Beautiful Bella's Baptism Celebration! A MIRACLE!

How time flies...How quickly they grow!

What a lovely week it was spending time with this beautiful girl! She's now 8 years old.  It was so nice to be with here on her Baptism Day.

We weren't sure if we would make it or not.  A giant ice/snow storm rolled through Atlanta, shutting down the airport and canceling flights.  My heart dropped.  We're flying standby and at this point I felt in my heart that there would be no way possible we could make it in time for her baptism. We strategized and tried to think of every possible way to be there for her.  It was at this point we found a fairly open flight and decided to fly into Memphis, rent a car and drive the 6 hours to Atlanta. The day we left we said a prayer for a miracle.  We knew thats what it would take to make it for this special occasion. We had done all we could, packed our bags and headed to the airport.  We were relieved to make our flight from Cedar City to Salt Lake, but were doubtful that there would be any flights from Salt Lake to Atlanta.  Upon our arrival into Salt Lake the screen showed flights to Atlanta canceled throughout the day, then we saw one flight leaving, THE ONE FLIGHT! for the day.  It would be leaving within just minutes. We made the mad dash to the gate not feeling really hopeful, but praying. To our surprise, when we got to the Gate, our names were read from the standby list to begin boarding!  WHAT?!!! could this be true?  this never happens!  I was dazed and so excited and completely in shock! 2 seats left on that one flight to Atlanta and they were ours!  YES I BELIEVE IN MIRACLES!  This is a miracle!  GOD PERFORMED A MIRACLE FOR US! After boarding our flight and taking off from the Salt Lake airport...Atlanta bound, I knew God had blessed us and had truly performed a miracle in our behalf,  and to us it was no small miracle! With Bob's health condition, and thinking of having to make a 6 hour drive in a snow storm, in a place foreign to us, I wasn't sure we could do it, but we were sure going to try.  But we were blessed not to have to:) All the way across the country in that airplane flying above the clouds I sent up continued prayers of thanks and gratitude for this amazing blessing we had just been given to see our Beautiful grand daughter baptized!

We were welcomed by my sweet daughter.  Ive never been so happy so see her...

and these sweet faces! WE ARE HERE!  I'm still pinching my self to see if this is real!

We celebrated Valentines day with these cuties, and made some yummy heart shaped pancakes for breakfast...

We ate lunch at the most yummy burger place and I shared the tastiest chocolate shake I've ever had in my entire life with this happy bunch!

At the end of the day, Daddy brought home loves and Valentines from work to all the kids! 

And later that day we dressed the pig for the Baptism celebration tomorrow.  Its not every day that these things happen...

In fact it was more than a little gross!

This sweet "little Bean" Celebrated her Birthday while we were there! Her Birthday was on the same day as her sisters baptism:)

When our grandchildren get Baptized members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, their grandpa Bob presents them with a very special gift.  He reads the Book of Mormon for each grandchild and marks the passages of scripture that come to mind for each child.  He then writes them a little letter to stick between the pages and presents it to them on their Baptism Day. 

My Handsome son Ian and his three precious kids made an all night drive down from New York in the cold, and on snowy roads to meet us here and to attend the baptism. They got here just in time! Its so great to see everyone! Looking forward to a wonderful week with family!

Grandpa and Bella practiced before the baptism began:)

Her grandpa Bob Baptized her!

We love this sweet and beautiful girl, and we are so proud of her for choosing to be Baptized. She she looked so beautiful all dressed in white!  It's great to be 8!

I Come to the Water

I come to the water, in faith to begin

My life in Gods kingdom, to covnant with Him.

I'll keep His commandments, I'll walk in His way

For I am His child and I want to obey.

I am baptized by immersion for remission of sins.

By faith and repentance I am clean before Him.

I'll prove to the Father by all that I do
I know that His teachings are true.

And after Im baptized, a blessing is said

As men of the priesthood place hands on my head.

The gift of the Holy Ghost given to me

Will guide me and prompt me to live righteously.

I am baptized by immersion for remission of sins.

Receiving the Holy Ghost, now I begin

To prove to the Father by all that I do,

I know that His teachings are true.

Dear Father, please help me remember this day;

I promise Thy will to obey.

Janice Kapp Perry 

Friend, Mar. 2000

Mommy & Bella

It was so nice to spend the day with family friends and cousins! 

 lots of beauty at the girls table...

and look at the handsomeness at the boys table...

And this little guy is the happiest little guy I know!

Yummy bacon kisses for Kira!

And little Miss Audrey got to celebrate her Birthday with friends nearby as she blew out ALL the candles! HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUDREY, may all your wishes come true!

Love them! Prettiest kitchen help ever:) Let them eat Cake!

What a delicious luncheon Mike and Melissa served up!  Yummiest Pork, Beans and Rice we've ever tasted! 

I Had the time of my life with these cute kids...

this handsome dapper dude...

 these beautiful girls:)

And these beary sweet littles!

We loved spending time down by the Chattahootchie River...

Walking around and exploring nature.  Such a beautiful place:)

Aunt Melissa taught us how to make Duct Tape Wallets!  They turned out so adorable:)

The boys loved jumping on the trampoline and making some pretty awesome slam dunks...

but most especially they loved having uncle Ian jump them hard and high into the air!  We had a great time playing the game "SHARKS"  you put all your shoes in the middle and jump...but don't let the shoes touch you or you're out! 

It's always so fun to have grandma Karen around!  She loves to cook, and she makes the most delicious things.  She taught us how to make the yummiest chocolate chip cookies, and biscuits.  She let us all help!

This lady is a dear friend! And yes she can cook!

And so can this cute lady!  She makes the most delicious Sourdough bread I've ever tasted! YUMMY

We had fun visiting the kids for school lunch.  What a crew...we especially loved eating ice cream:)

 This cute boy made us delicious pancakes one morning for breakfast!  He knows his stuff...they were amazing! He flips those pancakes like a professional!

And of course you can't be in Georgia and not go to Chick Fillet!  It was fun with these peeps and the weather was so delightful we ate outside in the warmth of the sun!

On one of the nights we fired up the glow sticks and received the greatest dance performance by the "Back Seat Boys" They were awesome!  Here is one of them...the others were a little camera shy:)

One night we got to watch this girl play soft Ball! She's a great little player!

Then We found the yummiest place to eat Mexican food and it was delicious and so authentic!  Oh, and they served Juaritos:) The kids loved it!

These cute cousins wearing their pink hats are best of friends!

Melissa took us out to a fun place for for some delicious food!  There were so many yummy choices of Asian and Tai food...we all got to eat our favorites!

Then it was off to drink some delicious Bubble Tea!  The mango smoothie was oh so delicious and Kira captured the moment with these awesome shots!! 

We've had such a wonderful time here:) We've spent such lovely moments with the kids and grandkids.  I love them all so much!  I'll be looking so forward to May when all of us can be together as a family. I long for moments like these, and it seems they just don't come around often enough.  We said goodbye to Ian and his cute kids...It's always hard to watch them drive away, such a lonesome feeling.  Then we said goodbye to Melissa and I kissed the kids goodbye while they were still sleeping. My heart sinks leaving them here. Mike drove us to the airport on his way to work and we are on our way home. 

We made the flight! It's always nice to get on the plane.  We never know for sure how long it might take us to get home.  We are learning to be spontaneous, fly by the seat of our pants, and on a wing and a prayer!

One thing I love about flying into Utah is that there is usually a group of missionaries on the plane flying home after 2 years of missionary service. Its so fun to visit with them and follow them off the plane and watch them meet up with their families.  It always brings me great joy and brings a few tears to my eyes watching their families run up to greet them, mothers and fathers throwing their arms around the necks of their sons and daughters after a long absence.  Theres nothing quite like welcoming home a child!  Oh and then theres Cafe Rio in the Salt Lake airport!  Thats always a nice welcome home:) You don't just find those anywhere in the world.  Its been such a beautiful celebration of joy.  Truly a blessing and a Miracle!!!  God lives!  He loves his children! Families are eternal!