Salt Lake City (Day 1 of our Utah Trip)

Last weekend we took a trip to Utah!  We loaded up the kids and the car and headed to Kanosh on Wednesday, the 2nd of July.  It was a long trip (12 hours start to finish), but the kids did amazing.  They had a few "hard" moments, but overall, they were great in the car.  We got to Kanosh, more particularly my Uncle Brant's house, at 11:00 pm.  The next morning we woke up, visited a bit, then loaded the kids BACK into the car and took them 2.5 hours to Salt Lake City.  They weren't as happy about this road trip, but still, I feel like they did okay.  We decided to go to the Church History Museum and to Temple Square.  I didn't take any pictures at Temple Square this time, but I did get some from the museum.

Here are the kids bunked up and ready for bed.

They are ready for a wagon trip!

A little exhibit that is like the baptismal fonts in the temples.  The girls have been fascinated by the baptismal font since we toured the Gilbert, Arizona temple.  It was fun for them to see this exhibit.

Upstairs at the museum, they have a really neat children's area.  Everything is hands on.  The girls put on some skirts and tried learning some new dance moves.  It was probably more entertaining for me then it was for them.

Oliver "grew" a garden.

Preston just chilled.

Those poor chickens didn't see Oliver coming.  He man handled them a bit more than they were ready for.  

They built a "Temple"

And went fishing.

Hey... Preston got to catch one too!

As I mentioned before, after the museum we headed to Temple Square.  The Salt Lake Temple is in the middle of some maintenance and was fenced off.  I have been told it will reopen in April, 2015.  The Sister Missionary that I visited with informed me that they had 99 weddings the last day the temple was open!  WOW!  We took the kids into the Visitor Center.  That was fun.  They have a neat display of the Salt Lake Temple that shows what some of the rooms look like inside.  While standing next to the exhibit, a tour of some Korean visitors came by.  A lady spotted me with Preston, and next thing I knew, Preston had a group of grandparent age people doting on him.  It was fun to share him with others, letting him bring joy into their day, even though we had no way to properly communicate with each other.  He just smiled at them from his stroller and they smiled back.

We ended our visit to Salt Lake with dinner then headed back to Kanosh.  When we got back, the kids enjoyed the rest of the day playing with their dad and just having fun.  It was a good day!

Blessing Preston

It is finally here... Preston's big day!  The day most of his priesthood holding loved ones hold him in their arms and he is given a name and a blessing.  What a special day for him.  Here are some of the pictures from the special day.

His blessing gown:

 Looking handsome in his first suit:

 The aftgan his mama made him for the big day:

 A family picture after Sacrament meeting:

 Following the blessing, there was a large gathering at our house with good food and great people.  Brandon and I counted 75 that attended.  We we sad that my Grandma and Grandpa George weren't able to come, but blessed to see so many other people there.  I, of course, being a little silly, forgot to use my camera during the gathering.  I did, however, get a picture of the cute cousins that are so close in age.  Here they are.  Skylar had already eaten and was giving smiles.  Oliver was hungry and giving the "mom, where is lunch?" face.  They are too cute.

 Thank you to everyone that was able to attend and share this special day with us.  It was all so wonderful.

Gilbert Temple

Wednesday was a special day.  Our family woke up, dressed in our church clothing, and headed to the new Gilbert, Arizona Temple for a tour.  The temple is currently open until mid February for tours before it is dedicated in March.  You are encouraged to make a reservation, so I picked an 8 am tour.  

We headed to Gilbert, picking up breakfast on the way (nothing like some donuts to start the day, right?)  Then we walked over to the chapel neighboring the temple.  This is where they showed a video about the importance of temples, the history of the Saints in Gilbert, and also a little bit about the building of the Gilbert Temple.

 During the video, reverence didn't seem to be on Oliver's agenda.  He was too busy pestering his sister (Melanie) and playing with Hymn books.  What was a little humorous though, was that he noticed the moment the video was over.  You could tell he knew he was busted, because he quickly folded his arms and said (not too quietly), "In the name of Jesus Christ, amen!"  Nice try, Oliver.  We all know what you were up to!

After the video, the escorts showed us to the Temple.  The tour seemed to take on the approach of a long group playing follow the leader.  It was definitely clear which way we should go.  The temple was (and is) an indescribable beauty.  There is just no other way to put it.  It was a very vertical experience, with large stairways that showcase magnificent stain glass windows.  It was definitely a memorable experience. 

Upon asking the kids which rooms were their favorites, and just from listening to them talk over the last 2 days, I have determined the following:

Noelle is in love with the baptismal font.  She is a little discouraged that she herself won't be baptized there, but is willing to wait until she is 12 to go.  She has informed me that when she is 12, we will be going *a lot*.  

Melanie is excited about getting married in the beautiful "marriage room for sealings".  She really liked that room.

They both have told me how they felt the Holy Ghost in the temple, especially in the room with the bright beautiful lights.  I would have to agree.  The Celestial Room always makes an impression on me, and the one in the Gilbert Temple is definitely amazing.  I'm really glad they have been able to feel the spirit and acknowledge that it was there, in the Temple.

I'm not sure which room was Oliver's favorite, but I have to say, he was extremely reverent inside the temple.  It was like a 360 change from how he was in the church building.  I have to believe it's because even he knew how special the Temple is.

Here are some pictures we took outside of the temple after the tour.

I'm so blessed to live so close to so many temples.  When I thought we were moving to North Dakota, one thing that bothered me was knowing the nearest temple would be a 4 hour drive.  How blessed we are.  I'm so grateful for the temple and for the feelings to peace it brings to my life.

A Special Part

Tonight was the ward's Christmas party.  Just before Thanksgiving, I got a call asking me if Melanie would be willing and available to play Mary in the nativity that the primary children would be presenting to the ward.  I was told that she would have a few lines to memorize, and would have to provide her own costume and a baby to hold.  I decided that it would be a perfect opportunity for her and new that she would be excited about it.  I was definitely right about her being excited.  She was that and more.  The pictures aren't the best, but the primary did a wonderful job with the little presentation.

Here they are singing "Away in a Manger"

 Melanie was Mary, and Hunter Burnham was Joseph.  They were the youngest participants in the presentation and made a great team.

 Their lines were:

Joseph: "I am Joseph.  I had the privilege of being Jesus's earthly guardian"

Mary: "I am Mary, the mother of Jesus."

Joseph: "As Christmas draws near, let us not focus on the gifts we will receive, but instead take time to remember the Gift we have already been given:  our Savior Jesus Christ."

Mary: "For God so loved the world that he gave his Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

After they left the stage, the whole nativity assumed below while the congregation sang "Silent Night".

It was a wonderful presentation and all the children did a beautiful job.  

I'm proud of Melanie.  She did a great job, said all her words clear and perfect, and didn't look nervous at all.  We love you, Melanie!

"My Life's Dream"

Melanie has been asked to give a talk in primary.  She has literally been waiting all year for this opportunity.  She was asked to give one in June, but unfortunately, it was the same week as my cousin's graduation, and I had to tell the primary presidency that she wouldn't be able to do it.  I had asked them if they could give her another opportunity, because of how emotional Melanie had become over missing her chance.  After 6 months of waiting and asking when, Melanie finally got her chance.  When she got the slip, she quickly showed it to me and told me she had been "always wanting this".

This morning we wrote her talk and then she practiced giving it.  This was all before breakfast.  During breakfast, Melanie says "I love my talk.  I'm so happy to get to do it today.  It's been my life's dream!"  It made me smile.

Dream big, Melanie!

Here is Melanie's talk:

There have been many prophets who spoke of Jesus Christ's coming long before his birth.  In the Bible, the prophet Isaiah told of the birth of Jesus.  In the Book of Mormon, Samuel the Lamanite told the Nephites that baby Jesus would be born in five years.  These are only two examples of the times prophets spoke of Jesus.  As we know, Jesus was born, just as they said.

I know this is true.  In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

I have to add:

I originally wrote this post before church.  Now that church is over, I have to add a funny story.  Melanie waited and waited for her talk.  She started it great.  She was reading it all by herself and doing a good job.  I stood next to her as she gave her talk showing some pictures of the prophets that she spoke of.  Well, sometime around when she started talking about Samuel the Lamanite, Melanie's face started turning red and she started doing a famous little dance...  The one that only means one thing.  I tried to get her to skip to the end, but she was determined.  She ended the talk and I rushed her off to the bathroom (where I had to remind her that she needed to go).  Luckily, there wasn't an accident...  That was probably the most memorial primary talk I have witnessed for a while.  I'm really glad she was able to finish her "life's dream".

In the end, Melanie did a wonderful job.  I'm so proud to be her mom.