My 3 white dresses

Emilie and her friend Lindsay will be sharing their baptism day. Since they are such great friends, we decided that we wanted them to have pictures together for their program. We started out at Mack Park, and spontaneously ended up at the temple. Not only did we get some beautiful pictures of our beautiful girls, but I had several "deep thought moments" while there. There is a poem which says something about "my 3 white dresses." Both of these girls were eternally joined with their families at the temple as babies, in their white dresses. Then at the age of eight, they find themselves again at the temple, dressed in white. They ran and played and giggled without a care in the world (as their moms kept panicking about them not getting their white dresses dirty). They were mezmerized with a couple that had just been married, and were getting their pictures taken. They would watch this couple, and follow them around, and squeal with "Eewww gross" when they would see them kiss. Yet, as they would watch them, I could see the light in their eyes, with the thought of hoping that would be them someday. As Emi watched that couple, I watched her. I watched my carefree daughter running around the temple grounds in her white dress, and it seemed like yesterday that I was holding my baby daughter at the temple in her white dress. I couldn't help but to think that in a few short years, I will again be with my daughter at the temple in her white dress. This time it will be to marry her eternal companion, and she will be gone from my home. I know I am looking down the road a ways, but when that day comes, and I look back on today - it will seem like yesterday that I sat and panicked over my daughter getting her white dress dirty. I realized that time is WAY too short to be worrying over silly things like keeping dresses spotless, or keeping my house clean, or my yard weed-free, etc. In a few years from now, I don't want to look back with regrets that I missed all the care-free times of my children. I hope to look back on these years with fondness and laughter, and not regrets. If that means rolling down the hill in a white dress - then I hope to join in the laughter instead of fighting it (OK, so that is stretching it a bit! - does it HAVE to be white?) The point is...time goes way too fast, and I don't want it to slip away with me always worried about the things that have no eternal significance. So, if you see grass stains on Emilie's white dress - you'll know that we had a great laugh!

The girls got into a giggle-fit (as we all know that young girls are famous for). They are actually some of my favorite pictures, because when all is said and done - it's those giggles that I can still hear in my memory.

1...2...3...

We have these dear friends in Salt Lake who are kinda like another set of grandparents to our kids. Every birthday, Chuck & Irene Brocka send our children cards that have money in them. What makes these cards unique is that they send the amount of money that they are old. For example, Emilie turned eight years old. In the mail comes this very heavy card (which our kids are so thrilled to receive something in the mail). In the card was 8 dollars, 8 quarters, 8 dimes, 8 nickels, and 8 pennies, taped all over the card. Jarin received his, and there were 3 of everything. I think this is such a clever idea, and one I don't ever want to forget...therefore BLOG IT (this is my journal)! Thank you Brockas for being such great friends, and helping our children feel so special.

CRAZY...INSANITY...

Crazy...insanity...total NUTSO...call it what you will! One birthday party, two birthday girls, about sixteen 7-8 year olds, two 3 year old siblings (Jarin had the world record for longest temper tantrum - lasted the whole two hours!), and 2 infant siblings (who were LESS than thrilled to be there), with two sets of parents to chaparone. Did I mention that we were at a park, a.k.a. wide open spaces, with no walls to confine? When all was said and done, we have four parents who are a bit frazzled, and two very happy little girls. Isn't that what it's really all about? Emilie and one of her best friends, Lindsay Johnson, have birthdays one week apart. They will be getting baptized together, and wanted to have their party together. Over the last couple of weeks, they have been preparing by going shopping for party favors, stuffing a pinata, blowing up balloons, and filling out and delivering their invitations. They commented that "having a party is a lot of work" - lesson learned!

Emi is always asking this neighbor for gum - NEVER AGAIN! Now she has her own

380 pieces to last her at least a week!

Jarin's two hour melt down!

The smile below only lasted long enough to take this picture.


I can hardly believe it has been eight years since Emi came into our lives. She wasn't able to join our family for another three weeks from now, due to legal reasons (long adoption story - maybe I'll blog that story another day, when I've got lots of time). But she was part of our lives, and in our hearts before we were able to actually meet her. Our lives before Emilie must have been really boring - she is certainly the life of the party, even when there's no party going on! She is such a great help at home, and she wants to make everyone around her happy. Emilie is full of spunk - and is such a happy girl. Emilie is definently one of a kind, and I mean that as a positive thing. We love you Emi, and hope you have a wonderful day!

3 months old


At the temple, right before Emi is to be sealed to our eternal family.

LOOKING BACK 15 YEARS AGO...

If I could hop on a time machine and travel to any one day to do over again, it would be this day 15 years ago - September 10, 1993. I wouldn't wish to re-do this day because of any regrets I've had, or changes I'd make. If I could live this day again, I would live it exactly as it happened. It was a beautiful, sunny fall day. I remember driving with my parents from Preston, ID to the Logan LDS Temple. The temple sits up on a hill overlooking beautiful Cache Valley - and you can see it from miles around. As the temple came into view, I remember the feelings of excitement and unbelief that I felt. Today was the day I had waited for for as long as I could remember. Today was the day I was going to "marry my Prince in the castle" (that was how I viewed it as a little girl). In reality, the princess was marrying the prince, and it was in a castle. But what I now understood (which I didn't fully comprehend as a little girl), was the most important part. I was marrying my prince for time and all eternity, not just "till death do we part."

The day was magical. When I arrived at the temple, Ira was no where to be seen. I was sure that he had changed his mind! About two minutes after I arrived (which seemed like a LONG time), he walked through the doors, looking so handsome with his new haircut, and great big smile. Any nerves and anxieties I had vanished, and I knew he would always be there for me from that day on. We then went our seperate ways for one last time before we were to be sealed together as husband and wife. I was escorted by my mom to the brides room, where she helped me get all dressed in my white dress. I loved this time with my mom. I was then escorted back to my waiting husband-to-be, who was also dressed in his whites. We were allowed a few minutes to be alone together, and talk about our feelings of the moment before we were again escorted to a room where all our friends and family waited. It was such a wonderful feeling to walk hand in hand with my best friend, into a room full of people who loved us. The presence of some of our family who had already passed to the other side, could be felt so strongly in the midst of our families. The sealer said many wonderful things, but the one that stands out the most, which we use in our marriage quite often is this: "What are the three most important words in a marriage?" Ira very sheepishly answered, "I Love You." "No" came the reply. (although they are very important too). However, the three most important words are this, "You're probably right." Those three words have seen us through many conversations that could have otherwise been not so pleasant!

The last 15 years have proved one thing...Ira is still my Prince in shining armor. I thought my heart would burst then, but I had no idea how much more love one heart can hold. Fifteen years, four children, a graduate degree (for Ira), a house, many new friends, many tears and many more times of laughter - I find myself still walking hand in hand with my best friend through lifes journey. Sometimes our hands are joined by little hands between ours, or a wink across a crowded room, but we are still connected as one - forever.

Wow - we were just kids (Ira looks about 15 years old!)

Remember...this was the early 90's - give us a break for the styles!

Look what my sweetheart brought home. I love them, and him!

Heavenly Home...

My day old child lay in my arms

With my lips against his ear

I whispered strongly, "How I wish-

I wish you could hear;

I've so many wonderful things to say

(a tiny cough and a nod)

Hurry, hurry, hurry and grow

So I can tell you about God."My day old baby's mouth was still

And my words only tickled his ear

But a kind of light passed through his eyes,

And I saw a thought appear:

"How I wish I had a voice and words;

I've a hundred things to say,

Before I forget, I'd tell you of God -

I left Him yesterday."

This is one of my favorite poems that I think of often when I hold my babies. I know that Kamden is much older than a day old now, but he is still so close to that Heavenly home that he recently left. Ira was priviledged to give him a blessing in church yesterday. I still look at my little guy, and can't believe that he is real, and that we have the priviledge of raising him!