It Came! It Really Did! He's Going....

Thursday, February 19th
The mail box waiting for Thomas
Mom's already seen the big envelope but has been instructed not to touch it or remove it. I've been so obedient and self-controlled! Can't he just come home NOW and open it?
Patience, Denise!

The long awaited moment has arrived!

Now Thomas and the envelope wait for the gathering. As mentioned in the previous post, Lane and I were in Salt Lake with the girls at the temple...the appointed opening time - 6:00 pm

We were a little late getting home, we were greeted by the gathered... 

So many friends, family,

some attending via cell phones...

we've all waited so long for this moment

15 months and 20 days...

Through it all Thomas has been totally steadfast, dedicated and focused. Through delays, more appointments, more information, more

time, more schooling,

more living away from home,

one more psych evaluation, stability, determination
and more of the same.

Then there was the holiday weekend to delay the mail!

At last, reading his mission call with all the emotion of a man of God, eager and ready to serve...

Richmond, Virginia
Here he comes!
You're going to love him!
He enters the MTC
April 1, 2009

And steadfast right along with him, his greatest support, Laura. We love them both more than words can possibly express.
They are tremendous examples to all of us.

Temple Open House

This was a glorious day! An opportunity to take my beautiful daughters to the place I love most. As I was nearing my teenage years, after being adopted by my new father, I was sealed to my parents in the Provo Temple. It was an unforgettable day and was, I suppose, the experience to set the tone for my future. When I was engaged to be married, it was going to the temple to be endowed that thrilled me most. When I put on my first temple garments I cried; I love them still. I love the temple. We have taken our children to every temple open house we could, Bountiful, Vernal, Mt. Timpanogos, but when the Draper temple open house came I paid it little attention. WHY!?!?!

This was the perfect time to take Claire to see the rooms in the temple that she no longer remembers but anticipates greatly! Abbie will be 12 in June and is incredible eager to have a recommend to do baptisms; the last one of my children to receive such a privilege.

As expected, they loved it, we loved it. Nothing makes me happier than knowing, seeing my children love the Lord. There were many happy tears of anticipation and gratitude shed. Thank you, Kennan, for inspiring this trip.

Celebrating Amelia

This year Amelia would be 14.
It's hard to imagine how the dynamics of our family would be different if she was with us. Abbie wouldn't feel so left out. Amelia would comfortable fill that gap...

if she were whole, healthy, strong.
But she wouldn't be, her little body was too affected by that third chromosome, it contained too much genetic information to be compatible with life.

But, as short as her life was, she made a tremendous impact on our lives and many others. We still keep in touch with her labor and delivery nurse, Tina. She wasn't just a newborn, she was full of love to give to everyone. It was an honor to have her in our home. That was a sweet, sacred, week. We feel her presence often and we often feel a void. We miss her, we love her, and every year we celebrate her.

This year we chose our Ward Nursery for our service project in honor of Amelia. They needed new toys desperately. We had a ball shopping! (Thomas literally had a ball, a big red one!) It feels so good to do something in her memory. It's a way that she, and we, can keep on giving that wonderful love she came to this earth with. Janice Hill is our Nursery Coordinator and a dear friend. She approved our purchases and let us bring the toys to each nursery and enjoy the delight of the
children seeing new toys....magical.

Thomas and Abbie lovingly made her birthday cake

Thank you, Ameila, for choosing to share your brief life with us.
We love you!

Amelia

29 Jan 2009
I should be celebrating my daughter's birthday.
Instead, I'm in bed, feeling yucky.
Fortunately, she'll understand if we
celebrate a little late.
I love you, sweet girl!

Sometimes...

Some days you're just cute, beautiful, put together.
Today was one of those days, so how about a little photo shoot.

I marvel almost every time I look at her. She's so good to me. She's an incredible young woman. And she's mine. Really, I gave birth to her, I was there, she really is mine...and so incredibly beautiful,
inside and out.

We're great friends and love to spend time together,
especially when it includes lunch!

Just Because

My "baby" isn't such a baby anymore. Isn't she adorable?
She's so capable, so clever, so snuggly, so forgiving, so patient with me,
she'll always be my baby.
Thank you for taking care of me!

How Clever

I made minestrone soup for dinner.
For some unknown, not quite grown out of it stage, I always add alphabet noodles.
As we started dinner I jokingly said to the kids in that coax-you-to-eat-your-dinner voice, that if they found their name they'd get a prize! The rest of us just ate.
Thomas found his name in his soup...need I say more?