A Special Weekend -- Blogged by JME

This weekend was very special for my family and I.  Our sweet nephew, Bug, was baptized into the Church and our little June Bug was blessed the very next day.  It was wonderful to see these sacred ordinances performed for some very important people in our lives and it was so special to have Bug and our little bird share this weekend with each other. 

My dad was the one who baptized Bug.  I remember when he was just a brand new baby.  He was born about four months after N8 and I were married.  He was just 4 lbs 12 oz and was the smallest little baby we'd ever seen.  It brought tears to my eyes to see how grown up he is now and watch him take this important step in his life to follow Christ. 

It was a rainy night, and after the baptism we stepped outside to see this beautiful rainbow in the sky.  It was amazing!  During the baptism, we sang a song called, "When I am Baptized," so it was significant to see this rainbow as we left the church building. 

I like to look for rainbows whenever there is rain,

And ponder on the beauty of the earth made clean again.

I want my life to be as clean as earth right after rain.

I want to be the best I can and live with God again. 

 

I know when I am baptized my sins are washed away

And I can be forgiven and improve myself each day.

I want my life to be as clean as earth right after rain.

I want to be the best I can and live with God again. 

Sunday morning we were able to bless our sweet angel.  She was so good through the whole thing.  Her daddy gave her the most beautiful blessing, blessing her that her body would continue to be healthy and strong.  He also blessed her to remember who she was named after and to have her heart turned to those gone before her.  The spirit was so strong there and my love for my husband and my sweet baby girl swelled inside my heart.  I love my little family!!!

This is my beautiful sister, Lee Lee.  She is the mother of Bug.  It was so fun to share this weekend with her and see both of our children have these spiritual experiences and take these steps in the gospel. 

Lee Lee and I sat by each other and harmonized during our sacrament meeting.  We had not done that together in years.  It is one of my sister's favorite things to do with me.  She wanted to take this picture of us pretending to sing so she could remember how good we sound together.  Maybe we can do this again in a couple years. 

We had so much support from our friends and family.  Some came from quite a distance.  Here we are with a couple of the friends we had that came to support us.  The couple next to N8 are very special to us.  He was N8's best man at our wedding and also served with N8 in Rio.  The couple that I'm standing by are our very good friends from our old ward before we moved.  She and I served in the primary together.  I was the second counselor in the primary presidency and she was the primary chorister.  She is like a Disney princess and has the most sparkling personality.  We never could open the windows or doors in the summer when she was singing with the kids for fear that birds and squirrels would come in.  N8 also served with her husband in the Elder's Quorum. 

Me and my sweet pea.  I'm so proud of my baby girl today.  What a precious little sister!

These are some incredibly special ladies in my life.  I worked with them at the clinic, one in pediatrics and the other in family practice, and have had some neat experiences with both of them.  They are very dear to me and have supported me through so much in my life.  I have learned from their examples and look up to them.  They help me strive to be a better person.  I have another friend that was at the blessing earlier that I've worked with in podiatry that had to leave early, but I feel the same way about her.  It has been such a blessing to make these lasting relationships with these beautiful women and I'm grateful that they are in my life. 

Little June Bug met her Uncle, FireRyan, for the first time today.  She was really happy letting him hold her.  He knew just how to bounce her and got her to sleep.  It's those skiing knees. 

This is Joe Bob Smelly Pants.  He is our adopted son, and although we've tried to get him to come live with us, for some reason he won't.  Maybe because we've told him he has to sleep under the kitchen sink.  That has been a running joke between us and his parents for a couple years.  He is the cutest kid and will talk your ear off.  I mentioned once that I wanted to bring him home because of how cute he was and it's turned into something fun we play at every time we are with his family.  It looks like he is bored to tears. 

 This is Joe Bob's brother.  He is such a cutie too.  He was bored to tears as well, but at least I got a smile out of him.  He is N8's shadow.  He loves talking to N8 about his military stories and is N8's little buddy. 

BJ, Pooh Bear, and Jocy are the toe-head trio.  Look how big they are getting.  It is incredible.  BJ was only three when we got married.  She is becoming such a beautiful young woman, as are the other two. 

Aaaaawwwwwwhhhhhh . . . . Sisterly love!

 N8's uncle came quite a ways to be at the blessing and stand in the circle.  It was so special to us to have him there.  He's been an amazing father figure to N8 throughout his life and we love him a lot.  Next to him is Joe Bob's mom, and next to her is Grandma Reindeer.  She is June Bug's great-great aunt and adopted great-grandma.  Joe Bob's mom was such an incredible help to me getting things set up for the brunch. 

This is a very close friend of mine.  She was my mutual leader and walking partner and sounding board.  She has been very much involved in my life and it was so nice to have her there. 

We were able to get a picture of most of N8's family that came to the blessing.  Thanks for the support you guys!

All tuckered out.  What a big day!