DJ's blessing day

DJ was blessed on the 11th of August (it just so happened to be his one month birthday). My family had planned to take a trip to my G&G Hall's cabin from the 11th to the 17th, so we figured that Sunday would be a perfect time to bless DJ since all his family would be there. So he got to take his first airplane ride, too, which, by the way, he handled like a champ. (OK except for the being changed by Dad in an airplane bathroom - Deg returned to his seat with a naked baby!)

Let me tell you about DJ's blessing. Both sets of my grandparents were able to be there, as well as all my siblings, and Deg's parents came for the trip, too. So both my brothers, both my grandpas, and both of DJ's grandpas stood in the circle, as well as Bishop Landon, my parents' next door neighbor and good friend (it was awesome to have him be able to join). When they announced that it was time for the blessing, Deg was so focused on what he was going to say that... well... he forgot the baby. We were all whisper-yelling at him to come back and get the kiddo. We were all doing that quiet laugh where you want to burst out laughing but are trying so hard not to. I'm pretty sure the two rows in front of us and behind us were doing that laugh, too. Anyway, Deg finally got the baby and the blessing was beautiful. I won't go into details, but DJ is one awesome kid who's going to have a great head on his shoulders. Oh, that DJ!

During the same sacrament meeting, Uncle Danny sang "Joseph Smith's First Prayer" to the tune of "Come, Thou Fount." If you've ever heard Danny sing, you'll know how awesome that experience was. The 15 year old girl sitting in front of us pulled out her iPod and filmed him singing it. Again, we all did the quiet laugh and teased him about being "soooo famous" and "so frickin' hot!"

After the meeting, we went back up to my parents' house for lunch. We then took about 3 bajillion pictures. I wanted to take pictures of DJ with his great grandparents - a 4 generation picture is pretty awesome, and my grandparents have been such a huge part of my life, I wanted DJ to have them as part of his for as long as possible. Both his great grandmas loved to snuggle with him. Luckily, Ryan's daughter, Elli, was there to snuggle with the grandma who wasn't snuggling DJ! It was a really special experience to have all that family there supporting us and loving our little nugget. He is such a blessing and it was powerful to share that with family.

One of the precepts about the LDS church that I grow to appreciate more and more is the concept of eternal families. I love that my family will be together forever - I don't have to give up my grandparents, parents, siblings, spouse, or baby when this life is over. I really have felt the spirit of the Lord bearing testimony to me that I do get these people forever, and even more so since DJ's arrival. He is a special little dude and we just love him.

OK, now some pics:

DJ's first airplane ride