A give-away...

My talented friend, Karen Bagley, is having a surprise/give-away on her new photography blog. Go check her out... http://blog.karenbagley.com/

Hmmm...

Nothing really special to blog about, but I felt the need to blog anyway.

I spent a great (although waaayy too hot) week at YW Camp. I'm not sure that I have ever mentioned how much I enjoy girls camp. And the really funny thing is - I don't really like camping. My idea of roughing it is a stay in a hotel without a pool. As a young woman myself, my parents used to have to almost bribe me to go to camp (and one year I was really bratty and only went to camp because they got me something I wanted... yes, I know, I was very spoiled!). But, you know that saying about how Heavenly Father has a sense of humor? Well,  He  got the last laugh and called me to be the Stake Camp Director for 5 years! So now, yes, I LOVE girls camp! I cried like a baby when I was released from that calling, and the next year when I couldn't go to camp, I cried even more. For the past 2 years I have been blessed to go to camp as the one in charge of crafts. This is my favorite camp assignment, E.V.E.R!! We had lots of fun making some cute things, and seeing all the creativity of the girls was awesome! 

This summer has been busier than I would have liked. I've been trying to teach a resistant daughter to drive. It is getting better, though, and last night she actually told me that she is getting excited to get out and drive. Yay - progress (and the answer to lots of prayers!)!! This same daughter is doing well in her first term of college. She also just received her first calling - Ward YSA Female Rep.  The other kids have had activities, but they are not as busy as the oldest. The boys had a great time on their high adventure activity (a 50-mile canoe trip). Megan has been busy helping out her grandparents, and next week she heads to the other grandparents house for 10 days to take care of her cousin's animals while she is gone on a trip.

I miss my sister this summer. She was not able to come and visit this year because she is having one of those crazy busy summers herself. Her oldest daughter is having her first baby in a few days, and then daughter #2 is getting married at the end of the month. It is killing me that I won't be there for the wedding. I think my niece is a bit ticked at me, too, over the whole thing. She also found out this week that another daughter has got some potentially serious health issues going on (she's been to the doctor and they are running tests, but it will be a while before she hears anything). We are all praying that she will be ok.

I came home to find some good things going on in my garden!! I've got the start of several tomatoes coming on... and I have 4 jalapenos growing!! I keep getting big beautiful blooms on my squash and zuccini, but they fall off before they produce anything else. I have one bloom on my zuccini plant right now, and I'm hoping and praying that it produces something! Barry is really hoping for some zuccini bread by the end of the summer.

Last night the Mayfield gals (minus 2) headed out to see Eclipse! So good!!! So far it is my favorite, and I hope they don't mess up the 4th movie and ruin the whole thing. While at the theater, we saw the trailer for Harry Potter! Kayti got very excited! :)

Today we are going to celebrate the 4th at my SIL's house. I'm looking forward to a fun evening filled with good food and great company! 

Selfishly, though, I kind of hate to see the 4th here already. It means my summer break is almost over. I will start back to work at the end of the month.

OK... I guess I've gone on enough about really nothing.

YW Camp 2010 Crafts

I have been blessed to be asked to do the crafts for camp again this year. I think that of all the jobs I have done at camp, this is my favorite! I wanted to quickly post the projects we will be doing.

First of all... this cutie felt flower hair clip:


Then these fun wood blocks:


I have had lots of fun making these, and the girls can decide how they want to decorate them. They can mod-podge their initial using fun decorative papers; paint their initial or something else they choose; glue on a clothes pin and use it as a note or photo holder. Lot of possibilities for these... and I love seeing everyone being creative and coming up with something different.

And last, but not least, these fun washer necklaces:


These two go along with the camp scripture, Joshua 1:9


The one on the bottom is actually a bracelet.


Or make it a key chain instead


Or cover it in decorative paper!

I've had so much fun playing this past week, and I hope the girls enjoy them. I know my girl who is now too old for camp is already asking for me to make her some stuff. I'm taking that as a good sign since she generally hates crafts/crafting!

Growing pains

We are experiencing lots of growing pains in the Mayfield household of late... both in and outside of the house.

Outside of the house has been lots of trial and error and some total frustration over my garden. It's not growing as much as I would like for it too, but it is finally starting to show some signs of progress. Lots of fertilizer and insecticide have helped. Although, my peas have just given up and died; my carrots  and onions are not really growing at all, and my parsley isn't looking that swooft.  My poor squash and zuccini where almost eaten to death by squash bugs, but look like they might be making a comeback now. And on another positive note, my basil, oregano and rosemary are all beautiful. I am allergic to strawberries, but Barry loves them, so I planted some for him. The plant has been beautiful, but not very fruitful until finally last week we spotted a bloom! Now he has 3 cute little berries growing. I've also noted blooms on my peppers and beans as well. YAY!!

My flowers have been doing very well, with the execption on my hydrangea. The plant is green and beautiful, but the blooms are just not there. It looked like I was getting a new bloom the other day, but now all signs of that are gone. Hmm... I guess I need to do a bit more research on growning hydrangea. I am so in love with their beautiful blooms, and would love a yard full of them. My gardenias have been blooming, though, and they smell heavenly! So beautiful and white!

The growing pains inside the house have been ripping me up. I've spent more time in tears lately than I would like. It's tough trying to help a child overcome fears and face life head-on. It's tough seeing them so scared to live. And it's tough seeing them resentful of opportunities, too. Lots of worrying and praying going on. But, I am also trying to find the joy in this aspect of mothering.  I know that I have been blessed with great kids, and they each have a pretty good head on their shoulders. It's just getting them to use it sometimes that it the trick! :)

Happy Anniversary!

Today Barry and I celebrate our wedding anniversary. Nineteen years ago today we were sealed in the Atlanta, Georgia temple. We had a bit of a whirlwind romance, and a lot thought we were nuts for rushing in, but it's one of the best decisions I made in my life, and I would do it all again.

For those who do not know our story...

Barry and I have known each of other since we were in our teens, but we really didn't get to know each other very well until we were in YSA. We first met at a youth dance. I very simply asked him to dance (during a fast-dance), to which he replied, "I don't fast dance. Come back and ask me on a slow song." I thought he was cute enough to ask again, so I did! I don't know that we ever dance again that night, or if we even dance ever again at a youth dance... he graduated from high school not too long after that, so he stopped coming to the youth dances. He left for his mission about the same time that I left for college; in fact, he was at the MTC when I started BYU.

Fast forward two years...

I am home from BYU and working when he gets off his mission. He starts showing up at YSA activities, but I am already dating someone else. He starts dating my best friend. The guy I am dating is a recent convert to the church, and decides that he wants to go on a mission, so we break up in order for him to focus on preparing for his mission. Barry and my bf then go "splits-ville". Meanwhile, I am thinking about going on a mission. When our mutual friend suggests to Barry that he take me out, he doesn't want to interfere with my plans, but after some prodding from her, he finally asks. I am so glad he did! We got engaged on our 3rd date. Ok... to be fair, our 2nd "date" was to the temple, and that is when I knew that I would marry him. I seriously would have married him that day. I knew that I had found my eternal mission companion, and I could see us going on a mission together one day.

We got married 2 months later.


I love you, Barry! You are my best friend, and I'm so thankful that you are my hubby and the father of my children. While no one makes me as mad as you do at times, no one else can make me laugh like you, either. You are my hand to hold, my shoulder to cry on, and my biggest supporter as well. Thanks for making these past 19 years fly by, and for the beautiful 4 children that you have given to me, too. Thanks for all the ups and downs... we have learned and grown through them all.

And here is to the next 19 years... and beyond!

Happy Birthday, times 2

In the busy-ness of the last week, I missed posting a birthday wish to my oldest! She turned 18 last week!!!


She started college today... something she is a bit ticked about! She was offered a summer scholarship, as well as one for the fall and spring, and we just didn't feel like we could turn it down. She is going to Calhoun right now to get her associates degree, then wants to transfer out to BYU-Idaho. She is majoring in English, and wants to be a writer. She would like to be a book editor to support herself until she makes her millions!

Today is my sweet hubby's birthday! I won't say how old he is, but it's older than me!!


I love and appreciate him so much. I won't get too mushy here... our anniversary is next week, so I should save something for that post!

Happy Belated Birthday, Kayti, and Happy Birthday, Barry!!

Hey, Graduate!

So proud of this girl, and I love her so much!!