A new life

Yesterday I went with Kendra to her second prenatal appointment. (Brach had class so he couldn't be there.) I almost cried when I heard the baby's heartbeat. It sounded strong and healthy:) It is amazing that my little one is going to have a little one. I don't consider myself an overly emotional person but yesterday I was feeling it. It was all I could do to keep my tears from falling. Can you imagine what a wreck I'm going to be on the day of delivery?? She is now at 16 weeks (due date is October 8th) and should be feeling the baby move within a couple of weeks. She has been sick off and on with good and bad days but altogether not to bad. At her next appt. they will find out if it's a boy or a girl. So exciting!!

Easter Week

The week before Easter Rick and I met Skylar and Sarah at the St. George house for a week of fun. Skylar is starting a new job selling for his dad and Sarah was on her Spring Break so they had the week off. We had a great time!! Here's a short list of things that we did.....went bowling (loser bought the winners a Cold Stone treat......that means Skylar bought us all a treat:), made pizza, went to the temple, went swimming (actually we got in the water a lot...it was a little chilly outside but the water temp was a toasty 90 degrees), went golfing (windy but tons of fun), watched movies, and did a little shopping. On Friday night Brach, Kendra and Gary joined us. We got to eat out at our favorite St. George restaurant Samarai 21 (we all caught our shrimp except for Brach who had a do over:) Saturday we traveled down to Vegas for a Hafen wedding and enjoyed being with my family. After the wedding luncheon we headed back to swim, enjoy a BBQ (thanks to B & K for bringing a little hibachi cooker because we don't have a BBQer yet), colored some Easter eggs, and then settled down with a movie. The next day was Easter and had a very nice day. The highlight of the day (after church, naps, dinner and Easter egg hunting) was sitting around talking of the Savior and what he means specifically to each of us. I love that (at least a few) my kids have a grasp on reality and the importance of living a good life and pleasing Heavenly Father. The Savior's atonement is something that they understand. I love to sit back and listen to them speak of important matters and know that THEY know what life is all about. It brings joy to my heart and was the culmination of a wonderful week!

THE EPITOME OF GRACE AND BEAUTY

Last night I attended the Women's Health Fair where Elizabeth Smart was the keynote speaker. It was truly an inspiring evening as I listened to her tell her story. I cried as she told of the night she was kidnapped and the horrible experience that she had to endure that night. One of the things that was the most inspiring to me was, as she told of the feelings and thoughts that came to her after that evil man stole her innocence, she laid there alone feeling dirty, impure, and almost in despair thinking that no one would even like her anymore because of what had taken place. She remembered her mother once saying to her that there would ALWAYS be two people in the world that loved her no matter what she did. The first was God. Her mother had told her that God would ALWAYS love her. The second was her, her mother. Her mom told her that whatever happened to her in life and no matted what choices she made (and this was clearly NOT a choice that Elizabeth made) that she would love her always. At that moment Elizabeth was filled with hope. She thought, "If God loves me and my mom loves me than surely my dad would still love me and my brothers and sisters would still love me as well. That hope spurred into determination and she thought to herself, "I will survive this." And she did.

I am amazed at the power of love. It can bring the lowliest person from the depths of despair. It can bring wayward children back into the light. It can change the hardest of hearts. It is what has saved us from the fall. As I got to meet and talk briefly visit with Elizabeth after her presentation I told her that she is the epitome of grace and beauty. And she really is.