Sealings and Blessings

This past weekend was all about them babies.

Saturday morning, I went to Brandon and Carrie's. I fed Asher while Carrie fed Anson. Brandon loaded up the cars with everything they would need for the temple. Then, Asher vomited all over the two of us. Brandon described it as looking like, "pigeon poop." Accurate. He washed Asher and I off while Carrie changed. Then, we were off. I kept telling Asher that this was going to be his best day so far. My job was to stay in the nursery with the babes and keep them happy and change their clothes to take them in to the sealing room. They were SO good! They were so tired, but they were little troopers.

When it was time, my mom took Anson and Carrie's mom took Asher. It was a beautiful, beautiful moment. Asher was sealed to his mommy and daddy for time and all eternity. Anson was born under the covenant and was completely uninterested in everything going on. When they came out of the temple, lots of pictures were taken and my boys (as always) ate those babies up!!

Sunday was blessing day. The boys looked so cute. Brandon gave THE most beautiful baby blessings I have ever heard. They were so sacred and so amazing. What a great daddy this brother of mine has become! Carrie looked beautiful and is such a great mama. Those baby boys love her so much.

I just want to say, again for the millionth time, that these boys are such an enormous blessing to our family. My boys absolutely soak them up every chance they get. Kaydon was "angry" in Sacrament meeting yesterday because Asher was being held by other people! It was cracking me and Carrie up. I love that families are forever and I love that Asher is just as much a part of that as the rest of us!

Love Me Some Baseball!!

On Labor Day, Ernie bought the boys and I tickets to the last Bees game on Labor Day. Jackson was working so the other three went with me. Heaven. I was in Heaven. Absolute Heaven. It was hot as heck, but I did not care. I loved every single second of it!!!

Answer to HOCO

On Friday, we all went to the Layton game because Cam told me that she'd be answering Braxton to the dance. She is seriously the cutest dang thing ever. Like, of all time. Ever. They called Braxton's name up to the announcers booth and there was a poster and a football waiting for him. So cute!

A Talk With P

Sunday night, Jackson asked me to take a ride with him to the cemetery where P and Sarah's earthly bodies are buried. He brought his patriarchal blessing with him. He hasn't read it since he received it. We walked up to the spot where they lay. I talked to P for a while. I told him everything that has been going on, told him I missed him, thanked him for being at the ordinations, and told him it was time for him to come back now. You know, the usual. Then, I walked over to a spot that I had wanted to look at more closely.

When I came back, Jackson was reading his blessing to P, sobbing. He was reading it out loud to P and telling him how he felt.

They are buried in a beautiful spot, with a beautiful view. I am thankful that it is close by. I am so thankful for the relationship he had with my boys and that sometimes they just need him.

But, gosh, it's time for him to come back now!

Single Mom Life - The Moments That Matter

This past weekend was incredible. My grandparents were here from Fresno. My aunt was as well. Saturday the boys and I drove to Sandy to visit with everyone. Oh, how my boys love their great-grandpa. And, oh how he loves them! Grandpa is one of my favorite people of all time. He is just a gem and I am so honored to call him mine. He told me a couple of times that he is so proud of the way that I have raised my boys on my own and what good, good young men they are. Coming from my grandpa, that meant the absolute world to me.

Sunday, everyone came to my ward. My Braxton and Colton were being ordained to Priest and Teacher, respectively. It was Fast and Testimony meeting and it was the only opportunity I've ever had to bear my testimony in front of my grandparents. I totally took the chance to do that. I spoke of our family theme this year, Honor. I told the story of "17 Inches." I reminded my boys that their mama knows that we are children of our Heavenly Father and that He hears us and loves us. I know that. I spoke of the Priesthood in our home and how Jackson gathers us for family prayer every morning, how we have a family message every Sunday night, how we honor each other and ourselves every day.

Then, my grandpa stood at the pulpit and bore his testimony. I wish that I had it recorded. My sweet, fragile grandpa stood and spoke about how each week when he works in the Fresno Temple, he always feels impressed to put the names of my boys and I on the prayer roll. Then, as he watches those gather around the alter to pray for the names on that roll, they are all - in unity - praying for my boys and I. He spoke of what good young men I have. He spoke of his love for us. He spoke about how the Church is true no matter where we are. Gosh, I love him.

Then, we moved to the Bishop's office. First, Brandon ordained Braxton to the office of a Priest so that he could in turn stand in the circle to ordain Colton. As Brandon began the ordination, I looked up for a moment. Jackson was directly in front of me. To his left was my pops. There was a large gap. There, in my mind's eye stood P. When the ordination was over, Jackson sat next to me and sobbed. I leaned in and told him what I saw. He nodded his head and said, "Yes, Mama. He was here. He was right here with us." Colton was then ordained by my grandpa.

This single mom life is not as single as I sometimes feel. Angels administer to us every single day. The veil is thinner than I sometimes think. This family that I have, that we have, is the greatest family of all. I have been told that at the beginning of each day, angels meet and discuss those who they will be administering to that day. I believe that to be true. I cannot tell you the number of times that my boys and I have felt the love and presence from those on the other side of the veil.

To see that all of my boys are worthy Aaronic Priesthood holders is no small thing. I realize that I had such a small part in that. This past weekend reminded me that being a single mom is so much less single than it might sometimes appear. We are surrounded by love and support and my boys are amazing.

Head Chef

Jackson sent me a text on Friday. It was these two pictures:

At the bottom of these two pictures was, "Head Chef." Jackson was voted the Head Chef of the school cooking restaurant thing. Basically, this particular cooking class feeds the teachers. Can you imagine?? Safety first!! Anywho, right now they are simply practicing. Earlier last week, they tried to make crepes. Apparently when making crepes, it is necessary to try to flip them in the pan. The crepe stuck to the ceiling. Keep trying?!?!

Friday, they made cookies. Apparently none of them stuck to the ceiling. He told me that he made the snickerdoodles and they were voted "best." Mind you, a few years ago when Jackson was in cooking class in Junior High, he called me and asked me, "How long do I put Rice Krispy Treats in the oven?" What?!?!?!

I'm sure everything will be fine.

In The Name of P

On Wednesday night, Sarah's sister, Cori, put some treats with notes on the cars of some of the Water employees. The notes said that it was her 40th birthday and that usually she'd spend her birthday with Sarah, Perry, and the kids. She said that since Perry and Sarah passed away, she was doing a day of kind acts. She asked that it be paid forward.

In the name of Perry and Sarah, Water decided to pay it forward in a big way. They asked for donations to go to Houston and surrounding communities. We donated paper towels, tooth brushes, and other items. Water is donating water, more paper towels and other goods. All in the name of P.

I have missed him a lot this week and started to cry when I saw the amount that this little office came up with for people who are far worse off than we are. In Perry and Sarah's honor. They continue to make a difference with their angel wings in tact. I hope that they see this. I hope that they see that people who love them and miss them are paying it forward in a big way... in their name.

--Special thanks to Sabrina for putting this together.