Fun at the Zoo

Last Saturday, we took Amaia to the Farmers' Market up in Salt Lake and then to Hogle Zoo. She loved watching all the people and dogs at the Farmers' Market. I think she didn't quite know what to think about the zoo when we first got there. There were a lot of people and it was hot. She loved the elephants. It was Dari, the elephant's birthday and we watched her pull down a giant pinata filled with popcorn. She made her usual sounds as she saw monkeys, bears, tigers, giraffes, etc ("ooh, ooh, ooh"). She loved the snakes. We let her roam through the snake house and touch the window where a huge python was sleeping. I think she would have try to carry it away if she could. She chased the meerkat along its window back and forth-that was pretty funny. By that time it was getting really hot and she was ready for a nap. So we stopped by the train for a ride. I think she liked riding the train, but she wasn't too interested in the sites we passed. She was more interested in the zoo map she had found on the ground. Oh well, go figure. It was fun to see her reaction. We will have to go back when she is a little older.

Happy Birthday, Reub (aka. "Red")

Yesterday was my brother, Reuben's birthday. I can't remember if he is 33 or what, but I do know he is and always will be older than me (ha, ha!) Hope you have a super happy day!

We haven't heard back from the EEOC in San Jose for a possible job opportunity for Mike. We figure that with it being this long, most likely, no answer is not a good answer. It is a Government job and their HR is very slow at getting back with anyone. So, who knows.

Tomorrow we are going to the Farmers' Market in Salt Lake. Yipee! I love that place. We go every year and get the best produce. Afterwards, we are taking Amaia to her first visit to the Zoo. I'm so excited to see her reaction-she love animals! We'll take lots of pictures.

We definitely have a toddler!

Amaia is officially walking. Boy was church fun! Amaia spent most of the time visiting with the people behind us and being taken out of the chapel for throwing a tantrum when she didn't get her way. I thought that tantrums weren't supposed to start until she was two.

In Primary she had a fit when another little girl her age came over and started playing with her toys. She wouldn't have that. She was over by the piano and as soon as she saw the girl pick up one of her toys, she made a beeline straight for the girl and took the toy away. Guess we're going to be teaching her the wonderful virtue of sharing! And just look at the above picture. How am I supposed to say "No" to that cute face! We are definitely in for a long arduous task of living with a toddler. By the way, Amaia looks so much like her Grandma Carol in this picture! What a doll! I guess we'll have to keep her!

I Love the Temple

I love going to the temple. I went on Saturday while Mike stayed home with Amaia. I was initially going to do an Endowment Session, but something told me to do Initiatory instead. When I got there, there was a 45 minute wait and I was almost going to change my mind, but I decided to stay and read scriptures while I waited. I looked up scriptures under "Healing" because I have been feeling down a lot lately and just trying to deal with personal issues. I found wonderful scriptures about Christ healing those who were inflicted with diseases, and evil spirits, etc. I've been reading a lot about the Atonement lately and realized that the Atonement is what truly and completely heals us; whether it is from illness, sorrow, or sin. I read about how all people on the earth are precious to the Lord. That means everyone, including people who have done terrible things. The Lord has prepared a way for everyone to receive the blessings of the Atonement. If we believe in Him, it can be applied to whatever ails us. I've learned a new meaning also in forgiving others. It is through the Atonement that we are able to forgive others for their wrongdoings. When we hold things against other people, it is as if we are holding their sins on our own heads because Christ already paid for those sins. It is silly for us to hold grudges and useless as well. Think of how much energy we waste in mulling over other people's misdoings. In the end it doesn't matter what other people did in this life. What does matter is that we forgive them and forgive ourselves and ask for the Lord's forgiveness for not believing in the Atonement for others.

I love the blessings given in the Initiatory session. I decided I want to go every Saturday until I have those blessings memorized. I felt huge burdens lifted from me during that session and I continue to feel great joy and peace. I have felt a great love for the Savior, for myself and for everyone. It's an amazing feeling.

Videos of Amaia

Here are some videos of Amaia. Some are new, others were too big to post to Picasa. I'll probably just post all future videos to the blog. Enjoy!

Amaia's first birthday cake.


On Monday Amaia decided to stand up and start walking around:


Dancing queen.


Getting ready for a night on the town.

Toe Fettish!

Amaia is so funny. She loves toes-anyone's toes. The other day we went to a Japanese restaurant and the hostess was wearing flip-flops and of course Amaia had to touch the hostess's toes and try to stand on them. She really likes to try to take the hair off a Daddy's hobbit feet! It's funny. What a girl!

Eleven years

Today marks the anniversary of my dear brother Darin's death. To this day I can't believe it actually happened and that he is gone from this earth. The last I saw Darin before he died was six months before. I remember when we were leaving his home in Las Vegas to go back to Elko that I felt impressed to give him a hug and tell him I loved him. I'm glad I did. Three days before Darin died, I was awakened in the middle of the night while still in a middle of a dream. In the dream I was talking to a young dark-skinned boy with curly hair. He was all dressed in white. I know that the conversation was lengthy, but the only thing I remember the boy saying was that everything was going to be all right. It was at that moment that I realized my eyes were open and I was still talking to this boy by my bedside. I believe that boy was some sort of guardian angel to prepare me for the tragic accident that took my brother's life.
During the funeral services for Darin, I felt him put his arms around me and in my mind he said, "Everything is going to be all right, little sister." That was so comforting to me and helped me remember that he is not very far away. I can't wait for the day when I can see him again in person.