Catch Up Time

Wow, it's been a pretty busy time around here. I haven't had time to blog about a lot of things I want to. Thus, I keep putting it off until I have "enough time". Does anyone ever have "enough time"? So, I am just going to do it.

Part of the busyness (is that a word? must be because there isn't a red squiggly under it), was getting ready for Lauren's Baptism. She's been so excited to be baptized ever since Tyler was. She hated that she had to wait for nearly two years before she had her turn. So the time finally came. It was a special day and we appreciate so much all the support we received.

Lauren wore a family heirloom to be baptized in. The white dress she wore for the actual baptism is one that her Grandma Gleed made before her first granddaughter, Talia, was baptized. It was partially made from material from her wedding dress. Every Gleed granddaughter has worn the dress. Lauren was the 14th granddaughter to wear it. We feel very blessed because we weren't sure it would happen. After Chris' mom passed away, no one could find the dress. It had been over 10 years since the last granddaughter was baptized and they had moved twice in that time. Chris' dad, Chris and I all tore apart the house looking for it and couldn't find it. I was so sad thinking my girls would be the only ones not baptized in the family dress. I know it was a tender mercy that we were able to find it. In a last ditch effort I kept concentrating in a particular area that we had all looked several times before, but just felt impressed to keep looking there. It was for good reason because I did find it there. Anyway, I was very glad that she was able to be baptized in the dress.

Lauren and Daddy

Lauren and Ms. Braun
(her 2nd grade teacher)

Lauren & Samantha with the Bishop
(Samantha was also baptized)

Lauren in her pretty new
white dress from Grandma Guptill

The baptism also happened to coincide with Women's Conference and so my dad treated my mom to a trip down (from Washington) and tickets to WC for my mom, my sister Julie (who lives here) and me. We had such a wonderful time. We were also able to spend the first day and part of the second day with a friend of mine from here, Cressent. We met Sheri Dew, snubbed Elder Nelson's wife (long story, but not on purpose, I SWEAR!), walked a TON, saw Pres. Monson...sat about 30 feet from him, got to read his talk off the teleprompter..that was fun and you learn a lot of interesting things (like he doesn't read it word for word, DON'T TOUCH THE MIC!, turn & acknowledge the prophet, etc.), got a great spiritual boost and learned lots. We got to leave the kiddies home with dads and had such a great time. Friday night we went to dinner with some friends from Hawaii (one of whom incidentally had a funny story about meeting Pres. Uchtdorf's wife) which was so much fun. It was great to catch up. I'd include a picture of us at dinner but I think I'm the only one who ended up without any pictures of that.

Mom, Julie, Michelle
sitting right behind the stage
It's a little blurry, camera phone.

So that pretty much wraps up that week. I'm sure I forgot something but I'll post later if I did.