The Hand of the Lord

This past weekend was such a wonderful experience. I always look forward to weekends because I can spend time with Shaun. I love him so much. Last saturday was my 26th birthday and Shaun took me to the Bountiful Temple. The last time we were in this particular temple was 6 months ago on our wedding day. As I looked across the sealing office room, I saw two sealers sitting next to each other. One of them looked very familiar named Brother Howard. I realized he was the man who sealed Shaun and I back in May. I let him know who we were and of the special occasion. He was also called to be the sealer for our session. The room has so bright and full of peace. As I looked into Shaun's eyes as each family was sealed together, my testimony of the sacredness of the temple was strengthened. Not only were Shaun and I sealed together 6 months ago but our little Brooklynn and her siblings were sealed to us as an eternal family. I was also sealed to his family that day.

Another miracle happened that day. Shaun and I were able to shop for Christmas and other things for three hours before we met up with some family for dinner at the Manderin. My Dad, Lydia, Grandma and Grandpa Morgan, Tammy and Allision ate with us. (Tammy is Lydia's brother, Scotty's wife and Allison is my brother Jared's girlfriend). Shaun shopping for three hours wasn't the miracle. I have a public speaking class which includes a lab of 12 people. We were split into two groups friday and have to put a speech together with no class time to talk about it. If anyone has tried to put a presentation together with six people and their busy schedules, they would understand how daunting this task would be. Keep in mind, yes we have two weeks but this is over Thanksgiving break and other major projects due in other classes. All of my group but one student, Anthony, was there that day. I didn't know anything but his first name and what he looked like. It was really important that I got ahold of him that weekend. I said alittle prayer and looked for him at the USU basketball game that night. (We won by they way!) But no luck finding Anthony. I felt like everything would work out somehow so I forgot about it. Well the last place Shaun and I were at was Kohl's in Bountiful. After relaxing in massage chairs, Shaun and I were on our way out of the store when out of the corner of my eye I see this guy on his phone who looked up at me and smiled. I knew him! I realized that this was the guy I was looking for. After he finished his phone call, I told him the information he needed and also was able to tell him how amazing it was to find him all the way down here. It was so random but I knew it was an answer to prayer.

Small miracles like this happen every day but I wanted to share some of them with you. I am not sure why but I know there is reason for everything. There is no such thing as luck but little miracles the Lord puts in our path to make things more exciting. These examples were miracles that have relieved alot of stress and brought alot of peace to my life. I am looking forward to a miracle in about three months. My beautiful daughter will be born into this world soon. Shaun and I are so excited to share the miracle of life with her. We love you Brooklynn. Having a baby with a low pain tolerance level and a fear of shots will be a miracle in itself.

Crystal

Early Birthday Celebration

Saturday, all of the Elegante's took me and my neice out to dinner for our birthdays. Desarea is going to be one on the 25th and I will be 26 on the 15th. We ate at The Pie Pizzaria in Ogden and opened gifts. Desarea got a shirt and a baby doll. For each member of the older family members, everyone pitches in for a gift and Shaun was able to find a rocking chair at Wal-Mart for about $130.00! So I was way excited when I opened a babies first book and a note indicating a rocking chair as well. THANK YOU!! I really want to be able to rock my baby and read her stories. I love it! I will have to post a picture later.

I was also able to see Mandy, Matt and Grace that night. Shaun and I were so tired but I was so happy to be able to see and spend some time with them for a few minutes. Gracie was having a hard time getting to sleep and ended up coming back upstairs to say hi. It took her awhile to warm up. She's so dang cute! She would start laughing and playing but then would make eye contact with either me or Shaun and just stare at us. I decided to tickle her and grab her baby hands and finally she opened up alittle when it was time to leave. I tried getting on my hands and knees to peek around the corner at her but all she did was cry and run towards her momma. Matty will be leaving soon to Iraq. I pray for their little family every night that all will be well with them.

Shaun and I also decided to celebrate Sunday and have a roast with potatoes, carrots, peppers, and onions. It was great to come home to a wonderful smelling apartment after Laura, my visiting teaching companion, and I visited with Sarah and Jennie. Jennie is also expecting her baby girl Kate in 9 days. Congrates Jennie! Sarah's baby girl will be one on the 13th. Happy Birthday to her! November is a good month for birthdays and celebrations. I'm looking forward to the next 7 or so weekends.

Just as a side note, Shaun and I have had a hard time getting the air in our apartment to keep us warm. Luckily we have great landlords and they were able to fix it for us will we were gone this weekend. It's so nice to wake up to a warm home and not freeze to death. It was 59 degrees saturday morning but now it's a constent 70-72 degrees!

Another side note: Brooklynn has really popped out this weekend and I am beginning to swell alittle. I noticed my ankles were swolen while visiting Jennie. My tailbone has beens swore for about a week and my energy level has gone down. It was really really hard to get out of bed this morning. I think I fell asleep about 7 times today. Just picture me at a computer "doing research" with my hand holding up my cheek with my mouth open wide for a few minutes or me sitting on a couch and out for the count 2-3 minutes at a time while attempting to stay for a quiz which might as well be a test since it's Dr. Lown's class. I also have two other tests to study for! I am amazed how Shaun does it. He too has a rigorous schedule but also works twice as much as I do. When you put her mind to it, you can do anything!!

This weekend is my birthday. Shaun has planned for us to go to the Bountiful Temple and an indoor prarrie restraunt in Ogden. My dad just called today and wants to take us out to dinner. Since my weekends seem to be so full I think saturday is our only bet. So we'll most likely have dinner with them.

Next weekend is the 22nd and we are having Thanksgiving dinner at Grandma Barlow's with Matt, Mandy, Grace, Momma Woods, Grandma, Rex?, and possibly others. The weekend after is Thanksgiving. Shaun will be taking as much time as he can hunting with his brothers outside of eating dinner with the family as I will probably be shopping with Mom. Mistie will be hereThanksgiving weekend but Matt and Mandy have to go back home to Texas.

Dec. 6th is the next saturday and Marie, Brock's fiance is taking out her endowments in the Bountiful Temple. (I might have to work that evening.) The next saturday is their wedding. The weekend after that is Christmas. Then new years weekend. I think we are planning on going to St. George to visit my dad's parents for a fews days. Then it's back to school for Shaun! I won't be attending school but planning for Baby Brooklynn's arrival in February.

BUSY BUSY BUSY! Well It's 9:30pm and I can finally get my car out of the Terrace Parking Lot so I'm outta here!! SEE YA