Trip to the Aquarium

Do you remember last year when the Dog Walker earned a spot on the Dance Off from Utah Dave? Utah Dave is a Real Estate company here in Utah and they sponsor all sorts of good things that make people proud to be part of this state. (This is not a commercial for Utah Dave...I don't even know the guy.)

Anyway, last week he (or someone from his staff) sent me a personal invitation to bring my family to an Open House at the Living Planet Aquarium. The aquarium has been around for a while, but we have never had the opportunity to see it, so I gladly accepted.

We were supposed to get there about 6:30, but Taco and Sport had football practice until 7:00, so the Dog Walker and I took Baby Doll, Curly, Scout, and Burrito and my sweetie was to pick up the boys from the park and meet us at the aquarium. The older girls were all going boating with their Young Women group so we were on our own.

As I was driving toward the aquarium, I was stressing about where I might park. I loaned my mini-van to Bossy, so I was driving the big van. I was imagining a free event with all sorts of people there. I was so surprised to see less than 20 cars in the parking lot when we arrived about 6:25.

We unloaded the kids and the stroller and just walked right inside. We were allowed to wander as much as we wanted. At 7:00 they had a little presentation about the new aquarium and showed us some fun pictures of what to expect when they got all moved into their new home in December. It looks awesome! I might even pay money to go there!

When we went to San Francisco, we visited the Aquarium Under the Bay and they had a tube with water all around and above with fish and sea creatures swimming everywhere. Well, our new aquarium is going to have one of those! They are even going to have a shark tank where people can scuba dive and a huge tank for the penguins.

And the kids thought tonight's visit was cool...wait until they see this new one!

Letters from Texas

I was so excited to get my longest email yet from Teach this week! She is so busy and happy and working hard. I know I usually post things from her on Thursday, but I just couldn't wait. I hope you don't mind.

On Sunday, the Dog Walker was invited to give the closing prayer in Sacrament Meeting. One of his good friends had just returned from his mission so we had a pretty full house, probably about 400 people. He gave an awesome prayer and toward the end he asked for a special blessing on the missionaries, especially Teach. I was relieved when the entire congregation responded with a resounding "Amen." when he was finished. So I made sure to tell Teach this week that hundreds of people had been praying for her specifically.

I'm REALLY glad to hear that the Dog Walker prayed for us. We definitely need some miracles this week because our numbers were really low. We taught really good lessons just not very many of them. I want to teach more. I really struggle with finding new people and then... going from small talk into teaching about the gospel. Everyone seems to be wary of us because they know we aren't "just there to chat" which we aren't, but they think we're... I dunno. It's interesting. I need to pray about it more so I can figure out a good approach to help us find more investigators. (: 

Teach and I both suffer from this problem.

You know how I really struggle to see my beauty? Well, Sister Lewis wasn't going to have any of that so she made it her personal responsibility to tell me that I'm beautiful every day. She has a mini white board and she wrote "you are beautiful" on it. Whenever I would say something negative about myself she would prop it up on her desk so that I had to look at it. I appreciated the effort, but we both know that nobody can force you to see your own beauty. But we were talking about it and she tried MANY different tactics. and then there was a point where she said. "I want you to listen to me as I describe this person... She's a daughter of God. Who created her and sent her to two parents that love her. She has a wonderful family. She has two friends that she has helped through many struggles and pains. She has a brother whom she loves very much who has been dealt a rough hand in life." This is the point where I started crying, Mom. It was the most... interesting experience. I teach people about this type of feeling every day. The Spirit truly testified to my heart that the things Sister Lewis was testifying of - that they're true. I knew it without a shadow of a doubt. The Lord wrapped his arms around my heart. As she continued on she said, "You can't tell me that this girl isn't beautiful. That this girl doesn't deserve a man that will love her and cherish her." I don't remember the exact words, but in hindsight the Spirit says that this is what I needed to know. I finally FELT beautiful. and I know that I am. That I have an inner and an outward beauty. 

 

I went to bed with this feeling deep in my heart. When I woke up in the morning we went running. I pray a lot when I run so I don't focus on how painful it can be. So I pray and I always come home with revelation that I record in my journal. This time the revelation was the Spirit AGAIN confirming the beauty that I have. I know that I am beautiful, but I know that the beauty comes from God. Remember how Grandma Benson had that sign - "I know I'm somebody 'cause God don't make no junk!!"?  

 

This is the thought that really struck me. I was caught up in a thought of genetics and how carefully planned my body was. I come from such a diverse background and it all led up to ... this. (: Picture my face. That's me. and that is exactly how God wanted me to be. That's pretty stinkin' cool. (: It just made me really happy. Then I realized... this is true for EVERYONE. we are all the children of God and it has been by careful selection, science, nature, and care that we are the way we are. These are the bodies we carry with us forever. This is it. I'm not going to be Hispanic in the 2nd coming. I'm not going to be a 3- legged frog. I'm going to be me. It's cool. That's how God wants me to be. It is what it is. 

I just love that! I wish every young girl could hear these words. I think the media has us all believing that there is only one standard of beauty and it's just not true.

I sure miss this girl! Don't you agree that she is growing up beautifully?

Not a Baby Anymore

Lego candles? Really?

I know you think this post is about Baby Doll, but it's not. For the last two weeks Curly and I have been having this discussion. On August 12 when he turns 5, he can't talk like a baby anymore and I can't call him Baby anymore. I have to tell you, I've been working on it and it's hard!

Ninja style!

Of all the kids, I have never called any of them "Baby" except for him. I don't know why. He's not particularly babyish or anything, it just seemed to fit. He is such a sweet, happy, loving boy.

It's not underwear!

He woke up this morning and came running down the hall to my bedroom calling, "Mom! Mom! It's my birthday!" Of course he was grinning ear-to-ear. He is like his dad though, he doesn't want any attention unless it's from people he knows and loves. When he first came home from school I asked him if his teacher wished him a happy birthday and he said, "No, I didn't tell her it was my birthday." I gave him a squeeze, "Why not?" He wiggled a little in my arms, "Because then they would sing to me!" 

We had the family over for another party tonight with his favorite foods, tuna casserole and green beans. He was so excited over every gift and he hugged all the givers. He was just sure the soft packages were full of underwear and he was thrilled when they were actually Ninjago T-shirts!

He got a big beautiful fire engine that he was so excited about he couldn't even wait for someone to help him take it out of the box. He got a pair of scissors (not little kid-friendly ones) and promptly cut his finger. It bled pretty good and he was very unhappy until we found a Band-aid.

This box is heavy!

When it was finally time for bed and the party was cleaned up and the guests were gone, I pulled him into my lap and asked him if he had a happy birthday. He snuggled up and flashed me that huge smile. "Yes!" Then a shadow passed over his face, "Except for when I cut my finger." I inspected the bandage. "Oh, you won't even remember that part in a couple of weeks," I consoled. He gave me another big hug and then headed off for bed.

He might be pretty grown up, but he will always be my Baby. I just can't call him that anymore.

Happy 24th Drama Queen

Yesterday was the Drama Queen's 24th birthday. It was also the second year in a row she has let us celebrate with the Girl Scout troop. This has actually happened to her quite often. She has probably shared almost as many of her birthdays doing various things as she has just staying home and having a family party.

I'm thinking it was 8 years ago that we spent several days at the Millcreek Camp with the troop. I'm thinking it was her 17th birthday, but she will have to set me straight if I am wrong.. I know I had a little one with us and that's why we chose Millcreek. Their camp will let anyone come regardless of age, as long as they are paid for. The girl scout camps used to be more lenient, but now they absolutely refuse to let anyone stay over if they aren't registered scouts. They say it like this, "No Tagalongs!" Which is sort of funny since that is one of their best-selling cookies...but I digress...

Those few days we spent at Millcreek were so fun! We had to mostly plan our own activities, so we had a hike, played volleyball, did crafts, and had a big birthday cake. We slept on cots in a cabin and I just snuggled up with three-year-old Sport in the same sleeping bag.  Those were fun and (mostly!) memorable days.

Girls' Camp, Scout Camp, Tuacahn, it seemed like we were always rearranging her birthday, but she has been gracious and happy every time. We celebrated today by serving some of her favorites, Eggplant Parmesan and Chicken Alfredo. I think my sweetie was trying to replicate Bucca Di Beppo, one of her favorite restaurants. She got some fun gifts. We gave her some new shoes, a purse, a rolling pin, and a mortar and pestle. I know, it was a little weird, but she loved it!

But my favorite gift was that our friend, Miles, braved the ladder and changed the battery in that stupid smoke detector.

Happy Birthday, Drama Queen!