Hallee’s Blessing Day

March 4, 2012 Daddy blessed Hallee at church. It was such a beautiful day. The sun was out, the weather was nice, and so many dear family members came. Heidi was a few days past due with her pregnancy and they even came! In addition to our families coming we had Eric, Melissa, Kylie and Taylor Kreiss and Emily Burke. I loved watching all the men in the family follow Daddy up to the front of the chapel and gather in a circle around our Daughter. There is an immediate reverence and feeling of the spirit when Brethren gather in righteousness to use the priesthood to bless another. Hallee was given a beautiful blessing. And before the Sacrament was over I was in the halls with Ethan and missed the rest of the meeting. I did hear Jared from the hallways bear his testimony of the Restoration of the Gospel. Words can’t describe the depth of blessings and gratitude I feel to have Jared, the kids, and the gospel.

Following Sacrament Meeting we went to our house for a potluck lunch of pulled pork and beef sandwiches and salads. It was one of the best meals ever. Melissa, who is Jared’s assistant and not a member of our faith, remarked at the lunch how much she loved to see all our families together having fun and how she felt the spirit at our house. At the end of the day we were so, so tired. But it was such a happy, joyful day.

Let’s be honest……this is hard!

Our funny little Rascals! The top picture it Ethan using a potty as a chair. The funny part was he insisted on putting the lid up before he would sit on it so he had a back part to lean against. I had gotten it out to test if he was ready to potty train. We discovered he is not ready and that is just fine. We’ll give him a little bit more time. Sharing his Mommy with “Ballee” as he says it has become hard for him. He wants me, but if I am holding the baby he’ll usually yell “NO” and run away. I have been trying to hold him and focus on him when she is asleep. Thankfully he loves her and is adjusting without being unkind to Hallee.

This has been an intense time for us. The kids are such a blessing to us, but it is really a struggle to be meeting everyone’s needs every day, in a timely fashion. In addition to attempting to keep a house in order, fulfill callings, and all the other things that are necessary. The older kids go to preschool a few days a week, but mostly the four kids are at home with me all week. I feel a kinship with what Abraham Lincoln said, “Many times I have been driven to my knees, by an overwhelming conviction that I had no where else to go”. I am learning that I have no where else to go either, but to kneel in prayer and to lay my burdens upon the savior. In the difficulty he has been there for me, lifting me up both physically and spiritually. How amazing it is that the hard times make the answered prayers feel ever so sweet. It deepens my conviction of our beloved Savior.

Four Generations

It had been several months since I had last visited Grandma Dudley, but we finally took Hallee to see her. Not only is the fuzzy picture 4 generations on our family tree, but we are all given the same middle name. Margaret Jean Dudley, Rebecca Jean Christensen, Sarah Jean Forman, and Hallee Jean Forman. Grandma’s health continues to deteriorate. She is confined to a wheelchair and has only brief moments when she says words you can understand. When she looks at me she has a confused look as if I am familiar but she can’t remember quite how she knows me. But she always loves a baby. Grandma held Hallee most of the time she was there and Hallee was sweet to just sleep like an angel. Grandma used to tell me that she wanted to live long enough to see me have a baby. That was when I was pregnant with Hope. Now I have four babies. She isn’t in a good enough mental state to process that, but she has seen them. It’ll be a happy day in the next life when, I hope, they can really get to know her.