Junie's baptism

I can hardly believe that five of my children have now turned eight and been baptized as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! I remember how amazed I felt when Abe turned eight and took that wonderful first step on the path back to Heavenly Father. And yet now…he is a Priest, and old enough to be the one baptizing Junie! I just can't get my mind around it.

Just for old times' sake, here's little Abe when he was 8 himself:

Standing in front of the exact same painting! We have switched stakes twice since then, but now we're back in the first stake center we started in!

Anyway, I know it was special to Junie to have her big brother baptize her. How do I know? Because my big brother baptized me too! :)

I was also amazed because in February or so, Junie decided she wanted to finish reading the whole Book of Mormon before her baptism. She has been making her way through First and Second Nephi for about two years now. :) So she started reading a LOT—like ten chapters a day. She would get up early and read the Book of Mormon, spend her free time during the day reading the Book of Mormon, and then read the Book of Mormon during her reading time before bed! And it paid off—she finished the book on the Wednesday before her baptism. We went out to breakfast together to celebrate. I love this spunky, determined little girl!

I told everyone I wanted ONE family picture with EVERY PERSON in it. We don't get those very often. In fact, the other kids' baptisms are some of the only occasions on which it's happened. It is fun to look back and see the changes over the years—at Abe's baptism, Seb's , Ky's, and Daisy's. So! Here we all are.

Junie with Grandma Nelson. Grandma and Grandpa Nielson came too, but I didn't get a picture!

Junie's "twin" Daisy (yes, they are 20 months apart, but everyone thinks they are twins and they love it) was so happy for her best friend. Daisy told me "When I looked at Junie coming out of the water, I knew exactly how she was feeling—because it's the same way I felt myself when I was baptized! I could just see the happiness shining out of her eyes."

If I ever did one thing right as a mother, it MUST be bringing these two little girls down to earth to be sisters. I have never known two who love each other so much.

I made millions of orange muffins with orange juice glaze (Junie's request) for after the baptism. I wish I had taken a picture of the pans and pans of them! (Why didn't I?!) We ate them at a park afterwards, and it was a perfectly bright, sunshiney, beautiful morning—just like Miss Juniper Lark herself! We are so happy to have her in our family!

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He will always be at our side

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Saturday Morning Session of the April 1984 Conference.

I liked these words from Elder Marvin J. Ashton:

Although He will always be at our side if we will but invite Him, never will He take from His children the great gift of agency—the power to choose.… Mothers…must learn to use this power wisely. There may be times when more than one course of action is placed before us. Each is right. It is then that wise and prudent decisions must be made, taking into consideration the season of life and the pertinent facts.… 

Sisters, do not allow yourselves to be made to feel inadequate or frustrated because you cannot do everything others seem to be accomplishing. Rather, each should assess her own situation, her own energy, and her own talents, and then choose the best way to mold her family into a team, a unit that works together and supports each other. Only you and your Father in Heaven know your needs, strengths, and desires. Around this knowledge your personal course must be charted and your choices made.

Knowing this doesn't really solve anything—that process of making choices and charting your "personal course" is ongoing and full of questions and uncertainty (if my own experience is any indication). And "molding [your] family into a team" feels like an almost impossible challenge at times. But I think it's nice to be reminded that it's a process Heavenly Father will "be at our side" for, "if we will but invite him."

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Hats, Easter, Gardens

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Here is evidence of a baby that likes to wear hats. I know it seems unbelievable but it's true! He comes to us with hats (or bunny ears, as the case may be) of all types and says "hat? hat?" hopefully until we put them on him. It's rather irresistible.

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Sam and I got to go away for an overnight trip for our anniversary…and we left our kids with no one but THEMSELVES! That was pretty amazing. The big kids split up the babysitting and cooked the meals and got everyone ready for church on Sunday morning so we could just stroll in and meet them there as the meeting started. We stayed close by in Park City, but it felt like a whole world away. There was so much snow! It was piled up taller than me! And the cabin we stayed in was sunny and peaceful and QUIET. So much quiet. We loved it.

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And we also got to drive down to the temple and Temple Square, where it was full Spring again. Beautiful.

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We had a nice Easter. My mom and my darling niece Sarah came for dinner (and we used the bunny dishes and had bunny cakelets for dessert, of course). We had salmon tacos…went on a walk…and took Nutmeg on a little walk too. What could be better?

Teddy's favorite color is green, and somehow he got the idea that these little green utility boxes are special places for him to stand. He finds them wherever we go and asks me to take a picture of him on them. It's the cutest.

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Some more cute little happenings…someone (Daisy?) drew a picture of Teddy holding his green bunny Seb made for him ("Velvet-velvet" is the bunny's name). So then he had to pose with said bunny and said picture.  •  Junie found a bumblebee and made him a little home out of Legos. She has a great love for these little bee friends of hers…and even though she's been stung a couple times, it doesn't deter her. When I told her she couldn't keep the bee inside as a pet, she cried. :( But she cheered up a little when I said I'd take her picture with him instead.  •  Aaaand here's Teddy on another green box.

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We got to enjoy some pretty Spring gardens. We have always loved Thanksgiving Point.

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And Red Butte Garden is another favorite. The kids ran and rolled down the hill as they always have…but this time it was different kids, and the reminder of time passing made me cry. One of those little sweeties that played train and roller coaster was now pushing the stroller for me and sitting down with me on a bench to watch and laugh at the little ones. I thought he might want to roll down the hill for old times' sake, but no. I love my big boys but oh…how I miss their little selves sometimes!

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