I Like to Look for Rainbows

This was a hard post for me.  Not because writing is hard- no that's the easy part.  But it's the subject matter.  It's these kind of posts and these kinds of moments that make me realize we aren't coasting anymore.  I'm not sitting at home watching Little Einsteins with my babies and rotating hot dogs and chicken nuggets for lunch any more.  My kids are just that... kids.  Ryan just turned 8 this summer and after much (MUCH) deliberation- he decided to be baptized.  

Ryan is not the kind of kid to do something just because everyone else is doing it.  Which is a blessing and a curse.  It's a blessing when it comes to poor decisions being made by other kids.  Kind of a curse when he refuses to go sing with the Primary on Sunday.  

I love that Ryan takes the time to think things out for himself though.  He has always been his own person.  A thinker.  A deliberater.  He wasn't sure that this baptism thing was for him.  He believed in Jesus Christ.  This was never the issue.  Ryan believed that Jesus was baptized.  But he wasn't sure why he had to do it too.  We talked about this for months.  Ryan had questions.  Good questions.  And I have to admit- I was more than a little relieved when he said this was what he wanted to.  

August 27th was a BEAUTIFUL Saturday, and little Ryan was surrounded by his whole family.  My parents came up, they brought my grandma.  Dave and Nat and their little ones.  Miss and Jer.  Shaun's family came out in force as well.  Jacki and Orllo.  Grandma Dorothy.  Chad and Jeni with their boys.  Chase and Dani and their babies.  Members from the ward.  The Bishop.  This little guy had a lot of people in his corner.  

I love how much these two LOVE having their picture taken!

Ryan seems older these days.  I can't quite put my finger on it.  I tried to get a picture of it the other Sunday morning.  The boys were dressed and waiting for Kate and I to finish in the bathroom and I came out and saw this.  Ryan received a set of scriptures of his very own for his birthday, and he has been very diligent in reading from it most days.  Always on Sunday though.  He started in the Old Testament and is slowly working his way through.

I pray that Ryan is always a thinker.  That he always questions.  I just hope that he puts his faith in Jesus Christ and does his best to stay on the straight and narrow path.  I believe he will do great things- he has an amazing spirit and a testimony that belies his youth.  I hope that he continues to grow it.  Love you, Bear.