What a Week

To all of you who save everything on your computer...you need an external hard drive. My computer crashed a week and 1/2 ago, and I lost everything. I was in the process of getting all my pictures organized and put on Cd's, and I was one file away from having a back up of all my pictures when my computer wouldn't turn back on, so I hauled it into Superior Computers and they told me it was my mother board but my hard drive looked fine. So I felt a great relief, when I really shouldn't have because the next phone call was that my hard drive wasn't working so it was in the freezer for the night to see if they could get any information off of it. I called the next afternoon, and got the horrible news of no information could be retrieved. I lost everything. I took home a new computer basically in the same box. I lost soooo many pictures and that's what makes me the saddest. I did shed a few tears, and then decided that tears were not going to bring back my pictures so I got up and did the dishes instead. Although, Drakes whole baby moments were on the computer. How sad is that, and how do I cxpain that to him later? Oh ya he can read this entry and know that I really did have lots of pictures, I just lost them to ignorance.

A lot has happened in that time but the most important thing was Clay's baptism so I will post about that first.

Clay turned 8 in November, and so he was baptized the 6Th of December which was the first Saturday in December. He was baptized with a couple other kids from the stake. He was so excited. I do have to mention what Garrett said to him when he got the baptismal clothing on. He looked at Clay and said "You're going swimmin in that?" His face just as serious as could be. It was hilarious. Jared did such a good job on the baptism...he didn't even have to do it twice, and he didn't even step on his toes. I remember my Dad having to step on my toes because the first time my toe came out of the water, and then I laughed under the water and almost choked, because he literally put all his weight on my feet as I went under. Jar gave Clay a sweet confirmation prayer as well and I was so proud of him. I know he was nervous, but he did awesome! We all (meaning all 80+ people or so) came over to the house afterwards to eat a lunch. We had sandwiches and salads because it was only 11:00, so meat and potatoes just didn't seem possible. Natalie came over at 11:00 P.M. to help me get everything ready for the morning. Bless her heart...she pulled an all nighter with me, and it was so much appreciated. We ate and ate until we were filled up and then the party was over.

I hope Clay will remember this day forever and remember how he felt when he came out of the water all cleaned from anything an 8 year old could do wrong. Too bad we can't just wait until we are about 20 to be baptized, that would just be a great age wouldn't it? I really think this age is a little tricky. I think that Satan tries a little harder on these kids after they are baptized, because it's the first real chance he has at enticing them. I think 8 year old's kind of go through a stage of attitude, and ignorance. I have wondered if it's because they are adjusting to the power of Satan. He couldn't tempt them until now, and he would love to get them early under his belt. How important it is to stay on them and keep reinforcing the goodness in their lives.

Clay is such a good kid. I hope he can stay strong in the gospel and always try to choose the right. We have talked a lot about the influence of the Holy Ghost and how to keep him close to you. How he will be a help in this dirty world, if we just try to always choose the right. You know as a parent you just can't imagine that your cute little ones ever doing anything wrong. I have watched my own brothers make so many wrong choices and have had to watch them struggle through the consequences. I can't help but think how my Mom must have felt about her children the way I feel now about mine. You just cant imagine them ever choosing the wrong way. It may happen, but I sure hope not. And if they do, I hope we have given them a strong enough foundation to find their way back. I really feel strongly that we handle things down here so much better with the help of the Lord.

The baptism boy, and his Dad! Man they look good in their "whites"