Finally official!

For months (maybe even the entire past year?) I've been talking to Abby as though she were already 12.   When she'd get upset at her siblings, I'd chastise her a little and remind her that "she was the one who was 12, not them."    When she'd start to argue with me about practicing the piano I'd tell her that she's practically 12 already!!  It's "time to stop fighting and start developing her talents!" 

 blah blah blah...      This type of logic with Abby always bothered John, for many reasons, the main one being that she just simply wasn't 12!  (He's all about accuracy at all times.  He gets equally upset when I tell people he's almost 40, because he's "not almost 40, he's 39!" ;)  

Anyways...back to Abby and the real reason for this post - She is now OFFICIALLY TWELVE!!!

Finally I can justify all of my lofty expectations for her, because she is indeed a young woman.

And she is a BEAUTIFUL young woman at that!!!

I was super proud of her last month when she completed all of her Faith in God goals!  (Just in time to graduate from Primary, but still - she did it!!)

Her actual birthday was a bit of a let down (have I mentioned that we had just moved and hosted a few days prior?  Poor girl got the short, exhausted end of the stick;) but I tried to compensate by decorating the kitchen and making her a Bacon laden supper! ;)   Her cousins Ava and Mya stopped by later that night to present her with some super special gifts!!

The Highlight for Abby though is that she is now old enough to be a part of the Young Womens Program.   She is coming to her first YW activity TONIGHT and is SO excited!   

I'm so excited for this girl and all that she is becoming!  

She's so helpful around the house,  wants to do what's right, and has just enough attitude to keep life interesting;)  

I once heard someone say, "We're not just trying to raise good children, we're trying to raise good ADULTS!"  I often reflect on that and wonder how I am doing with that charge, but when I watch Abby, I feel very content and satisfied that this is a remarkable human being.  She's filled to the brim with gifts and talents that are helping her grow into the type of adult that I know I will one day strive to be like.   

In short, I absolutely adore her!

Baptism Day

Jessica's baptism day was a special event for sure.      She got baptized on Feb 28th which also conveniently happened to be MOVING DAY for John and I!  

(The Ridley's were enroute home from their mission and John and I were spending that weekend trying to get our things out of their house before they arrived.)  We tried really hard though to hide our busyness so that Jess would feel like this weekend really was "all about her!" ;)

Luckily we had lots of family around us that weekend who helped make Jess feel special.   

On Saturday morning, we recruited the help of Johns and my Brothers/in laws to move our piano.  It's a heavy beast of a thing, but it is literally the one possession that we own that we truly love.    I felt bad for everyone who had to be a part of that effort, but I felt so grateful to know it was finally (and safely) situated in our new home.   

After that, my siblings helped put together a great family luncheon consisting of pulled pork sandwiches, baked beans, salads, veggies and squares.    

Jessica's baptism was a darling event.   She'd spent weeks (even MONTHS) preparing for it and she knew exactly how she wanted it to go down!  haha

I was really so excited to get to pause for a bit and spend time with my family and I was super proud of Jess.  She WANTED to do this, not just because John and I have always taught her that being baptized is what she should do either - she really wanted to be!!

Her program consisted of a talk by her favorite missionaries EVER (Elder Palmer and Elder Clark),  a talk by Auntie Jewel, Grandpa Hardy and Ella both said prayers and Ava and Mya helped with music.   Everyone was so willing to assist in any way and they all made it such a great little hour!

Jess has really been missing her Saturday visits with these two!

Jess' best friend came as well with her Dad who is our Bishop, and it was fun for Jess to see some of her primary teachers/friends from class there as well.

When all was said and done, and once everyone had gone home, John and I (once again) resumed the work of packing and hauling boxes to the new house.  

 But it was nice, for a few brief hours to get to spend time with family and friends, focusing on the things that really do matter most!