Baptism.

Dear Jonah,



So the day finally came. I know don't who was more nervous and excited, you or Mom? It turned out to be a really really amazing and wonderful. I cried from the opening song right through to the very end.



You picked all of the songs and all of the speakers and those who gave prayers. The opening song was the Rainbows baptism song. Then Great-Grandma Norton gave the opening prayer. Aunt Tara spoke about Baptism which Daddy then performed. Grampa Thurston and Uncle Dallin were the witnesses and then we watched the movie Mommy made while you and Daddy got dressed.



Grandma Thurston gave the talk on the Holy Spirit. Then Daddy did the Confirmation and you were surrounded by your wonderful uncles. The closing song was "The Holy Ghost" that you are learning in primary this month. Finally Nana gave the closing prayer.



Then we all went down the hall and had birthday cake and some fruit salad. Some special guests were Nana and Frank, who drove down from Sedona, and Grampa Ken who flew in from San Francisco. Also the Hagerman, Wurtz, and Church families that have known you a long time.


Last night before bed, you and Daddy talked and you wrote down some thoughts that you wanted to remember:

"While we were taking pictures before the meeting, I thought a lot about getting baptised and about how Jesus was baptised by John, and about how Jesus died for us. During Aunt Tara's talk on baptism, she talked about the sentences in the sacrament prayer and being forgiven. I felt it was true.

After getting baptised, I felt very excited and I wanted to run around very happily. During Grandma Thurston's talk, I thought about a lot of different things. The first thing I thought about was how Nana had sent us a lot of postcards. The next thing I thought about was how Grampa Ken had painted our wall. Both of those things together gave me the idea to send them some postcards back.

During the confirmation I felt warm and peaceful. When Dad said "receive the Holy Ghost", I felt the Holy Ghost. I remembered that it was the Holy Ghost because Grandma has just given a talk about it.

I had a great baptism."

Yes, Jonah you really did.

The Future's So Bright...

.....I Gotta Wear Shades



Who wouldn't want another one of these?

Headshots

Dear Jo,

Tonight for Family Night we headed to the Mesa Temple. You put on a white shirt and tie, along with your brand new suit coat. You thought it was hysterical to still wear your shorts and sandals. I promised I wouldn't let them show. And we took pictures to display at your Baptism this Saturday.

I took about 150 pictures, losing light every second and bemoaning my lack of knowledge. I've edited the best of them and will let you pick which ones will be displayed.

Dad played with Kariah and Marcus and tried to get you to laugh, and smile without looking like a goober. Hard to do apparently.

We've done a lot of preparation over the past few weeks, suit shopping, asking people to give talks and prayers, choosing songs, and now picture taking. I find myself once again knowing I could have done better, could have done more, but feeling limited by my ever increasing tummy and lack of knowledge. I just pray that our Savior will make up the difference.

All the while, I've realized how exceedingly proud I am of you. You have such incredible traits: patience, intelligence, humor, spiritual intuition, you truly amaze me. You inspire me and you make me so grateful to be your mother.

Baptism is a big step. It's when you are truly held accountable for your actions, in every eternal aspect. And it frightens me that I haven't taught you enough, or the right things. Again, I try to trust that Jesus will make up the difference. As I have to trust for myself, so must I for you.

While we were wandering around, towards the end I let you pick whatever spot you wanted pictures of. You found the petroglyph rock and we snapped a few there. Turned out to be the very best picture I took all night. The best light, the best focus, the best smile! And instead of the Temple, there's this darned rock!! So infuriating!!

I love you so much JoBear. I am so, so proud of you.

Oh Baby, Baby. Come on home.

Dear Friends,

Years ago, I was at one of those points, trying to figure out who I was and where I was going. Was I truly a stay at home mom? Was that what was destined to become of my college degree? Yet I tried the full time job/nanny thing and it was torture (even with the world's best nanny). Everyone around me seemed to be just plucky with their lot in life and every day, I questioned.

Along came a friend, someone I'd known already for years, yet along she came at just the right moment. With the same questions, and yet a knowledge that she (and I) would figure it out. We would be inspired to know when and how to inspire ourselves AND our babies.

We groaned and moaned together at the banality of a woman's life, and yet rejoiced in our womanhood and the glorious potential it brought. We both struggled with infertility and knew the sting of yet another day/month/year without Baby.

We were both blessed with Baby, in fact her preparations for Baby Girl inspired me that I wasn't quite done yet, after two.

Yet years have passed and her search for More Baby is yet fruitless. She needs More Baby. So does her Honey. And her Baby Girl, not so baby anymore.

If you or someone you know is considering adoption, please check this out. You won't be disappointed.

That was Then.

Dear Kids,



As I scan and edit literally hundreds of old pictures, I find myself with buried memories coming to the surface. I see this picture, taken at Nana's house about 5 years ago, and I remember feelings of craziness, exhaustion, the Ultimate Survival Mode. There is nothing like having two kids so close together, combined with a new move, spouse to a new career, new ward, new neighborhood etc.




This time, could be so similar and yet so different. Instead of two crazy boys, I'll get two crazy girls. And really just the two kids. I've got great neighbors, a great ward, and I know exactly what to expect out of the tax widow life.

So, we shall see...will this be Round 2 of Ultimate Survival Mode, or something altogether different?