Gabriel Gets His Yellow Belt, Part II

Below you will find videos of G doing some of his sweet Jung Su moves to earn his yellow belt. I'm sure this will of be interest only to the grandparents (perhaps an aunt or uncle or two). We are so proud of him! About a month and a half ago he wanted to quit because he was frustrated that he couldn't do it. We knew we couldn't let him quit because he needed to know he could work and do hard things (plus it was paid for :). He is not naturally confident, so we knew it would be good for him to see what he could do when he kept going. Just last week I emailed his teacher (Mr. Joe) about the upcoming test, and in his reply he said this:

"He's made a lot of improvement over the last few weeks and to be honest, I was a little worried that he wouldn't be able to test this session; but he has proved me wrong. And you can tell him that."

Awesome, right?!

So, really, this is more than just "getting his yellow belt." Besides what Gabey (I think) learned about himself, there is also the lesson I learned as his mother. My kids (particularly G, who I sometimes tend to "baby" since he had a rough start in life) can do hard things and come out on top! And I can be with them -- not rescue them -- as they struggle and feel self-doubt and insecurity.

Now, just to remember this lesson for the rest of their lives.

Another lesson in prayer.

A couple of nights before the test we reminded G that he could ask Heavenly Father for help. He said, "But that's not allowed."

Cory and I look at each other, "Whaaa??? Have we not gotten the message across to our kids that you can pray to Heavenly Father about anything?"

"What do you mean?"

"You can only pray about spiritual stuff."

Baaaaaaaaack up.

We explained to him that Heavenly Father is absolutely interested in what he is doing in his life and wants to help him. We asked him if he thought Cory wanted him to do well and is interested in what he does; of course he said yes. We reminded him that, just like his father on earth, his Heavenly Father loves, cares for, and wants to help him.

Fast -forward to the night of the test. We're eating dinner before leaving and he says (in kind of a goofy but sincere Gabey way),

"I'm nervous. I'm going to say a little prayer."

And right there he folds his arms, bows his head, and silently offers a little prayer to his Father in Heaven.

I think we all learned a good lesson there, too.

Gabriel Gets His Yellow Belt

Grandpa and Grandma

Anything I can put in writing seems inadequate to describe my tender feelings this past week after the passing of my sweet Grandpa Rasmussen. For so long, my grandparents were immortal. They didn't age. They'd be around forever.
I remember going back to Utah the summer of 2009 and thinking, for the first time in my life, that Grandpa looked old (at the age of 86). Seemingly all of the sudden, their mortality was real.
Grandpa and Grandma made it to every -- and I mean EVERY -- special event in my (and their 20 other grandchildren) life. Recitals, games, performances, talks in church, graduation, baby blessings, birthdays...they were there. I remember boating at Jackson Lake (with Grandpa trying to teach me to waterski...I never loved it, Grandpa, but it will always make me think of you!), sleepovers at their house, boating at Deer Creek, time at the cabin in Midway, Utah, Christmas Eve at their house, and, most tender and poignant, performing our temple marriage ceremony .

They treated all their kids-in-law and grandkids-in-law the same as their own. They were all family. What a gift for all of us, one that I see my parents carrying on and that I want to one day.
Grandpa and Grandma lived in D.C. the first 6 years of their marriage. They had such fond memories of their life here and were so excited for us to live here. I can hear him in my mind, as he would say every time we talked on the phone or saw each other since our move to D.C. in 2007, saying, "Well, you're a converted Washingtonian!"

Theirs is a true love story. Perhaps this is why I've grown so weary of "romance" and "love" as it is so often depicted in TV, movies, and books. What I see there is shallow and transparent. The examples in my life -- including Grandpa and Grandma -- are the real deal. A relationship centered on the gospel of Jesus Christ and selfless love for one another. My sister Julia came across this poem that describes Grandpa and Grandma:

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in my heart)i am never without it(anywhere i go you go,my dear;and whatever is done by only me is your doing,my darling) i fear no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true) and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant and whatever a sun will always sing is you  here is the deepest secret nobody knows (here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows higher than soul can hope or mind can hide) and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart  i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

ee cummings

As Grandpa lay in the hospital in Utah after suffering a stroke, and I talked with my dad, I cried. I cried for my loss. When Dad called to say Grandpa had died, I cried for my dad's loss. Once I got to Utah, and first saw and hugged Grandma at the viewing, I cried for Grandma's loss. I think all the tears since then have been for her.

I don't remember ever seeing them apart, and it hurts my heart to see Grandma alone. I know, and Grandma knows, it is only for a season. My testimony of our Heavenly Father's plan for us to experience mortality and return home to Him has been strengthened these last few months. I will see Grandpa again, and Grandma will be reunited with her sweetheart. Still, her heart aches for him now, and my heart aches for her.




Grandpa, we'll take care of your sweetheart until you can bring her home. I love you both so very much.

A Transformer, A Superhero, and a Space Ranger

Happy Halloween! Megatron
Thor
Buzz Lightyear

MP Photography

Thanks, Danelle, for the great pictures!

One of the best things about these pictures is that, for the most part, they are original poses; not much coaching from the sidelines. Especially G. He was totally in character.

We had a super-fun Halloween. Once M got the hang of what exactly was going on with the trick-or-treating, he couldn't wait to get from house to house. It's times like this when living in a townhome community really pays-off.

All was well until the house with the cloaked man who yelled in my face and startled me. After that, instead of, "I want to go to the next house!" from M, it was, "I want to go home! Where's that man?" Even the morning after he asked, "Where's that man who yelled at you?" Thank you, cloaked stranger, for soiling my 2-year old's Halloween.

But, at the end of the night, candy buckets were bursting, children were happy and hyped, and Mom and Dad settled them down for a long fall's nap....then took care of each child's candy tax.

Halloween Prep

After an ill-fated Family Night Activity to pick out pumpkins at a local nursery (got there after it closed and ended up getting pumpkins at Walmart...), we "carved" out some time to transform the pumpkins into Halloween jack-o-lanterns!

All 3 boys were a little squeamish about scooping out the pumpkin guts. These are the same kids who use their clothes as napkins and tissues. And come in from playing outside covered in mud.


Can you make a face like your jack-o-lantern?

Voila! M LOVED seeing them lit up.

Hat Model

This is what you get when you have a friend who's a photographer.


MP Photography

McKay and I go over to play with our friends. Danelle says, "I need to take some pictures of the kids in these hats my friend made for her Etsy shop; can Mack be a model?"

Sure thing!

Random II

Continuing with pictures of our summer in no particular order...

A visit to Utah means a visit to Cougar Country (Provo)!
Eating at Brick Oven


Playing with Grandma's Playmobil/Star Trek collection
One of many daddy/son/cousin/uncle football games
Hanging out at First Dam in Cache Valley, UT. Canoeing, feeding ducks, playing football...it was a lovely time.

Back to Provo

Enjoying popsicles and cousins on G&G's patio
Cousins

First day of school: 1st and 3rd grade