"Your son saved Sacrament meeting"

Every member of the church knows that sometimes testimony meetings go awry. Sometimes you get thank-imonies, story-monies, and please-help-me-monies. We had a few testimonies today that lost their track and veered to the over sharing side. We heard about someone "shacking up", and someone's cereal, and about someone's mother-in-law. 

About a month ago, Caleb asked if he could bear his testimony at church. We spent the month's family home evenings teaching him the proper things to say and the proper way to say them. Today he went up and bore his testimony. He has a very simple, beautiful testimony. He knew the points he wanted to make and was very clear about his beliefs.

After church the first counselor in our bishopric told me "Your son saved sacrament meeting. He fixed what had been done before him."

What a sweet thing to say. It made me so grateful for simple testimonies of children.

Sisters.

My husband is the love of my life, my eternity, my everything.

But...

My sisters are my soul mates.

Blessings

We did father's blessings tonight, in preparation for the first day of school. Adam and Caleb both had giggles for who knows what reason. I was so frustrated that I threatened to ground them. 

After Caleb's blessing, Levi popped right out of his seat and said "My turn!" He was so ready for his blessing. Kyle and I both smiled and he gave him one. I am so grateful for a little boy who feels the spirit even through older boys being dingalings. He's always been that way. A little more in tune to the spirit than the others. It reminds me of the first time he met Lily. They were all at the hospital for the first time with her. Adam and Caleb glanced at her and moved on to their more important things. Levi was so emotional. He just crumbled and hugged her face for the longest time. It was the sweetest thing.

He saved father's blessings for me tonight. I was so angry and my sweet baby brought back the nice feeling you want instead. I love him.

Oh my cuteness!

Have you ever seen anything this adorable?

A typical Conversation

Kyle was getting his hair stuff out to give himself a haircut. I said "Lily, should we give you a haircut?"
Kyle, "NO!"
Christina, "But she has a mullet..."
In unison, (I promise you, that's not a lie, we often break into song at the exact same moment, the exact same song.) "Let it grow, let it grow, like it did so long ago-o-o."
Christina, "Should we turn on the Lorax so we can listen to the music while you do your hair?"
Kyle, "Yes."
Christina, "Do you think that makes us weird?"
Kyle, "No, I think we're awesome."

It's true. We're pretty awesome. Just an FYI for those reading my blog, I keep it so I can remember. I love going back once I've forgotten. I love that I have a collection of memories Gotta go, the Thneedville song is on and it's the best one!

Ursaphobia

Most people have at least one phobia that just scares the life out of them. Fear of spiders is a common one...

Not so common is bear-phobia. It might sound ridiculous, nonetheless, it's very real! The sad part is I love camping! Right now it's 1 AM. Of a group of 30 campers, I am one of four awake. 3 of the men are playing Risk at the picnic table. Me? I'm listening to every creek, every breath, every whisper around us.

 We've had sightings of bears twice already this trip. Once, the rangers were around and scared them away. On their way back one remarked that they needed to be sure they took a hand held (gun) next time because that mother bear was awful feisty. Not the kind of thing I want to hear. 

People keep telling me that Benadryl and ear plugs are the way to get sleep while camping. I tell them, "if I'm going to be attacked by a bear, I need to have my wits about me." They keep saying the bears are harmless. Oh yeah? Then why do the rangers need a gun?! This is the third night of camping. I'm exhausted. I am positive I won't be sleeping though. Yet again...

Caffeine

Oh Caffeine, you little minx,

my dependence on you stinks.

I hate the way I love your zip

And always crave a tiny nip.

I hate the way I think I need you;

I hate the way I always heed you.

But, without you my days all fail;

It is a sad and awful tale.

I lay in bed; I watch TV;

I miss my magic energy.

Eventually I think I'll quit,

Say "Goodbye! This is it!"

And then I'm sure I'll need a nap

Without my special little zap.