Life Lessons

Sometimes learning those great life lessons can be excruciating...especially when the one to learn the lesson is your child. And trying to sit back and let them learn it is just as painful!! I really hope great things come of it!

Nick's baptism day. December 5th, 2009

Nick finally did it!

It was a very special day for Nick and the whole family. He was baptized at the Hobble Creek Stake Center at 9:00 am. He was baptized and confirmed by his dad. He has been so prepared and ready for this very important ordinance of the Gospel. We love you, Nick!!

Nick's baptism invitation picture...

Nick received his very own scriptures for his birthday and has been reading them every night. He is so excited for his baptism on December 5, 09.

Nick getting ready for baptism...

Nick had his Bishop's interview last Sunday for his baptism. Bishop Box gave him a Book of Mormon and a journal. He told Nick to highlight every time he reads the words Jesus, Christ, Son of God, Redeemer, or any word that describes the Lord. To show him how much the Book of Mormon testifies of Christ.

Nick has truly taken this task to heart. He cherishes that Book of Mormon and reads it every night, highlighting as he goes. He is so excited to be baptized. Every time we talk about baptism, he gets emotional. I have learned so much from him. He is truly a very spiritual boy.

Sweet Nick...

Nick (7 yr) has been home sick today. He asked if he could watch a movie and I took him downstairs and laid him on the couch with his pillow and blanket. I put the movie in and tucked the blanket around him. He looked up at me and said, "Thank-you so much for everything." I just melted. What a sweetheart.

Payton's sprained wrist...

The very first game of the season, Payton sprained his wrist. He completed the first quarter and then obviously couldn't use his right hand. We were sick, thinking of all the hard work he had put in during the summer and knowing he was excited and ready to play as their starting quarterback. Hummer Frampton finished out the game as QB and did a great job. We ended up beating Provo 15-14.

However, Payton was very discouraged when the doctor told him he wouldn't be able to play for at least 2 weeks and possibly longer if the growth plate or scaphoid bone were affected. The next night I was sitting at the high school game right behind Coach Newbury. (One of Payton's coaches) He asked if we had had a priesthood blessing. He proceeded to bear his testimony of priesthood blessings. I felt the Spirit so strong--even during the football game!

That Sunday Greg and Bruno Frampton gave Payton a blessing (anointing). That week, the swelling went down and his wrist felt better every day. By their next game, Payton felt really good. He didn't play a whole lot of quarterback, but was able to play some and by the following game he was as good as new.

Now, I know that he has a fabulous Physical Therapist, but I firmly believe that the Lord healed Payton's wrist through that priesthood blessing much faster than if He hadn't been asked to intervene.

I can't tell you how grateful I am for priesthood blessings, as I have witnessed the power and felt the comfort of the Lord through them.

Our little thinker, Brooks...

We were driving in the car the other day and the subject of the world being round came up. After a little discussion about how the world turns 5 year-old Brooks asked, "So why don't we fall off the earth when we are on the bottom or on the sides?" Which then became a great discussion on gravity. He is quite a little thinker!

Oquirre Mountain Temple Open House

We took some time out of our busy baseball schedule to attend the Oquirre Mountain Temple Open House. We took all the boys. We dressed in Sunday clothes which I believed helped the boys be more reverent. We went to dinner first at Chilies, then to the Open House. It was beautiful and such a great opportunity for the boys to see the inside of the temple. We spent some time in the Sealing room and I felt the significance there. We are so blessed to live where there are an abundance of temples.

Payton and EFY

Payton has been at EFY-BYU this week.  We have talked to him a few times.  He has had such a great time.  He called us last night after their testimony/devotional night.  He was emotional and said he had felt the Spirit like nothing he had ever experienced before.  He said it had such an impact on him that he feels his life is changed.  He said he had wondered what it would be like to see our Heavenly Father.  He wondered what it would feel like to hug Him, then he realized it would feel like when he hugs his own father.  He told us he loved us.  

He was filled with the Spirit and I felt it so strong when I talked to him.   What an amazing experience for him.  He went with his best friends.  (Hummer Frampton, Karson Kester & Kaden Miner)

I am humbled by his testimony and also proud that he has such a strong conviction.  What a great example to his younger brothers.

Payton gives a talk in Sacrament Meeting!

February 22, 09.  Payton gave a great talk in sacrament meeting on Sunday.  His topic was "Happiness through Obedience".   He really did great!  I am proud of him.  

A Choir of Angels...

Jantsen was asked to sing in the children's choir for Stake Conference yesterday.  They practiced the two Saturdays before.  They sang several songs for the prelude and then 3 songs during the conference.  During the prelude, everyone was so reverent and there was such a sweet spirit as we took our seats.  Each speaker mentioned how special and touching the "choir of angels" were.

Jantsen was awesome.  Two hours of sitting on the stand is hard to do, but he was quiet and reverent.

The message given was to "Enjoy the Journey".  It was a beautiful meeting and I felt the Spirit so strong...especially when the children sang "If the Savior Stood Beside Me" and the closing hymn, "I Know My Redeemer Lives".  I'm so glad we were all there!

Going to the Temple...

Friday, January 16th, Payton and Jantsen were both able to go to the temple.  Payton went to do baptisms for the dead with 2 of his best buddies.  Bruno Frampton took Payton, Hummer,and  Kaden to the Provo temple.  They were each baptized for 10 people.  Payton said these people were from India and born sometime B.C.  Bruno did the baptizing.  These boys got up at 6:30am to be to the temple at 7am.  Friday was teacher prep day which meant no school.  I am very proud of Payton for making the effort to go, especially because I know how much he would have liked to sleep in.  He said the temple experience was "pretty cool".

Jantsen was asked to go to the Draper Temple Open House also on Friday the 16th.  He woke up early...7:30am in order to leave with the Elisons at 8am.  He was able to walk through the entire temple and see each room.  He loved the baptismal font and the Celestial room.  He talked about the 12 oxen holding up the baptismal font and representing the 12 tribes of Israel.  He talked about the crystal chandeliers in the Celestial room and the altar and eternal mirrors in the Sealing room.

This was a great day for both boys.  I am proud of them for their desire to follow Christ, to learn more about Him and His Church on the earth today.

New Year's Resolution...

This year we are studying the Doctrine & Covenants in Sunday School.  We have decided to read it as a family.  We will try to read a little every night.  Hopefully we can make it a habit and accomplish our goal of reading the whole book this year.

Nick's persistence...

Just this last Sunday (Fast Sunday) we went to Sacrament Meeting in Greg's Singles Ward.  After Bruno Frampton (1st Counselor) gave his testimony, Nick started to say he wanted to bear his testimony.  He did not want to go up alone and asked me to go up with him.  I said I would, but I was really just hoping he would chicken out.  He had never wanted to bear his testimony before.

Once he knew I would go up with him, he could hardly sit still and kept saying, "Let's go!"  He told me what he wanted to say and he kept repeating it softly to himself.  We went up as three other people went up.  We had to wait our turn up on the stand.  He was going crazy trying to wait his turn.  When I finally said okay, he jumped up and went right to the microphone.  He had no fear.  I, of course, was shaking and my heart was beating so loud, I thought anyone could hear.

Nick did a great job, short and sweet!  I got up after and could hardly speak.  I was a blubbering mess knowing my little boy had a strong enough feeling about the Gospel and Jesus Christ that he wanted to share it with no reservations!  I am proud of you, Nick!!