Life

I found this in my draft box and wanted to remember it so it's getting posted months afters I wrote it...

1.  Yesterday we had a fire whip through an area just west of our house.  We could see the billowing smoke and red glow of the fire from our window.  The city put our area on evacuation preparation notice.  We prepared and then because Jarom was becoming extremely anxious we headed over to Spencer's mom to wait until the fire was contained.

This morning I was unpacking and thought it interesting what we all thought was important enough to save if our house burned down.

Spencer and I grabed the file of important papers, cd's of our families pictures, our computer box and Ipad.

Jarom - his Pokemon cards, Dairy of Wimpy Kid book, football trophy, DS, wallet, food, blanket and stuffed animals.

Nolan - his basketball shoes, book, backpacking pack, axe spray, Ipod and other varies small objects.

2.  Barrett has learned how to open the door to the food closet in the kitchen. Bad news!!! Every time I wish for an unadventurous kid I hear my Grandma Blumel say, "you don't want a kid that just sits there, they're boring".  But sometimes I think after picking/cleaning up messes for the hundredth time how nice it would be.

Jarom turns 9

Jarom has wanted a soccer birthday party for a couple of years.  This year I was on top of things, we had the party a couple of weeks before Jarom's birthday so we could enjoy the beautiful fall weather.  And the weather was beautiful right up until the day of the party, ruining all our fun plans. 

Jarom assured me that snow and all the party would go on and be awesome.  So away we went.  We played soccer bowling, balloon heads, yellow card tag.  Coach Nolan and coach Greg took the kids outside to teach them some soccer skills in preparation for the soccer game.

Snow and all, the kids seemed to have a good time. Throughout all the activities the kids were collecting tickets to buy things from our concession stand.  That's right I made them pay for all their food.

Kids love this.  They love spending their tickets on hot dog, chips, tatar tots, pop, hot chocolate and then coming back for more.  I even made them buy all their goodie bag items.  I think it was the highlight for the kids.

Of course present time was Jarom's favorite time.

Jaroms had lots of girlfriends -I think 9.  Tricky candles.

Birthday Part 2.

  Birthdays are important to Jarom.  His excitement is contagious, his praises is exuberant and his joy is complete.    

Seems to be the year of Candy Grams.

 Jarom is so fun to give present to, his excitement is front and center!

Birthday supper consisted of KFC, mashed potatoes with gravy and veggies. 

I love with all my heart that Jarom is not self conscious in the least while everyone sings him Happy Birthday.  I love watching his smile and his twinkly eyes as he soaks in the moments and then because he can't contain himself any longer he sings along.

Baptisms

Oct 15th  In the very early hours of the morning we took Nolan to do baptisms for the dead in the temple.  We had planned to do it on his birthday, but then realized boys had to hold the priesthood.

Both Spencer and I went with him for his first time.  A tradition my friend Anne introduced us to, so thankful for good friends.  Spencer preforming the baptism and I did baptisms along side Nolan.  It was such a nice experience to be there with Nolan and watch as he witness everything for the first time.  We got to quietly sit and talk about the symbolism of it all. 

After we went to the temple cafeteria, where even though it was only 8:30 in the morning we enjoyed fresh bread and jam, pie and cheesecake with Nolan washing it all down with a rootbeer.  I know it wasn't such a great breakfast but I thought the creating of traditions and memories was worth it.

The following Tuesday Nolan went with the YM and YW of our ward.  He was asked to give a talk on his experience the following Sunday.  Here it is.

Talk baptisms for the dead

(Nolan's First talk in Sacrament October 16, 2011)

I was asked to speak to you on baptisms for the dead today.  I recently turned 12 and I wanted to go and do baptisms on my birthday, but I learned that young men must hold the priesthood before he can do baptism for the dead. 

Baptism for the dead is when we get baptised then confirmed in the person name that is dead. Elder Christofferson taught: “The vicarious ordinances we perform in temples, beginning with baptism, make possible an eternal welding link between generations that fulfills the purpose of the earth’s creation.”

President Hinckly said:“What a marvelous thing that is that you, an ordinary boy or girl, can stand in the place of some great man or woman who at one time lived upon the earth but who is now powerless to move forward without the blessing that you can give to him or her. … There is no greater blessing that you can have than to stand as a proxy in a great service to those who have gone beyond. And it will be your privilege and your opportunity and your responsibility to live worthy to go to the temple of the Lord and there be baptized in behalf of someone else”.

  My mom and dad took me to do baptism last Saturday.  I was really excited to go to the temple and see the inside.  I thought the baptistery was beautiful and I learned that almost everything in the temple is Symbolic.  I could feel that the temple was a scared place when I walked inside the doors. When I was performing the baptisms and confirmation I felt really good that I could help people in the spirit world that wanted to receive those blessings.   

Then on Tuesday I got to go to the temple again with the young men and young women of our ward.  While I was waiting for my turn to perform baptism, I had more time to sit and ponder about the sacredness of the temple and the people I would  be helping .

 President Hunter said:“We hope that you, as young members of the Church, will go often to the temple to perform baptisms for the dead. When the time comes for you to go on a mission or be married, we pray that you will go to the temple worthily and feel the beautiful spiritual atmosphere that is present in the temple.”

I am thankful I was able to go to the temple and perform baptisms.

Nolan's Birthday week-end

It really was a birthday week-end, it just kept going and going.  Lucky kid.

Friday Nolan had a couple of his pals over and they rocked the night away.  Weather spoiled our plans so they ran around in the rain and shot each other with air soft guns, then watched Transformers on the big screen. 

Yep that's right Nolan has a girlfriend and Jamie was quick to let me know her name!

Saturday Morning (his actual birthday) Nolan woke up for his early  for his presents.  This was a tough year for him, he had his heart set on an electric guitar or an Itouch.  He received neither.  Instead he got a sweet little candy gram from Jarom, a docking station for his ipod and basketball clothes that may fit him on his 16th birthday. 

Nolan's birthday's always falls on Thanks-giving week-end. We went out to mom and dad's and had a wonderful Thanks-giving dinner. Nolan received mega cash (which he is stashing away for something really good) and another birthday cake - where we learned he had two girl friends. 

Sunday was a big day.  Since Nolan turned twelve he graduated from Primary.  He had been counting down the days for months until he got to start YM's and stop singing primary songs.  Now he no longer has to pretend to be singing, who he thought he was kidding, I'm not sure.

After church his dad conferred the Aaronic Priesthood on him.  In the circle was Grandpa Strate, Uncle Cam, Cousin Sean, James Northcott and Bishop Steed.

Then we gathered at our house for dinner and visiting.  We are so thankful to everyone that supported Nolan on his big day.