a {baptism} a {funeral} a {very} long week

Last Saturday, June 5, my little {big} Landon got baptized. We are all so proud of his decision. And, yes, it was his decision. We've been talking about the promises he'd make to God during baptism for months. We've been reading scriptures as a family and he's been reading on his own. We've been praying as a family and he's been praying on his own. I made a little baptism book for him to fill out - a little scrapbook for him to record things about his life now, his preperation for baptism, his testimony, how he felt before, during, and after. Reading through it, I can tell that he really did think about his decision to be baptized, and for that I'm proud of him. And for the fact that he really is trying to keep the commandments and "choose the right". Man, the kid is growing up.

This is my Great-Grandpa Joe. That morning my Grandma called to tell me the doctors said it was time to take him off life support (he'd been in the hospital for a week, with pnemonia and never recovered). My parents and brother were already on their way here to Idaho and had to decide if they should turn around to be there at the hospital or continue on to be with us. I know we all wanted to be in two places that day. The doctors took his breathing tube out and he died within minutes, with my grandma and aunts and other family there with him.
We'd been praying for Grandpa all week. Actually, Landon is the one who prayed for him first, because he heard me on the phone with my mom and decided to say a prayer right then. As updates came we changed our prayers from, "please help Grandpa recover and be healthy." to "please give Grandpa Joe peace and help him feel thy love." I hope he did have peace.

The day went on, though, and we had a beautiful baptism. After, we had all our out-of-town family and some people from our ward come over for a BBQ. The food was great - seriously, can you not get enough hamburgers during the summer?! The kids jumped on the tramp and ran around, the adults chatted and ate. Isaac was in absolute heaven, helping himself to any treat he wanted, chugging down a sprite from the can (he's never allowed a whole can!) and coloring with sidewalk chalk. I think he sat there coloring and chugging for an hour, at least. Landon and Austin were way too busy with their cousins and friends to even talk to me.

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Thank you so much to Gary and Sharlene, and Tammy and Cordell, and Mom and Dad, and Jared and Steph. I know the drive is a pain but it meant the world to us that you came to be with us for Landon's special day.

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We went to church on Sunday. I went home after sacrament to see off my brother and his wife (and give them a delicious breakfast of cold pizza!) After hanging out a bit with my parents and brother everyone got on the road to go back to Utah. I was planning on driving down in a couple days for my Grandpa's funeral. But, plans changed when we got a phone call from my dad - a shaft on the transmission in their van broke. So, Ella and I jumped in the car to pick them up. Since Cameron's parents were staying in Idaho for the week and could help Cameron with the kids, it worked out that Landon could stay here for Scout Camp and Austin could stay for baseball.

I was happy to be there for the funeral. And it was nice to be there for the couple of days before too. I saw some uncles I rarely see (in fact I hadn't seen Jamie in 18 years!). It was nice to connect with them again and remember how funny they are! I was happy to drive around in circles with Jared for a bit, looking for the church; a chance to force him to talk to me :) before his big move to Michigan for med school. It was fun shopping with Mom for baby hair bow stuff - I always learn things from her - never would have put that center on the white flower but it is my new favorite bow. I was happy to see the house my Grandma is building - her dream house, finally, she deserves it. I loved all the attention Ella got. Seriously, that girl can reel 'em in with her smile! I loved sitting in the back of my van while my dad drove home and feeling like a little girl again, just for a while. I just really enjoyed talking to everyone. I really do have a wonderful, great family.

And I'm lucky enough to have a wonderful husband with a wonderful family. Thanks, Gary and Sharlene, for getting the kids where they needed to be all week, and for taking care of everyhting else. We all appreciate it.

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So, now I'm home. I've been a bit emotional the last couple of days. I'm mostly just tired, I think; emotionally tired. And getting used to the craziness of summer with kids (in Mtn. Home - not much to do!). Maybe it's just the circle of life that's getting to me. A few regrets - a death always reminds us of how short life is. Unfullifilled expectations. At the funeral my dad reminded us of Grandpa Joe's catch phrase, "I'm hangin' in there". So I'm reminding myself to be like Grandpa, and hang in there. And I'm reminding myself to be like Landon - pray, trust the Lord, keep the promises I made when I was baptized. With two great examples to follow, I can't go wrong...