Special Firsts

Spencer has recently experienced two new "Firsts" in his life, and it was extra-special that they both took place during trips to St. George, Utah. He turned twelve in December, so April 3rd was his first time attending the Priesthood Session of Conference. Since we were on a trip and therefore had only one car, we drove around the town until we found a church building where people were going inside. The girls and I (and Chase) dropped our men off and smiled as we watched the three of them walk in together. Spencer was so excited for his first General Priesthood meeting.

Sitting there in the parking lot I couldn't help noticing the colors in some of the trees. I don't ever remember seeing colors like this all together in the same tree before. I had to get a picture! Now tell me that doesn't look like General Conference!!! =)

The second "First" Spencer got to experience was doing Baptisms for the Dead in the St. George Temple. On April 29th we headed back up for Rob's Ironman, so the day before the race we took our three oldest into the baptistry to do some temple work. Spencer was beside himself with excitement!!!
Since our younger ones weren't old enough to go inside, Rob and I traded off: I went in with the older ones and did some confirmations while Rob walked around outside with the others; then he went in to perform the baptisms and I took the little ones to the Visitor's Center. We were reminded that this temple is the one in which the Founding Fathers appeared to Wilford Woodruff. I know that story is one reason this temple is one of my very favorites.

I hope Spencer will always remember these "Firsts," and the special feelings there.
Great memories!!!

Feelin' the Luuuuuuuv

Today as we were starting family scripture study Ashlee decided to make a less-than-kind comment to Spencer. (Who says family scripture time is always an uplifting and edifying experience???) So Rob gave Ashlee an opportunity to show the true love she has for her wonderful little brother. They got to sit nice and close, with her arm around him, as we read. It was joyous. Can't you just see in her face the warm, fuzzy feelings of sweet siblinghood??? Next time this happens we'll let her sing for us, "I love brother, he loves me... We are a happy family!!!"

Miracle on Oakley Drive

Well, this might not quite match the Miracle on 34th Street, but we had our own little Christmas miracle this year. About a week before Christmas (5 1/2 days, to be exact) we realized that Spencer's hamster, Rascal, was missing. (Rascal joined our family just after Christmas last year, so he's now very well-loved.) At one point while Blake and Spencer were searching, they even thought they had found him, dead--but when they got a flashlight and a better look, were relieved to find they were wrong. It was just a piece of cardboard. But... still, no Rascal. As the days continued going by, Spencer worried about Rascal surviving with no food or water.

Late on Christmas Eve (early Christmas Day by this time), while Rob, Ashlee, & I were still wrapping the last few presents, Rob came into the family room and stated to Ashlee & me, "VERY FUNNY! Whose idea was that?!?" We had no clue what he was talking about. He took us through the entryway, into the small bathroom, and showed us what he had discovered: Rascal in the trashcan!!! Alive!!!

We all had a good laugh as he recounted his moment of fear. He had been near the front door and suddenly heard a scuffling noise. He knew everyone was asleep except for the 3 of us, and he had just been with Ashlee and me in the other room. In an instant he was fully prepared to find an unwelcome guest and tackle him to the ground. He even acted out for us the exact way he tiptoed over to the bathroom door and then THREW it open, ready to pounce on whoever was in there! (Ashlee and I were rolling on the floor by this point!)

After the hilarity of it all wore off, we stood looking down into the trashcan, baffled. None of us could see any way he could have gotten in there! How could he have gotten IN, when it was obvious he couldn't get OUT?!? This trashcan is in the corner, with nothing around it. No counter, toilet, shelf, ... nothing that Rascal could have climbed onto and fallen in from. Granted, it's a small trashcan--12" high, maybe... but still... the same question went through our minds: How could he have gotten in, when he couldn't get out??? We could find no explanation.

So Rob put him in a bucket under the tree, and when we went in to open gifts Christmas morning, he told Spencer to go look in it. That moment was as fun as watching the kids open their gifts! He was so excited!!!

Just the night before, Rob had asked Spencer what he was doing to find Rascal. Spencer told him he was praying every day--plus obviously looking for him often. When Spencer looked into the bucket he yelled, "I KNEW IT!!!" Then he explained to us that when he went to bed Christmas Eve he told Heavenly Father that it would be really great if Rascal was back on Christmas Day; that would be a really, really nice Christmas present.

As we talked about the amazement of it all, none of us was able to explain how Rascal appeared in the trashcan. But Spencer had no question about how it happened. He said, "I guess Heavenly Father just picked him up and dropped him in!"

Arrow of Light

Spencer recently earned his Arrow of Light award, which is the highest award a cub scout can earn. (Yes, he's now in 11 yr old scouts--I admit I'm behind on my blogging...) Anyway, Spencer got to have an arrow painted on his head by Dad (Mom had the all-important job of holding up his bangs), and he was honored in front of the other cub scouts for all his efforts. He really worked hard to finish up his requirements for his Webelos badge and his Arrow of Light. Way to go, Spencer!!!