Unexpected Reverence

Easter was a lovely day. Spring arrived a bit ago, yet the rain broke for a particularly inviting afternoon. The Downs' invited us over to join them and the Michon's for a delicious feast. Carter was dressed in her latest Easter (it better be used for more than just Easter) dress and she looked adorable.

Her Mama' snapped this one just as the bubble machine spouted some shimmery joy.

Later, "Peanut" & "Lotus" were toddling about chattering about what the older boys were doing, particularly their fascinating cousin Tanner-Man........

Now, today was your typical Sunday morning in our household, slow-moving. However, some unusual events transpired that were noteworthy. First, while Mama' Bear was prepping for the day, "Peanut" brought me her latest Jesus book to read. It is a picture book, with art by Greg Olsen. The desire to have me read a book to her is by no means irregular, yet I was surprised at the coincidence of a Sunday morning that she asked me to read her Greg Olsen book, twice. So, we continued our preparations and made our way to the Reston Chapel.

Hmmm, seems there are a few extra families attending the Sacrament Service, cool. Opening song and prayer followed by the typical announcements of happenings in the upcoming week. The congregation joined in singing the Sacrament Hymn and BAM! my eyes connect with a man on the stand whom I've never seen in person ..... Henry B. Eyring, member of the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!

Not every Sunday that you see a living Apostle of Jesus in your Sunday Service. I lean over to Lauren and share with her my observation and I'll leave out the details, but suffice it to say she didn't believe me at first. Moments later we realized that as is customary that the presiding Authority in a meeting is the first offered the bread & water. Sure enough, President Eyring was sitting on the stand, adjacent to our Bishop and Stake President.

At the end of the meeting he shared his testimony of Heavenly Father's awareness of "every sparrow" on the Earth, and certainly He was keenly, and lovingly aware of the physical, emotional and spiritual trials the members of our congregation are experiencing. I emphasize the "are experiencing" because he stated these reassuring words as though prompted to do so. There was no profound statement that had any context outside of directly to those in attendance in that meeting; yet surely it was a priviledge, and delightful surprise.

The most impressive factor for us was that Carter sat through the entire one hour meeting! We didn't have to leave ONCE!! This is amazing! Little-Miss-Wiggles surely had us chasing her over the next two hours of the day, but during this meeting, with an Apostle of God present, she was content to read her picture church books, eat snacks and generally shock us by her reverence. I cannot emphasize enough how wiggly Carter has been at church of late. Over the next hour that she was with me we did at least six, maybe seven laps around our building. For Carter she must've felt as though she had sprinted for a mile or two!!

I personally will attest to the peaceful, and calming sensations provided to me by the Holy Ghost that confirmed to me that this man, Henry Eyring, was indeed an Apostle like Peter, James or John. God does indeed speak to us today through his ordained leaders, in the same manner he did in ancient times.

Turns out that he was present in our service due to being the Keynote Speaker at a BYU - Alumni Fundraiser last night in Oakton, VA and was staying with our Stake President (who happens to reside in our Reston Ward boundaries) while in town.

#6 vs. #1

Consider this our version of March Madness:

Carter's Aunt Kate & Uncle Brian asked her parents (mostly her Mommy) to tend to their six children while they were on vacation. While they were out, before Carter & I caught the flu, Virginia had it's best snow of the winter season = 6". Meager for many, but a fair amount to play in out here.

So, this is "Lotus" enjoying the feel of snow on her tongue ....

As you are able to see, this cheery little lady embraced the cold snow and fed herself snowballs! She is all of 16 months old in this image and had no apprehension with pouncing about with her mastifs in the rare Virginia snow. "Lotus" is #6 of 6.

Moving, on you see here "Peanut" in the same snow .....

As you are able to observe, she is not "embracing" the snowfall. Her Mother attributes her sobbing to the fact that she contacted the flu virus a day or two later; her Father was doubtful. Ruthless, perhaps, but it's not like she was given a "white-wash" or anything. The reality is that being #1 of 1 lends to being less adventurous than being #6 of 6.

Anyhow, the two played well together over the week .... well, mostly; "Lotus" was prone to taking sneak-shoves on her 1 month younger cousin to establish that it was her "home turf". Well played little one; well played.

Bookworm

This little "peanut" regularly spends her time reading alone. It's an adorable discovery to find her off by herself, in her alcove, sitting below her bookshelf with several books tossed aside after her reading. Our hope is that she'll be as diligent a reader as two of her older cousins (British = 24 & Tor-Tor = 13). Both are marvelous students and have occasionally been chided for hiding away in their respective bedrooms for hours enjoying quality literature.
Most days she carting books about the small condominium, reading to herself and slamming the books to the floor. While others, she'll drag a book up to you, and ask you to read it to her. Surely she's not the only child that has this practice, yet she's the one who sleeps in our home. I'm so very grateful that this has manifested itself so early, and that Carter's Mother has so quickly embraced it. On a weekly basis new books appear, and though I tease her Mother about it, I know very, very well it'll form her future.

It's an honor to find our little girl already quietly indulging in the activity which those who've accumulature magnificent successes in the world do regularly, reading.

A 2nd President Carter?

As I watch the former Presidents seating, it is indeed a historic moment of promise for the ENTIRE WORLD! The sweet leg pat of President H.W. Bush, on the leg of the Marine that saluted our former Commander – in – Chief, is indicative of the respect these men hold for the entirety of their lives. The first non-Caucasian President being sworn in the day after Martin Luther King’s birthday is particularly sweet. My daughter will grow up with numerous challenges. Yet as she grows she will do so with truly all things possible! Of the limitless banter in regards to this historic moment I was moved by the suggestion that seven years removed from a horrendous event like the tragedies of September 11th, 2001, we, as a people, have elected a black man named Barak Hussein Obama to the highest elected office in the World!

This is a special time to be alive. A special time to be a citizen of the United States of America and should President Obama be able to fulfill 40% of what he has promised, we will be a better nation in four or eight years. I am grateful for those who have given their lives, suffered atrocities and repression, endured heartache, experienced intense joy, felt the blessing of prosperity and the wisdom of innovated to enable us to peacefully transition power from one steward to another.

May God continue to bless America as long as the majority of its citizens choose good over evil. May God bless President Obama, his family, Vice President Biden and his family, and the entire new “Cabinet” to lead us honorably.