Always Look for Rainbows

In our church, some of the major milestones in life include baby blessings and baptisms. Baby blessings happen early in infancy, and baptisms happen sometime after age eight. Since we got a new nephew and our niece turned eight last month, we got to witness both a baby blessing and a baptism in the same weekend. During the drive to Utah, Ramona and Mika helped make a card for Cousin Aubrey to celebrate her baptism:

For some reason, they decided Paca should be depicted with green skin.

The cousins were happy to see each other.

It was Paula's first time meeting her Utah cousins, Aunts, and Uncle.

To my delight, Aubrey asked me and Forest to do a musical number as part of the baptismal services. She requested a children's song called "When I am Baptized," which starts out with the words: "I like to look for rainbows whenever there is rain . . . " It is one of my favorites.

We had a great experience arranging and practicing the music together. Apparently, Forest has not played the piano in public since he was about 17 years old, so it was like a second debut for him.

Here we are at the church building:

 

Congratulations, Aubrey!

 

After the baptism, Crissy hosted a luncheon at her house. All the cousins had plenty of time to play.

Cousin Caleb felt like a power ranger with Aubrey's pink Lala Loopsy helmet.

Paca and Teresa caught a moment to nap.

 

Later in the afternoon, some of us went down the road to visit my Aunt June and Uncle Merrill in Riverton. We had a lovely visit in their backyard.

Aunt June set up a handmade teepee just for the girls to play in.

While we were there, my cousin Janette and her family dropped by to see us. Paula had lots of smiles for them.

In the evening, Forest and I snuck away to do some sealings at the Oquirrh Mountain Temple. There were some pretty big storm clouds gathered above the spire as we left.

The next morning was Cousin Maxwell's baby blessing. It was the first baby blessing I've been to that was performed at home.

Congrats to the Lichty Family!

Having the baby blessing in a home has the added benefit of extra socializing . . . 

. . . and cinnamon rolls immediately following.

After sacrament at Crissy's church, it was time for us to hit the road. (For the girls, it was also time to hit the hay).

The drive back would have been one of our more successful trips . . . except that Mika left her beloved blankie on the floor of a gas station in Wyoming. We didn't realize this until we had traveled another 70 miles away. With little hesitation, however, Forest turned the car around and headed back toward that gas station, even though he knew it would add an extra two hours to our driving time. At least the blankie was still there . . .

. . . and at least we got to look for rainbows while we were in Wyoming, too:

When I Am Baptized
by Nita Dale Milner

I like to look for rainbows whenever there is rain
And ponder on the beauty of an earth made clean again.
I want my life to be as clean as earth right after rain.
I want to be the best I can and live with God again.