Up & Down

I think I am stealing this idea from my friend Melissa's blog, maybe I did it once before I don't recall. Getting old I guess. Nevertheless, up and down it is.

UP
Marina will be turning 8 years old this year, and was so excited when she received her invitation to this years "Eight is Great" fireside. We were able to work out for my mom to come and stay with the boys so that Danny & I could take Marina all by herself Sunday evening. I was actually thrilled for the first time that we had late church, because the minute we got out of church, Marina was asking how long until the fireside. She was literally bouncing around the house. I don't think she and I would've made it if it had been any longer than the 2 hours. I am so excited to see her excited. This is my daughter who hates attention, and is terrified of new situations. We have taken her to every family/friend baptism we could over the last several years, trying to help her familiarize herself with the idea of baptism and how it works. I have to say she has come an amazingly long way. She even answered a question at the fireside in front of the entire group in the chapel. If you only new how brave that was for her. I am so proud to see her gaining her own testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ. She loves to learn, talk, and teach about the Savior. She has such a strong sense of right and wrong. I just love her sooo much, and am so proud to see her growing into a strong righteous girl. It is a witness that we all can grow and change with a lot of love and support, and prayers. So this was definitely an UP. She was beaming from head to toe last night!

DOWN
The Jets loosing last night was a major downer for my son Isaac. He got to stay home so he could watch the game, instead of going to the fireside with us, but by half time when the score read 24 Steelers and 0 Jets,he wasn't so sure he wanted to watch the rest of the game. What a great lesson in sticking it out, and in testing whether or not he was a true fan. When I told him that he should be proud of his team they were 1 out 4 of the best teams in the NFL, he replied with sarcasm, "Yeah, 4th." That's when I reminded him that his Dad's favorite team was 2nd to the worst team in the NFL. And that even knowing that, they were still his Dad's favorite team. Loss is such a hard lesson to learn, and even worse is how to handle it with respect and dignity, and loyalty. Big lessons for a young boy. I was pleased to see him run upstairs this morning wearing his Mark Sanchez Jet's jersey, and saying, "See Mom, I am a true fan!" Good for you Isaac! Maybe next year will be the year of the JETS??!?!?!

UP
Lastly, the final up, is all about my 9 month old boy (today) who can't wait to be UP! He is moving around the house like crazy. And is trying to pull himself up on everything. He is ready to figure out this walking thing. He likes to try walking while you hold his hands. I really can't keep up with him. I told my mom that unfortunately it's not like grade school, I can't retain him. I have no power to make him stay little. Believe me if I could, I probably would...at least for a little while. I really thought that my new little guy was going to be calm, laid back, mellow...I tried envisioning it throughout my pregnancy. See what little power we have when it comes to that. Esaias is everything but calm and laid back. He is excited and anxious to see the world, and do everything he sees. He is not content to watch. He loves to laugh and play, and touch everything! And of course, he's sooo cute, that I just have to embrace and indulge.

So here's to the UP's, may we have many days that make us smile, and to the DOWN's, may we find reasons to smile even when it's hard!