Little Pieces of Heaven

I had the best time during my trip home last weekend. The baptism was so amazing and I felt the Spirit so strong. I was stressed beforehand with family stuff. I was really upset and emotional. But as soon as that baptism started I felt the Spirit and I couldn't stop crying. It was sooo wonderful and I am super proud of him. He made the biggest decision he has made up to this point and has totally changed his life for the better. I just couldn't stop crying out of joy, pride and the Spirit in that room. I was really nervous that I wouldn't be able to stop and then it would be my turn to sing and it would be a disaster. But it got that point in the program and the tears just stopped. I was able to sing that beautiful hymn, I Know That My Redeemer Lives, without one single tear and without sounding conceited I have never sung better. It touched my dad though, and he was moved to tears. I couldn't look at him because I knew I would cry. I always cry when Dad cries and because the last thing we had said to each other was fighting, I knew I would cry if I watched him cry because of the Spirit. I was really jealous when Brother Crowther spoke about the Holy Ghost though. He mentioned remembering the day when he saw things click for Chris, that things made sense and that he had a testimony of the Church. I was truly jealous because I didn't have that experience, for various reasons I wasn't there for the discussions. I was out here at school and I was not permitted because he needed to do this for himself. I was jealous that Brother Crowther got to be there when things clicked. That he got to be there when Chris started to find where the books are in the scriptures without much help. He got to be there for all these things that I couldn't be. I want to be there for everything in Chris' life and I'm slowly having to accept that I can't. I'm like the mom who works all day and misses her baby's first steps and first words. It's satisfying to know the baby is growing up but it hurts to not be there. After the baptism, I saw the way Chris interacted with the missionaries. Every time I see him with them, it brings a HUGE smile to my face. He became a Mormon before my eyes. He offers to give them rides home, to give them food, to go play disc golf with them. And I can't help but look on with gratitude that he was able to go outside of his shell a little bit and become friends with them and embrace the "Mormon culture."

So that was experience number one, then my brother had his Eagle Court-of-Honor. I am sooooo proud of him. Such a small amount of Scouts actually go all the way and get their Eagle award and my little brother is one of them that did. I caught myself tearing up a little bit. But I'm also really proud of him in general. He is growing up to become a really spiritual, smart, funny, wonderful man. Sister Hansen came up to me after the Court-of-Honor and expressed to me gratitude for my little brother who has been an example to her son, TJ and really kept him in line. TJ looks up to him a lot and she expressed humorous concern for when Matt and his best friend, Jacob leave for college and their missions because TJ will be the oldest Young Man in the ward and won't have Matt to look up to anymore.

The next day (Sunday), Matt graduated from high school. That sweet little boy I taught how to read when I came home from kindergarten everyday graduated last weekend. He isn't four years old anymore and before I know it, he will be here with me at BYU-Idaho. They call Disney World the best place on Earth but I would have to disagree, BYU-Idaho is and always will be the best place on Earth.

Sunday night, I was talking to a good friend of mine, Bruce Botcher. He is an amazing man. If you don't already know him, I recommend getting to know him because he is so inspirational and really great friend to anybody who wants or needs a friend. Anyways, I was talking to him and he told me that he planning on going on a mission next year once he has been a member for a year. I was overcome emotion as I realized that I have had the wonderful, amazing privilege of being in the lives of three great men who have changed and grown a lot in the time that I have known them: Matt (18 1/2 years), Chris (1 1/2 years) and Bruce (1/2 year). They have grown so much and I am super proud of them. They are going to make great husbands and fathers and priesthood holders (two already have the priesthood and Chris will soon). I'm just really privileged to have been able to watch them grow in their testimonies, in their faith and in their lives.