Baptism Day

In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints we wait until we are eight years old to be baptized. We call it the age of accountability. Savannah decided that she wanted to get baptized and to say that she was excited is an understatement. She was counting down the days. I am not sure who was more excited for the day, Daddy or Savannah. She told everyone about her special day. I had the pleasure of preparing lots of food for people to come and celebrate with her. It was great because I had lots of help at home with all of the preparations. (Thanks Lisa, Mom, and of course Eric)

If a picture could say a thousand word Savannah's smile says it all. She is so excited to be baptized and to have her daddy be the one who is baptizing her. The faith of this child amazes. She wouldn't stop at anything until her daddy could be the one to baptizes her. Lots of prayers, pleadings, and softening of the heart made this all possible.

Aunt Lisa gave a wonderful talk about the covenants we make when we get baptized. She shared how the CTR ring can help us remember our covenants we make. These same covenants are repeated each Sunday when we take the sacrament. We promise to keep the COMMANDMENTS..always REMEMBER Him...and TAKE His name upon us. If we do these things he will bless with his spirit.

After she was baptized then Nathan Gibbons (our bishops son, and savannah loves him) gave a great talk on how the Holy Ghost is a comforter. He mad her a blanket to help her remember how she feels when the spirit is with her. He talk about how the choices we make help connect us to like a string to a kite and each choice makes the string stronger.

When she received the Holy Ghost she was surrounded by so many that love her. Her daddy confirmed her and with him in the circle was; Tyler Whiting, Nick Arbon, John Norris, Travis Criddle, Bishop Gibbons, Kent Ogaard, and Jay Philips.

As he gave her a blessing saying Heavenly Father and Jesus and your family and friends that are here with you are proud of you. Study the scriptures and the words of the prophets. He blessed her to share with others her love of the gospel with friends and family. To be an example. You have a sweet spirit and to follow the spirit in her life. You will be guided and directed by the spirit. You will grow up and be strong and be able to accomplish all that Heavenly Father has in store for you. To follow the example of her sister and mommy to go on a mission. You are blessed to always have the spirit with you. (Thanks Bonnie Criddle for taking notes)

As I looked around the room (that was full) I saw how my little girl and her sweet spirit has touch so many people. It was a humbling moment. A year ago I went to the baptism of one of my friend sons. He had a lot of family there to support him, but that was it. I was worried be far from family, and not having a lot of friends that there wouldn't be anyone there. The love this little girl has for everyone showed as person after person came for her special day. Her piano teacher, her 1st grade teacher, one of the girls that babysits her, a friend from school, brittlynn's friend from school, a class mate at school and church....and the list continues.

I am amazed by her and the light and example that she shares with everyone around her. The love she has for the gospel and the joy she brings.

What an amazing day for Savannah.

8 years older and wiser to..

1. What is your favorite color? all of them

2. What is your favorite toy? all of them

3. What is your favorite fruit? rasberries

4. What is your favorite tv show? sophia

5.What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? pizza

6. What is your favorite outfit? gym clothes

7. What is your favorite game? uno

8. What is your favorite snack? ice cream

9. What is your favorite animal? Dogs

10. What is your favorite song? Maroon 5... love somebody

11. What is your favorite book? Rainbow Magic

12. Who is your best friend? Samantha and Kassidy

13. What is your favorite cereal? Captain Crunch

14.What is your favorite thing to do outside? Jump on the Trampoline

15. What is your favorite drink? Root beer

16. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas

17. What do you like to take to bed at night? Dog stuffies

18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Bagel w/berry cream cheese

19. What do you want to eat for dinner on your B-day? Salad

20. What do you want to be when you grow up? A Vet

This year was a simple birthday with just the family. It was a crazy week and I am so grateful Savannah is so understanding about time. We had presents and cake one night and then birthday dinner the next night. She wanted to try a strawberry cake. I am not sure if she would have it again. I took her shopping that morning in Boise. That was a little fun and a little crazy. What 8 year old is excited about shopping. She got some roller blades from daddy and sister got some really cool walkie talkies for her. Her nana and papa sent her a unique ugly monster pillow/doll thing. They know someone who makes them and savannah was excited to get it just in time for her birthday. We love her. We know she will do amazing things. When you ask her what she wants, her reply is simple...what ever you get me I will love. She truly loves everything that she gets from others.

Its Great to be 8

As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints we wait until you are eight years old to be baptized. So it really is great to be 8 because you can choose if you want to become a follower of Christ and enter the waters of baptism. Savannah has been looking forward to this day for a very long time. It was her excitement about being baptized and her desire to have her daddy baptized her that helped Eric along on his conversion process.

She is truly a daughter of light. She is an example to me in her understanding and application of the gospel. She knows what she believes and wants everyone she loves to feel the same way. I remember sitting a the dinner table on even and the conversation of baptism came up. She looked at her dad in tears and asked, why don't you believe. To her belief is simple and it comes very natural. About two weeks ago she was invited by the bishop to share a favorite story in the Book of Mormon and how it helps her. She was so excited, she wanted to be first but someone was up there before her...so she went second. Without my help or anyone else, she shared simple and pure testimony with faith and conviction.

She loves the gospel. She loves planing Family Home Evening. She loves to play church with her sister. She wants to be like her mommy and be a seminary teacher and go on a mission. She wants everyone to believe like she does. We love her so much and we are so excited to be able to watch her testimony grow each day.

Spring Break

This year for spring break we decided to let the girls choose where they wanted to go. It was between the ocean or skiing. Daddy got his wish and we decided to take a trip to skiing. One of my students had recently gone a trip to Targhee (she loved it). We were going to go to some of the other resorts that were closer but they closed the weekend before our spring break. We decided to go ahead and try it out. 

What a great choice we made. The first day we had the girls in ski school. The did amazing. Savannah had her instructor basically to herself and by the time we picked them both up they were able to do everything on their own. We spent most of the time on the green slope with them but there was so much for them to do. It was hard for me to keep up with them, and I think I got a little better after a couple of days with them. Skiing is still really exhausting for Brittlynn. She still can't handle going as long as Savannah, but she has a lot of fun.

The story of the weekend. They have created little paths through the trees to teach the kids different ways of skiing. One of these paths are called Angry Bird forest. At the very end there is a dip that you can go through, but if your skis are long and you don't hit it right you get stuck. So I was trying to go around it and I ran straight into the tree at the end. It looked like I was straight out of a cartoon. Eric wasn't sure if he should laugh or help me. I didn't know if I was ever going to get up. I don't think the girls are ever going to forget their mom running into a tree. The love to tell everyone the story. 

I love that we are able to make memories with them. I hope that we continue with this family tradition. Maybe we can convince Emily to join us one day. On the way home we stopped in Idaho Falls to see the temple. I forgot it was under construction, but it was cool to look at the falls and the temple.