Blessing Day

On Sunday we blessed Alex. Erick gave her the blessing with Stan (grandpa), Rick (grandpa), Jarel (uncle), Brant (uncle), & Justin (bishopric & friend) all standing in the circle. She had no pacifier and fussed through the whole thing. Nonetheless still a beautiful blessing.

She was blessed to learn from her sisters and parents, to have the spirit with her, and have good health throughout her life. She was blessed that as she struggled to keep the commandments she would be strong and dilligent in her choices. She was counseled to follow the example of her sisters and cousins, to depend on family to teach and guide her in the paths she should follow, and blessed with the tenderness needed to reach out to grandmas, grandpas, aunts, and uncles to guide her throughout her life. Simple but powerful.

Alex was as equally as beautiful as her blessing. We are blessed to be part of a family with some very talented seamstresses. For this special day we were blessed to have Aunt Tiffini make her blessing dress. It was so beautiful. Everything I hoped for. Its beauty was greatly enhanced by its simplicity. I loved the length, the fabric, the pleats, and the beautiful lace. She looked like an angel. Thank you Tiffini.

It was not only a blessing day for Alex, but a day for me to recognize my blessings as well. As I sat on the bench surrounded by 17 little neices and nephews, I found myself getting slightly aggitated by their busy little bodies in this confined space. However, it didn't take long before I realized wait, what a blessing it is for me to have all these little neices and nephews. These are the cousins to whom my daughter is to look to. Our families love us enough to be there with us on this special day. It is this family, grandmas, grandpas, uncles, aunts, and cousins who will help mold and shape my daughter. I couldn't ask for better examples. If I were to pick a family for my children to learn and grow from, I don't know of a better choice. What a blessing they are to us. For this I will be forever be grateful.

More Blessing Pics

THANKS ANDREA!!!

BIPPITY BOPPITY BOO!

Each one of my kids are amazing in their own way. Tonight, however, it's Kess I write about. Throughout the past few years, she has been such a tremendous help to me whenever I have needed it most. When I was pregnant with Calli on the verge of passing out, which did happen more than once, she would quickly make me breakfast, or took care of the other kids so I could lay down, or whatever I asked. She has been showering Jacob from the time he could walk. She is a great babysitter and is always willing to babysit for me. When neither Erick or I could make the trip downstairs at night, she would tuck the other two kids into bed for us. She takes care of the chickens without being asked. She is INCREDIBLE with Alex. She is very money conscience, considerate of not only conserving her money, but ours as well. She has really gone the extra mile in putting hard work into her school work this year. She has such a deep desire to truly do what is right. She cares about her health and is my best and healthiest eater. It's fun when she pulls out my salad cookbook looking for a new salad to try for dinner. She's quick to do her chores without complaint. And she's forgiving and understanding when her dad and I make mistakes. I love this girl! Last week she cleaned the entire kitchen three nights in a row by her self while I slept. And as if that's not enough, one of the nights she folded a huge batch of Alex's laundry as well. I wonder sometimes if she feels like CINDERELLA. But wait that would make me the WICKED stepmother. BIPPITY BOPPITY BOO!

SLEEPING BEAUTIES!

Longing to be close but too sick to get too close. Poor kid.

Sam's jammies say it all..."SWEET."

This kid is definitely Alex's second mommy. Heck, I think if she could nurse her, she'd put me up for the running for my job.

Yes, even Mr. Tough Guy.

My blessings here are so very obvious. My heart is filled with gratitude for them.

Quilted with Love

My mom is so amazing. As is evident by the photograph, she is amazing at what she does. But what you can't see in the picture is how amazing she is for who she is. Mom came over today bringing me groceries. After taking care of it all, she helped tackle the laundry monster. While here, we took pictures of Alex with her precious baby quilt. Mom makes one for all her grandbabies. Alex is number sixteen. Each of my children's quilt is a treasured possession of theirs. Each hand sewn stitch represents just a portion of the love she has for them. I hope someday my children are able to appreciate how blessed they are to have this woman as their grandma!

She needs a bow!

I had just finished dressing Alex, when Jacob walks in and says, "where's her bow mom?" It was obvious that it was important to him that she had a bow in her hair. I asked him, "do you want her to have a bow?" A solid nod of the head followed. I told him where to find them, and together we picked out a bow for Alex. I love that he cares so much about his little sister.

Another New Beginning

We are very blessed to be enjoying not only a newness in our family with the addition of Alex, but also a newness with Samantha as she entered the waters of baptism on Saturday.
She was as beautiful as ever inside and out. Grandma Jones helped me tailor her dress to her liking, no ties in the back. She wore her necklace and bracelet our friend Tara made for her. And we put a simple headband in her hair, her favorite way to do her hair, with a basic flip up done with a cutling iron by Makessa. Best of all she had her nails painted by her dad. It was very sweet.

She had the privelege of having her daddy baptize her, broken foot and all. Grandpa Jones and Grandpa Morrow were the witnesses. Her dad confirmed her a member and conferred the gift of the Holy Ghost upon her, with both grandpas, uncle Jarel, uncle Brant, and our friend and bishopric member Justin Organ all in the circle with him. A beautiful blessing was pronounced upon her. In large part, it spoke of her using her personality to help bring others to the truth. She has such a contagious personality. I have always felt from the time I was pregnant with her, this kid was going to be one heck of a fighter for one side or the other. And that I needed to make sure I was actively teaching and guiding her in the direction that would enable her to be one the Lord's valuable warriors. I was also particularly intrigued by the counsel she was given to look to and rely on her sister, Makessa, throughout her life. I found this interesting because, while I don't remember much about her baby blessing, this is the one thing I do remember. She was counseled then, as an infant, to look to the example of her older sister and rely on her. As a mom, I realized that I need to be helping her to form the kind of relationship with her sister that will enable her to turn to her sister, look to her sister, rely on her sister and follow her example. While the girls are by no means enemies, they often seem too far from being good friends. Don't get me wrong, they love each other, frequently like each other, occasionally play together, and sometimes serve one another, but this needs to be the standard, not the exception. And so I was reminded of the importance and great need I have of helping them form this relationship.

The day not only represented a newness for Samantha, but inspired a kind of newness in myself. As I watch Sammy's enthusiasm about the gospel, her desire to do right, to remain clean and pure, it inspires me to want to have the same childlike purity - that same kind of enthusiasm about the things of light and truth. It is obvious to me why we are commanded to become as little children. Their cleanliness and purity is so heavenly, so Christlike. That is an attribute I will continue to try to develop.

It truly was a beautiful day. We had many challenges, particularly throughout the week, leading up to this day, but tried desperately not to let them overshadow this important event. Sammy was especially happy that her Grandma Mae and new baby sister, Alex, could be there. I was grateful for all the friends and family that helped us make this day successful and special for Samantha. After the service, we gathered in our backyard for a luncheon to further celebrate and enjoy that special day.

I am grateful for a loving Father in Heaven who continues to teach me through the gift of my precious children. I am grateful for a husband who is a worthy priesthood holder, who continues to use this gift to bless the lives of our family. I am grateful for children who have desire and try to do what is right. I am grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ and for the atonement, that allows me for the opportunity to become clean and pure, which in turn allows me to return home qualifying for the blessings of eternal life, an eternal family, and the privelege of raising my Calli in a resurrected state. Life is beautiful.