closet getting MANY hand me downs and Gail completely inspired us all to recycle and show respect for the earth! Someday that woman will be running a global non-profit!

Kirsten and Cristina get some moves on in the kitchen!

Jojoe not only got lost on our walk in the woods. I am pretty sure Brad called Jojoe and whistled quite shrilly 583 times. I lost count. Thankfully she found home on her own and proceeded to drive Bill insane the entire rest of the weekend. You just gotta love that dog! Well not Bill.

Fluff & Nut

A successful Frog Hunt!

Yes, where I was most of the weekend… That or behind the camera….. but I loved it, it was so worth all the work and effort!

It really was like a dinner in Tuscany, well almost. We sat around the table and shared dreams and ideals. It was cool!

Arrivederci!

Hello Family,

We are doing pretty well here in Oregon. It’s cold, yuck, every spring I am reminded that we really don’t have spring, we have cold. Thankfully it is somewhat sunny today and that makes for a very pretty day.

Not much new with us. Laura is winding down her High School Days. She has really had a hard time getting into this last trimester even though she only has 2 classes, her heart just is not in it, thankfully it is almost over! Graduation announcements will be in the mail very soon. Laura has deiced to attend OSU, now called OS actually. I am glad it is only 2 hours away, in Corvallis. She is looking very forward to her graduation and having all her sibs home, she misses them a lot!

Bill’s studio was suppose to be done a month ago is suppose to be done in a month….. who knows??? Soon we hope, I gave our notice at this space and would love not to have to pay rent yet another month. The new office is turning out very nice, Bill has done a great job designing it. I think it’ll all come together really well. It has been so stressful for him picking out fixtures and every little detail and all. It seems whatever he picks is not available. I think he really wishes Kristen was here and he just could’ve had her do the whole thing!

Well here are two of the most amazing things I have ever done in my life, thus far. This is Ende’ and we spent a day swimming and playing with her. She is big! 400 lbs. She was so cute and so funny and so fast! Pulled all us girls bottoms off. It was an absolute blast, scary at first but amazing!

That dot in the middle of this cable is me. If you EVER go to Puerto Vallarta go to the Los Veranos Zip Lines. I can not say which of the two of these days was the best but, this was an absolute blast. Again really scary at first, I didn’t start looking down until about the 10th zipline (you do 16 of them). It was so fun and so beautiful. If we ever return to PV we will do this again. It is simply FUN!

Miss you and love you all.

Leila xoxo

It has been so long since I have posted and I apologize. I openly admit I have been dealing with a bit of depression lately. You can ask Bill and/or Laura they can tell you the last couple of months have not been the easiest in our home. It’s mainly circumstances….. WINTER, a California girl with long grey winters, will I ever adjust? (Mom/Shari/Fred I still have a desire to relocate to Napa Valley, please phone when prices go down!) Also the thought of Laura leaving and having a TRUE empty nest! It’s already been a huge adjustment for Laura and myself, what was one a big family, now a very small quiet family. We all love one another more than anything in this world, but honestly, it is an adjustment!

Regardless…..I need to start posting again and stay connected to all of you! I am so sorry I have just been to down to do it! I have been praying so much (for myself for a change) that I would come out of this ridiculous depression ( I have a VERY blessed life so much to be thankful for and have joy over). God has lifted my heart a tiny bit at a time and then this week every one of my kiddos had a positive thing happen.

(They are still my world even though only one of them only lives under this roof, they bring me true joy and delight).

Laura got accepted to OSU (the Beaver School) I am so thankful, she was so afraid she was not going to be accepted to any school (even though we new that was not the case). It was such a blessing to receive a LETTER! She applied to 5 and has finally heard back from 1! We are proud of her and I admit it is one of the 2 schools I am hoping for. OSU is very close to home (2 Hours) and she is a homebody in a big way. My other choice is AZUSA (Joey’s almamader) I have strong hunch she will be choosing between the at least those 2. She was also an escort for the Mr. SHS pagent this week (a big thing in a small town) a group of less than 20 kids that raised over $18,000.00 for Dornbeckers Children’s Hospiltal. She looked stunning on the stage in her evening gown with her amazing blond hair!
Michael got job a Disneyland! A dream of his (and mine too)! And boy would our Daddy be proud, he will be working at an attraction in Tomorrowland (doesn’t know which one yet). It just suits Michael so well, I am excited for him. He is continuing to study Criminal Science type stuff and I can just see him someday working in the Security Department at Disney! Busting people like his Auntie Shari (well when she was a teen……. Magic Mountain…….. another story/blog). He seems to really enjoy living closer to Alyssa and having a place of his own. I am so thankful for Alyssa and her love for Michael she is a very sweet/very motivated girl and helps him in so many ways!
Heidi and Joe have been waiting (SO PAITIENTLY) to move into their rental on Mt Hermon (Santa Cruz mountains) they have lived in temporary housing ever since Camp ended last year (and camp was simply a room in a dorm!!!!!!!!). Well their date has been pushed out for months now, to the point that their temporary housing is ending! They now have no place to live! They REALLY want this house they have been waiting for (It is next door to some of their dearest friends). Low and behold the DEAR FRIENDS told them this week……….we want you to move in with us till your house is available (the house they are waiting for is being rented by a couple who are building a new home on a cash basis, they have ALL the time in the world). THANK YOU to Dave & Leslie for offering this gift to Heidi and Joe and someday they will all be neighbors (instead of roomies).

Wil, I am really, REALLY proud of all of my kids. So much it’s just almost breaks my heart. This week Wil just made my heart soar. He was up for Panel. (In our world, a very precise review board that is the process you go through to become a manager at Starbucks). Let me tell you, this company does not mess around. They are serious about who they choose to be a manager. He was SO nervous about it, lost sleep, stress, the whole deal……. But the boy is a Lawson (as are all of my fantastic, amazing kiddos) he shined! He will now be an assistant manager at a new store (we WILL miss that downtown Franklin store it’s awesome) training to become a full flegged manager. His beautiful bride has been there by his side encouraging him the entire way.

I am thankful for all these blessings. It has helped so much. Honestly though, it was the Lord who just started taking the depression away. I just kept asking over and over and He is so faithful. The hard times are not over, but joy has returned to my heart and I am thankful for that.

We are leaving in a week for a Spring Break vacation with Laura. we look forward to the time with her. We have some very exciting things planned. But that is for another blog.

Hugs

-Leila Gaye

hey family,

Where are your posts??? I have been without a computer for weeks and get back on finally and no new posts?? What is going on in all of your lives? I know Wil & Kris cuz I read their blog all the time, but what about the rest of you? Just missing my family and would enjoy hearing bout their lives.

Sadly… Bill & I ended our winter time hobby of ‘FRIENDS’ yes we have spent all winter on our couch watching all 10 seasons of Friends. It has come to an end, alas a happy one, but it is over. It causes me to wonder… why was this show so darn popular? I think because we all want friends, a good group of frineds, that are close, love you, get angry with you, encourage you, forgive you and believe in you. The show had that, that is why it’s popular.

I have often heard the comment that the show is only about a group of friends that sleep around and sleep together. It is so much better than that! It is a funny show. If you are bored and can give it a few episodes consider watching it sometime, it is entertaining and a fun thing to feel a connection with. (I know it’s TV, not real, fake,…..) It’s just fun.

I am thankful for my friends that I have a relationship with. There are times I do wish they lived across the hall so I could see them more often.

Anyway….. silly rambling.

Well the Christmas holiday is over at the Chiaravalle home. It was overwhelming preparing for it… making sure every gift was perfect and met a need or touched a heart… hmmmmm failed at that one…. Attempting, somehow to figure out how to make it special, fun, interesting, etc… when life has been like the arms of an octopus (the ride) stretching, spinning, twirling to different places feeling out of control but then landing again and again on solid ground. (failed at that one too….) Yet it was so wonderful to have our family home, together (missing Heidi and Joe so much, although understanding it is a year that we are together in heart only) celebrating one another, the giving and receiving of gifts and the anticipation, hope and fear of a new year.

I personally found great joy this year in decorating in a somewhat contemporary theme. I admit, I love modern, clean and fun design and brought it into the theme of Christmas this year in our home. Bill loved it also, everyone else tolerated it; wondering, “what’s happened to tradition?” I don’t know really, it just left this year, to much change I suppose.

I found it fun and funky and it helped to keep my spirits up!

Then…… Wil & Kristen completely blessed us by spending three solid days and nights here at our home. It was so nice having them here (although I know we are a quiet and a bit boring of a house) we enjoyed the time with them so much and the fact that it caused Laura and Michael both to be home here with us a little more often (o: We played thrilling games and had very good times of just hanging and talking with one another. We are so thankful for the gift of their visit, it’s been a blessing.

They loved Sophey so much because they missed Gracie even more, she REALLY liked them a lot. Gave us & Laura more room on our beds for a few nights!

You can see from the photos that our games pf poker, scrabble, apples to apples, poker (I guess I mean 21) etc.. are very thrilling.

Actually I think either Wil or Kristen won every game, hmmmm…

Anyway, we all received wonderful gifts that are fun. We had a yummy prime rib dinner that was really good. We shared our anticipations, hopes and fears for the year to come……..

Leila- Laura leaving home….)o:………yet (o: for her……. but me… I’ve been a mom a long time now. A home without a teenager??????????? Huh?
Kris- Graduation……and all that is involved in that…..a different job, perhaps the corporate world….

Wil- his future with the company he loves working for (Starbucks) ans what that may bring… he also has a degree to complete

Alyssa- School?????? trying to make the school of her choice fit the degree of her dreams (it is proving to be a challenge)

Michael- moving out, all on his own, being responsible for his own place, bills, etc… YIKES!

Laura- moving out and going away to college, growing up, even more… away from home…

Bill- his studio building coming to completion and moving into a place he has always dreamed of..

It was interesting that everyones hope was also their fear, says something about life I suppose.

Anyway, I hope this Christmas you:

-Received a gift that touched your heart.

-Gave a gift that blessed a soul.

-Enjoyed the pretty lights of the Christmas Season.

-Saw a light in your home that you know only came from Christ.
-Anticipated your year to come with some anxiousness and hope mixed with a good dose of fear.

Warmly, loving you all.

Leila, with my mouth wide open