Hello family
and friends,
I am hoping you can help
me create a 40th Birthday gift for Val from all her family, old
and new friends, and acquaintances throughout the years.
Needed by Thursday, May 28 (though OK if after this date)
I'd like to
collect short notes, memories, kind words and encouraging messages from
everyone in her life. Please post responses to any one or more of the following
messages at http://johnvalscott.blogspot.com/
- What you
love / admire / appreciate most about her
- What you
value about your relationship with her
- How she may have brightened your life in some way
- Relate
your favorite/best memory of her
- Any thing
heartfelt you would want her to know
With so many friends and family, I am nervous she is
going to find out about it, and I want to keep this top secret - so
mums the word!
More to come about a 40th Birthday Party for those local.
Thank you so
much for helping make this a happy 40th
26 comments:
I really appreciated getting to spend some time with Val while we were down a few weeks ago. I came to appreciate her depth of testimony and dedication, while going through incredibly difficult family circumstances. I drew strength from that in my own challenges. Love you Val, hope you have a great 40th!
Val is a dear friend. I have always admired her intelligence and strength but she is also wise and compassionate. Whether we are discussing books or loss, it is the same - caring, insightful words are shared. Happy 40th, Val! - Julie
Valerie Scott - When I hear these words the first word that comes to mind is BEAUTIFUL, both inside and out. Valerie is one of the kindest and most caring human beings on this planet. She would give the shoes off her feet if someone was in need of them. Her smile is contagious.
Laughter would be the second word on my list. We spent hours together laughing during the late night scrapbook/craft sessions. Although I have not seen or talked to Valerie in a couple of years, I can still hear our conversations and laughter replayed in my head.
Friendship is the third word I would use to describe Valerie. Although Val lives hundreds of miles away, I still consider her a friend and always will. She is one of those people who come into your life, your heart, and never leave.
Tears - Valerie and I have shared a few tears together. The trials in our lives help bring those around us closer together. Valerie is one that will comfort those in need...at all times...even when your goal is to comfort her, you are the one that walks away comforted.
Spiritual - Want to know someone who is close to the spirit and heads the promptings from the spirit? Valerie is your gal. :) She is an example to everyone around her. When she walks into the room you can feel the glow and the spirit that she brings.
Happy 40th Birthday Valerie! I hope you know that I count your friendship in my life as a blessing. I was privileged to live near you for awhile, and although it was somewhat short, the memories and the love I have for you will be with me forever! I hope you enjoy your special day friend! Love you! ~Julie Hunt
Happy 40th birthday to an amazing person and friend! You have been such a blessing in my life. I will be forever grateful for your love, friendship and help last year. You are a wonderful example of a Christlike woman. I admire your testimony and strength. You are always happy and positive and a wonderful mother. I an grateful to call you my friend!
I can't believe how tirelessly you work to make the world around you a better place. You lift people with your example; I know you've lifted me. You help people commit to the responsibilities that they know they should be working on in the first place. You don't make excuses. You jump in, help where needed, and stay until the end.
I'm grateful for ward callings and PTA that allowed us to work together and become friends. You're a shining example of the gospel and Christ-like love. I often find your gracious demeanor inspiring. I leave our little get-togethers with happiness, knowing I'm blessed to associate with such a choice lady. Happy 40th VAL! No one deserves the best things in life more than you. Love-Jamie C.
From Bob and Joy Peterson - We appreciate serving together in our old ward for those special years. Val has a beautiful smile that lights up the room when she walks in. Her cherry/chocolate cake is to die for. We are going to be out of town until the 6th of June so we will miss the big event but you will be in our thoughts and prayers. May you have a great Birthday.
Love, Bob & Joy
Darlene Mertin said: Happy 40th Birthday, sweet Val!
When I think of the most gentle, generous, soft-spoken, and comforting people in my life, YOU come to mind! I love and adore you!
I loved having your help in my classroom years ago when Coral Canyon first opened it's doors. You saved my life with your efficiency and organization skills. I still want to teach with you on the same team someday.... crossing my fingers! I adored teaching your sweet daughters, Alison and Sarah. What beautiful, smart, well-mannered girls they are.... and SO grown up now.
I will always remember how comforting you were to me when my daughter passed away a couple of years ago. I appreciated your gentle words and loving spirit of understanding what I was going through. You bought me the book, "Tear Soup" which spoke to my soul and heart. It helped me realize how grieving is unique and we all experience loss in different ways. This book brought me so much peace and I appreciate your thoughtfulness and love at such a difficult time. I know the loss of your mother was so hard for you and you still miss her terribly. I know she is very proud of the woman and mother you have become. I miss her too! Well, this is suppose to be a happy occasion!
Happy Birthday, my dear friend ;-) Love you so much,
Darlene Mertin
I can't think of Val without thinking of our amazing friend Melinda Thomas. Melinda introduced me to Val and I immediately liked her!... I love how blunt and honest you are Val. I really appreciate your sincerity and willingness to serve anyone. After I got to know you, I realized you were Mrs. Foy's daughter and it was just so cool! I had heard so many wonderful things about your mother and through getting to know you, it was no surprise that your mother had to be wonderful as well. Val, I love that hymn "Each life that touches ours for good". I truly feel that you have touched my life for good. Thank you! So Happy 40th Birthday girlfriend!!!!!
There are so many things I can say about Val. She is a strong, confident, loving, & genuine person. What you see is what you get! She is very kind and very willing to be of service. She LOVES her family and is a "Covenant Keeping Women". She only speaks with soft tones and always has a smile on her face. She is easy to talk to and is very welcoming. I love her example and appreciate so much what she stands for. I love her testimony. It is truly a living one. It meant the world to me when she took our daughter Kayla under he wing and LOVED her unconditionally. Val was an answer to our many prayers! We love you Val! Happy 40th!!
Happy Birthday, Val! I miss seeing you at Coral Canyon. You are such a bright light when I do see you. Before I even met you, I knew I'd like you. Your mom always spoke so highly of you and rightfully so. I can't think of you without thinking of her. I will always cherish our time together with her and beyond. You have her positive energy and great laugh. I'd love to see you soon. Let's go get pedicures again this summer! Have a wonderful 40th birthday and watch for butterflies!!! Megan Mace
I have so many memories of Val from the old San Leandro/Piedmont days: visiting her at Baskin Robbins, doing make-overs in her bathroom, and just talking and laughing late into the night. What I love about you Val, is that you are always so positive and see the best in people. You have a way of bringing the best out in people and helping them feel better about themselves. You seriously have the best laugh and I have so many memories of laughing until I was crying about boys, life, school, whatever it was we had going on at the time. I am so grateful to have a great friend like you in my life, happy 40th!!!
Happy 40th Val! I still picture you as a newlywed full of life and enthusiasm in Tokyo! But I also still picture myself as a young mother! Life marches on, but the memories grow more sweet. Our years in Tokyo we priceless, made richer by dear friends like you and John.
Thank you for coming into our lives and into our hearts. Having you babysit our kids while we went away was a gift. I didn't worry because I knew they were in such capable hands.
To reconnect through Time Out for Women events was also a joy. You brought a new friend into my life by introducing me to Shelly Brady, a remarkable woman. Although we haven't seen each other in many years, I'm confident you are continuing to reach out and touch the lives of those around you. Your positive outlook on life and your strong testimony strengthens those around you. I always picture you with a smile on your face because you were ALWAYS smiling!
Happy Birthday! One of these days we'll reconnect and I can meet those beautiful girls of yours who are so blessed to have you as a mother.
Love you,
Angela Folsom
We met because your mom was having a momentary lapse in judgement and decided to let a family with 3 small children move in with her. Who goes that?!! I'm sure you all though she was crazy and really wondered where you were supposed to sleep when you came to visit! I appreciate you sharing with us for a few months. I will always be fond of our PTA at Coral Canyon days, and our unshakable bond of loss.... It doesn't matter if we don't talk for month, I still love our talks. You are kind, faithful and one smart lady! Thank you for being my friend! Love you! Ricki Chambers
Happy Birthday Val! How can we be turning 40? It's hard to believe, isn't it? There have been so many wonderful memories of you throughout my life. Of course, I remember when we were friends before you moved to San Leandro when we were very young. But when you came back to the Oakland 1st ward during our freshman year is when the REAL FUN began! And I'm so grateful for that!
I feel like you were the "social director" of our group and brought us all together. We all would've just sat around wondering what to do if you didn't come (I guess we still did a little bit of that though, huh :)). Fun memories include fancy dinners and breakfasts at your house, trips to Great America, watching movies together (no R rated :)), Baskin Robbins, getting stuck on the hill in your Dad's stick shift truck, going to the airport just because, fun memories as roommates, fun reunion in Hurricane with the Oakland friends, visiting you in Washington and having your help getting me checked out of my hotel, having you clean out my house for me and making me get rid of the peacock feather, you coming to see Megan's choir performance in St. George and bringing us cupcakes, having you rescue us in Hurricane and having a sleepover, and the latest...running into you at the Payson Temple (there are sooooo many more but this will have to do for now:)).
The two main things that stand out to me is you are fun and you like to serve. But the thing is this...you have fun serving! You don't think of service as a drag at all. You do it with a smile on your face and a willing heart. You have one of the biggest hearted people that I know and I have felt your love for me through this service. I so admire that in you. One quote that you shared with me when we were teenagers was, "Never fight the urge to do good". Another one is "You may forget what they said, but you will never forget how they made you feel." These two quotes definitely remind me of you and how you have lived your life.
I love you and admire you Val. I look forward to many more memories to come! Happy Birthday!!
Chrissie
Happy 40th Birthday Cousin Val! Some of my favorite memories are from when you were at BYU! It was so fun to finally have family in Utah! I always loved it when you would hang out with our family, bring your friends over, or let me come visit! You always made our whole family laugh. I have always looked up to you and admired your strength, positive attitude, and fun personality. Wishing you a great birthday and a happy 40th year!
This is from cousin Jenn Lofgren:)
When I think of Val, I immediately think of her smile and her laugh -- makes me want to smile and laugh right along with her every time! :D She's an example to me of strength and courage in the most difficult of circumstances. I know she is a great mom and wife and shows her devotion to her family by the way she lives her life. I know I can speak for the extended Scott family that we hit the jackpot in a new addition to the family when John married Val! Love you, Val! Have the happiest of 40th birthdays ever! :D
Val,
Way too many memories to list them all, but here are a few that stick out. One of my earliest memories in my life was when I went to your house to play (we were probably 4 or 5 years old) and you took me into your room and locked the door and wouldn't let me leave. Even after 35 years, some things never change. :)
I remember long walks on the beach and you writing your name + [fill in the blank for the name of the boy you liked that month] in the sand. You convincing me to go to the airport to do some people watching. The many times you would smile and look at me like you caught me doing something wrong, along with the times that you would smile and laugh at me (during the few moments that I wasn't trying to make people laugh).
Dinners, back scratches, spending all night trying to figure out what we were going to do, only to go to the video store and spending hours figuring out what movie to watch, experimenting with me trying not to talk in church, spending hours figuring out what I had done to offend Chrissie and teasing you about whomever your current boyfriend was. Thanksgiving weekend 1994. It was all so innocent and fun.
When we got together with Evan and Kevin last year and stayed out till the wee hours of the night reminiscing and discussing all kinds of topics. The good times never cease when you are around.
Truthfully Val, I have always admired your ability to build people up, make people happy, and get us out of our comfort zones. This allowed for many cherished memories and important life lessons.
I so grateful to have had a friend like you and your positive influence in my life.
Love,
Matt Palfreyman
Valerie Lee!
You were a gift to me for Freshman Year in the dorms--so much fun and so steady and so positive--AND you already knew your way around by the time I got there! One of my favorite memories from that year is when we asked the boys to Preference in the spring with the whole Secret Agent thing, and then even made them ride the bus to SLC to a random Chinese restaurant. It was a hilarious night that ended with you, Me, and Tamara trying to share a twin-sized bed.
Then the added bonus of your family moving near mine for crazy antics the next summer, so I could come buy a cookie from you at Paradise Bakery in the mall and we could use the travel office 800 number to call Heidi in Alaska.
I always appreciated how faithful you were, and that you were such a hard worker. You always tried your best, made friends easily, and stayed true.
It was such a highlight to get to see you a few years ago in SF! I hope our paths cross again soon. Next time we go to Lake Powell I hope I can just show up on your doorstep--I know you'd greet me with a hug and a smile.
-Love you-Shelb
Val!!
I can hear you giggling right now! I am so glad John married you so we could count you as ours too! You are truly an amazing person. You are organized, thoughtful, willing to take on a challenging project, a loyal friend, great mom, break-out-the-dance-moves girl, gracious host, leader, creative (Pintrest...who needs it? You had "it" way before), positive, honest, and follower of Christ. Best wishes on your #40!!!
Love,
Amy
Happy Birthday Val!!! We sure do miss you and your family!! You were such a great example to my girls when they were young. And I am positive that you still are to other around you today! We wish you the happiest birthday ever!
love, Amy and Rick Wheelwright
Happy Birthday Val! There isn't much that I can say, that hasn't already been said. You have always been a dear friend even when one of your friends (me) lives only 45 minutes away and only sees you in Salt Lake every three years. You were so kind to me and my family when we moved to southern Utah and didn't know anyone.
I will always have fond memories of grilled cheese sandwiches and milk shakes, beach houses, General Conference, and school and church dances. You're so nice and thoughtful you helped me get one of my first jobs (LDS Bookstore!).
Thank you thank you for who you are and how you've blessed me and my family!!
Love,
Kevin
Hello Val!
You have always been such a great example to me and I have always looked up to you. What a blessing it was to have you as a seminary teacher (even though I don't remember much... it was too early!). You are an amazing women of faith and love and always gave your time to serve. You are such a wonderful mother and I have always admired that. So grateful to call you my friend and thanks for the great example that you are in my life!
Happy Birthday!
Love you!
Alisha
I think one of my favorite memories is going to Hawaii with John and Val for our 10th wedding anniversary. We went hot tubbing, snorkeling, eating coconut pancakes and touring the PCC. Too many fun memories there. Another favorite memory was when Val planned John's surprise 30th birthday party--about 12 years ago. I got the task of calling John on the borrowed cell phone to lie about Alison throwing up and them needing to come back home for the party. Too stressful. I think I still need counseling over it. It was a great party and a fun time hanging out with the Scotts. Another memory is play dates in the cul-de-sac with the kids and Alison and Amy wearing swimsuits and rain boots. We love you Val! Hope you had a great 40th birthday!
Laura (and Jason too)
Valerie,
So glad you recognized us last year at the volleyball tournament! Especially since we have changed so much more than you! I was happy to see that you have kept that contagious smile! That's what I think of first about you when we were in Tokyo, that you ALWAYS had a smile on your face! I thought it was newlywed bliss...and maybe it is, you and John do seem perfect together! It was fun seeing you in your beautiful home in Hurricane! We enjoyed meeting your smart, beautiful, joyfull kids! Thank you for having us. Thank you as well for being such loving primary teachers for Parker...we were blessed! Have a great 4th year ahead! We hope to meet again someday soon!
Love, Heidi Hansen
Valerie,
So glad you recognized us last year at the volleyball tournament! Especially since we have changed so much more than you! I was happy to see that you have kept that contagious smile! That's what I think of first about you when we were in Tokyo, that you ALWAYS had a smile on your face! I thought it was newlywed bliss...and maybe it is, you and John do seem perfect together! It was fun seeing you in your beautiful home in Hurricane! We enjoyed meeting your smart, beautiful, joyfull kids! Thank you for having us. Thank you as well for being such loving primary teachers for Parker...we were blessed! Have a great 4th year ahead! We hope to meet again someday soon!
Love, Heidi Hansen
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