Moving On...Again!

Time for a new blog.  Again!  Ran out of picture space here so click on the link to visit our new page!

Wilkerson Family 3

Priesthood Preview

Last night was our Ward's Aaronic Priesthood Preview for all the boys turning 12 next year.  It's still surreal to me that I have a son this age.  I don't feel old enough.  The Bishop said something tonight that really made me think.  He was asking the boys what power the world was created with, Jesus' raised the dead with, the sacrament is blessed with.  Of course, the answer was the Priesthood.  Then he said, "It's sobering to think that when you become a Deacon, you will pass the sacrament, the same thing Christ did.  Makes it seem more serious, doesn't it?".  I'd never thought of that before.  Christ passed the sacrament to His disciples.  Now, the young men pass the sacrament, using his authority and acting as his hands.  That thought just seemed to stick out at me tonight.

I'm so glad for the example Sean sets for me each day.  Almost every night he will remind me that we need to pray.  He willingly and without complaint gets up early for church each Sunday.  He's reverent during Primary (which is saying a lot when you think about how large our Primary is).  He was so excited to go to the meeting tonight.  He's excited to grow up.  I just hope it doesn't happen too quickly.  I hope the next 12 years go by a lot slower than the last 12 have.

My Bathing Beauty

Sleeping Angel

I'm a little addicted to pictures of Ava sleeping.  You can't tell, can you?

Disney on Ice

Lyle's cousin works for some type of promotion company out in Chicago and his Mom (Lyle's Aunt Julie) called Lyle's Mom (anyone confused yet?) and asked if all the kids/grandkids would like to go to Disney on Ice.  Heck yeah!  So off we went Thursday night for some good, Disney fun. 

Ava was so excited to see the princesses.  She asked us every two minutes during the entire hour long drive downtown if we were going to see the princesses.  She wanted to see, "eh-rel", "seeping booty", "tink-bell", "the one with the bow" (Snow White) and "the blue one" (Cinderella).  All the little girls were adorable, screaming and yelling character names whenever they came on the ice.

Sean wasn't overly thrilled with the whole thing, until the Toy Story army men came out.  He loved those.  And the Mulan fighting scene. LOL 

Ava didn't take her eyes off the ice the entire night.  She wanted to go down there so badly, she kept saying, "Ava skate on the ice too.  Yeah?". 

During Intermission, Ava gave me kisses while Sean and Lucas went to get me some popcorn.

It was a fun night and not something I would've normally even thought about doing.  So grateful for Lyle's Mom and Aunt Julie for arranging the tickets for us.  Thank you!

Tender Sunset

The Lord gives us so many daily tender mercies.  All we need to do is be aware of them.  Recognize them.  Open our hearts and our spiritual eyes to see the bigger picture.  This gorgeous sunset greeted me as I came over the pass this evening and it literally took my breath away.  This world is so amazingly beautiful.

Primary Program

Sean has his final Primary Program tomorrow.  It's sad to think my boy is no longer a...boy.  He's a young man and will be headed into the Young Men's program in only a few short months.  Another priesthood holder will be in my home and I feel incredibley blessed.  He's such a sweet boy and tries so hard to choose the right.  He's a great big brother to Ava and loves her so much!  Today was the practice for the program, and after it was over, the kids had a pizza party.  Sean helped Ava eat her pizza and cookie and was just awesome overall. Sure love this kid.

Winter

Woke up to a world of white.  The entire day was filled with wind, snow flurries and cold.  Ava said, "it's almost Christmas time!".  And she's right...it's coming fast.

Ava hates when I go anywhere alone.  I went with my friend Angie to find her a formal dress for her husband's Christmas work party.  Ava knew I was leaving for the day and had an absolute come-apart.  She kept saying, "Ava can go with Mommy?  Yes?".  She breaks my heart with this face and my stomach is in knots when she cries.  It was fun to have a girls day, but I loved coming home to a beaming face and a scream of "Mommy!" as she threw her arms around my neck.  Love this girl.

Swing

Today was one of the last warm days of the year to enjoy some Swing time!  Ava loves her swing and will find any excuse to be outside.

Temple Square

Sunday evening, as we were sitting at the dinner table, Lyle asked if we wanted to go downtown and spend the day at Temple Square.  Well, of course we did!  So, we got up Monday morning and headed off!  We didn't have any plans set, we just parked the car and started walking.  Wherever we eneded up was fine with us.  We came out in City Creek and made our way to Temple Square.

 

The first building we visited was the Tabernacle.  I'm not sure if Sean has ever been inside before, but I don't think he has.  I love this building.  I've been to countless General Conferences there, as well as State Choir while I was in High School. 

As we exited the Tabernacle, I noticed something on the Temple that I've never noticed before.  Every time I go to the Temple, I come away with some type of new knowledge.  Usually that pertains to the session or what happens inside the building;  today, it was something on the facade.  Do you see it?  The Big Dipper constellation is on the side of the west facing wall of the center spire.  I've never noticed that before.  I'm positive it represents something...but I'm not sure what.  Not yet.

We headed across the street to take a tour of the Conference Center.  Lyle and I have been inside for various functions, but Sean has never been inside.  So we figured today was the day.  He was very attentive to the Hostess and asked numerous questions.

This scuplture of President Monsen was recently unveiled.  It's such a great work of art!  Looks just like him!

After the tour of the Conference Center, we went across the street to the Church Office Building to see off the observation deck.  Sean was extremely apprehensive about being that high, but I tried to reassure him that there was no danger of him falling off the building and that it was essentially surrounded by tall windows.  He was still nervous, until we got up there, and then had a great time.  While grasping tightly to my hand for the first few minutes.  LOL

The one and only picture of me that day.  And it's not even one I'm particularly fond of.  However, over 12 years ago, I married this wonderful man inside this Temple in the background and I could not have made a wiser choice.  He is my pillar of strength, my best friend and my soulmate.  Yes, I believe in soulmates.  Love him.  So much.

We headed over to the Beehive House next.  In all my years of living in Utah (my entire life), I've never been inside the Beehive House.  It was such a great building!  It's amazing to see the woodwork and the type of skill that was involved in regular buildings during that time.  You just don't see it anymore.  I loved the curving staircase.  And the various levels.

We finished our day on Temple Square by watching the Joseph Smith movie in the Legacy Theatre.  As we came out of the theatre, the sun was setting and the lights on the Temple were on.  There was such a peaceful feeling that settled over us and Lyle and I took the opportunity to stand by the reflection pond and discuss with Sean the impact the movie had on him.  It was a great teaching moment as we urged him not to take the gospel for granted, to recognize the Savior's and Joseph Smith's sacrifice for us and how eternal families are the ultimate goal of this gospel and our time here on earth.  Lyle and I both cried as we bore our testimonies to him.  It was a teaching moment for us as well.

We ended the evening by eating at Wingers.  It was such a great day.  There was no arguing, no fighting, no stress.  Just a warm, fall day, filled with the Spirit and the people I love the most.