Marigold's Baptism

Here is our darling Marigold all ready to be baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! Can you believe that we've now had six of these happy days with our children? (Here are Abe, Seb, Ky, Daisy, and Junie! Oh, they are sweet and full of light on their baptism days!)

Abraham baptized Goldie, as he did Junie before her, which is such a happy thing. (And happily, though we are in a new stake and new stake center, they have the same picture of Jesus in the foyer! Does every chapel have that?) But my favorite moment of the day was the glimpse I caught of this little brother-sister practice session in the hall before the baptism started:

Marigold also decided that, like Junie, she would read the whole Book of Mormon by herself before she turned eight. And she did it, finishing in plenty of time by early May! She had already read the picture scripture story books about a thousand times, so she didn't seem to find it daunting at all. I loved walking into the girls' bedroom in the mornings and seeing them all curled up on their beds with their scriptures and marking pencils.

My mom, Sam's dad, my nephew and his wife, and my niece all got to come to celebrate Marigold's happy day.

Unfortunately we didn't get the traditional picture of just our family, so here we are with Sebastian's head stuck onto my nephew Mark's body, which is nearly as good. Gus, as you can only somewhat tell from this picture, was very wiggly and grumpish during the whole baptism. Perhaps he needed his spirit sent into some swine for awhile. At least Ziggy consented to take off his doggy hat for the occasion!

There don't actually seem to be very many of us in this picture, a phenomenon I have often noticed and wondered at.

Goldie and Abe

Miss Goldie in her beautiful baptism dress. I bought this dress for her a year ago, which was foolish of me I know, but it was just such a pretty dress and I knew it would be perfect for her—and I bought it a size too big just to make sure it would fit! Unfortunately, determined to catch up with her sisters, she grew more like two sizes this year! But the dress did still fit her. Just.

Everyone came over for a little lunch afterwards (planned by Goldie: egg salad on rolls, chicken wonton salad, watermelon and cantaloupe, and angel food cupcakes) and Goldie was just bursting with goodness and happiness. Every time I looked at her, her pure…shininess? almost took my breath away. It made me look forward to the future day when our covenants and repentance allow us to all be "purified, even as He is pure."

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The Grand Canyon

Sam and I have never been to the Grand Canyon before, though we've considered making that detour on our way to Arizona before. It seemed like a good place to go for an anniversary trip! It is just as spectacular as we imagined it would be—although it is hard to really comprehend anything on that scale. It didn't really seem so much huger than Canyonlands or Flaming Gorge and it didn't make me think, "Wow, nothing I have ever seen before is anything like this!" But it IS bigger, and you realize that when you get a glimpse of some tiny little white lines of rapids down in the Colorado River and then read a sign telling you those rapids are as big as a thirty-story building. !!!

We stayed in this unusual dome tent-ish thing, about a half hour away from the canyon.

It had a stove in it, and a bed, and was much nicer than a real tent, as you can see.

And there was a big window for looking out at the sunrise…

And a skylight for looking at the stars. I'd had high hopes for the stars, but the moon was full the nights we were there, and while it was bright and beautiful, it made the stars themselves…rather negligable.

It got really cold at night, but the pellet stove kept us warm. It made such lovely crackling fiery sounds, too. Luckily we were able to get a bit of a cellular signal, because Sebastian was frantically texting for help with the sacrament meeting talk he was giving the next day, and I was able to sit snugly in our little dome and give him suggestions.

Thanks to the wonders of having an online sacrament meeting broadcast, we were able to find a place with wifi in one of the Visitor Center parking lots at the Grand Canyon and watch Seb's talk! He did a good job.

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20 good years

Sam planned the best anniversary celebration for us last year, and though I knew it could never be equaled, it was my turn to plan what we did this year, and I had to think of something! I realized we were in the ideal situation for babysitting for a brief window of time, because Abe would be finished with his BYU classes but not on a mission yet, so he could be around to drive the other kids where they needed to go, and then of course we don't have any tiny babies at the moment, Gus being a ripe old 17 months and the new baby not due till August. So the oldest five kids stayed home with Gus, and the youngest three (besides Gus) went to stay at my mom's, and Sam and I were able to get away by ourselves for a few days!

I subscribe to one of those "cheap flights from Salt Lake" emails, so I decided if a good deal came up at the right time we'd just go wherever it was, and if not we'd drive somewhere. It doesn't really matter where you go, does it, when you have a chance to go somewhere without kids? Anywhere feels new and fun! Anyway, it turned out that there were $63 flights to Phoenix, so I looked around at what was within driving distance of Phoenix and found Sedona, a place I'd never heard of. It looked beautiful, so we found a place to stay and planned to spend a day or two there and then drive up and see the Grand Canyon too.

Sedona is one of those places where people have "retreats" instead of vacations. The brochure in our rental house advertised full moon yoga sessions, and shops selling healing crystals and aura photography, and about six pages of businesses that belong to the "Sedona Metaphysical Spiritual Association." Supposedly there are several naturally occurring "spiritual vortices" in the area, caused by special…magnetic…lines along earth's energy fields?, which I don't like to make fun of, but…well, actually I kind of do like to, but I won't. But I can assure you Sam and I were very funny about them.

Luckily, Sedona is also a beautiful place NOT to get one's palm read and one's aura photographed. It reminded us of St. George, but packed into a smaller area and with more vegetation. We loved the little house we stayed in (just a guest house in someone's backyard) with this lovely view from the front porch:

What does one even do without kids? Go on hikes, apparently. And eat late dinners. At least that's what we did! We steered clear of a couple hikes that looked lovely, just because the trailheads were terribly crowded, and did some of the "less popular" ones which turned out to be just as lovely.

This was a hike around the mesa the Sedona Airport sits on top of. It's right in the middle of town but felt like it was way out in the wilderness!

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These actions require great courage

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Women's Session of the October 1992 Conference.

I've been thinking a lot about trust lately—trust in God, specifically. That's because I've been studying President Nelson's talk on faith, and faith and trust go together…but are they the same thing? I'm not sure. That's why I've been thinking about it, I guess. My current understanding is that faith is a principle of action and power, but trust is more like…part of a relationship? A feeling? Something that leads you to faith, or keeps you motivated to keep trying for it? I don't know, but when I think of having faith in God, it feels like I need to DO something. When I think of having trust in God, it feels more internal, like maybe I need to just know Him better, or love Him better, or something.

Anyway, the flip side of trust (AND faith??)—seems to be fear. And Sister Virginia H. Pearce gave a really good talk about fear in the Women's Session of October 1992 Conference. Interesting topic for a talk, right? Here's what she says:

Why is fear part of earth life?

Perhaps our Heavenly Father’s greatest hope is that through our fears we may choose to turn to him. The uncertainties of earth life can help to remind each of us that we are dependent on him. But that reminder is not automatic. It involves our agency. We must choose to take our fears to him, choose to trust him, and choose to allow him to direct us. We must make these choices when what we feel most inclined to do is to rely more and more on our own frantic and often distorted thinking.

I really like how she sums that up—it's when we feel most panicked and fearful that we most need to "choose to take our fears to Him." Which I suppose is, itself, an act of faith. Then I love this counsel she gives next:

As we try to live his commandments and pray to him, there are things he will direct us to do that will help calm our fears. These actions often require great courage and direction from the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost may help us to understand when and with whom we should share our fears. He will support us as we face our fears and try to do things that we have never done before.

It's so interesting that as part of calming our fears, the Holy Ghost will sometimes urge us to face our fears—to do the very things we are afraid of! It seems contradictory and circular at first—"the cure for fear is to not be so fearful!"—but it works if we follow small step after small step in these "courageous actions" the Spirit prompts us to take. I want to become better at looking for how I can courageously trust God!

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Education continues as long as we live

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Sunday Afternoon Session of the October 1992 Conference.

I found some old math pages from our homeschool awhile ago, and it made me laugh to see set forth so plainly the differences between two of my children. Here is child #1's work:

And here is Child #2's (click to enlarge, if you dare).

I know it's not big news that different children have different learning styles and different talents. But I guess it IS surprising to me to watch those things unfolding over the years. Those traits that were latent and potential in childhood—only able to be guessed at, really—are now driving real decisions with real consequences. It scares me, honestly, knowing that my role as a mother is increasingly only a supporting one—but that it must BE a supporting one in all the right ways. And I am very often unclear on what those ways should be.

Elder Packer gave an interesting talk about education in the October 1992 Conference. Now that Sam and I are getting to this stage of life where our children are beginning to make big decisions about what comes next for them, and we're trying to figure out how their preferences and our hopes and this world we live in might interact, I have been pondering a lot of questions in my heart. Elder Packer's words here spoke to me surprisingly directly:

This summer at a family reunion, Sister Packer and I announced the end of a family tradition. Our ten children and some of our grandchildren have attended BYU. It will not be possible for all of our grandchildren to follow that tradition.

We advised them to follow the counsel of the Brethren. If they cannot attend a Church school, and this will be increasingly the case, they should gather with other members of the Church at a school where an institute of religion is available to them. Then, as they study secular subjects, they may learn the “covenants and church articles” as the scriptures tell us we should. (D&C 42:13.)

They will not be judged on how many degrees they hold or how extensive their schooling may be, but on how well educated they are in those things which are of eternal value.

We told our family that we will be quite as proud of them learning a trade as we would a profession. We will be equally pleased with them if they choose vocational schools and make their living with their hands.

After all, education continues as long as we live. If there is ever an end to secular learning, surely there is no end to spiritual learning.

The Lord’s work moves forward on the strength of those who labor in the workaday world: the apprentice, artisan, journeyman, laborer, office worker, waitress, and, in a class by itself—homemaker.

Then he emphasizes a part of scripture I've never really thought about much before:

We must not ignore these warnings in the Book of Mormon:

“The people began to be distinguished by ranks, according to their riches and their chances for learning; yea, some were ignorant because of their poverty, and others did receive great learning because of their riches.

“Some were lifted up in pride, and others were exceedingly humble; …

“And thus there became a great inequality … insomuch that the church began to be broken up.”  

Jacob warned us of those who “when they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish.” He added: “But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God.” (emphasis is Elder Packer's)

I don't know, it has just made me thoughtful. What is true education and how can we best seek it? What surprising places might it take us? How can we best encourage our children to seek it? How much of their current trajectory is based on tradition and the path of least resistance, rather than intention and seeking revelation? How much emphasis ought to be based on conventional wisdom, and how much on their unique gifts? And what can I do to make sure my OWN education continues "as long as I live"?

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When so many of my children are drowning

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Sunday Morning Session of the October 1992 Conference.

Elder Marion D. Hanks talked about some things he had learned from other religions. I thought this insight from Jewish tradition was sweet:

Jewish tradition helps us further appreciate the nature of our Heavenly Father in the tender practice of the Half Hallels offered at Passover in celebration of the historic exodus of the children of Israel from Egypt and their passing through the Red Sea. When they reached the sea, the pursuing Egyptian armies overtook them. Through Moses, God divided the waters, “And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground.” The Egyptians went in after them. Then Moses stretched his hand again over the sea, and the waters returned. The Israelites were safe, and the Egyptian armies were drowning. Triumphantly the people began to sing hymns of praise to the Lord. But the Almighty stopped them and said, “How can you sing hymns of praise and jubilation when so many of my children are drowning in the sea?”

In remembrance of that event, Jewish people during the latter period of Passover include abridged or shortened psalms of praise, Half Hallels, as part of the celebration.

I confess I had never thought of the Egyptians drowning in the Red Sea as anything but a triumph until I watched "Prince of Egypt." Then it occurred to me that God did love the Egyptian armies, too! It's strange to think of His love extending to the very "enemies" he helps us fight against! But it's a good reminder that I should seek for that same love.

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Easter

You probably know Easter is my favorite holiday. And this year's Easter was extra good because we had beautiful weather AND General Conference. It was almost too much goodness on one day! The girls still wanted matching dresses (every year I wonder if this is the last year they'll like it?), the daffodils were in full bloom, and the flowering pear blossoms, which had been hesitating, decided to open up just for the occasion.

We haven't managed to find time for dyeing Easter eggs for the last few years now (those days before Easter always seem to be so busy!) but the kids love it, so they were very pleased to help get out the food coloring and measure out the drops this time. I think the eggs turned out quite beautifully!

And then we had real eggs for our traditional backyard egg hunt!

Much to my joy, (most of) the older boys consented to join the egg hunt. That made everyone else extra excited and happy too.

Look high and look low!

Gus found a big basketball-egg.

It wasn't cold. Ziggy just always wants to wear his coat.

Also, his pants are too big so he was constantly pulling them up.

Speaking of ill-fitting clothing, I do wish for the sake of these pictures that Gus was dressed in some adorable Easter outfit featuring bunnies, like he was last year (look at that tiny wee thing!). But the truth is…this is much closer to what he looks like most days. For some reason every time anyone puts pants on him they end up falling (or being taken!) off, or else the snaps of his onesies are flapping open indecently. So here he is in all his frog shirt, diaper, squishy-legged glory. He didn't seem to mind the hard ground or the poky grass on his bare feet. He was just happy to be running around outside with everyone else.

Oh, Goldie. She always runs towards me like she's Millie in "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" singing Wonderful, Wonderful Day. "You came out of nowhere; walking through the door, looking straight my way…"

Malachi taking the opportunity for a moment of meditation.

Gussie got some bubbles in his Easter basket and all his siblings were only too willing to entertain him with them.

I like the way he makes sympathetic blowing motions with his lips.

Of course we brought Nutmeg outside to hunt for eggs with us. It was only right that he enjoy the beautiful weather! You can see Gussie watching eagerly for his chance to grab the bunny…

…which came soon enough! Nutmeg is such a patient bunny. He lets Gus catch him sometimes and stroke him a bit. But he is quite capable of getting away when he wants to!

So Gus spent most of his time very happily chasing after the just-out-of-reach bunny. Look at those chubby little legs run!

This does not bode well. Luckily the hose was not hooked up to the water.

What on earth is Goldie doing back there?

Well, all in all—eggs, bunnies, dresses, conference, and chubby legs—it was a very nice day.

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