A birthday and a baptism

V. was baptized on her birthday! How special! We asked her if she wanted to be baptized on her birthday or Thanksgiving weekend{thinking that might be easier on family, maybe?}. She chose her birthday!
The night before, Steve's parents came over to give V. their birthday gifts to her. Grandma Hammond had made a lovely blue afghan for V. What's funny, is V.'s room used to be pink and we had just painted it blue that week! {Blue and green are her favorite colors}. Grandma Hammond didn't know that, but just felt the need to give V. a blue afghan. We also had asked Ruby at the start of the year if she would give V. a Navajo name when she turned 8. So she had been thinking about it all year and consulted with her Aunt Pearl. She said that she described V. to Aunt Pearl{she's never seen a photo of her that we're aware of}. Then they compared names they had picked. They both had picked names for V. that were very similar. So that's the name Ruby gave her. She explained a little bit about the tradition of girls names. Then she told us the name and what it means. So V.'s Navajo name is ~NIZHONI' YAZHI' BAH . Which means~ Beautiful Little Girl.  It was a very special evening with Grandma and Grandpa Hammond!
V. helped me with the program. We chose to have Grandma's and Aunt's on the program since her Grandpa's and Uncle's would be able to stand in on the Confirmation circle.
She chose the songs herself.
It was a very beautiful day! Steve got a little choked up while baptizing her and confirming her a member of the Church. Later, he asked me if he sounded silly. I said no. He isn't one to show emotion very often, so when he does, you know he is feeling some strong feelings. I told him it was very tender. And he gave her a beautiful blessing. V. was a little nervous before hand, but when it came down to it, she was calm. She had a special baptism towel to use that her Grandma West made for her embroidered with her name and date. Afterwards, we all went to our home for a luncheon. Family helped with food and it was all yummy! We also had birthday cake for V. It was in the shape of the CTR shield. We also had a little cake for Boyd since it was his birthday as well and we sang Happy Birthday to them both! She received some nice gifts from family members.
*Side note here* We bought her a nice, genuine leather bound scripture set, tote for her scriptures and a nice new CTR ring. That all cost a good amount so I thought it was good. The night before her birthday Steve asked if I had anything else for her. I said no. Well, yes, I had a couple other things I had bought for her but was holding off until Christmas. Steve asked me to wrap those up to give her for her birthday instead. He loves to spoil her! So we gave her those gifts first thing in the morning. She seemed happy, but I could tell she was sad she didn't get scriptures for her birthday.*
We waited to give her her scriptures and such until all the family was there. So after she opened gifts from them, we told her we had tricked her and still had a gift for her.  She was excited as she opened her tote and scripture set. The CTR ring was in the pocket of her tote. She was very happy and immediately found the Articles of Faith in her new scriptures and highlighted them.
We had the Elder Missionaries over for dinner the week before and had invited them to come to V.'s baptism. They came to our home after the baptism and explained that they had wanted to come, but had a service project that morning. But they wanted to give V. something. They first shared the story of Captain Moroni and the Title of Liberty {found in Alma 46 {Book of Mormon}}.Then they said they had looked around and tried to think what they could give V. They tore one of their white shirts, wrote the Title of Liberty on it, looked around their apartment and found a wire hanger that they straightened out and tied the torn shirt too. They also gave her a card. V. was pretty excited when they gave her these. We thanked them. Then I thanked them again and told them they don't realize that she will never forget the Elders that gave that to her the day she got baptized. They have made a permanent mark on her and are such a good example to her.
It was a wonderful day! I'm so grateful for all the family and friends who love and support V. Since we are a small family, I've always hoped and have been grateful for the love and support she gets from her extended family. She will need it someday when Steve and I are no longer around.

witches, springtime, lawn mowing, ramblings!

*V. lately has been very complimentary towards my cooking. We'll be eating something store bought and she'll say something like,"Your food is way better than this, Mom." Or," I just want your cooking, Mom."
Anyway, it's very sweet of her. And makes me feel good! She also has been eating food she used to not to eat. Well, food she would eat as a baby/toddler then quit eating as a pre-schooler but is now eating again! Yay!
{But she still won't eat potatoes or red meat. She hasn't liked those since she could start eating solid foods.}
*Steve and his brother went to the Super Cross in Salt Lake this last Saturday. They had a lot of fun and had perfect weather! While they were gone V. and I had a fun day! V.'s teacher has been reading her class 'the Twits' by Roald Dahle and she really wanted to buy it. So we went to the bookstore and she used some of her allowance to buy it. Then we went to Winger's for lunch. When the waitress asked if we wanted dessert I was about to say no when V. piped up "yes!" So we had an Asphalt Pie. V. LOVED it! She was like," This is so good  Mom! Why haven't we had this before?" I was like," ummm....Dad and I eat this fairly often. But I guess we've always had it just us." Oops!
Anyway, then V. ran through the sprinkler a little bit. But she got cold within 15 minutes {because come on, it IS Idaho and only April }, so then she got in the tub and had a nice warm bath!
So all in all, a fun day!
*My back has been feeling better so I asked the chiropractor about when he thought I could start running again. He said that honestly he wouldn't recommend running until NEXT summer. What?! I'm pretty upset and disappointed. He said even though my back may feel better and I might feel okay running now, my disks won't be fully healed. And with my vertebrae pounding on each other there would be a good chance of hurting myself again. Possibly even worse than now. So to be safe I need to wait a year to make sure everything is healed fully. Then I can run all I want. Makes sense. But still.... I was contemplating doing a half-marathon this Fall. And I had other goals I wanted to reach this year. And now all those goals are out the window. When I DO start running next year I'll have to start all over with my training. *sigh* And plus, running was such a stress reliever for me. I always felt so much better and happier after a run. Oh well. I guess I need to find other ways to relieve stress and just focus on other goals and staying healthy and getting stronger.
I also asked about mowing the lawn. I usually do that while Steve is at work. I feel bad that Steve and V. have been having to do so much because I can't. Well, Dr. Ellis said sure I can mow the lawn! But I can't start the mower. The whole pull-start thing would not be good for my back. Great! So yes, I can mow the lawn but I still have to wait for Steve to get home to start it for me! Too bad V. isn't big enough to start it for me....
* Today marks my 13th anniversary of being brain tumor free! YAY! You can read more about that here. One of these years maybe I'll talk more about that week and how I felt and all. But not today.
I have MRI's and a doctor check up every 2 years. That is not this year, but next year. Last year though, the doc said everything looked good. So I guess we'll wait and see what he says next year!
* I went to the Temple this morning. I always love going to the Temple. I really love going with Steve, but no where does it say I can't just go by myself once in awhile. I feel uplifted, re-energized, re-focused and peaceful. That's the key word here, peaceful!
* Today is the first of May. And we had snow. It's funny that just a few days ago V. was running through the sprinkler and now we have snow! But what can I say, that's springtime in southeast Idaho for ya!
I also realized today, that being May means school ends this month! When I told V., she got all sad and said she didn't want to school to end because she loves her teacher so much. So cute! You know, I think I would be totally fine with year-round school. And I think V. would be fine as well! Just have 2ish weeks off in the Fall, Christmas, Easter and Summer time. I think it'd be fun!
I also think it'd be cool to go to boarding school! Now, I don't think I could part with V. and send HER to boarding school. But I would LOVE to go to boarding school in England, Switzerland, oh alright I'll say it, " HOGWARTS!" {V. would love to go there as well!}
* Speaking of magic, V. has really been into Harry Potter. However, she watched the 3rd one for the first time the other day and had nightmares and ended up crawling into our bed that night. I warned her it was one of the scarier ones, but she wanted to watch it so I let her.
She has been waving "wands" around and shouting magic spells at everything. Even while we are playing chess{which she is pretty darn good at, I might add} she points her wand at the chess pieces and shouts spells. Interestingly, she likes Ginny more than Hermione. She pretends she is Ginny, wants to be Ginny for Halloween and wants to buy a Ginny Weasly wand. I asked her why she likes her over H. and she said it was because Ginny has brothers. And she wants brothers. Awww!
And I think Ginny is a good role model. {So is Hermione.} So I love that she wants to be like Ginny!
Anyhoo, this has turned into a bunch of rambling. So I'll quit. For today. {this thought jumping around I do has me questioning if they put my brain back in correctly after that surgery 13 years ago...}

Follow up on Relief Society night

Now that I have a few moments to myself I wanted to follow up on last Thursday's post. About Relief Society night.
We have had some crazy, crazy wind lately. But when you live in Idaho, it happens! Anyway, Thursday started out calm but a wind was starting to come up by evening. And we got a weather alert that we were in a strong wind warning until Saturday night. Steve made the comment, " What if it blows so hard that the power goes out tonight? We'll have this fireside by candlelight!" I think he was trying to lighten my stress but all I could think was, " Crap! What if the power goes out?! I'm in charge! Which means everyone will look to ME to solve things!" So I packed some candles and matches. Just to be safe. ;)
We all went to the church house where Steve set up 2 tables for the refreshments. Since I can't set up the tables because of my back. Then he and V. left to take her to my folks for the evening. I put out table clothes, cups and plates and napkins. Lemon water. And flowers. I LOVE fresh flowers! Then I waited.
I went into the Primary room and practiced my song by myself.
Then waited.
Then Sue, who was playing for me came and we ran through the song. I thought I'll be fine if I can just get the nerves out of my voice!.
Then waited.
Steve called to say he might be a little late. I was like," NO!!!" I need you here to calm my nerves!
Then Glen Rawson showed up. We chatted for a bit. I told him how when I first got this calling not quite a year ago I had a ton of ideas for R.S. Night flow out of my mind. I wrote them all down. His name was among the ideas. But I knew he was a busy man and I hated to take him away from his family so I put it off. But then towards the end of last year, his name just kept coming to my mind. Over and over. So I finally gave in to the prompting and talked to the Bishop about having him come. And now here we were doing a fireside with him! So I told him this was definitely the Lord's plan and I was so glad that he took the time to come do this for us. He said that doing firesides was actually therapeutic for him. So he was grateful, for the opportunity.
Anyway, then Steve showed up. Just in time! And he and his mom sat near the front where I could see them!
I got up and welcomed everyone. I think I said something kinda stupid. I hate conducting. We had our opening hymn and prayer and then I got up to introduce Bro. Rawson. I had asked him before hand if he wanted to be introduced a certain way or anything. He said it didn't matter, just short and sweet. Well, short it was! I just basically said what I had said in my post last Thursday. That he was my old Seminary teacher and that I felt like his teachings and enthusiasm for the Gospel really had an impact on me. Or I said something like that! Anyway, then I turned  the time to him and went to sit by Steve.
Glen Rawson's talk was amazing! He talked about Faith. He told some stories from the early saints. He stressed that we need to have more faith to do what the Lord wants us to do. Faith to fulfill our callings. Faith in all we do. He also said something to the effect that our faith is no less then the saints faith. Sometimes we hear their stories and think, " I could never have done that! They had such faith!" He said our Faith is just as strong today. Our trials are every bit as hard as the saints. We need to not put ourselves down. But just have the faith to do what's right. With faith all things are possible.
Then he had me sing, "When Faith Endures". This song has such a great message! Unfortunately there isn't a public recording of this song for me to share with you. And I'm not smart enough to figure out how to share the recording Courtney sent me in an email with you. Sorry! But I sang it well. I messed up one small part, but felt the Spirit with me and this song. And that's all that matters.
Anyway, I'm paraphrasing what all was said. And this is probably more of what I HEARD then what was SAID. But it was good. SO good. The Spirit was strong. I came away feeling uplifted and encouraged to do more. Steve really isn't a fan of listening to stories on the radio. And that's the only way he knew Glen Rawson. So he said hearing him in person was awesome. He loved his sense of humor, he loved his stories, and he loved the way Bro. Rawson told the stories.{Some people are just great story tellers.} Steve loved the stories about Ephraim and the Indians.  Steve said he felt the Spirit more than once during the evening.
Afterwards we all mingled and ate cupcakes and brownies. More than one person came up to me to thank me for this evening and to tell me this was exactly what they needed to hear.  Following the promptings of the Spirit to put this night together was good. People needed it. And to have someone tell me this was what they were needing in their lives right now is what made this evening a success.
I wish you all could have been there!
As Bro. Rawson would always say at the end of class, " The Church is True!"
P.S.
And the power never went out! It didn't get windy enough for that!

*Last night when Steve got home from work he came into the kitchen where I was preparing dinner and put his arms around me and kissed me and told me I was beautiful. Awww! I love how even though I've gotten fat and older he still compliments me and finds me beautiful! He also said he thought my hair looked real pretty {I hadn't washed it since the day before and had been to the gym so it was sweaty. But I DID curl it!}
The other night he said he loved how my skin smells. I was like, " hmm.....What does my skin smell like?" He said it smelled like I'd just washed with good smelling soap. .....So I guess my skin smells clean. That's good to know.
Anyhoo, I just love how he makes me feel good about myself and lets me know he loves me!

*Last night Steve also told me that if I end up having back surgery he'll be p.o.ed big time. At ME! He said I'll have brought it on myself.
He said all this after finding out I had vacuumed the house that day. As well as carried in groceries the other day. Etc, etc...
I told him how frustrating it is to sit around all day doing nothing and waiting for him and V. to get home and do my job for me. I mean, I'm a stay at home housewife and mother. It's my role, my job to take care of the house and everything. Then to be told that I can't do those things for a few months because of my stupid back is just..... I feel useless. Lazy. Frustrated. Anxious. Everything! I know I need to follow these restrictions so my back can heal. Steve said I need to let him and V. do those things for me. He says not to feel guilty asking for help. They WANT to help me out. I guess I'm just being too prideful...
I've also gained some weight. And all I can do is walk. A little of the elliptical. And I've been trying to eat better. But the weight just keeps going up. I can't wait till I can start jogging again. More frustrations....

*Tonight is Relief Society night . I'm so stressed. I always stress the day of R.S. night. I hate being in charge of things.{Yet I really am loving this calling! } And tonight we've invited the husbands AND the 3rd Ward to come as well. AND I'm singing. Stress, stress, stress. I just hope it all goes well, that people come away feeling uplifted and encouraged, and that I don't mess up this song. I don't have the melody written out. All I have are lyrics and a recording. So I've been listening to the recording over and over trying to get the melody stuck in my head! It's a very simple but lovely song.With a great message. Written by a girl I went to school with. Very talented gal. So anyway, I hope I do it justice!
 Glen Rawson is speaking to us tonight. And everyone's excited! He's like a local celebrity. When people are like," You know him?!"  I'm like, "yeah, he was my seminary teacher. He cool."  ;) No, but really, they say everyone has 1 or 2 leaders/teachers/adults in their young life that helps shape who they become and has an impact on them {aside from family members, of course!}. Bro. Rawson was definitely one of those to me. Through his teachings and stories and example I gained a stronger testimony of the Gospel. When life got hard, I was prepared spiritually to handle it. And my faith and testimony keep growing as I continue living life. {Some other teachers I had that I think had an impact on me was my Achievement day leader~Sis. Starzcky {s/p}, Young Woman leaders Sis. Rammell, Sis. Bitton, and Sis. Sorenson and my choir teacher~ Mrs. Mann.Plus many more! }
Anyway, Steve thought it was pretty cool when I approached our Bishop about having Bro. Rawson come speak to us and he was like,"Can you really get Glen Rawson?!" And I was said," He's an old friend. All I can do is call and see if he can come or not. No promises, as I know he's a busy man. But I'll ask."  But what Steve heard, " oh sure! Glen and I go way back! He's an old friend! I'll call him up!" Anyway, he thought that was cool....
{Bro. Rawson asked me to sing tonight. I didn't put myself in the program. I hope people won't think I'm trying to toot my own horn or something....}
*Sunday is Steve's Birthday. Just thought I'd put that out there...