Sarah Houseknecht and Valerie Lawson

[00:02] SARAH HOUSEKNECHT: My name is Valerie Lawson. I am 50 years old. Today's date is November 3, 2023, and I'm in Mobile, Alabama. I'm here with my good friend Sarah.

[00:16] VALERIE LAWSON: Good morning, Val, and my sweet one. My name is Sarah Houseknecht I actually am now a big old 36. Got a little bit of white hair back there, but not doing too bad. How can I say? I'm still alive here. I'm doing pretty well here in L'Arch, mobile. First light of first light. Living here by myself. It's November 3 23rd as well. And.

[00:53] SARAH HOUSEKNECHT: Mobile.

[00:54] VALERIE LAWSON: Mobile. Mobile, Alabama. So we've come to ask questions about our loving selves, how we're so well, equate best friends together. Val.

[01:10] SARAH HOUSEKNECHT: Yes, I know. We've been friends for a very long time, right?

[01:14] VALERIE LAWSON: Oh, yeah. I would say we knocked dead those little things to come up in your head, and we kept both their butts.

[01:21] SARAH HOUSEKNECHT: Yes, we did. Okay, so both of us had tumors, brain tumors. And that's how I lost my hearing in my right ear. Right. And you had.

[01:34] VALERIE LAWSON: Wow.

[01:35] SARAH HOUSEKNECHT: And what was yours?

[01:36] VALERIE LAWSON: The doctors are all mine. And get all those CAT scans and mris, those things they put in your ears. They don't do anything for you, do they?

[01:44] SARAH HOUSEKNECHT: So was your. Was it a tumor, or was it brain cancer? Cause I know you had to go through chemo. I had a choice of radiation, have surgery, and it was three different procedures for surgery. So I wanted to do surgery because I didn't want to do radiation, because I saw how radiation affected my family and how it burned. So I opted to have the surgery. And the tumor was called acoustic neuroma. So it was on my brain and auditory nerves, which is my hearing, and it spread down to my brain stem. It wasn't cancerous, but very dangerous. So I had to have two surgeons, the neurosurgeon and the otor oncology. And so that's how I lost my hearing.

[02:37] VALERIE LAWSON: Wow. Well, why is it a different one? I wonder if it's a different. Definitely a different topic, too, because mine was, uh, um, the name. Mine was called Michelle Blastoma, and. Ooh, man. Yeah. That's so funny. My name is Cherub because I was on my cerebellum, so funny.

[02:59] SARAH HOUSEKNECHT: Girl is such a goofball.

[03:00] VALERIE LAWSON: But, yeah, I didn't even know what you were saying. But you have. You had a choice between those ones. But mine was definitely a tumor. And I don't remember. My mom has all that stuff back in the hospital about what my chances were. I had, like, a 60% way of it. Kicking. But he's fought right back when it kicking his booty.

[03:27] SARAH HOUSEKNECHT: And you made it. You're here. And what's. Isn't it awesome that when we first met each other, and I think it was maybe, what, three months before we realized that we were deaf in the same ear, and we have. And we hear out the same ear. I mean, I felt like we were destined to be friends because that was a good, common goal and what way to understand each other, right?

[03:55] VALERIE LAWSON: Oh, heck, yeah.

[03:56] SARAH HOUSEKNECHT: Yeah.

[03:57] VALERIE LAWSON: She'd be my mama back in the AC with all of us.

[04:01] SARAH HOUSEKNECHT: That's right. That's right. That's right. Because we understood each other, and that's our foundation.

[04:09] VALERIE LAWSON: Oh, that's a good one.

[04:11] SARAH HOUSEKNECHT: Okay, so tell me about one of your happiest memories here in wash or just in life in general. What's one of your happiest moments in your life?

[04:27] VALERIE LAWSON: Well, it's really hard to say, but it's like, where would it be? Because I, um. I come from a family of a military. My daddy does a really awesome job at what he did. He did military. He's been on a lot of different ships, including the USS Alabama, I think, something like that. I'm sorry if I got that wrong. He's been into a lot of those, but he's never been, like, a really hard on us kind of thing. But if, you know, military, your family, and also navy, you probably been to a lot of different places. They move you around like crazy. My dad was training. He does something. One of my favorite things with my daddy, I could imagine because I was growing up and I lost my dad because my parents also decided to get a divorce when I was going through my. To. To getting my tumor fixed.

[05:38] SARAH HOUSEKNECHT: But what's your happiest like?

[05:40] VALERIE LAWSON: Yes, yes. Just. I'm sorry.

[05:43] SARAH HOUSEKNECHT: Yeah. But did you enjoy moving around to different places? I mean, did you go to.

[05:49] VALERIE LAWSON: Right, right. I grew up in Virginia. Virginia beach. And what my daddy did is. You're called Uxo, or EOD, but my daddy, when it's the coolest thing, they could train dolphins to find bombs and stuff like that. And my daddy, he did that thing. He took me to one of the spots where they keep the dolphins to feed the dolphins when I was little, so I get a chance to be with. Hang out with my dad. And also, I took tap dance when I was also a little kid, too, and a little girl. And that was so much fun because my daddy also brought me red roses. Aw, that was so much fun. I have a lot of different. I mean, a lot of gifts and things where we were young and my brothers were always a love to me too.

[06:49] SARAH HOUSEKNECHT: So you got a question for me?

[06:52] VALERIE LAWSON: Let me see. What do we got in here? What's your favorite memory of me?

[06:57] SARAH HOUSEKNECHT: Oh my gosh. My favorite memory of you is when we went to our first international festival and I had just returned from my brain surgery, you know, so. And plus I just came into a new role at the activity center. So everything was new. But I was with you with your jewelry and so learning you that you had a lot of spunk and you took your business seriously. You hold pride in the stuff that you make. And also I found out that you are a die hard fan of Captain Jack's. And so. But what? And also because of the fact that you're fun, I love being around you and we have the same taste in music. So that really wanted me to get to know you more. So. Yes. So my turn. Tell me.

[08:09] VALERIE LAWSON: I thought you'd think quizzing of Captain Jack Sparrow was like. Yes. Okay, I have a question. I did go back to seed.

[08:18] SARAH HOUSEKNECHT: I know, because you always were trying to find a way to sneak off to go see Captain Jack Sparrow. Oh my gosh. And you still have that picture of me with Captain Jack Sparrow. So that's pretty awesome.

[08:33] VALERIE LAWSON: Oh man. What can I say? I saw that guy. Blew me away, dude. Like.

[08:39] SARAH HOUSEKNECHT: Okay, so what. So what's your impression of me?

[08:44] VALERIE LAWSON: Oh, show back out. Yeah. Well, I was one of the question I was being asked you, but I was thinking how long have you been here and what brought you to Larsh? And I just wanted to ask. I know it's kind of outside of what you were saying, but.

[09:02] SARAH HOUSEKNECHT: No, but good question. Okay, so coming up, January. I would have been. I would be here for 21 years. So what brought me to large first light community? My mom passed away in 2002 and I was always in retail, you know, management, doing something. But I quit my job so I can take care of my mom because she was dealing with the effects of breast cancer. And so when I started, no one knew. My mom passed because I didn't really share because I was the oldest and I took everything upon myself. But I knew when I was 14, I prayed and asked God to give me something to do because I wanted to do his will, I wanted to do God's work. And so that was 14 when I asked that question, so. And I mean, I would always look for the answer. Or I said, well, maybe this is what, you know, God wanted me to do. Maybe I am doing this work I'm customer service. I'm in management helping people. But I. I wanted something deeper. So when my mom passed, I didn't want to go back. I wanted to go to the, you know, just work back in the hospital, I did, but I really didn't because it wasn't. I knew it wasn't what I was looking for. So when I came to large, you know, in order for me to keep my certifications up to date, because I would still pay annually. And they said in order for me to get back into the medical field, I needed to work medical type stuff for a year before I can work under my license. So I said, okay, a year. That's what I thought, you know, that that was my goal. And then leave and then start nursing. But little did I know, in two weeks of being at large, I experienced feelings I never felt before, like a pull or a tug. So, Elizabeth Nigel, she was already in heaven whenever you came. And mind you, nobody knew my mom passed because I didn't share it. So when I went and picked her up from the activity center, she called me Dolly. And I say, liz, that's not my name. She said, I know what your name is, Val. She say, but I'm calling you my dolly. Because nobody never took care of me the way you have. So. You my Dolly. And then she was singing. Hello, Dolly. She was always singing. She loved Frank Sinatra. So when she was in her room, you know, her bedside. Come on. I'm getting her things ready for the. You know, for her to go to bed. And then so as I'm in her drawer, she go, Dolly. I said, ma'am. She said, you don't have a mama, do you? I got goosebumps and chills, which I'm getting right now. And I was like, liz, where did you hear that? A little birdie told me she would always do that. She said, it's a sweet, secret surprise. I say, Liz, don't do me that away. Cause she's 63. She always said, don't do me that away, hon. So I told her that, don't do me that away, hon. Where did you hear that? And she just started this little cute little giggle that she would do. She said, well, Dolly, your mama told me. And she said that. And your mom told me to tell you that she loves you. And she said, God loves you. And then Liz said, I love you, too. So she said, I'm gonna kiss your head. I'm gonna kiss your nose. I'm gonna kiss your cheek, and I'm gonna kiss your chin. So that day, I'm still here because we were spiritually connected at the hip. So I still wanted that calling from God. I was obsessed with nuns when I was three years old because of the flying nun and plus what they wore. I was just always interested. Believe it or not, I wanted to be a nun. So when they told me a nun was coming to dinner at 261, I was so excited. So when Sister Maria knocked on the door, I opened the door and I looked her up and down. I said, hello. She go, I'm Sister Maria. I said, no, you're not. Where are your clothes? You know? So I told her my story, just like I'm telling you. She had this big smile, like the grinch with her big glasses, and she said, you receive your calling. And so right then, this is my, you know, vocation to be here, because I love y'all. I love everybody, and I'm doing his will, and I've been blessed ever since I've been here for these almost 21 years, because y'all are like my family. Y'all are my family, you know? And I can't. I can't leave. I can't leave until God tells me to.

[14:21] VALERIE LAWSON: So bravo. Bravo. Thank you, I must say.

[14:27] SARAH HOUSEKNECHT: But first, I want you to answer your question, their question, like, what was my. Your impression of me and how do you think of me?

[14:37] VALERIE LAWSON: You know what? I am completely. I know the first person I saw when I came to L'Arche, and I can't wait to the nursery. Cute little nurse roll. Gosh, I love that little wallpaper. The cute little yellow wallpaper with the things on. I have to be completely honest, I can't say I remember you entirely. I mean, I'm just saying. The first person I saw was Megan. And I went, I saw Megan. I just looked her in the eye and just could tell her that. She's like, we're gonna be really good friends. For some reason, I just looked at her and says, could tell her we're gonna be really good friends. And I remember just coming here and there and anywhere. It was Megan. And she worked for a long time.

[15:33] SARAH HOUSEKNECHT: Okay, but me.

[15:35] VALERIE LAWSON: And I'm trying to think, but if.

[15:40] SARAH HOUSEKNECHT: You can't remember, that's fine. But what is it about me that makes us good friends?

[15:46] VALERIE LAWSON: We really. When we get us together and we start talking about me making jewelry, and you was always there with me, trying to help me and doing stuff with my beads and making orders and all that stuff, we just did a lot together. Oh. One thing we mainly did together was once I did a whole bunch of the best things we did together were markets. Even out here. We did some markets here. And we did. Of course, my favorite would be the international festival. Did it over some five rivers. Oh, no, I forgot the table. Just so many fun things that we did together. I just have time to go over there, go and have some lunch together. Maybe I go get some fresh breakfast. Nice. Over at Burger King.

[16:44] SARAH HOUSEKNECHT: So I'm a fun person. And so I'm a fun person.

[16:49] VALERIE LAWSON: Oh, you bet she is. She's a mama. She's a. Yeah. We had so much fun doing things together.

[17:00] SARAH HOUSEKNECHT: Okay, so are there things about me that you've always wanted to know but never asked?

[17:15] VALERIE LAWSON: When you brought up such a thing, when you had your cancer, was it here?

[17:27] SARAH HOUSEKNECHT: Yes. My breast cancer, yes. So, you know, I was pregnant with Mia. Oh. I was pregnant with twins.

[17:37] VALERIE LAWSON: Right.

[17:38] SARAH HOUSEKNECHT: And so I did my own self breaks examined. I. And I felt a lump a little size of a dime. And I thought it might have been my milk duck getting clogged. But it was stage one breast cancer.

[17:52] VALERIE LAWSON: Oh.

[17:52] SARAH HOUSEKNECHT: Yeah. So they did the biopsy and everything that day. And then, of course, they sent me right away to the Mitchell Cancer Institute. Of course, they were trying to persuade me to abort. I said no. I said, because God has other plans for this baby, and I'm gonna fight. So I have to wait until I was maybe almost five months to go through chemo because it would be safe to, you know, it wasn't. It wouldn't go through the placenta, the fluid. But of course, I end up losing one of my babies. It was a girl. And they call it the vanishing twin syndrome. So I went through chemo three times a week. And I always remember what my grandmama said, you know, from my older kids, because, you know, from my last child to my baby, Mia, they are 21 years apart. Yes. So, you know, my other son and daughter, they're in their thirties, so. So I would pray. I stayed strong and positive. And me and Mia have such a relationship. And it started in the womb because I would sing to her. We would pray together. And I would always tell her. I would tell her, I know you feel tired. I know you feel how I feel. I say, all mama want you to do is kick or move to let me know you're okay. And she would. So she would move and ball up on this side, or she would kick and let me know she was okay. And then I can go to sleep. So here she is, nine years today. I'm nine years breast cancer free. And so, yeah, so you guys helped me through a rough patch. Y'all was there. Wait, before you. They were there for me with my brain surgery. I didn't have to tell them what was going on. It's like they knew something was wrong. Y'all know, y'all feel stuff, especially when you intern. Y'all internalize with me because I internalize with y'all and y'all feelings, and I can tell something's wrong. Y'all are the same way. And if it hadn't been for y'all, I mean, I just don't know.

[20:15] VALERIE LAWSON: Yeah.

[20:16] SARAH HOUSEKNECHT: You know, but I was here, so, you know, I had me in 2014, and then after that, they, you know, removed the breasts. I had to go through that strong stream was chemo. And then the month of October, which is breast cancer month, was when I run the bell.

[20:35] VALERIE LAWSON: Yeah.

[20:36] SARAH HOUSEKNECHT: So, yes, and so Mia, she's fine. She's healthy. But she did for the first three months of her life, because we reabsorbed the baby vanishing twin. She absorbed more because the first three months of her life, she had fetal blood, meaning by then, she should have had her own blood, so I had to remind them that she's a twin.

[20:57] VALERIE LAWSON: Yeah.

[20:58] SARAH HOUSEKNECHT: So, yes, I was here.

[21:00] VALERIE LAWSON: Oh, that's great.

[21:01] SARAH HOUSEKNECHT: Yeah.

[21:02] VALERIE LAWSON: One of the things, it may not be in here, but it's connected to. It's just so beautiful that you bring your family into the lush, because.

[21:11] SARAH HOUSEKNECHT: Thank you.

[21:12] VALERIE LAWSON: It's the connection. I wish I could. I have kind of a connection of my fan, my mom, and her wanting to be part of, you know, like, first grade and helping out with that. And she was always there for me, and I was in the hospital, and she had hospitals down in Florida. And, you know, she being a mom, I suppose.

[21:38] SARAH HOUSEKNECHT: Yeah. I mean, I. I was always, like, when I was younger, I didn't understand what an adult with disabilities or any of that was because I grew up around them. So I just saw them as people. I mean, they look different, but, I mean, I didn't think nothing of it. And so I didn't realize what it was until I started working here in this community. Cause my aunt, you know, she was deaf in both ears. She couldn't hear. She lost her hearing. She taught me sign language at three years old and how to read lips. So little did I know that would come handy for me today in this life. So I do feel like things do happen for a reason, and you just have to see it. I mean, that just me and how I feel and how I get through today is that I just see God's plan and I just see my journey, you know? And I just know to just keep faith and just stay positive and just. If it's something bad, try to find a good and just make it better, man.

[22:50] VALERIE LAWSON: That's the choice. I try to do that as well.

[22:53] SARAH HOUSEKNECHT: It's kind of. It's hard, it's tough. But one thing that I've learned to do is not take my work home. So when I go home, my time is for her. So when we get ready to go to bed, I pray and I discern on my day. I think about it, like, what could I have done different? What could I try that's new, you know, trying to see? I pray about it, give to God. And guess what? I sleep good at night. And so if something comes up, an idea and it'll pop in my head, and I was like, okay, I'm gonna try that. Just like how I have a plan that we can maybe start your business up and go a different way. So I want to talk to you about that when we have time together again and talk with Bridget and Marty. Us together. Together. And see. Yeah. And see what could come about it. Because I really want you to start that back up because you are a great person, very creative. You know me all too well in my taste and colors and stuff. We're just so in sync. So we just need to find a way that. We just need to find a way that we can at least get that back started again.

[24:09] VALERIE LAWSON: Thanks, Fel. All right. Wow. I'm out at word here. I have to say, I love how we know real brother. I'm so glad Chris came back, because he came. He went out to Seattle, actually. My mom. Family is. But it's got so great to have your brother Chris come, too. I love. I love you're having you. Chris and Chris and mia come in all the time, so that's great. We should get my brothers here. No, just kidding. One thing about family, it's so special and so strong, is trying to keep all the families together and keep it all in one bunch, no matter how big they are.

[25:14] SARAH HOUSEKNECHT: That's true.

[25:15] VALERIE LAWSON: Yeah. So I just want to say, if you're not, you haven't asked me. That's okay. It's all right. I say, I came back in October, zero eight, for the first time. So I think I've been here for, like, 14 years. But it was totally not my thing. I wanted to leave immaturely to have my own place. If I said that wrong, sir.

[25:44] SARAH HOUSEKNECHT: Well, no, you're right. Because when you first came, that was what you wanted. You wanted to be have your own place because you wanted to cook. You just, you wanted to do your things.

[25:55] VALERIE LAWSON: Right. Right. And I actually have a lot of gifts that, you know, a lot of people don't always let me use, but obviously there's a lot of things I can't do, just like you probably. Maybe we have. We have are gifts that abilities. Abilities that we can't always use. And even in Lars, you may not want to. You might be able to see or say that you do have them, but you don't want to admit that you do.

[26:28] SARAH HOUSEKNECHT: Give me an example. Like what?

[26:31] VALERIE LAWSON: Well, for Larsh, for all the people that we saw in there, you know, just with the abilities and trying to help them and see that Willie and Eddie, a lot of so many people that just, you got ability to get stuck in the web. They were just so wonderful people. And it doesn't matter, you know, if.

[26:52] SARAH HOUSEKNECHT: They so are you. Do you mean, like, since they're in the wheelchair, you mean? But they can do it, but despite they're in the wheelchair, they could do a lot.

[27:00] VALERIE LAWSON: Oh, yes.

[27:00] SARAH HOUSEKNECHT: They could sweep, they could mop, you know? Is that what you mean?

[27:05] VALERIE LAWSON: Yeah. Yeah. And it came. And then you, as with definitely the mother of all of us, and we just showed much lovely, loving people in the community and get to get to do so many things. And even if it's just coloring and watching movies or doing things like that, it's so much fun to hang out with them and do a lot of dancing and singing.

[27:34] SARAH HOUSEKNECHT: That's right.

[27:35] VALERIE LAWSON: Even just. It's a little light of my mind.

[27:38] SARAH HOUSEKNECHT: Because we're all human, so we should be able to do everything and nothing should hinder us from doing anything and living life, right.

[27:48] VALERIE LAWSON: Yep. Yep. That's the truth. And it just really did. Yeah. I mean, it's so loving. They really are more like, just like people to love, you know, do puzzles, do coloring books with them. I love when our summer, our summer club comes in and do all the, teaching us how to play card games and just chilling with us and doing fun things together, help us out, do a little bit of raking, clean up things.

[28:23] SARAH HOUSEKNECHT: Yeah. We call that the march madness, when all the different colleges would come during the weeks of March, maybe two or three different schools at a time.

[28:33] VALERIE LAWSON: Right?

[28:33] SARAH HOUSEKNECHT: Yeah.

[28:34] VALERIE LAWSON: Right.

[28:34] SARAH HOUSEKNECHT: We would do gifts for them, sing a blessing. Those were the good old days. Right. And I miss it. You know, I miss the activity center.

[28:42] VALERIE LAWSON: And, you know, one thing I think I don't want to say it personally, but, you know, I love seeing you every day. Not only you got the same wonderful, beautiful smile and eyes, sometimes wear some different pretty earrings. I love the stuff you wear. I love seeing you different hair every day. I do, I do, I do. I wish it could be like you, like a Barbie or something. I wish we could change my different hair.

[29:09] SARAH HOUSEKNECHT: Thank you so very much. I appreciate that. Well, I guess sometimes you just never know what you're going to get. You know, I like to change and reinvent. I love the wigs. You know, you just become just a different person. But, you know, I'm just an open book. I'm outside of the box because I like fun. Yeah. You're so sweet. Thank you for that.

[29:30] VALERIE LAWSON: I couldn't agree more.

[29:32] SARAH HOUSEKNECHT: Thank you. Thank you. I appreciate that.

[29:34] VALERIE LAWSON: Yeah, that means a lot.

[29:39] SARAH HOUSEKNECHT: That means a lot. Thank you. Appreciate that.

[29:42] VALERIE LAWSON: What can I say? I just. I mean, I'm gonna be like a barbie dollar. Change my hair all the time. Yeah.

[29:50] SARAH HOUSEKNECHT: Yeah. But I'm the most down to earth person in the world. Yeah.

[29:54] VALERIE LAWSON: Well, thank you. Appreciate that. Uh, this is kind of funny. I. I'm just a kind of thought. Just make a little joke. I mean, I just, um. Like cherry. Cherry. Sherry. Sherry. We. We work with someone named Cherry upstairs. I'm thinking. I'm not making a sarcastic joke out of this, but do we know anybody by the foodie? The name Sherry? Cherry. Like, cheerios playing but. So, I have a brother. I just wanted to say I have a brother. I've got three of them. We're gonna do about three brothers, right? So I have a brother down in, like, destin and stuff like that. And I'm just like, man, I wish you guys could come down there. It's so pretty down there. I'm flake. What? I mean, like, to get Lars Shay our first lake community. What would it be like to get an rv or something like that and.

[30:57] SARAH HOUSEKNECHT: Just have a road trip? Well, guess what we can talk to them about. And they can be a list of things to do, like a bucket list, so to speak. But I will say that the time I spend with you, especially, like, when we go out to eat, because, you know, I don't eat sushi, but I'll improvise is to sitting there and just talking and just being without being around work, without being around anyone, it's just us hanging out. And that's what I miss most. I really, truly do.

[31:28] VALERIE LAWSON: You shut your show on.

[31:29] SARAH HOUSEKNECHT: Yeah, I miss it a lot. So I hope the future that we can get this your business started to be new and improved, and maybe we can limit some of the stuff and focus on certain things and just get your name out there, back out there where it belong, because you had a lot of regular customers, you know, that would call and ask for orders. So if I'm not at the AC, so people probably don't call or don't know, to call the office. So we just got to find a way upgrade it and get your name back out there and get that business started up for you again.

[32:08] VALERIE LAWSON: Oh, you know what I have to say. I mean, jet just. I actually just thought about it, but, um, I hope Mia, you know, when she gets older and she's just growing up and stuff, I wonder what her memory is gonna be of Laura. Shouldn't she want to hang out more with Laura? Sure. She's gonna be at school maybe. Maybe high school, middle school, you know.

[32:34] SARAH HOUSEKNECHT: You know what she told me? She said, mommy, I want to do what you do. And so I. Ever since she was a baby, I have. I call it her digital memory book. So every picture that I have taken and she's taken with you guys is uploaded in this book, in this digital that she can access on the Internet. If anything should ever happen to me, God forbid, I. She will always remember y'all. She remembers the pictures. We go through them. So you're always in her heart. She's always thinking of y'all, always, you know, so I don't know where she's gonna be, but I can guarantee you she's gonna be a part of you guys, because she really loves you guys. Every day she go, hey, mommy, how was your day? And she goes, I said, well, how was your day? She said, mine was good, but who were you with today? Were you with BJ? Were you with Stephen and Sarah at the activity center? She asked all these questions because she wants to know, how was my day? And so that's what we talk about when we get home, you know, when she's from school doing homework, how do they feel? Or I might ask her, you know, tell her that someone's not feeling good and to pray for them. So she's. Y'all are embedded in her heart forever. And don't you know? When I first started, 21 years ago, me and Liz was on a porch, and I told her, I wish I knew what it was like to have a baby. In lars. It came to pass. I have a little girl, and she's in a community because I wanted her to experience all this love, all this purity, just love. So yeah. Mia's gonna be a part of it one way or another. I can see it. So she loves you. She asks about y'all all the time, so just know that. Oh, yeah. Cause she took Eddie pretty hard. She loved her Eddie shone. That's what she called him. Her Eddie shone. Yeah. So. But she loves y'all. Your name and Lillibell names were the first names she spoke. And I didn't know she knew y'all's name. She. Mommy. Sarah. Sarah, Sarah. And I was like, what? And she say Lily Bell. She called her ninny. Ninny Belle, you know? But you were the first names. You and Lydia were the first names she ever spoke. And that's when I knew. She knew all y'all's names, but she was more attached to you and Lily. Baby.

[35:09] VALERIE LAWSON: Oh, my gosh. Maybe because you are. It goes right through. Oh, my word.

[35:15] SARAH HOUSEKNECHT: I know. But she loves you and she acts about you often.

[35:19] VALERIE LAWSON: Wow.

[35:20] SARAH HOUSEKNECHT: But, Sarah, this was really amazing to sit down and chat with you, because it's been a long time since we've been able, since COVID and everything, and I think we should do this more often.

[35:33] VALERIE LAWSON: Well, I'll be completely honest with you. I was freaking out last night. I don't think I could do it. I'm fine. I gotta have a seizure this morning.

[35:41] SARAH HOUSEKNECHT: Because you were so nervous. Yeah, but I'm glad you didn't. But see, it turned out good, right?

[35:46] VALERIE LAWSON: I'm like, I need more coffee.

[35:47] SARAH HOUSEKNECHT: Yeah. Yeah. I was nervous, too, because I didn't. I didn't think it would, you know, have this kind of setup. But I was nervous, too. But it's been great. So shall we do lunch when we leave?

[36:00] VALERIE LAWSON: Oh, my word. Oh, my word.

[36:02] SARAH HOUSEKNECHT: Yes.