Dance Recital Time and Youth Conference

Lily had her dance recital this week and she did such a great job! I went to her dress rehearsal and it seemed like the girls didn't really know what the moves were. I was thinking since I had seen that practice I would stay home with the boys and Jeff would go with Lily. But Lily really wanted me to come too so we got a babysitter and I'm so glad I went! During intermission I went to Lily and told her to smile, do her best, and have fun. After the show she told me she did everything I said.

She truly was the best one out there! She knew all the moves, had a big smile on her face, and had a lot of energy. Jeff and I were delighted to watch her and it was so worth it to be there for the performance! Lily loved getting makeup on, curling her hair, and wearing her outfit. That was just like me when I was little. We were so proud of her and she was darling. I will say though that she is happy to be done with dance practice. She likes being on the big stage (she mentioned that several times), but doesn't love so much the practice it takes before getting there.

Lily loves trying different poses for pictures

Lily with her good friend Maddie

Lily is third from the right

And ice cream to finish the night off!

I'm reading the book, "The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up." I am loving it so far and feel like this has been an answer to prayer for me since I have been wanting a home that is more organized and less cluttered. I feel like it's affecting my mental/emotional/spiritual well being so I'm determined to get the calm and peaceful home that can come with less stuff. Here's my start, going through all my clothes. Jeff liked my finished product so much, how I now fold my clothes, and how my drawers and closet looked, that he did the same thing. I told him you have to hold each item and thank it for what it did for you. So he'd pick up a shirt, say "thank you" and then throw it in the bag. He loved what this process did for him in his organization as well!

Max climbs on EVERYTHING now and couldn't resist these bins

Kelly Huff met with Cara, Emily and me to finish off our quilts (Emily is doing a table runner). It made me realize how much I love those ladies and love getting together! We used to quilt every Monday, but once school got out we haven't done that. It was therapy for my soul to have these good friends and to have a project to work on. The quilt is almost done, I just have to hand sew the binding now. It has been such a fun project and a wonderful way to create beautiful friendships with good women I love. I feel so blessed to have made this connection with them.

I also had youth conference this week, which when Jeff texted me in the middle of the night in Westminster that Max was having a horrible night sleeping, I wasn't sure if I should still go. But things worked out okay he said and encouraged me to go. The morning we all met to do service in three different groups and the beehives provided a delicious breakfast. I helped out at the bishop's house since they are getting ready to sell it. We bagged grass and weeded. I had such a lovely time talking with Amber Hopkins, the bishop's wife and I love being able to visit with people while still getting something accomplished.

I drove a car up and it was almost a 3-hour drive to the mountains to Winter Park. We had time to play games, do service picking up garbage, swim, play mini golf, go tubing, have some down time and chat with the girls. I loved it! I shared a room with Kari Murray (the Young Women's President) and it was the best to be able to have so much time to visit with her! She is so busy and with my little kids it's hard to say much when we see each other in passing. So this felt like a girls weekend. But I really had a chance to bond with some of the girls and it's always true that when you know someone better you love them more. I felt so happy I got to go. One highlight for me was the sunrise hike (it was VERY early). But it really is special being in the mountains when it's quiet and looking out over God's creations. You feel disconnected from the rest of the world and the noise and it's easy to feel closer to Heavenly Father. We also had a fireside with Brother Rowley, who is in charge of building the Fort Collins temple. He has been involved with so many temples and I could just sit for hours and hear him tell stories. One story was of a man who was blind but wanted to help build. He had the workers give him tools to know how long and wide to dig some trenches. He stayed all week working until it was done. In the end, his trenches were the straightest of anyone. He said being a member of the church has done so much for him that he couldn't not repay the Lord for His goodness. I was so touched by that story and it showed to me that when there's a will to serve, we can find a way and we can be such a blessing to others when we serve.

The last night we did a simulation set up by Amber.  We had clear wire set up as a path from tree to tree, but along the way there were diversions to confuse the path. The kids were given an egg to hold on to and never give up and they were blindfolded. As leaders, we were assigned as helpers or tempters. I was an "angel" and I also greeted the girls when they finished. It was such a powerful experience I felt. Some kids just kept going on wrong paths, never asking for help. Then others, once they realized they could get help by kneeling and asking, were on their knees whenever they got to a fork in the line. It laid out for me so clearly our experience here on earth. As an angel, I was so sad when I saw people going in the wrong direction, especially if they kept going in the wrong direction, and I just wanted them to ask for help! And there were other times when I was helping someone and I saw another youth on their knees. I knew they'd have to wait just a bit until I could answer their "prayer" and it spoke to me on how Heavenly Father always sees us pleading on our knees, but the answer may not be instant. And I learned how the voice of the angel is very soft, not constant and loud and disturbing like the voice of the tempters. You really do have to be still and listen and block out the noise. And finally, as someone who welcomed people back when it was over, I got a glimpse of the happiness you feel when someone has persisted to the end and made it! It would have been so sad if one of the youth had given up. We all want to be there together and there will be joy when we are welcomed in by loved ones. This activity was the perfect ending for the conference and I was so touched by all the insights I had.

The last day we went tubing down a hill. It looked a little scary to me and I was fine not going, but another leader, Jeremy Huff, was insistent that Kari and I go. I must say that I was so happy he made us do it, it was so much fun! I screamed the whole way down and some of the girls wanted to do doubles with me and it was just a blast. I thought Jeff would have loved it so perhaps sometime we'll go up as a family. And then we headed home. I drove by myself to pick up the kids in Westminster and it was back to life again. I was so grateful for the break and for time with the other leaders and girls.

Here's what Sandy said about the weekend:
Hi - just wanted to let you know that the kids are being great for Diana today. Max only got up once in the night at 11:00. Diana changed him and put him right back down and he went to sleep and slept until 8:00 this morning! We read books with Lily and Ryan from 8:00 to 8:30 last night before bed, that is, Michael read to Ryan and Diana read to Lily - they enjoyed the one on one time. Ryan hugged Michael and said, "Michael, I will miss you so much. Then we won't have very many boys anymore at Mama Baer's house." He's so sweet and thoughtful. I sang to them once they were in bed. Lily fell asleep immediately. It took Ryan a little longer to fall asleep. 

When I said it was time to go to bed, Ryan wanted a snack, so I shared an orange with him and then he asked for a banana, but I think he was just stalling being put to bed. I said we were all done eating and he needed to go to bed and promised he could have a banana for breakfast. He was fine with that. 

Ryan woke up at 7:00 this morning and I heard him saying, "Lily, are you awake?" But she was still sound asleep. I listened at the door and everything was so quiet, so Ryan must have laid back down. Diana came upstairs at 7:30 and got Ryan up - Lily didn't get up until about 8:00, so it was a good night for all of us. 

Dad and Michael left at 7:00 this morning. Lisa, Nick & Diana want to take Lily and Ryan to the Zoo tomorrow morning. I'm going to keep Max home with me. He and I will be fine together and I'm looking forward to spending some time with him one on one.

A few cute things: On Wednesday night, before leaving, Lisa hugged Lily and said, "I love you soooooo much!" and Lisa responded, "Do you love me more than God does?" Lisa said, "I think God loves you the very most because you are so special to him and he knows you, but I also love you a lot." Lily was happy with that answer. Then last night, after we celebrated Nick's birthday (which is today - be sure to write on his FB), Lily realized that the card she gave him fell by the side of the couch. When she found it, she said, "oh no, Nick doesn't have my card" and she started to tear up. I told her Nick would be back on Saturday, so he could get it then. Lisa called shortly after that and I told her about the card. Then, when Lily was in bed and I was singing to her, Nick and Lisa came into the house and Nick came into Lily's room and said softly, "Lily, I got home and couldn't find the birthday card you gave me and I was so sad. I had to come back over to get it because I really like your drawing." Lily had the biggest smile on her face and said, "You're welcome!" Then when they left, she told me, "He really missed my card because it was the most special one. It was the only card with hearts on it that I drew and I'm the only one that drew the wedding!" (loved her little stick figures of Nick and Lisa). That just made her feel so special and loved and really built her confidence. I thought it was so touching.