A Big Sunday

Today was a big day.  

(And not because the Super Bowl is just a couple of hours away.)

Today was a big day for Audrey.  During Sharing Time in Primary at church, Audrey gave her very first talk. 

(All of a sudden she looks so grown up... 

and it's not entirely due to her new favorite way to pose for pictures!)

The overall theme for this whole year in Primary is on Choosing the Right.  So, we decided that that's what her talk would be on.  Adam and I sat down with Audrey and asked her what that means - to choose the right.  And what kinds of things she can do that are ways of choosing the right.  Some of the things she came up with were:  to be nice to each other.  To be reverent at church.  Don't yell at others.  Take the Sacrament. Be baptized.  And she concluded with "If we follow Jesus Christ's teachings, we will be happy, and will live with Him again.  I know Jesus lives, and He is my Savior."

She did such a good job!  I was so proud of the way she stood, looking at the large group of her peers, and she talked clearly into the microphone.  I was there to prompt her, but she deserves the most credit.  (I even noticed a few of the adults in the room wiping tears from their eyes.  One of those was Audrey's dad!)

And, as if that weren't enough for one Sunday, we had another first for Audrey just about an hour later during Sacrament meeting.  Being the first Sunday of the month, it was Fast and Testimony meeting.  I felt prompted to get up and bear my testimony, so I walked up and took a seat to wait my turn (there were a few people ahead of me already on the stand).  After about 45 seconds, I looked down the aisle to see Audrey trotting towards me.  She came up and sat in the empty chair next to me and said, "Mom, you're bearing your testimony?"  And I said, "Yes."  Then she looked up at me and said, "I want to bear my testimony, too."  To which I replied, "Ok."

I wasn't sure if she would want to back out when it came to be her turn - the whole congregation of our ward is a much, much larger audience of people to talk too.  (Even I was a little nervous!)

But, she walked right up the little stepping stool in front of the pulpit and, with my help, she bore her very first testimony in Sacrament meeting.  Again, she spoke clearly and confidently.  I was so proud of her!

After Audrey was done, she ran proudly to Adam who was sitting in the congregation, wrestling Luke into submission!  I stayed to bear my own testimony and, as usual, I got teary eyed and emotional.  As I stood saying the things that were in my heart, my sweet little girl came running back down the aisle and stood by my side for the duration of my testimony.  I could tell she was a little worried that I was crying and she asked a couple of times, quietly, "Mom, are you ok?"  and I would smile and nod to her to let her know that everything was fine.  And then when I was done she grabbed my hand and walked me back to our seat in the congregation.  She is such a little sweetheart.  I love her and Luke (and this new one on the way) so, so much!  I feel so blessed to be their mama.

(That was actually the focus of what I said during my testimony - the daunting responsibility of teaching my children correct principles and teachings that will help them find their way through this crazy life.  I referenced a favorite General Conference talk by one of my favorite Apostles - which, if you're interested, you can find here and I also talked about my own righteous parents and their efforts to be good examples and teach their children well.  I feel so blessed to have had them to help form and mold me into the person that I am today.  I am so thankful for stalwart and true believers and defenders of Jesus Christ.  I am reminded of the last line of the famous Robert Frost poem "The Road Not Taken" that ends with,  "And that has made all the difference."  Having true and faithful parents has made all the difference and I hope to emulate that in my own kids' lives.

I am indeed blessed.