Youth Temple Trip

Saturday the youth in our ward were up bright and early (5AM) and on their way to the Boston Temple. They had a great trip.

Boston Massachusetts LDS Temple

Last Friday we went to the temple. It was fun to see McKaylie and Noah's reactions to it. It was the first time they had seen the Boston temple. I love the "oooo's" and "ahhhh's". McKaylie said it "amazingly beautiful". I agree with her. It really is. I love just being on the temple grounds with my kids. We got our traditional picture of the kid's touching the temple. We get it with each new temple that they get to see. I am grateful for their love and reverence for the temples. It was even more wonderful that Myshel and Vance were able to go in with the other youth from our ward later that afternoon. And, that Chad and I attended Saturday morning. We hoped to attend 2 sessions during our trip, but were only able to squeeze one in. I was grateful for that session, though. The peace we found there was so needed!

Family Home Evening...............

Monday we decided to go back to the Cathance River and have our family home evening there. There's a calm spot in the river, just after the falls that we let the kids swim in. I guess you could call it swimming, the water wasn't very deep at all. It was very quiet there, except for the kids laughter. Chad and I really had a nice time, visiting with each other and watching them in the water. It was so nice to see them getting along and having fun together. After they played, we had a family meeting and discussed some things that we need to work on in our home. We also discussed our trip to the temple that we'll be taking this Friday. (They're having a youth temple trip Friday afternoon. Chad and I decided that we'd take the whole family down there Friday morning, get a hotel for the night and spend some time checking out some touristy spots. Then go to the temple that afternoon. They'll probably need Chad to help with the youth, so McKaylie, Noah and I will check out the grounds, and the visitor's center. After they're done, we'll take the kid's back to the hotel [it's so nice having older children to babysit] and Chad and I will go back and do a session in the temple that night and hopefully another one Saturday morning before we leave.) It was such a quiet, peaceful atmosphere. I think that helped us have a better spirit while we talked. We sang "I Love to See the Temple" (Vance's favorite primary song). It was so neat to listen to our voices carry through the stillness and trees. We had a very reverent, spiritual closing prayer. It was really such a nice family home evening. I wish they all could be like that!

Picnics, Parties, Parting, Talks, and New Callings.....Oh My!

Friday night was our ward picnic. It was at a local park here in Topsham. There's lots of food and games and lots of people. We had a good time. McKaylie and Noah came home covered in dirt and had to get a quick bath before bed.

Saturday night I was invited to a girl's night out at a friend's house. It was a lots of fun, too. We made fruit pizzas and laughed A LOT! I came home a little earlier than I wanted, though, because......

Chad left for a school in Florida at 4AM Sunday morning. Yikes, that's early. He arrived there just fine, but our house felt especially quiet and lonely without him, this time. He'll be back Saturday night. I think we'll pick him up at the airport in Portland.

Myshel gave a talk in sacrament meeting Sunday. I thought she did an especially good job this time. I was really proud of her, but then, I usually am.

I was released from my calling on Sunday, also. I was surprised, because I've only had it for about 5 months. I was teaching in Relief Society and I really enjoyed it. I had several ladies come up to me and tell me how disappointed they were that I was released, because they really enjoyed it when I taught. That made me feel soo good, I can't even tell you! I was glad that I was able to teach one last time, yesterday, even though, I was "officially" released. (I did think it was my best lesson....frustrating that it turned out that way.....)

I don't get to rest for long, though. I was released from being a RS teacher and then sustained as the Primary Secretary. I haven't worked in Primary (officially) since Vance was in nursery! I'm excited, though, because I love, love, love the primary president! She is such a wonderful lady and she has some great counselors, too. So, this will be a big change for me, but I'm looking forward to it. I think that I will really love it and if I don't, I'll learn to love it, but I think that I'm going to love it!

McKaylie's Baptism

McKaylie was baptized and confirmed on May 25. It was a really wonderful day. She looked so beautiful and I could hardly believe that she was old enough. She was so ready to be baptized and so excited about it. Afterwards, she was just glowing. She told me that it was so cool and felt so good. A friend of ours let her borrow their baptism dress, so, McKaylie was actually baptized in a white dress instead of the white jumper. She felt so special!

Chad and I are so proud of her, but it's a little sad, too. Our kids are growing up so fast. McKaylie is now starting a whole new part of her life. As Vance told her, now her choices count. It always amazes me that some of the most wonderful times in life pull at your hear strings so much. We are proud of McKaylie and her choice to be baptized. She's a beautiful daughter of God and I know He's proud of her, too.

Family Home Evening...............

We had a special Family Home Evening the Thursday after McKaylie's birthday. There was another little girl, Isabella, that was being baptized with McKaylie. Isabella's mom was baptized just about a month before, so they were really new to the church. We decided to have this special baptism family home evening with them. We, of course, talked about baptism and played a puzzle game to help the girl review everything they've been learning. It was a very nice night and we had some special cupcakes for our treat. I loved that McKaylie would get to share her special day with one of her friends. Their family is very sweet and very special. We were blessed to have them in our home.

Red Carpet Treatment...........................

Our stake had a dance for the youth a few weeks ago. It's theme was "Walk the Red Carpet". It was a semi-formal dance. When they arrived, there was a limo out front that they could get in and then come out the other side, as if they had arrived by limo. On the other side was the red carpet that led into the dance, lined with photographers and the press. It was such a fun idea.The girls were encouraged to to wear formal dresses that they had or go to a second hand store and find a formal dress there. Since we know that most formal dresses these days are completely immodest, the girls were told to make them modest. In other words, wear a t-shirt under the dress or a sweater/swag over it. They could do whatever they wanted as long as it would be a completely modest dress when they were done. Another idea that I thought was totally cool! We took Myshel to a consignment shop here that one of her young women leaders works at and let her choose what she wanted. She was really excited. I thought that she looked great and the black shirt under it looked great, too!

There was also a contest to see which ward/branch could bring the most friends. Myshel brought Cody and Jessie. They had a great time and really enjoyed seeing how the other girls "fixed" their dresses.

Youth Temple Trip

On the 19th the youth had their temple trip. Our ward attends the Boston Temple. It's beautiful, absolutely beautiful! Chad went along to help and, truthfully, I was so jealous! I would have loved to go with them, but I wasn't able to go this time. I love going on the youth temple trips. This was also Vance's first trip to the temple. He missed the temple trip last year, in Virginia and here, because of our move. I would have loved to be in there with him, but at least Chad was able to be there! Chad was able to do baptisms with Myshel and confirmations with Vance. What a neat experience for them to have with their dad! Next time, I get to go, too!

President Gordon B. Hinckley

This would not be my blog, if I didn't post about President Hinckley today....
Yesterday when I picked Myshel up from seminary she told me that President Hinckley had passed away. My heart and mind have been filled with so many thoughts and emotions since. What a wonderful man he was. I would think that he has touched every heart of everyone one who has heard him speak. Even his gaze through the TV screen could bring peace and love. He was a kind, humble, inspired man of God. We will miss him so much here and I'm sure that he continues his wonderful work and mission still.
Without a doubt, he returned with honor.