Happiness

Elizabeth, Anna and Allison on their Girls' Day Out Some birthdays are bigger than others in our family, 8 is a big one since that is when we get baptized in our Church. 12 is also another big one. It is when girls go from Primary- where the kids meet during Church- to Young Womens and become an Official Young Woman. To me turning 12 is even bigger than 13 even though 13 means that you are a teenager. Mostly because I remember anticipating turning 12 a lot more than anticipating turning 13. I was excited to be in the same class as all the older, cooler girls. I was also excited to go to activities with the boys. And I was excited to go to girl's camp too! So fun! And so, HAPPY 12th BIRTHDAY, ELIZABETH! I remember holding you in my arms, your dark, soft, fuzzy hair sticking all over the place and sighing sweet little baby sighs. I dressed you in pink as often as I could and would hold you and coo and snuggle with you. Having baby D to hold right now and snuggle ...

  Dear Children,               To those of you who are here now, who have made me a Mother, who call me Mother and who give me a chance daily to learn, grow and experience the joy of Mothering, To my sweet 4 children- my 10 year old, my two 8 years olds (so soon to be 9) and my six year old. It is only for such a short time that you will be these ages. Time seems to fly on the wings of a very large bird- it's flapping seems so slow and deliberate, but it moves swiftly and surely. Within a few short months Elizabeth, you will be 11, Ethan and Jonah, you will be 9 and Asher, you will be 7. I will no longer have a sweet 1st grader to call my own. I will no longer have twins who have recently baptized or a fourth grader in the cusp of young childhood.             But, I will have a sweet 2nd grader- 2nd graders can be so fun and cute! I will have 2 fourth graders...