Dancin' Shenanigans

Months of dance lessons: Expensive.

Stage fright right before first show: Aggravating.

Puppy dog eyes when Mom tells you to be a big girl and dance: Heartbreaking.

Pretending to be excited for second performance after refusing to go on stage during first performace: Endearing.

Knocking our socks off with the cutest little performance ever: Exhilarating.

Shaking your tail feather with twelve other 3 year olds: Entertaining.

Big smiles with your best friend after a performance of a lifetime: Priceless.

Weekend Getaway and Piano Recital!

Last weekend we had our annual trip to Mesquite with our very favorite people, Mike and Cath. Mike is also a football coach and it has been our tradition to take off once football season ends. The boys sit around the sports book all day watching games and the girls catch as many movies as possible, throwing in a little shopping here and there.
This year the four of us saw "Four Christmases" together and Cath and I spent most of our time laughing at our guys. They cracked up through the whole movie.
Then the two of us hit "Australia" (second time for Cath) and "Twilight" (second time for me). We both THOROUGHLY enjoyed ourselves. I just wish we lived closer so days like these weren't so few and far between!

Last night #2 had his first official piano recital. He was super nervous about it, even though he's already played in front of the entire ward! He said this was much harder because people could actually see him at the recital, whereas during church he was pretty well hidden by the piano.

Here he is, front right, with the rest of Mrs. Peterson's students. He's her youngest and newest.

They each had to say their name and the numbers they'd be playing - this is what he was the most nervous about! He had both of his songs memorized and did fantastic!

We were tickled to have Grandpa and Grandma Shelton come down (through a blizzard) and Josh, Kristen and little Leah. Thanks for supporting him!

The Faith of A Child

I've been meaning to write this down for a week now. It's actually been nagging at me. It's just one of those experiences you learn so much from that you don't want to let go of one single detail.
A week ago, #1 was having a sleepover with his best friend. For whatever reason, he went to look for his secret stash of money and couldn't find it. It was a significant amount of money, especially for an eleven year old, and he'd been saving it for the better part of 2008. He and his friend turned his room upside down looking for it before he came upstairs to tell me about the missing envelope. I questioned him in detail, all the while having the distinct impression to tell him to pray about it. He said he specifically remembered replacing the envelope on Sunday afternoon, right after retrieving some money for his tithing. It was Tuesday evening and he hadn't touched the envelope since. After helping him look in some of the less obvious places, I finally suggested he pray for help. He agreed that he would and then returned to the basement to finish his sleepover.
I, however, panicked. I knew the amount of money was more than I could just replace for him, especially at Christmastime. I worried that the sticky fingers of #3 and #4 might have mysteriously come across the loaded envelope and dispersed the loot among themselves. After #1 and friend retired for the night, I scoured his room, the toy room and all the drawers, closests, nooks and crannies in #2, 3 and 4's bedrooms. I looked EVERYWHERE.
Exhausted, I finally got on my own knees right before bed and essentially begged my Heavenly Father to help my son find his envelope of money. I sheepishly explained to Him that it would be such a faith builder for my child and his young friend, as if He wasn't aware of all the implications entirely. I wrapped up my prayer with the resolve to corner the other kids first thing in the morning and find out where they'd hidden the cash.
#1 and his friend were upstairs playing when the little kids got up and I immediatley started my interrogation. Not five minutes had passed and my sweet son came downstairs and nonchalantly announced he'd found the envelope.
What?
I turned to him and asked where it was. He went on to tell me that after he'd prayed he had the feeling to completely remove the drawer where he'd last seen the money and sure enough, there it was, tucked in the back of the dresser.
Then with a sheepish little smile he added, "Weird, huh?"
I told him he should probably go downstairs and thank his Heavenly Father for the help, which he did without question. Then I returned to my bedroom and did the same.
How silly of me to think the Lord needed my suggestion to teach my child about faith and prayer. Even sillier that I thought the lesson would be just for him.
I am so grateful for the pure faith of my child and a loving and LISTENING Father in Heaven who is very aware of even the most minute concerns in our family. I'm grateful for His insight and His ability to teach me while teaching my child.