the big EIGHT

Dear Jaya,

I can't believe you are 8 years old! I remember thinking man when I have an 8 year old I will be such an old mom, and here we are, where has the time gone? This was a big year you are in 2nd grade and you love school. You are so fun to be around. When you are home you lead the girls in play. Your imagination is amazing, and your energy is just as equally matched. You are willing to try anything. You have a hard time trying to decide what activities to do, because they all appeal to you. You are in dance and piano, but you want to try tennis this Summer. When your sisters started swimming and soccer you were really bummed that you couldn't do all of those things too. You are a great communicator, you are very good at telling me how you feel especially when the things that I say hurt your feelings (not that I try to do this, but it does happen) you are telling me right away how that made you feel. You are a natural leader, yet I don't feel like you are too bossy. You are aware of those around you and are conscious of how they may be feeling and try to include others.

I want to tell you a little bit about your baptism since that was such a neat event. In October I was sitting in Sacrament meeting and the impression that we should read the entire Book of Mormon with you BEFORE your baptism came to me. I felt very strongly that that was something our family needed to do. So we started, you asked your teacher at school if that could count for your reading at night, and she agreed, which meant that you had to write 2-3 sentences a night about what we read. I am sure she was quite shocked at all the death and destruction that she read about, I still wonder what she thought when she read that. Anyways, we started reading and I instantly saw the great blessings that come from reading the Book of Mormon. There was more peace in our home, there was more happiness, and I personally felt much comfort and guidance that I needed at that particular time, I have no doubt that this prompting to read came at a critical time for our family. Somethings that I saw in particular from you though was that you were determined and driven, you would read even if we didn't. You read many Friday nights with Grandma's and Grandpa's and even got Grandpa Beynon to race you to the end, you inspired alot of people for the better. When we got closer to your baptism we had to read a lot of pages each night (around 10) and it took a LONG time, yet you persisted and held to our goal. I remember one night after reading, you were so giddy, dancing, singing all while I was telling you to go to bed. You seemed to be on such a high, I wondered if that was the Spirit that you were feeling and I figured it was but I just happily observed. We finished the last 5 pages of the Book of Mormon the day of your baptism. It was you, me and dad all sitting on our bedroom floor finishing what we had started together, it wasn't planned to finish that day, but it certainly made a great end and perfect beginning for the rest of the day.

The day of your Baptism was amazing, you were so excited, everybody we saw that day you told them you were getting baptized. You asked your Aunt Jenni to speak on Baptism and she did amazing, she was honored to do it. I just remember you being so excited. When people started showing up you said "Mom, I didn't know I would have so many friends here, I am so glad that they all came" i thought that was so sweet that it meant so much to you. When you came out of the water Jaya my eyes filled with tears and you just beamed. As I toweled you off I just thought she looks amazing and beautiful to me, and all the feelings I felt when I held you in my arms for the first time after you were born, came flooding back. It was such a neat experience. I got you dried off and dressed and you said "Mom, I just feel so happy, I am just so happy, I can't stop smiling I just feel so good." I laughed with you and I explained that you are feeling the Spirit right now, telling you the decision you made was the right one. The rest of the day went just as well, surrounded by family and friends. You are a light to me Jaya, you are an example of goodness and love. I am honored to be your Mother and Sister, and I am so grateful Heavenly Father picked me to raise you.

I love you so much I could never stop.

Mom

Jaya's Big Day

From the Desk of Darrin: I have been so busy with work over the past few months that I have not had time to give any input to this blog, but don't worry I am back. I am excited to start with Jaya's baptism. I am sure that Darcy will have more to add or change but I wanted to get this on here before I start to forget any of the details.

Jaya was baptized this past weekend, and it was such a great time. This story started back in December when a family in our ward was telling me that they read the Book of Mormon before their daughter was baptized. Darcy thought that was a good idea and so when we started we had figured out that we needed to read 5 pages a day, and as time went on and we missed a few days here and there we ended up this past week having to read 12 pages a night. That took almost a hour and a half of reading each night. It was great and we completed our reading Saturday just a couple of hours before her baptism.

It was a Stake baptism and so there were 3 other kids that got baptized that day too. Darcy gave a great introduction where she said that "I remember when we had Jaya I thought of the day that she would be baptized and I thought we will be really old then". Fortunately we don't feel that old, yet. When it was time for Jaya to be baptized I got confused on what hand to use, (this happened even though we had practiced like 6 times before we even got in the water) I chalk it up to stage fright. Everything worked out and the she was baptized, and when she was getting ready she told Darcy that she couldn’t stop smiling and she just felt so good. It was such a testimony builder for me to go through this with her. I need to express my love for the Book of Mormon, and I know it is true. There is no way that this could be a fabrication of someone’s mind; it had to come from God to help us know what his church is and how we should act. I also am so glad for Jaya's excitement for her baptism, and how it reminded me of how important that step is for all of us to return to live with our Father in Heaven.