Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Triple Baptism



Emma turned 8 all the way back in June. Normally, in our LDS faith, we would have held a baptism for her that month, within a week or two of turning 8. However, Emma happens to be the oldest in a trio of cousins who all turned 8 over the course of exactly 2 months. Years ago my siblings and I mentioned maybe baptizing them together. It was such a nice thought. As the time drew closer we began to consider it more seriously. At first we all thought how amazing it would be to travel all the way to Seattle to baptize the girls in the ocean. It would take a lot from all three of our families to make that happen, especially Peter's family for getting there and Adam's family for hosting. We were about to go for it when we realized that if we did, Troy's entire family and Sheri's entire family would be left out. Emma is Troy's parents' last grandchild and we thought they would probably be quite sad and hurt to not get to see that baptism. We had to mourn a little bit as we let go of the idea of baptizing the girls in the ocean. However, we knew it just had to be here. That created other complications - during the time of my mom's passing and services Adam and his family had made the dreaded drive here to Salt Lake something like three times and they just weren't sure they could handle it again. It's truly awful. But Rosey, their 8 year old, convinced them how very much she wanted to be baptized with her cousins and so they made the trip, bless them. I'm so grateful to everyone who made the drive from St. George AND from Seattle.

I'll admit that it was a little stressful to be the coordinator for all three families, getting the arrangements all made for the service and a meal together afterwards. The program, any decorations, all that. But after that was all worked out I was so happy that I was able to celebrate this day with my two little brothers whom I love so much.

Some front porch pictures before we headed out:



And some pictures at the church:







The Seattle Romneys were running a bit late so we didn't get many photo opportunities with the three before the baptism but we did manage to snap this one:



I really loved the service - we had the two boys, Smith and Chase, give the opening and closing prayers. We asked Sheri's mom to speak about Baptism and she was so tender in sharing her own experience getting baptized. She gave each girl a little teddy bear too. We asked Troy's sister in law Tonja to speak about the Holy Ghost and that was also very sweet. We had the grandkids sing a primary song together too. Then the girls were each baptized. We moms stood at the side of the font together with our daughters so we could all see all three baptisms. It was very moving for me for the three of our families to be there together.




There were some wonderful moments that I'll always remember. Standing at the side of the font together was the best one of course, but I was also grateful to our Stake Primary President, who brought little glass vials and filled them with water from the font and gave them to each girl to always have a really special keepsake of this day. It was lovely to be with all the family members who could join us, including my sweet cousin Mary Grace, the youngest of Margaret's kids. Margaret was unable to come from Boulder where she lives now, and Kate joined us later at the lunch. My dad was actually gone as well on a trip he had planned out of the country before we knew the dates of the baptism. So I was extra touched the Mary came.

Following the baptism, and after a man-hunt for my nephew Park who escaped from the church and went and found himself an actual park three blocks away and scared us all to death, we gathered at my dad's house for a meal together in the back yard. Whitley made it extra special with an Italian soda bar plus an elegant sliced potato salad, a watermelon and mint salad and I can't remember what I made. No idea. What a nice afternoon together with family, though. I'm so grateful and happy this day happened.



























Monday, September 25, 2017

A Short Visit to Long Beach

Sheri had called me early in the summer and told me that we should just go on a trip. Just go. Make it quick and easy and simple. I decided she was right and we should just go for it. I let her plan the details because she likes doing that stuff and it stresses me out. We did have a bit of a surprise when we arrived in Long Beach - normally we would have stayed with her grandparents who live there, but her grandma is having health issues, which is really sad. They've been really close to Sheri and her family. So we just couldn't stay there this time. Instead, Sheri found us a little hotel that we thought would be ok. When we pulled up we were in for a shock - it was under some serious construction. We wondered if it was even open and it seemed pretty scary. However, Sheri went in to check it out and check us in and it was all fine. It was a little cozy - There was a queen bed where Sheri slept with all four of her kids and I was in a hide-a-bed with my two girls. Amazingly it was pretty comfy. There was a great breakfast and we stayed pretty comfortably.


On the docket for the weekend was first, attending church and visiting with Sheri's super sweet grandparents. We hit a local park on the way to the church - it was heavenly to get away from the sweltering Utah heat and into some cooler humid weather.
















Later that Sunday afternoon we had scheduled a whale-watching trip along Newport Beach. That sounded really fun but we hadn't really considered how the crowds pile up there on Sunday afternoons. We couldn't find a parking spot to save our lives. We ended up parking like two miles away from the dock, and I have to give a cheer for the kids who totally walked, as fast as they could, that whole two miles. It got kind of miserable, but the kids kept really good attitudes and didn't fall apart. It was a miracle, if you ask me. Luckily we had a wagon for our crap and towels and food and even some space for the two little kids. I pretty much sweated through my shorts it was so hot - that was a good look. As Cara pointed out. But despite all that craziness, we made it to the dock on time, got checked in and had time to relax a little before heading out on an amazing venture, just for an hour or so, to see no whales at all but thousands of dolphins. It was so cool! Emma was in tears over the beauty of seeing them, and Iva was in tears because she was terrified. She climbed right up me like she was a monkey and I was a banana tree, and then she wrapped herself around me and didn't let go, occasionally asking me if we were "going to be killed." Poor thing! Her little brother Sam, on the other hand, was so delighted and excited we thought he might throw himself into the ocean. He literally just screamed with joy for about 20 minutes straight. What an experience. Iva eventually released her death-grip on me and looked at the dolphins a time or two. I was a little nervous that Romney would dig in her heels and not get on the boat because she generally isn't a fan of boats, but she didn't put up a fight at all and really loved it too. Miracle!




















When we returned to the dock we got piles and piles of fried food from this little shop on the corner then took it across the way to the open beach where we ate and the kids promptly soaked themselves in the crashing waves. Luckily we had brought suits and towels with us for just such a situation.











Getting back to our car was almost as big an adventure as leaving it, even though we caught a shuttle. It was just that perfect time of evening when every single person on the beach was ready to head home and so it took about an hour to drive those two miles back to the car. We were sandy and uncomfortable but so happy to not be walking. Sheri miraculously remembered about where the car was and how to find it. If I had been in charge we would probably still be there looking for the car. Boy were we happy to get back to the motel and get showered. Despite the struggles of the day it had been really fun and the adventures made it all worth it.

The next day was Monday and Sheri took us to Huntington Beach. What a different experience! There was a parking lot RIGHT THERE and we were early enough in the day, still chilly really, that we didn't have much competition for a good spot. We did find ourselves playing in the waves near hundreds of kids who seemed to be in lifeguard camp. I was very entertained watching them play their training games and go jogging around. What a different setting than the place I grew up.







 
Eventually the sun came out so naturally I got totally roasted. Sigh.







When we started to get all beached out we dried off, used the magic of baby powder to de-sand ourselves, and walked over the the pier where we got to observe a surfing competition and eat some seriously delicious ice cream.






Romney's beach hair is worth noting:


Five for Six asleep on the drive back to the motel:


That night Sheri's sweet grandpa took us all out to dinner for Cara's birthday. What a nice treat. No pictures. I was in charge of a toddler. That was all I could manage.

Tuesday we were slated to head back to St. George but decided we needed one more fun outing to top off the trip. We decided on the Aquarium....I can't remember exactly which one but it was big. Lots of fun exhibits to see.




As you can tell by Romney's face in this last picture we were all getting a little worn out. I was so grateful Sheri convinced me to take a quick trip and add some really lovely memories to our summer. We're so blessed in cousins and I am always thrilled when I get a chance to visit the ocean. I think I'll always remember how the kids got along so beautifully and kept really good cheerful attitudes even when the rigors of the trip became a little extreme. It made all the difference. Hope to travel again soon. We just need a few more seats in the car so the big boys can come too.