A New Year and a New Presidential Administration

While I wasn't super thrilled about any of the candidates running for President, Joe Biden became the next president for our country.  The week before, a group who was standing up for Trump called "The Proud Boys" stormed the capitol while it was in session with weapons and destroyed some things and one person died.  It was in protest of an election many deemed to be unfair, but this group took it to far.  Many felt like there was tampering and Donald Trump never conceded, saying the election was a fraud.  He had his social media accounts blocked.  Now I'm not a fan of his opening his big mouth so much, but really...what happened to freedom of speech?  He didn't even attend the inauguration.  This made me sad.  I am glad however, I voted for Trump in the first place as he recently appointed a very conservative judge,  Amy Coney Barrett, to the Supreme Court.  Bam!  That is exactly why I voted Trump.  Though many were trying to change things so he couldn't appoint someone during his own tenure as President.  Seriously!?  Politics.  I felt some hope at the inauguration, though it seems the speech writers each four years are writing the same things.  One thing that was cool was that Kamala Harris became the first ever woman and black/Asian Vice President.  While I may not see eye to eye with these leaders, I feel some good can come out of this.  Let's hope they work across party lines and do what's right. I have been praying for them.  I loved that the Pledge of Allegiance was done by a service woman and along with ASL.  The national anthem was performed by Lady Gaga, J-Lo sang, and so did Garth Brooks (Super bowl feel, anyone?).  My favorite part though was a poem performed by newly appointed youth poet laureate, Amanda Gorman. She spoke beautifully and her words touched my heart. It was a stirring inauguration. Our kids are all upset as they are Trump fans (mostly stuff they hear from school), and keep saying hateful things.  We are trying to teach them that like it or not, we have a new president, and we support, show respect, and pray for him and his cabinet to do good. And do good ourselves. Our country, our world, will not get any better or anywhere with all of this division.  We need to love.  Just love. Of course, none of these pictures I took myself but they are from various new sources. The quotes from Elaine Dalton and Amanda Gorman I created with the Rhonna designs app.  Hoping for light and goodness for future generations!  

Birthday blessings!

This year, my whole birthday was full of blessings.  The day before, as we didn't have school, we went to Billings the day before and went to Jake's restaurant, which was so good!  We ended up only getting appetizers though, since they didn't have kids meals (most steak houses we go to do), and the cheapest meal was in the mid-20 dollars range and no split plates.  So we had our apps dinner and went and got some fast food.  Haha!  We went to the mall and hung out and we were going to the art museum but ran out of time before having to take Lucy to Irish dance. We also went to the Big Dipper ice cream store, and that was fun to try that out (I always love trying new things!).  It was fun to get to celebrate a bit early.  I woke up to breakfast burritos in bed, which Dave has never done (the kids have, but not him), so that was cute.  And Dave started the pulled pork for dinner at 5:30 a.m.  He is not a morning person, so that was a sacrifice of love. The kids started pouring in cards even the night before my birthday.  I got ready and took the kids to school and then went to preschool.  The kids sang to me, sweet Shannon and Carol brought some way nice gifts, and I got some cards and birthday wishes.  My pocket was buzzing a lot with family and friends messaging me.  The preschool kiddos sang to me and everyone kept wishing me a happy birthday there. One of my students as we were doing art said "Miss Melanie, you are such an arter!  You are the best teacher in the world!" and he gave me a huge hug. So funny!  Love teaching these sweet kiddos!  I met Em and Dave for lunch at home.  We had fun. Then it was back to preschool to prep for the following day.  After, it was home to help the kids with homework and teach piano lessons.  Then we had our pulled pork sandwiches, roasted mini potatoes, salad, and raspberry lemonade for dinner.  Yum!  The kids were getting a kick out of distorting each others faces by looking through their glass and some were laughing so hard they were choking up their meal.  They all went around and said what they loved about me - that I'm kind, would do anything for them, I bake with and tickle them, I'm the best, that I'm enthusiastic, etc. The kids and Dave got me a fun card and all signed it and some of my favorite treats and Dave told me to pick my own gift out this year...thinking I'm going to go with teeth whitening.  Lucy gave me a certificate for a day to her L Spa and to bake something together.  Cal made me a felt hot pocket and wrote a cute card that said "I love you so much, Mom!  Happy birthday!  Look more in the envelope, it's the least I can do. Love you, Cal."  He gave me some money, too.  I told him to keep the money but got a kick out of his card.  Emma is making me something but it's not quite done yet.  And Covey was embarrassed he didn't do anything, but I told him that I would rather have him love others than anything else for my birthday.  Sydnie kept going and getting random toys from her room and putting them in the bags of presents we had already opened and she'd come in saying that she had another present for me!  She's get so excited when i told her how much I loved it and how nice it was of her.  So funny!  Cov hid in some large bags and jumping out saying surprise and I told him he was what I always wanted. We opened a few other presents and cards and then it was time for cake.  And Shannon didn't know this when she purchased, but she got some of my favorite things.  I thought for sure maybe she got a hold of Dave or something but she didn't.  We got a Costco cake Sydnie picked out and it was pretty tasty with cheesecake filling and some frosting flowers on top.  Phew!  I was able to blow them all out.  Then it was bed time.  I was telling the kids to enjoy their sleep now because it's a luxury.  Haha!  When I was tucking in Cal that night he said "Please bless that we will all be nice to each other and listen to our Mom and Dad", as that is what Dave and I were saying I probably wanted most for my birthday.  Sweet kid!  Then I read all the Facebook messages and e-mails and responded.  I just feel so very blessed to be who I am, to be surrounded by who I have!

Callahan's First Trip to the Temple

Callahan was able to go to the temple for the first time on May 26 in Billings.  He researched and found a handful of names to do baptisms for the dead for them. We brought some Emma and I found, as well as from my mom and a sister in our branch.  Before, we read through the Temple magazine the Church put out and tried to talk about the temple quite a bit leading up to our time there. It was so great to be back at the temple, with Dave, Emma, Cal, and our branch president and wife, the Grahams!  Though protocol has changed a bit due to Covid, the work that goes onside is the same. Such a sacred and special feeling inside the temple.  Em, Cal and I all did baptisms and Dad baptized and confirmed us, President Graham recorded, and the kids took turns being witnesses with Sister Graham.  Cal was beaming and asked right away “when can I come back!?” Can’t wait to get back to do baptisms again as well as other work!  We took a few pictures outside after, and then went to get milkshakes together.  What a sweet afternoon!  The work of the temple is about binding families together forever and coming closer to the Savior.  I know it is the House of the Lord!