Sky Performs in OLIVER

Since she was a wee thing, Sky has loved listening to her Uncle Ranes sing *Where is Love* from OLIVER.  We climb in the car an she starts in, "Lets's hear Uncle Ranes", and I would play that CD while she sang along!  If she had her way, she would have been Oliver in this play, but they selected a male!  

This was the end of day 2, Sky played Nancy, did a great job with the British Accent!

Shown with her here, Mama Blace and friend Alisa.

End of Day one, she played one of Fagin's gang and was a milkmaid!

The complete cast on a board as you enter the auditorium!

~GREAT JOB SKY~

DAY OUT WITH GEORGIA gRaNdMa~~~~~

Sort these as you think they might have happened as I don't recall. We had SUCH a grand day out and every minute was fun to me. We started with a 3D Dinosaur Movie, went to a museum,. played in water, in sand, in and among ALL sorts of fun, dressed up like turtles, looked at all sorts of animals, played on a trampoline with several levels (Kayleigh and I watched), fed animals, waited on ponies, took a Clydesdale buggy ride all over Thankgiving point, several thing I am sure I have forgotton, THEN went to Chuckie Cheese to melt while 2 young boys played every game there,  won thousand of tickets that cost at least 100 dollars and got at least 50cents worth of prizes for them!!  The kids LOVED IT!!! 

Carter's Blessing

I learned of *Blessings* from my daughter-in-law Heather, when my Grandson Braydon was Blessed. I was present for that one, in 1999, missed Tyson and Kayleigh's so was very determined to be present for Carter's, even though he was adopted by not blood relatives, but HEART relatives.  Nevertheless, this Blessing was an event that will be a part of my blood and soul for my lifetime to be sure.  Carter is my daughter Blace's birth son. She loved him so much that she wanted him to have an excellent life that she was not able to provide, as did we all. I write these things a year after the fact and can barely hold back tears of joy as it has been one of the greatest experiences of my life to learn that all of us are of God and have a purpose. 

Before the Blessing, the adoption was final, the Family Sealing was the day before, and I was in town for the first time since Papa John and I took Carter to Utah to his awesome family in September 2007. My heart was raw on my sleeves as I wanted so to hold and hug him as I had before he left us. You know children, they forget, and I knew that in all ways except that tiny little part that makes us human and desire recognition from loved ones. 

Needless to say, he had no clue who I was, so I admit that I chased him unmercifully all over his yard taking pictures of him with such rapid sucession I could not even keep count. I think I thought I was taking a piece of him home with me that day as it would be the last I saw him.

~NOT~

In reality, I have two other grandchildren that have been adopted as well, sister's of Carter, Lacey, born March 2, 1999 and Sky, born July 8th, 1997.  Adoption is handled in different ways by different adoptive parents, one being fearful that birth parents are going to create problems and another that the children may be forced to go back to birth parents. I can clearly understand that fear even though unfounded in my case as I genuinely have nothing but a desire to be a Grandmother to my Grandchildren, all of them.

Through Jen and Marty's help as well as their friends, The Ormsbys, I have become familiar with a view point that reveres the birth mother, the birth family, and considers the unselfish act of the birth mother a very great honor to them as they have gifted them with a child. 

If this had been my first experience, I would not have been so surprised, but it was my third and my first two had both been disappointing as if my intentions were not well taken. I mostly had kept a smile pasted on my face as if nothing were wrong, all the while saying a prayer that all will be well in the end.

ANYWAY, this is not about me, it is about Carter and HIS day!!

Carter all dressed up for the occasion. The Blessing itself took place at Jen and Marty's Church in West Jordon.  Ranes, Heather, Braydon, Tyaon and Kayleigh and myself were at the church before Marty and Jen arrived with Carter and Addison. Jen came in and handed me Carter, a million pound package of love in my arms and it wiggled!!  He was very active before the service, going from person to person visiting, greeting all with *HI*, and finally settling with his parents for the service. His Blessing was one of the first things, and he did not surprise us when Marty was talking (praying?) and Carter, in his arms, reached out and grabbed both of Marty's cheeks as they moved with his speech. Luckily, Marty is a professional at bringing little arms under control, so now he had to manage two little arms and a microphone, of which Carter spoke a fews utterances as well.  The congregation was as in love with Carter as I was, another heartwarmer. 

They are so proud that Jen and Marty have this little new one. 

Then came the testimonies and I regret that I could not hear a lot from my position but the gist was very beautiful, especially that of Jen, Marty and Jen's Mother.  At one point, a lot of folks were shedding tears of joy, Kleenex were being passed, Carter found his own little pack and went from row to row, passing out the Kleenex to everyone sniffling~ so precious.  When communion was served, a tray of bread came around. I took the customary one piece and allowed Carter to do the same, he reached out and grabbed a HANDFUL and had it in his mouth chomping before I could react at all!  I am just not as fast as Marty!  

I wanted a picture of myself with Carter really bad, he was totally not interested, and someone, still not sure, read my mind and took the shot. I treasure this one as he is not fighting to get away, LOL.  Again, I felt like this was a final occasion,not sure why, my own fear I guess.

Teamwork!!  I never told of the day!!  Friends and relatives of the Paris Family were invited to their house after Church to celebrate with a meal, some fun including slides, trampoline, swingsets, and plenty of adult conversation.  It was a warm day and Carter actually needed sunscreen on his shoulders and face!  Jen had a large bottle on the table and Ranes would apply generous amounts to his little shoulders and neck. Carter liked it so much that he kept coming back for more!!  Uncle Ranes has great gentle hands! After we ate, a lot of basketball was played, Tyson and Carter had a good time sweeping the slab with this huge broom. Tyson like to push, Carter liked to ride. 

I think I took Carter by surprise, this is one of my shots that I sneaked up on him to get. I carefully waited for him to get to the top of the slide (he could not see me as he climbed) so my appearance with a camera kind of surprised him.  He graciously gave me .5 seconds to click before he flew to the bottom!

Braydon and Tyson, all clean, dressed in white shirts, hair handsome and ready for Church.

 I Love seeing them like this!

Ranes and family ready for Church, Braydon took the picture!

This was taken at Ranes house as we got ready for Church. Kayleigh and I had the same colors on and she is holding her banana friend. (See Grandma's day out for that story)

Paris Sealing

Well, the pictures are backwards, but that is ok, just look at the last one first. 

The Paris Family was Sealed at the South Jordon Temple, and I was more than Blessed by being able to attend!  This day was the first time I had seen Carter since we took him to Utah in September, almost 8 months.  After the Sealing (private ceremony), Jen brought Carter out to those of us in the waiting room.  She handed me Carter, said *go to Grandma*, and he had no clue who I was, reached for his Grandma Paris who was right beside me. I thought my heart would break although logically I knew that he was a baby and would not recall us at all.  Jen's mother, Carter's other Grandma, was on my left, she either saw or felt my pain, reached to me for a hug, saying *he is very happy*, and I know that is a certain fact! 

This is difficult to talk about as I sit here with tears flowing freely and the event was last spring (I am back posting), but that moment was such a bittersweet one as I was elated to see Carter again (Newbob), yet he had no clue that I was there or who I was. BUT, the entire scene was just as it should be, he has a wonderful family just as he should, he is indeed HAPPY and going to have fantastic childhood with both parents present, full of love and close to God. What more could I want for this precious child?  

Before I could think of shedding tears, we all headed outside for pictures. I was totally happy to just see Carter, to see he and his newly sealed family together, to share their joy.  Then Jen invited me to join them for a picture. I was overjoyed to be included!  

This picture is of the Paris Family and all three Grandmas and Grandpa Paris. 

The Paris Family, Jen, Marty, Addison and Carter.

 Aren't they beautiful?? (inside and out)

South Jordon Temple

This was the first temple I had ever entered even though I stayed in s special section for visitors.  It was incredibly beautiful!

Anniversary Celebration

Papa John and I went to Cape San Blas to celebrate our Anniversary.  We stayed at the Cape San Blas Inn, my first experience with a Bed and Breakfast, and I loved it!  It felt like staying in someone's home, but with privacy most of the time.  

We were *waited on* and cleaned up after! (Maybe that is why it feesl like home, but home as a child)

Yes, it DOES say that, we were intrigued, curious (not that we have ANY objections to Chocolate in any form, or oysters for that matter, just hoped beyond hope that it was not chocolate covered oysters, and it was not, yummmm) and YES, we did!!! (and too much)

I don't know the origin of my love for seagulls in any setting, they just are and I just do!

 This picture is the *Dock On The Bay*, we had the bay behind the house and the Gulf of Mexico in the front! We took *Tea* on the dock in the afternoons, coffee in the mornings, and really enjoyed the fog each morning, watching the sun come up and burn off the fog!

We throughly enjoyed the canoes provided as we got to explore the entire bay and look at all of the great beach houses from a different perspective.  

I have to add the most hilarious part of our entire trip was this canoe.  Prior to this picture being taken, John had gathered up all of the gear we needed, I had packed a little bag of drinks, snacks, camera etc.  John had explained that he was a canoe master while in Boy Scouts, so we would have NO problem casting off, staying in and returning safely to the dock.  He put all of the gear in the canoe, I had our dry bag, he pulled the canoe out to the proper place, I stood on dry ground waiting.... and before I could say *what do I do now?*, the entire canoe, gear and John were in the water upside down.  I was laughing so hard I could not get a picture of him in the water, but did manage to get a few shots once he got all back together.  On second try, all worked well except he would not let me take the dry bag with us.... it stayed on the dock and we had a Inn guest take this picture... So, we just LOOK like we know what we are doing.  

Truthfully, we had a great time once we got into the bay, just could not take pictures! 

This was close to Appalachicola, a great little town that featured, among other things, Chocolate Oysters, as shown above, it was actually a confection that looked like an oyster. If there was a *Chocolate Company* around, I found it. We made purchases on the way and on the way back! 

 

Appalachicola boat that looked like Forrest Gump's shrimper. We would have loved to ride it, not sure it would have been available, but it was awesome to look at!

What a great anniversary/getaway! 

Easter 08

Easter 08 part 2