Christmas!

Christmas morning was a blast!! They all had slept together in Ashlynn's room and were SO excited. I did that as a kid, so I was excited to pass on the tradition. They were allowed to wake up around 7. We went out at 7:30. 

 Ethan got a new BMX bike! It's pretty AWESOME!

 All Ashlynn cared about was candy. We kept trying to make her open her presents and she would like them for about 5 seconds until she saw more candy. We ended up hiding it all so we could continue Christmas morning.

 Mika wanted paints. One thing she got a a cupcake piggy bank that she could paint. It's cery cherished by this little girl.

 Ethan loved his air hogs remote that is a truck and helicopter. He is really good at flying, never crashed it once!

 Kaylin got an American girl doll that looks just like her. It is a prized possession and she got a few outfits and books for her too.

 Mika got a doll that looks a lot like her too. She was so proud.

Overall it was a success. The kids were so happy with their projects, books, crafts and remotes. The rest of the afternoon was joined by the Biddisons, my parents and some Clarkes in and out through out the day. We couldn't have asked for a better one.

My brave girl

During Sacrament Meeting, Kaylin hugged me and whispered, “I think I want to bear my testimony.” I said, “Okay.” She replies, “Can you come with me?” Squirming in my seat a little I tell her, “Ask your Daddy to.”

I began thinking I have nothing to say. Somewhat wrestling with the Lord that in fact I have nothing profound to say up at the pulpit and if I did, this is not planned and I’d sound ridiculous. Of course, my heart was pounded out of my chest and the Lord brought to mind all the things I’m truly grateful for, namely this sweet angel child sitting next to me. She whipers again, “I’m scared.” I turn to her and say, “Just say a quiet prayer that Heavenly Father will give you courage to say what you needed to say.” She wrote in her journal what she felt. And I elbowed Travis and murmured, “I’m going up.” So up we went. 

After one other testimony we were already up. She walked alone to the pulpit. Travis said she looked like she was crying already. Kaylin started the first words, “I’d like to bear my…” and exploded in sobs. She even made a loud gasp and apologized in the microphone. She continued to rack with sobs. So I went up there so consol her and encourage her. I whispered that she can do this and it was ok, to say what she wanted to say. After more shhh-ings and words of encouragement, she continued, “I know this church is true and I love Jesus. I know he loves me and He answers my prayers.”

She went and sat down and I was up next. I look over at our row and Mika was in her lap hugging her, Kaylin’s head was down and they were crying together. It was so sweet, my tears hit me hard as well.

 I told the short story as explained above to get me up there. Then told how grateful I am to have children whose spirits are tender and their thirst for knowledge and truth. I actually am not sure what else I said except that I was grateful for a husband who loves the scriptures and teaches it so clear and plain to the kids, and that they really understood it as of late.

The spirit that Kaylin brought into that meeting was huge. She touched many people in that room. One specifically was our missionary, who said he felt her spirit and the motherly love when I came to help her. Others said that they unleashed a flood of tears when she went up and then I came to her to help, that it represented the Lord putting His arms around them. Brother Radcliffe thanked Kaylin from the pulpit, as many others after the meeting.

I will never be able to express the tender emotions felt in that room today, especially from my heart towards my sweet girl. When she sat on Daddy’s lap afterwards, she whispered in his ear, “I really do know He answers prayers,” and smiled with tears in her eyes. 

In primary they recognized her for being special and brave. All the presidency members named one reason why she special and Aunt Jocey was in there too. She said because Kaylin is her cousin and planted a giant red kiss on her cheek. Kaylin was overjoyed.

 Brother Jones told her that he was a pilot and it takes a lot of courage to fly. He gave her a gold coin and said that whenever she’s scared, to squeeze the coin and it with give her strength. She put it in her scriptures.

I am so grateful for her sensitivity to the spirit and how strong she is, even when she thinks she isn’t; she really is. She is truly beautiful inside and out and I feel so blessed to be her mother.