Braces and Swim Meets!

Corban's favorite meal that I make is homemade macaroni and cheese.  I don't make this often because not everyone feels the same way as he does about it.  I made it last Monday night.  What was the occasion you ask?  Corban got braces on.  Memories of my junior high years where for days after my adjustments, my diet was limited to very soft foods is flashing through my mind.  The thing was, even my homemade macaroni and cheese was too painful for him to try to chew and it was difficult to swallow due to an appliance they placed across the top of his mouth.  He asked me to blend it up for him.  That is how difficult it was to chew/swallow and how much he likes the homemade macaroni.  I feel like we are getting more official as having a teenager in the house. 

We also had our first swim meet.  We got up at 5am Saturday to drive to Beatrice ( pronouced Be-at-rice).  We dressed, loaded and left at 6 to get there by 8am.  We set up a camp of sorts in the gym at the YMCA there.  We laid out a blanket, camp chairs, our cooler and stuff (clothes, toys, books, electronic devices to occupy the day).  We were told to expect it too last until 6 pm.  We were done at 2 since one team didn't show up.  It was most interesting to watch and observe.  I was tired as can be though.  I went to bed after midnight and less than 5 hours of sleep was not good for me.  Both Corban and Kjerstin were a little nervous but both did well for their first swim meet.  One Saturday a month until March, this will be our life.  The kids were out of school on Friday so we went to the YMCA to swim for fun.  I did a few laps.  I was surprised how tired I got and it gave me much more respect for them. People in our house seem to like to swim.  We were talking about New York City the other day.  Corban said it would be so cool to go there.  When asked what he would like to do if he was there, he said, "Swim."  It is the most exciting thing to do wherever we seem to go so we make the best of it!  Cannonball anyone?

Baptism

Brynna was baptized yesterday.  I remember when I was eight, I had to wait for a month before my grandparents could be there so I could be baptized.  That is what I remember most about my baptism.  I am sure Brynna feels similar (maybe not, our kids are supposed to be better than us.) Time moves so quickly for adults and so slowly for children.  I know she has anticipated this day greatly.  The program was a bit of a stress.  I felt the counselor in the bishopric was unhappy with the way we had done things although he approved it all.  People were trying to swap assignments so they didn't have to do this or that.  The morning of the baptism, Kjerstin and Brynna were fighting.  I finally got mad and I think the spirit departed from me.  The was a quibble about the refreshments to be served as well, and they didn't have a child size jumpsuit for her.  I was very stressed.  Seeing her baptized was beautiful, though.  In a way, I wished I could go back and be so clean again.  I know I can repent but I am afraid there are sins that I have forgotten that I committed that I never repented of and I just don't know if I will ever be as squeaky clean as when I was baptized.  I liked the comment in general conference thought that partaking of the sacrament weekly gets us more clean each week so we can finally really be clean when we die.  I think with events like this, Satan is trying to distract us from what is really important.  I am usually gullible enough to fall for it everytime.  Seeing her baptized brought it back, though.  I was grateful for a father who was worthy to baptize her.  I thought of the promptings in the temple that is was time for another child.  I thought of being on bedrest with her and delivering her in the hospital with the epidural worn off.  I love that child and I am grateful I am one step closer to helping her make it back to Heavenly Father again.  (I will post a picture later :)
I cried when I heard the announcement about missionary work.  I am excited for all those sisters who can now serve missions at younger ages.  It was a life changing event for me and I am eternally grateful for it.