Shelby's Baby Blessing

We had the opportunity to bless Shelby earlier this month. My mom, dad and brother where able to travel up for the occasion (plus another brother who lives in the area). It was a short trip, but always fun when family comes. I love my family!! My dad and brother had to take off right after sacrament meeting so we weren't able to get a family shot, but such is life. Shelby wore the same dress that Daylin wore 4 years ago... the one my wonderful and talented mother-in-law, Elaine made. Mike gave Shelby a beautiful blessing. It was a lovely day.

My mom was able to stay an extra day, and they she, I and the kids headed to the coast to meet up with my amazing Aunt Connie. Coast pictures and details to follow later.
(Silly piece of info, Shelby had her first haircut yesterday. At 2 1/2 months we cut an inch or so off at her neck. Goodbye mullet.)

Going Home

I love going home. 

 

My home town in California that is. I love spending time with my mom, getting to know and love her more as a friend and less as my mom. Because I think she is amazing and I love being her friend. 

 

I love watching my dad and brother play with my kids. It is so tender to me. Kids need a lot of love and it is nice when it comes from more than just me (and Mike of course). The other night as we were kneeling down for prayers, Daylin gave grandpa a hug and told him she loved him... All by herself, no prompting from me. Love it. 

 
I also love going to my home ward. Yesterday was wonderful at church. Other than 30 minutes of nursing, Shelby slept in my arms the whole time, which allowed me to actually listen to a good portion of the lessons/talks. When I looked around at other people during sacrament meeting and Sunday school, I just had this overwhelming sense of family. Of course I've known most of the people in the room since I was young. But even still I felt like we were one big family sitting around learning from each other. One big FHE. I haven't been in any other ward long enough to feel it elsewhere. My home town is so small it seems like everyone has always been there, and always will be there. Most of the other wards I've been in are so large and transient that the ward is never the same for long.

Someone also spoke a comment that I loved and wanted to share. She recounted a story of a young woman who conveyed to her father that she didn't think she had a testimony because she hadn't had a "big" experience. Her father told her that because she had been born in the church and had lived the gospel all her life, she lived in the "light" constantly. And that theoretically if she were to experience what it was like to live without the gospel, without the light to surround her, she would see that her whole life is her testimony. That she doesn’t need a life altering experience to show her the gospel is true.  I’m not very good at explaining it but it made a lot of sense to me.