The Fairy Tale House

We have all made a lot of fun memories in that house and I think that always makes it hard to let go. I get a little sad every time I move, even though the houses are military housing and not my dream home, but after making memories in a place it's hard to say goodbye to it. We've painted wall beds and watched it transform. Our kids have been delighted with the magic and the swimming pool and the climbing tree and the yard. But in trying to put ourselves in Mom and Dad's position we feel like we would sell it. We would not want the burden of keeping it when we weren't living in it. If they keep it would we help? If we could. But we don't expect to be around to physically do anything.

July Birthday's

Sorry this is so late! It was a busy month for me, but I thought often of some of my favorite people and what I would write when I got around to it. I guess I'll go by date in the month.

Mit! I met Tim his Senior year of high school. We were both on the ballroom team all year, but it wasn't until the end of that school year that I really started getting to know him. He was the first one to call me Lirpa. I have a lot of fun memories of hanging out with Tim, but one of my favorite stories is right before his first date with Sarah. Sarah had come home for the summer and we were working at Stokes. I would often stand and bag groceries for her while she was at the register so we could talk and help work go by more pleasantly. One day Tim came into the store and he was supposed to have a date so I would have a double and so he asked Sarah at the register. It was funny because he asked her, not knowing who she was and said he'd pick her up at my house. I had so much fun dating with you two. Tim was always ready with a smile and a joke. Once we all went to the unfinished house where we climbed the ladder and made mini s'mores over a candle in what is now the Winnie the Pooh room. He was always fun to have around the house and was always ready to help with Mom's projects. He helped paint the garage when it was on the other side of the house. I know that I was thrilled when you asked Sarah to marry you! Happy to have you become a permanent part of our family. I only wish that I lived closer to the both of you. I don't smile and laugh enough without you two.

Andrew! It is crazy to see you now so much taller than me. I was looking at pictures this summer and someone commented that Sarah was in a lot of pictures with you and I wasn't in hardly any. That's because we played with you all the time, but I was the one behind the camera. You were such a fun little boy. You had a ready smile and laugh and loved to perform. I don't think any of us will ever forget your performance of Joe Cool :) And now you are taller than me! It has been fun watching you grow up and I am very impressed with the talented, considerate, and smart young man you are. And still you love to make people laugh and are very clever with your witty comebacks.

Doo dah! Sarah has always been an amazing big sister. She sang us to sleep and let us crawl into bed with her when we had bad dreams. She was patient with me and my bad temper and never acted annoyed with my endless chatter. When I was in Young Women's with her and went to my first Girl's Camp she let me hang out with her and her friends and saved me from what would otherwise have been a very lonely week. When she started seminary and was reading her scriptures every day she shared it with me and challenged me to read too. She always had fun and thoughtful ideas and I remember planning fun Valentine's surprises, movie parties, and dates with her. She had all the creative ideas, but she let me in on it anyway. It's amazing that we weren't in high school together, but got to go on so many dates together and I'm grateful for all the fun memories I have with you. People were never sure which of us was older and one time when we went to a dance club in Logan they let me through (16, you were supposed to be 18) and made her show her I.D. She wanted me to get in so she just showed hers and didn't say anything. Now I'm sure she is glad to look so young. :) This summer I told about how everyone commented on your looks when you sang, but I didn't finish my thought well. I think people commented on your looks because your beautiful face and big blue eyes along with your beautiful voice made them think of angels. You have been an angel of a sister. I love you!

My Vote

Look how cute our blog background is!  I hadn't seen it yet.  Anyhow, I vote NOT sell.  I have told mom this, but I guess just to add to what other people are thinking here is my reasoning.  Actually it's not reasoning, just selfish.  My kids will never experience that house if we sell it, and that makes me sad.  However, I obviously can't afford to contribute financially to upkeep...so as a non-contributor my vote probably doesn't count for much. :)  Anyway, I'd just be bummed out to just have to tell my kids about it and show them pictures.  So there's my two bits.  If I come up with better arguments I will be sure and update, ha.  Love you all!

Priesthood Power

I know this is a little late, but this weekend feels like a good time to catch up on this post.
I don't remember not having a testimony of the priesthood. I remember getting up and saying I was grateful my dad was the Bishop all the time, but I don't remember why I said it or why it was important to me. I do remember feeling very special when dad interviewed me for baptism and baptized me. I know I felt the power every year when Dad gave us a Father's Blessing. It gave me increased confidence in myself every time I felt that power enter me through his blessings. Over the years my understanding has grown and my testimony has strengthened. I had the opportunity to teach several 11 year old boys in primary for only a few months at the end of the year and go to the priesthood preview program with them. As I bore my testimony about God sharing His power with them I felt the Spirit bear witness to me that it really was His plan to give power to 12 year old boys. I have hoped since then that I can teach my girls to treat those boys with respect so they will rise to their potential. That they will be able to look past the immaturity to see their potential and recognize that it is those same silly antics that make them fun dads some day.

July Celebrities

I think my title of choice will make sense as the post goes on. I'll share my memories in the order that the birthdays happen in the month of July.

I don't actually recollect meeting Tim - I was young enough when he and Sarah started dating that he just kind of appeared. :D Tim is a celebrity because it seems as though everyone that meets him adores him. Seriously. My first memory of Tim was actually in that six-month period between his return from his mission and Sarah's return from hers. Mom talked about him pretty often partly because she was worried that he wouldn't be available for Sarah when she came home. She had heard reports or something that he was dating some gal in his parents' home ward (I happened to know the young lady a little). Clearly there was nothing to worry about really, since Sarah & Tim's future together was pretty well settled within a week of her return. I also remember very clearly the first time we took Tim out on the boat. Pretty sure it was Mom that asked him if he had slalom skied before and he said that he had a little bit. I think we were all prepared to give him tips if it didn't go very well for him. But he got up just fine and showed us how it was done! It totally changed the way we skied - true story.

Andrew John. Oh my goodness - he was an adorable little boy and I can't help thinking that he's still adorable even though he's taller than me now. :) One of my favorite memories of Andrew is when he was really young he called water, 'lapo'. If ice was in it then it was, of course 'ice lapo'. He was very insistent on calling it that for a long time. There was no conflict in his mind when everyone else called it water. We joked that maybe that's what water was in the Adamic language. Another favorite memory of Andrew is his nickname for me. He called me Ra-ree . . . although he said it more like 'Wa-wee' because he had trouble with the r's. It's my favorite nickname ever, and in fact the only nickname that I ever offer as an option if people want to call me something other than Rachael. I find the nickname 'Rach' horrifying. Yick. Just because I've expressed that I bet that Tim will start calling me that . . . but please restrain yourself. :) Andrew's a celebrity because he certainly seems to be a bit of one in Preston and he certainly was that, if only briefly in Nauvoo.

And finally Sarah. From a very young age I wanted to be like her. In my mind she was practically perfection. She was beautiful, had a lovely voice, and was a great dancer. As I got older my view of her changed, but I still totally thought she was awesome. She was outgoing, positive and funny. Before her mission she lived at home again for a year working at the store. After she left I really felt like people sought me out just to ask about Sarah (see, another celebrity). Every time I worked I was asked by at least one person how she was doing and I was instructed to send her some kind of greeting. It astonished me how many people knew her and loved her - and she had lived there for such a short time! I still wanted to emulate her in a lot of ways, and my efforts to do so had a really positive effect on me. I don't think I've ever really expressed it, Sarah but thank you for being such a great example to me. You and Tim are really an excessively awesome couple. :D

July Heroes - by Julie

Happy birthday yesterday, Andrew John! It was fun to think of you having biscuits and chocolate gravy with all those youth! Wish we could have gotten in on that! So fun. My first memory of you was wondering how such a little body could have such big eyes?! I still wonder! You made it into the family just six weeks before I did and you looked so handsome at our wedding in your little tuxedo! I feel privileged to have witnessed your growing up years (not usual for a sister-in-law). It was incredible how everyone gathered around you and loved you and hung on your every word and chuckle. And you are incredible in how you have loved us back. You are so good-natured and fun to have around. I knew you would do a great job on stage in Nauvoo, but knew you would be even more amazing off-stage, reaching out and making everyone feel included. That is how you have always been with us. And we couldn't ask for a better uncle--you've made life so fun for each of my children--from Susan, who thinks you are her best friend, down to Joseph, who thinks you are the ultimate party! I will forever appreciate how you have helped care for them at every get together we've ever had. You are a giant and I've always looked up to you; and now we all do--quite literally!

Sarah, happy birthday today! Sixteen years ago, Ray was so excited for me to meet you, and you were just as charming and pretty and soft as he had described. One of the things that struck me the most was the music in your voice; I still love to hear you speak or sing, especially to your children. And your dancing had (has!) the same ease and musicality. You were magical with children, first as a sister and aunt to DJ and Susan, and now with your own children. You are so clear and focused on the preeminence of your role as a mother, and make it your greatest priority, above all other distractions. I am sure your children will ever see you as the queen you are.

And Tim, I think we first met you out on Glendale--you were on a boat with Rand and rescued us when our boat quit and we were stranded. You were a blast to watch waterski (still are)--cruising back and forth across the wake with such energy and abandon. You are tireless in using your energy to take care of everyone around you, ever ready with a joke or kind word or act of service. Ray and I can't think of a more important calling than being a seminary teacher and we can't think of anyone who would be better at it. I think Sarah said it best when she said of you, "He's good because he really cares."

July is a month to celebrate heroes! Thanks to each of you for being heroes in our family!

Love, Julie

Girls marry men like their fathers

A friend of mine recently told me after I told her that Kate was her daddy's girl, "Now, no pressure to Dave, but studies show that the largest predicting factor in the kind of man a woman will marry is her father and how he treats her." Not that I have anything to worry about. I married a man a lot like my own dad, and in all of the best ways. One of the best ways that they are similar is that they are both worthy priesthood holders. It's been a wonderful blessing in my life. I often ache for sisters in my various wards that for whatever reason do not have a priesthood holder in their homes.
One of my first memories of gaining testimony of priesthood power happened when I was . . . 9 or 10 maybe? My baptism and confirmation were wonderful, but this experience was different. We were visiting our Christensen cousins in Nevada. I remember those kids seeming to have an affinity for karate/martial arts types of things. I was downstairs in their home doing whatever I thought karate was with Katie and Peter when one of them accidentally smacked me in the face really hard with their forearm. It hurt quite a bit. My jaw felt particularly wrong and it didn't feel better after a couple of hours like I would have expected a minor injury to.
Mom suggested that I could have a priesthood blessing. I quickly agreed to that plan and we asked dad to give me a blessing. I imagine Uncle Jim participated. I don't at all remember the words of the blessing, but I do remember that within minutes the throbbing subsided. It was evening by that time, so I went to bed soon after. When I woke up in the morning the pain was gone completely.
I'm profoundly grateful for a father (and mother) who honored and respected priesthood power, and who lived and continues to live in such a way that he stands ready at any moment to use that power to bless his own family as well as other families. I'm also grateful that I married a man just like him in that regard.