Dallen's Baptism

Saturday the 24th was a big day. My baby turned eight and was baptized the same day. We also had the special experience of him being baptized the same day (and service) as my cute little nephew Levi. Life was good.

My dear friend Jaime (Aunt Jaime to my kids) made the boys a temple babtismal font cake. That was because Dallen asked for a cake with Jesus on it. I felt that perhaps crossed the line in appropriateness. (If nothing else,...how do you cut into that? ie, would you like some beard or the nose?) it wouldn't be good. Anyways, Jaime heard the dilemma and said that she would work on it. After searching through 5 dollar tree stores she emerged victorious with 12 oxen! It was a grand cake.

Our pianist forgot to show up but good news....I know how to play so I provided the music. Again, no big deal. However, I had the opportunity to view the audience as I watched family and friends come in to share Dallen and Levi's big day. I felt so blessed to watch the chapel fill with the sweet people in our lives. I am a blessed mama with a beautiful family. Thank you family and friends for loving my children!

Yesterday the chore for the boys was to wash the walls. I ran to the store to get some things for our day and when I got home it was lunchtime. They had washed the walls and were relaxing around the house. As I made lunch this was the conversation:
Dallen: "Mom, I have something hard in my nose."
Mom: Knowing it is allergy season and all we do is blow our noses around here,"Blow it."
Dallen: "Doesn't work"
so Mommy gets the kleenex, kneels down and goes through how to successfully blow our nose.

Dallen: "It's still there."
Mommy: " Keep trying, I'm going to keep working on lunch."
Then I hear...
Garrett: "I TOLD you not to put it up there!" (In a stage whisper)
Dallen: "I TOLD you it could be done!"
Mommy: (In my, I'm-not-stupid voice) "What did you shove up your nose!?!"

Turns out on a dare (or maybe not on a dare...no one can remember) Dallen put a puff from my pussy willow wreath up his nose and was unable to retrieve it.

Now picture...Mommy straddling a prone Dallen with a flashlight in one hand and tweezers in the other. There was no way on earth I was going to take my seven year old into the doctor for something this stupid! I fully expect toddlers to do this but come on!...a second grader and his bored brothers!

For the record I was successful in pulling out the mucus covered pussy willow puff but my gag reflex has yet to recover.

The Cloak.

Sunday morning I heard someone in the kitchen at 6:15 am. I know that is way to early on the Sabbath to be in the kitchen (we have SOME rules at our house:). So, I drag my warm body from my bed to find out who is so freaking hungry he must eat this early. I wander into the kitchen to see Dallen wearing Carson's old jedi cloak including the hood. (This is adding a certain degree of difficulty to his cold cereal making because he is not really able to see the cereal he is trying to pour the milk on.)

Mommy, "Why are you fixing yourself breakfast this early?"
Dallen, surprise in his voice, "You can see me?"

Yes, my friends, I had no idea this was an invisible cloak.

It's my Grandma B

Mom went on vacation, (to spend sister time with Aunt Margo) and when she does this she will often bring back "prizes" for me. (Yes, I know that makes me sound like I'm 11 years old but it still works for me at 39:).

This time, my prize was a scented sachet envelope and a small jar of hand cream. When I opened the hand cream, Mom was sitting there in anticipation. "What does it smell like?" she asks. I do not even have to think for a moment. I was instantly in my Grandma B's house. This particular scent is roses. It is one hundred percent the smell of my Grandma. Everything in my memory of Grandma is rose scented. Her lotions, her clothing and even her yard (she grew beautiful roses).

Now, at 39 years old, I like to indulge myself by putting on my 'grandma hand cream' and when I bury my face in my hands I drift right back to burying myself in one of her hugs. She wasn't a super huggy person except for the hello's and goodbye's. However, one summer I stayed with them while I attended a gifted and talented summer camp at WSC. I was upset one day with things in my life and even though I had outgrown my grandma in height, she held me and rocked me until the world was right again. Could she have even known that twenty-five years later her rose smell is still enough to calm me until my world is right again?

The Women

Last night there was a party at my house. It was women. Women came and visited and laughed. I loved looking around at my friends and noticed it was a room full of my life.
The woman that was at my birth, she was my very life.
The woman that went to more school, growth spurts, bad hair experiences than any other in the room, she was my childhood.
The woman who lived with me when I set out "on my own" to meet the world. She was my adventure.
The woman who grew up with my beloved husband. She is my family.
The woman who forced her way into my life with service and love during my own times of trial. She was my lighthouse.
The woman who knew I was more than I could believe at the time. She is my strength.
The woman who forces me to question everything until I understand and believe. She helped me grow my testimony.
These women, and more, were at my house and are my life. They each in her way make me want to be better so that I can be a better friend back. They deserve the best from me because they brought their best for me when they entered my life.

May you be fortunate enough to have the girlfriends (or ones like them) in your life.

Tangled and Chick Fil A

There are some things in life that are just so good...

Today I met a friend from high school for lunch and a movie and here are a couple great things I took from that visit.

I love movies.

I love animated movies.

I love Chick Fil A (reminds me of high school).

I can't believe that some people just don't age. (Amy)

It amazes me how much I still have in common with friends from high school.

As much as I would NEVER go back to high school to "relive the glory days", I cherish a few friendships that seem to be able to weather long absences.

I was so happy to spend a little time with a friend for no reason whatsoever.

Thanks, Amy...It was a great afternoon.

Temple Day

I went to the temple with a girlfriend yesterday after Zumba (and a shower:).
We were in the Ogden Temple and as we were walking up the stairs to our assigned session I looked over the banister and saw my Dad! We waited and walked with him for a minute (turns out he was on his third session of the day!).

I am not absolutely sure but I believe the last time I was with my Dad in an endowment session was when Tawnya went through or when the out of town kids come to town, I can't remember. Point being, this is not a common occurrence. We both frequent the temple just hardly ever together.

Being the temple session I cannot say much except that there is a power to sitting in Heavenly Father's house, worshiping in the most holy of places and being able to hear my Earthly Dad's voice and hold his hand for just a few moments.

I have been blessed beyond measure with my family. Out of concern and love for my baby sister I searched out the peace and strength of the temple and to have my Dad expressing his own devotion and testimony was priceless to my soul.

Heavenly Father knows each of us and he loves us so much...and he always hears our prayers.