We have much to celebrate this spring.  The sunshine, longer days, and warmer weather has lifted all of our spirits.  Nate especially can't get enough of the great outdoors.   But even more important Nate was baptized a member of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  He has been looking forward to this for awhile and he had to decide whether to have it done in Alaska or wait until December to do it in Colorado.  He decided December was too long a wait. 

Nate's big sister came to be with him on his special day.  We appreciated the opportunity to spend time with her and recognize the sacrifice of leaving her own family for a few days to do it. 

We had to get as much sightseeing in as possible, because we want to entice big sister's whole family to come for a visit.   We also tried to stuff her full of Alaska food, moose steaks, caribou steaks, fried halibut, and a visit to Arctic Roadrunner.  We really enjoyed having her visit and missed her once she was gone.

The baptism was a wonderful experience.  The water was freezing and each child gasped as they stepped into the font.   But there was a sweet spirit felt throughout the service that more than warmed them after their baptism. 

Hailey spoke at the baptism on the subject of baptism.  This spring she was invited to New Beginnings for the Young Woman group at church, which she will start when she turns 12.  She seems so grown up compared to just a year ago. 

My throat had a large lump in it making it impossible for me to talk without tears squirting out my eyes.   Nate too seems so much older compared to just a year ago.   His 8th year has been a series of ups and downs and we are so proud of how he has handled it.   From the disappointment of not getting a 4 foot long corn snake for his birthday (It ate live mice, wasn't finished growing, and could live up to 20 years ) to the death of his fish Evil Dr. Gazoom which was a rather sorry replacement for a snake as a birthday present.  On the up side he started cub scouts and loves it,  his teacher is my new favorite person.  Hopefully scouts, his sisters visit and his special day more than make up for the disappointments.