Future Olympian?

Better than TV?

Who knew that the purchase of our front loader washer and dryer (which I am ecstatic about) would go over so well with the kids too? This was not staged... Eden pulled up a chair on her own and just sat and watched, she was soon joined by the others, but they didn't have chairs so they didn't stay as long.

Never too late for Easter

Easter morning...

I love that Baylie has her jelly beans
organized by color, this is just like her.



Jaya was a little bummed that the Easter bunny brought the pet shop to
Baylie, but Baylie was kind and gave her the sticker which she has been
collecting to get a FREE pet shop.


Kale was just happy to get SUGAR, in whatever form it was.

Lisa's creative side with me tagging along

A new girl moved into our ward in the Fall, her name is Lisa and she is wonderfully creative. We quickly became friends and I learned that she has an amazing talent for sewing. I must have mentioned one day that I would love to do a quilt and she was right on it. I didn't want a patchwork quilt, I wanted something that you would find in Pottery Barn, well applique was right up her alley and we got to work.
I drew the animals, trees and she helped with the colors and a lot of the sewing. I was a little ambitious and wanted the quilts done by Christmas, well Christmas morning came and the girls had tops to the quilts but that was it, oh well. In February I learned how to stipple (I didn't want it tied) and the stippling turned out to be very enjoyable for me. Alas I finished. It was quite the project but as cheesy as this sounds I must say it: there is something so satisfying about creating something with your own hands. I am so happy with how they turned out and now the girls room is COMPLETE!! Yippee.

Precision

I've been inspired, I picked up the Ensign over the weekend and read the best article. Julie B. Beck often motivates me but this could not have come at a better time. This is what I read:

"Live in your home so that you're brilliant in the basics, so that you're intentional about your roles and responsibilities in the family. Think in terms of precision not perfection. If you have goals and you are precise in how you go about them in your homes, youth will learn from you. They will learn that you pray, study the scriptures together, have family home evening, make a priority of mealtimes, and speak respectfully of your marriage partner. Then from your example the rising generation will gain great hope."

Wow! So I know that is a mouthful but my favorite part was about being brilliant in the basics, and being intentional about what I want to happen in my home. Love it, like I said I was inspired.

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.