Monday, January 21, 2013

~2012~

(Blog 4 of 4)

February brought a friend from Connecticut to Orlando, Florida who I hadn't seen since I was 14 years old!  It was great to see Kris Lussier Landry!!!  We ate at Planet Hollywood at Downtown Disney and got caught up on 21 years! Hoping it won't be the last time we see each other!!!

Kris and me at Planet Hollywood
  
Time Out for Women came again to Orlando in March.  I never miss a chance to be inspired by wonderful church leaders!!!

Deborah, Kelly, and Stori

me, Deborah, and Stori

We had lunch here at Ming Court on International Drive!  GREAT food! :)

 In April of 2012 we had two babies born into the Lawrence family!!!  
On April 18th Adele Bethany Lawrence was born, daughter of Ryan and Erin.  
On April 24th Markus Weston Maslo was born, son of Krista and Oliver. 

"We have eternity to know the children in our families as adults, 
but we only have a small moment of time to know them as children.  
Treasure every moment!" ~Hillary Weeks~ 

Adele Bethany Lawrence

Markus Weston Maslo
 
Also in April, Heather Dupree and I went to Bok Tower Garden in Lake Wales, Florida.
I love photography.  I know I'm not the best, but I love to take pictures anyways. lol 
Warning: There are a lot of pictures!!! ;) 

Bok Tower




Gate into a garden of trees
 




 
"Make you the world a bit better or more beautiful because you have lived in it."
The Secret Garden? ;)

Statue of Friendship
 

 

me at Bok Tower! :)

 I think I went to the beach more times than I ever have in one year!  Here are some pictures that I took over the summer months on the many beach trips.
 


 

 
  
Tom made us a lunch for a picnic on the beach.
Tom, (me), Stori, Rachel T., and Kelly H.
I finally got a picture of this little crab... he's really FAST! lol
me, Stori, Kelly H., and Deborah at Hightower Beach
Sailboat at Anna Marie Island~photo taken by Heather Dupree

Anna Marie Island~photo taken by Heather Dupree


Beautiful at Anna Marie Island~photo taken by Heather Dupree

 
This video was made accidentallyI thought I was just taking a picture of the surf, but instead you get a beautiful sound of the ocean waves crashing and my random talking.  lol  

In September I went to Night of Joy at the Magic Kingdom, Disney World with Heather Dupree and Wendy Leverett.  I also met up with a friend from high school there, Kelly Sands Newman.  Some of the Christian singers that performed were Chris Tomlin, NeedtoBreathe, Francesca Battestelli, and Brandon Heath.  Amazing night!

Chris Tomlin

Francesca Battestelli

Brandon Heath


Chris Tomlin singing his unreleased song (at the time).... it is called "Whom Shall I Fear [God of Angel Armies]"

Also in September I went with my Mom and Dad to Myakka State Park in Sarasota, Florida.  Oh, and we took Missy too. :We drove around the whole park, mostly because we got lost looking for the main building.  When we finally found the gift shop we were able to have a nice picnic lunch and Missy loved all the attention she got from the other people that were there.  In our long, scenic drive, we also finally saw an alligatorIt had decided to walk out into the road in front of our car.  Perfect picture opportunity!!! :)  It was a nice afternoon with my parents, which I hadn't had in a LONG time! 
 
Mr. Alligator

me, Missy, and Dad having lunch :)

I will be adding another blog of more pictures of my new nieces and nephew that have recently joined our family.  Because an Aunt needs to brag once in awhile! lol ;) 
~Stay tuned~


 

Sunday, January 20, 2013

~2011~


(Blog 3 of 4)

Before I start my blog of 2011,
I forgot an important event that happened at the end of 2010! On October 27, 2010
 Clara Jane Lawrence was born!  She is the daughter of my nephew, Ryan.



 In June of 2011, I had my third surgery to my skull/brain because of tumors.  Hopefully it is my last!!!  It has been a difficult 6 years (2005-2011).  This surgery was the most difficult recovery for me.  The tumor had grown a lot more than what we all had imagined and it had grown around previous surgical repairs.  It was located near my left my ear and I lost my hearing to my left ear.  It was only temporary until swelling subsided, thank goodness.  
For a couple months before my surgery, I was having incredible pain to my skull and having continual headaches.  It was hard for me to concentrate on my classes I had taken for the semester.  I know that I was blessed during those months before and after surgery

My younger sister, Krista, got married on July 23, 2011 in the Boston, Massachusetts LDS temple to Oliver Maslo.  We drove to Massachusetts from our vacation home in New York the day before and then the next day we had the wedding and drove the 3 hours back to New York to the reception.  It was a long and overwhelming day to say the least, but it was great to be with family again.

Krista and Oliver

 
Boston, MA~LDS temple

Krista, Oliver, Mom and Dad

Dad, Mom, Krista, Oliver, and me


Krista and Maija with Clara, the perfect little flower girl

me and Clara

Look! My shoes are red and sparkling! :)

~The Lawrence Sisters~

Kelley, Michael, me, Krista, Oliver, Mom and Dad

The family! :)
 Just the two major events in 2011.... recovery and celebration!!!  
~Blog#4 of MaijaSofia soon to come!~