My Rebel Girl

With Tanner and Justin in New Harmony for the weekend with just the boys, Madisen and I were left behind in the super hot desert to find our own fun. She played in her first soccer game of the season and then we had lunch with Grandma DeMille. I had a special treat planned for her that evening...a UNLV football game. She had a blast!!! She cheered, clapped, and sang. The highlight of her night, however, was taking a picture with "Reb"!!!

A very special day!!!

Last week we scheduled Tanner's baptism interview with the bishop. He asked all the standard questions and Tanner gave all the standard answers until Bishop asked him about the word of wisdom. When asked if her knew what is was he answer no, so the Bishop explained and he then remembered we had talked about it. Their dialog on this subject went like this

Bishop: "So are you suppose to take harmful drugs, or smoke or drink alcohol?"

Tanner: "No"

Bishop: "Why not?"

Tanner: "Because I'm only a child!!"

a few days later...

It is Saturday morning and the kids woke up super early full of excitement. Tanner came into my room and jumped up on the bed, gave me a huge hug, and with a grin as wide as he could get it said, "Mom it's my baptism day." We readied the house for the lunch we were having after the baptism, showered and dressed. Tanner teased his little sister and kicked her in the process to which he had this to say "it's okay that will be washed away in a couple of hours." All I could do was laugh. A few minutes before we left Tanner received the special gift he had been asking about all week...his very own scriptures!!

Off to the church we went to pick out his clothes and get prepared for the big event.
Tanner with Mom before changing into his white clothes.
Here he is all dressed in white and looking angelic. He sat quietly and listened to the talks and the music. He was the first to head to the font where he was at last baptized. While I was helping him straighten his tie I asked how he felt he grinned and said "great, but dad bonked my head on the bottom of the baptism tub." That's right folks we were only doing it once.

We had all our family over for lunch and cake and ice cream. The kids ran around and the grown ups talked. Tanner blew out his candles like a pro with no spit. Thanks to my friend Leslie who made the cake which Tanner loved. And a special thanks to all of you who came near and far to be with us on Tanner's special day!!! He felt so loved and supported.

Where were you 8 years ago today?

It was 6:45am September 11. 2001 and we were in the waiting room of St. Rose Hospital watching the news as we waited to be taken back to the delivery room. Breaking News flashed across the screen at the same time they called "Jenessa we are ready to take you back now." I was scared and shaking as I lay in the hospital bed hooked up to a fetal monitor and IV's in preparation for the c-section that was scheduled for 8:00am. The nurse busied themselves with all the usual stuff while all the time whispering to each other. I asked several times if everything was okay with the baby and was assured that he looked great. The anesthesiologist came in and gave me some meds to calm my nerves and walked me into the delivery room to place my spinal block and a few minutes later Tanner graced us with his presence. He didn't cry and I immediately began to panic and ask if he was all right and my mom responded "He's here and he's perfect!" through her tears.

Here it is 8 years later and I feel so blessed to have this special angel in my home. He brings light to every dark day with his sense of humor and very charming smile. My heart breaks if he is sad and soars when he is happy!!! He will be baptized in a week and we are so excited for him to feel that sweet spirit on his special day. During his baptism interview that bishop asked his about the word of wisdom and specifically asked, Should you drink or smoke or take harmful drugs?" Tanner responded "No." When the bishop asked why he said, " because I'm only a child." I love this kid and he keeps me laughing all the time. I pray as he gets older he will keep his child like faith and grow strong in the gospel with an unwavering testimony of who he is and where he came from. Happy 8th Birthday Tanner!!!

First day of school, first day of school

Well here we go again. Last year Madisen went to the preschool program at the elementry school as a peer mentor in the autism class. She was gone five days a week all day. So this year you would think she wouldn't be all that excited to go to kindergarden since she is only half day. You would be wrong!!! She was so excited this morning to go to her class. She got up and got right into the tub and didn't complain even once about how long her hair was taking. She went outside and was waiting for me in the backyard to take first day of school pictures. We walked Tanner down to his line and she ran to her class from there. It was so fun to see her excitement.

Tanner was super excited this year because he has been waiting for third grade so that he can play on the bigger playground. This year his teacher is Mrs. Bresnaham and he is in class with a couple of kids from our ward which is awesome!!! He is very excited to learn cursive and division. Thanks goodness our friend Joni is also a third grade teacher at a different school and will be around to help me with Tanner's homework.

Lauren

I love my sister in law!!! How my brother got so lucky and gets to keep her for eternity is still beyond me but because he had the sense enough to marry this sweetheart we get her too. Just this past month I have had the opportunity to get to know Lauren better. I love that they are moving back here closer to us even if it is temporary. (I am trying to make it permanent, so brace yourself Matthew) We went to dinner tonight and she went shopping with me and helped to pick out some new stuff for my house. Tomorrow she and I are going to watch Big Brother and she is going to help me hang the stuff I bought tonight so that it is straight because on my own, I a hot mess. Anyway I just think she is great and I love her!!!

What to do?

So I have to speak in church on Sunday and Justin was already scheduled to be out of town up working on our house in New Harmony Utah before I was asked to speak. In light of the tragic event which occurred last week in our ward and his guilt of being unable to attend church the day I speak he is taking the kids with him to Utah. So that means I have all day Saturday to myself.No kids to get from school, of dinner to cook, homework to do or lunches to get made for the next day. I can't remember ever not having at least one child home with me all the time. It is going to be so weird. I am getting a massage and facial but I am not sure what to do with the rest of the day as my talk is already written.

I attend the funeral of Iysha Rebecca Rose Kryuer this morning. She was 2 1/2 years old when she drown in her backyard pool on Wednesday afternoon. Listening to her parents talk about her and learning about her sweet spirit was truly uplifting. It has forced me, in their tragedy, to refocus my efforts and love every minute I have with my family. Dishes in the sink, dust on the floor, laundry to fold, the phone ringing are all things that can wait until later. They talked about her sweet spirit and her love of everyone. They spoiled her and gave her everything she could ever want or need. She went everywhere with them they could take her, even to work for the first two years of her life she was in the office with them. They loved her fully and she loved them. Though we don't always understand why the Lord does things the way He does I have a testimony in this infinite wisdom and trust Him fully. May we all include this family in our prayers.