Gracie's baptism

We had some exciting events recently.  Gracie turned eight last month and decided to get baptized the next week.  We are so lucky and all of my family was able to come into town the the baptism.  We even had to fly Stuart in from Penn. since he was up there for training.  It was a whirlwind week of everyone arriving on different days, so we ended up going to the airport 8 different times in a week, fun times.  My Dad got really good at navigating the freeway to the airport.  My 3 aunts were even able to come into town, 2 of which I haven't seen since my wedding, so that was a lot of fun.  The cousins all play so well together and we got to do some fun stuff, like Downtown Disney, Blue Springs, Disney World and lots of pool time at the resort.  It went so fast, and it was sad to see everyone leave.  But hopefully we will all see each other again this summer.  

  

We had some good friends make it out to the baptism, and it was so sweet to see their support.  Stuart and I have really tried to embrace the ward family here since we are both far from our families, and the service really had a family feeling about it.  My sister and Dad gave very sweet, spiritual talks, and I messed up and told them to both prepare for the talk on baptism but luckily my Dad is of course awesome and was able to speak on the Holy Ghost with 2 minutes notice.  His talk was told of a story that I had forgot about during her diagnosis of billiary atresia so I was so grateful that spoke.  I am grateful for the experience and very grateful to hear the sweet words of my husband as he blessed her and spoke very candidly his testimony.  I wish I had more pictures, but I didn't have my phone on me, I didn't want the distraction, so my Mom quickly took these right before.
When the bishop was interviewing Grace, he asked me if I ever think about why her life was saved during her illness, and I think about it all the time.  Of course the thought brings on guilt for not being kinder and more forgiving to her since she is such a gift, but that may be one of the reasons, to teach me.  I also have always thought that she is strong because of what she had to go through, and although she does not remember it all she will always have the fighting spirit within her, and I love that.  Grace made me a mom, and she will always be the one that taught me how to be a mom and I am very grateful for that.  And I look forward to learning more with her, and the adventure of activity girls now will be very fun to do with her.