Seminary Grad

This was an exciting weekend because not only did we celebrate Beth's grade nine graduation but we also got to celebrate Alisha's seminary grad!

This is quite an accomplishment because it recognizes Alisha for attending early morning seminary for 4 consecutive years. Back in my day, we only had early morning seminary once a week, so it is much more of a commitment for these kids that go every day! What impresses me the most, is that they do it themselves. I don't have to push and prod. They get themselves up, and get ready on their own, and by 7:00 a.m. they are for the most part out the door!

Seminary grad this year included that attendance of Alisha's grandparents who traveled to the city with us for the occasion. Alisha beamed as she received her diploma - a symbol of all the sleep she sacrificed for spiritual knowledge.

 Here she shows off her certificate out in the foyer of the Stake Center.

I know that the Savior is as pleased with her accomplishment as her family is.

I love this photo. Her face glows golden in the setting sun that was pouring in through the door highlighting the sheer joy on her face. What a beautiful girl - inside and out!

I can't help but think of one of my favorite scriptures at times like this:

Truly, there is no greater JOY than to see my children progress spiritually. I am sure that Heavenly Father feels much the same as He sees us make good choices blessing and serving our families, friends and neighbors. I am also sure that his pain is equally excruciating when He sees His children turn from truth for then their joy is lost and his has turned to sorrow...

May we always walk in truth and be blessed with exquisite joy!

Awarded to...

Naomi!!!

It seems like a long time ago, but I guess Remembrance day was only 6 months back. Naomi was invited this month to attend the awards ceremony that the Legion holds every year because she had placed in the Remembrance Day Literary Contest for a poem she had written.

That was a big day for her because just that afternoon the two of us traveled to Lethbridge to get the top wire put on her braces. It made her mouth hurt a bit as she is now all rigged up with springs and wires and all that stuff. Of course a trip to the city isn't complete unless we see Shylah... so a couple hours after her appointment was over we headed home. We had 10 minutes and then headed into town for the Awards ceremony.

I have to say, I LOVED this ceremony! I think schools could take some notes. They gave out a whole pile of prizes to lots of kids as well as to the Legion members themselves. They didn't give big long speeches about each award, they just announced it and called the winner up. It took no more than 15 minutes to do all the Remembrance Day awards. Naomi took 2nd place in the poetry contest and received a cash award. Another 5-10 minutes later the Legion awards were done and then there was time for refreshments and mingling. It was pretty nice.

So this picture sums up the day pretty good. Naomi is not only showing off her prize and certificate but also her brand new top wire that makes her mouth hurt. What a joy it is that she still feels like smiling!

I think life is sometimes like that. Things sometimes happen that cause hurt, but the deep down happiness and peace we spiritually cultivate bubbles out and spills over the sorrow and the hurt is extinguished. Naomi's teeth hurt but her happiness carried her through the discomfort. What a blessing it is to know the source of happiness, and to be secure in that knowledge.

The Second Grad

At the beginning of the month we were pleased and excited to celebrate another grad in our family - this time it was Beth who graduated from Burdett and will move on to high school next year. I used to stress getting prepared for these kinds of things, but this year I just haven't bothered stressing - stressing is too much work!

With Beth's graduation on the heels of Alisha's, I was kept quite busy sewing. Once Alisha's dress with its 'Double Bubble Trouble' was done I was ready for a sewing break! At that point I had Beth's dress all sewed with exception to the hem and the neck finishing so I wasn't feeling too pressed. I finally got a chance a couple days before grad to measure up the hem so it hung right. I hemmed it Friday morning before company started arriving for the celebration that night. Before attending the banquet I took the opportunity to take some grad photos of my girl.

 The meal was wonderful and the program was enjoyable. Beth was predicted to be a BYU art teacher that often visited Naomi on her ranch....
I'm not sure about the Naomi having a ranch part, but I think they got it right when they later talked about Beth writing a book.

 Beth introducing one of her fellow graduates.

Beth and Anna cleverly announcing the guest speaker.

Graduations are exciting. I love to participate in the recognizing of not only my own children, but all those who have accomplished a major portion of their education. In Burdett, many of the students that graduate from grade nine do not go to high school - so for them this is the only school graduation they will celebrate. Beth and a few others will move on. Next year Beth will go to school with Naomi again and I'm sure they'll leave their own distinctive mark as they move through school. As for me, there is so much joy associated with seeing my children stretch and grow that it is not really possible to put it into words. I love my Beth. She is such a wonderful girl, with numerous talents, interests and abilities. She holds a distinctive place in our home and family.
I am so blessed!

Overflowing...

Well it has been our goal for just over a year now to have not only a fish pond in the back yard, but to also have an upper pool that flows into the lower one. This month we got it!!! I can't get enough of being outside, and hearing the relaxing sound of water flowing. As I look at my life, I see it much like this pool, with blessings constantly flowing - I love the reminder that the water garden gives me. It is a joy to be outside with so many reminders of the goodness of God in my life. So here are the pictures...

 Loving it outside.

 I think this is a moth - I thought it was kind of neat and it appeared as I was filling my pond.

 There it is - from the north. You can see the water flowing from the upper pool into the dark hole beneath which is the lower pool. I've got a few more flowers to put in pots to complete the garden and we have one more floating ornament to add.

Here is the completed pond from above. Who knows what I might like to do still, but I love how it has turned out so far. I love the sound of the running water, it is not only relaxing but soothing and it makes it that much more enjoyable to be outside in the yard. I can only imagine the satisfaction and joy the Savior must have felt as he created this earth for us and looked and it was 'good'.

Studying Together

During General Conference this last spring I was impressed with a talk that spoke about needing to know and understand the plan of salvation. I have come to know that this is true and feel a need to reteach it to my children. We have been doing this in Family Home Evening now for a couple of months. We take as many weeks as it takes to get through all the material and then move on in topic so it is slow going but oh - so worth it! I love this plan. I have decided to put our booklet pages on this blog so my children can continue to follow along with us even when they are no longer living at home. I love each of my children so much. They bring me such joy.
Plan of Salvation Booklet
Plan of Salvation Quotes
Agency Quotes