FHE

Lately we've been doing a much better job of planning and implementing Monday night Family Home Evening. We've started writing letters to Sam's grandmas who live out of state, having simple lessons that Cohen can understand about things like the temple and prophets, and of course, we participate in fun recreational activities together. Yesterday we went on what will probably be our last canyon campfire cook-out of the season. I'm crossing my fingers that it will stay warm long enough for us do this at least once more.

I think they're having fun!

Spring Time at Temple Square

The other day we took the Cub Scouts to Temple Square. We were studying a unit on model building and there are variety of models there that they could see to help pass off badge requirements. I timed this outing for this time of year on purpose, though. I've taken them there before during Christmastime to see the lights. But this year I wanted to show them the flowers. I know flowers aren't particularly interesting to most 8-10 year old boys, but I think even they can appreciate the beauty--they just need the opportunity and a little help to take a minute to notice it.

We went in the Visitor's Center to see the model of Jerusalem. While there we decided to go upstairs to see the Christus statue. Cohen walked right up to it and just stood there and stared ... for a really long time. Then he tried to climb it. It was so cute.

The Hunt

Getting ready for our family Easter egg hunt. 

Before the hunt Sam snapped a few pictures of our handy work:

THE Golden Egg

The hunters with their loot.  I think Cohen's on about jelly bean #137.

jelly bean #892

Happy Easter!




Amen.

Pancakes & Conference

Last weekend we were the hosts of one of Megan's family's traditions: pancakes and conference.

Twice a year our church holds General Conference. The meetings are aired world-wide and we usually watch via television from home. 

For the Sunday morning session we always gather together to enjoy delicious whole wheat pancakes while we watch our prophet and other church leaders give instruction and share inspirational messages. 

THE pancakes--Yummy!

The kiddos (and Sam) playing conference bingo.

three cute kids--and yes, that's snow outside. 

It's always hard to choose, but one of my favorite talks was about the Atonement. I loved what he said about there being no pain or sorrow that can't be healed through Christ's Atonement. I have such a strong belief of this. I don't know how I could have accepted Katrina's gift, the opportunity she gave me to be Cohen's mom, had I not believed this. I'm so grateful I've been able to experience the healing power of the atonement in my own life, but it's even sweeter to see it at work in someone else's.

While I was snapping photos I took one of this lamp Sam made recently. His dad rescued a really old train light and he knew Sam could turn it into something useful. It turned out to be pretty darn cool, too.

Another Reason Why Open Adoption Rocks!!

We have VERY exciting news! Katrina is going to serve a mission for our church!! This is something she's been wanting to do and working toward for a long time. We are so proud of how patient she was with the process and with the positive attitude she's had about everything. We are so excited for her, but what will we do without her for 18 months??! I'm sure we will survive, but she will be missed.

She just received her mission call a few days ago. She wanted to go through the temple ASAP, so yesterday was the big day. She invited us to be there with her--of course we went. We love her so much and are so grateful we could share this experience with her.

Outside the temple with Katrina--we sure do love her!!

Katrina really is an integral part of our family and we feel so blessed that we can be a part of her life. She doesn't leave for a few months, so we're going to spend as much time with her as we can until then. 

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Christmas Morning

This book is Cohen's favorite. We checked it out from the library several times and figured it was time for him to have his own copy.

As much as he loved the book, I think he likes this even better.

Sam's dad made this awesome jewelry tree for me. Sam and I made the earrings for Katrina.

Here's Cohen (he's a little tired if you can't tell) with a few of his cousins on Christmas morning participating in a family Christmas tradition--dress up like characters from the Nativity story and then listen to Grandpa read the story from the Bible. 

A couple days later ...

Katrina and her family came to visit. There's rumors Katrina might go on a mission! We hope she can go, but what will we do without her??!

When I was little, every December 1st my mom would put up my favorite Christmas decoration--a wooden Nativity that she had especially for us kids to play with. I've looked for years for something similar but have yet to find anything. On Christmas Eve my sister gave our family a darling nativity set that is perfect for kids to play with. Even though Christmas is over, I put it in Cohen's room next to the tree he decorated. I love it!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

December

December is my favorite month of the year. I love the lights, the snow, the cheesy Christmas music, finding gifts for the people I love. But mostly I love having an entire month dedicated to remembering and celebrating our Savior and the miracle of His birth. 

A week or so ago we went to a ward Christmas party. It was very different from any other I've ever been to. Everyone was asked to come dressed in Bible-themed attire. The cultural hall was decorated like an ancient Bethlehem marketplace. Instead of the usual meat-and-potatoes dinner we had bread, cheese, olives and grapes that everyone ate while sitting on blankets on the floor. Then toward the end of the party the youth acted out the Nativity story as someone read it from the bible. It was definitely an experience. Oh yeah, the manger that was used was made by Sam several years ago for my sister who used it in a photo shoot for her kids.

Cohen obviously wanted nothing to do with this photo. I promise I wasn't strangling him--I was keeping him from running strait off the stage. 

A little big for a newborn, eh? Good thing dad's a good carpenter!

Sam's parents and sister Emily came to visit for a couple of days. We spent an evening at temple square where we got RAINED on! I guess this means it will be snowing on Easter--ha, ha. I hope we get some good snow before Christmas. Even though there wasn't any snow, this is still my favorite place to visit this time of year.

We also took Cohen to visit Santa for the first time. 

He wasn't scared, but he didn't seem very impressed either. He was, however, very interested in the candy cane.

It's Legit!

Cohen is finally legally our son.  What a relief!  In Utah (where we live) adoptions aren't made final until at least 6 months after placement.  Of course Cohen has felt like our son since we first brought him home, but it's nice to know that the law now sees it that way.

Our legit family outside the court room with
our adoption attorney and adoption worker. 

The very next day (which also happened to be Megan’s birthday—talk about THE BEST birthday present ever!) we went to the temple to be sealed for time and all eternity.  This experience was truly a sacred event that will stay with us forever. 

Then, the day after that, Cohen had his baby blessing at church.  Below is a picture of him with Katrina at our house after the blessing. 

What an amazing few days!  We are truly blessed!!!

Up To

I’ve kind of been neglectful at writing about that day-to-day stuff we’ve been up to lately.  Sam’s been taking an all-day class on Saturdays which puts a damper on the weekends.  However, there are a few things I’ve missed:

My sister Alli lives in England.  Her husband Shayne came to the states for work and he brought my nephew Josh with him.  We got to hang out with both of them a couple of times.  I can’t believe how much Josh has grown up since I saw him last summer!  I hear he’s already quite the heartbreaker.  One of their visits included a slide show of a two-week mission Shayne and Alli recently served for our church.  They went to India to teach neonatal resuscitation techniques to labor & delivery professionals who then train other professionals all over the country.  The slideshow was heartbreaking.  They were in an extremely impoverished area for most of the time.  In one photo, a woman was trying to shove her baby through the window of the cab my sister was in.  It was obvious her child was malnourished, and she must have been desperate to get help.  Amazingly, Shayne said that in general even the most poor seemed very happy.  They literally live in filth and barely have enough to eat.  Yet they still find good in life and are grateful for what they have.  I can learn a thing or two from them!      

 Once a month we have dinner with my grandmother.  She lives in a big, old house and takes care of my grandfather who requires a lot of attention.  So every second Monday, we visit her to help out with whatever needs to be done.  Last night we took over a pot roast and helped her clean out her basement.  We also got in a snowball fight.  This was awesome because my grandma was on my side and Sam didn’t dare throw anything at an old lady! 

Last Sunday we spoke in Church on D&C 109:8.  I spent several hours working on my talk.  Sam spent about 15 minutes preparing his.  His talk was better than mine.  Although he did say the word “suck” in his talk.  Is that bad?? 

Also, Sam FINALLY posted something! (see next post) When I began this blog I envisioned that we’d take turns posting.  Of course it didn’t really turn out that way.  I guess he’s just not the blogging type.  He really is excited about this whole adoption thing, though.  I PROMISE.  He even made tiny baby moccasins the other day.        

Thank Goodness for Visiting Teachers!

visting teachers - noun. In the Church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saints, Relief Society sisters (adult women) assigned in pairs to a list of sisters in the ward. Each set of Visiting Teachers are required to share a monthly spiritual message and generally assist, help strengthen and be-friend their assigned sisters. All Relief Society sisters should have someone assigned to visit teach them monthly.

Saturday I received a call from my stalwart visiting teacher, Sister N.

“Hi Megan, I just heard some news that I want to tell you so that you can deal with it in your own way.”

I million thoughts quickly went through my mind, none of which were remotely close to what she said next.

“Sister L was just placed with a baby boy and I just wanted you to find out about it when you could deal with the news however you need to.”

My first thought was relief, because of all the things I might need to “deal” with, this wasn’t too bad. I then felt sincere happiness for Sister L (really, I did). Sister L adopted a little girl from China about 2 years ago, right around the same time my sister and her family adopted their little girl from China. Sister L and I have talked about adoption, and I knew she would try to adopt again at some point. So I wasn’t totally surprised by the news. But I admit there was a small part of me that was bummed it wasn’t Sam and me getting a baby. I thanked Sister N for giving me the news, hung up, and told Sam. (By the way, he was more upset than me.)

Here’s where I thank Heavenly Father for the divinely inspired visiting teaching program, and the divinely inspired woman who first assigned Sister N to be my visiting teacher. Sister and Brother N adopted both of their children. Sister N knows exactly what it’s like to be in my shoes—aching for a child and feeling so helpless, trying to be positive, patient and optimistic while watching everyone else have babies—lots of them—while my arms remain empty year after year. Yes, Sister N knows what it’s like to be me. And it seems she knows what it’s like to be me even more than I.

You see, when I went to Relief Society yesterday, the R.S. president announced Sister L’s good news. I was totally surprised by the effect this had had me. It felt like a slap across the face. Along with that, (I might have been imagining) I swear I could feel everyone look at me out of the corner of their eye. How would I have reacted had I not already had 24-hours to process the news? At best, I would have held it together until class ended and I would have barely made it to the car before losing it. At worst, well, I would have had to make a b-line to the bathroom. But after the initial shock of the slap, I again felt sincerely happy for sister L. I really did. And I didn’t have to hold back any tears.

Yes, thank goodness for visiting teachers!