Travis turned 8! Being eight is a big milestone for us it means you are old enough to make the decision to get baptised and join the church. Travis has been looking forward to this day for quite a while and I think it turned out to be all he thought it would be.With Travis' real birthday being on Sunday we decided to have his birthday party on Saturday. We had family here from all over and so it was a party with family and best of all cousins! Travis felt so good that so much family wa
s here and that he got to share his special day with his cousins. We had some cowboy games, pin the tail on the horse and find the animals in the hay we 
popped some balloons and then the big surprise showed up.
s here and that he got to share his special day with his cousins. We had some cowboy games, pin the tail on the horse and find the animals in the hay we 
popped some balloons and then the big surprise showed up. Travis loves animals but just like me when I was his age he adores horses. I have watched him admire horses just like me for the last few years and every time he gets that silly grin on his face when he gets to ride or simply be near a horse
I know exactly how he is feeling because I felt the same way. I don't know if it was partly for selfish reasons but Travis got a horse as his gift from Michael and I. Did it make him the happiest boy in the world? Yes! Did it make me the happiest mom in the world? Yes! I forgot what joy I get from spending time with horses and now it is a great thing Travis and I will get to share together. Cole and Adam are pretty interested also especially when it comes to riding. 
Anyway, Saturday turned out great it was hard to get Travis to come in and blow out the candles on his cake b
ut it was great and I know Chief, Travis' new strawberry roan, will be a great addition to the family. Yes, it is a boy you would think I would at least start buying female animals to try to even up the numbers around here.Sunday was crazy and absolutely wonderful! Once everyone got here there was 6 adults and 10 children all c
rammed into my wonderful but not so big house(at least it is bigger than the old one.) We bathed most of the kids the night before to hope for a smoother morning. Unfortunately it was also day light savings weekend and so we all got to loose and extra hour of sleep. So we all made it to church by 9:00am on time I might add. We then got home at noon from church let the kids change out of their clothes to have lunch and then hop right back in them for Travis' baptism at 2:00. It was crazy and we were running so behind and all I could think about on the way to the baptism was all the things I forgot like an easel and a book for all the guests to sign so Travis could remember who attended his baptism. I was getting so worked up as I do I decided to find a quiet spot and just ask Heavenly Father to help me enjoy the day and really focus on what was important. The baptism was amazing! I know all of my children's have been great but there was a spirit there that I had not felt before. I had been worried as the day was getting closer that Travis was not quite ready to get baptised. I was nervous that he did not understand what it meant. I can tell you now I was wrong. The thoughts and experiences that Travis has shared with me about the feelings he had the day he was baptised are more powerful than I would have ever thought 
possible coming from an eight year old boy. I know the spirit testified to Travis that what he was doing was right and it has told me the same thing. I hope to never loose the memories from that day and I am grateful for such a wonderful son and the knowledge of the gospel. 
That evening Roland, Michael's dad, got married and it was wonderful and exciting. The day was crazy but filled with so much joy that it was all worth it!
rammed into my wonderful but not so big house(at least it is bigger than the old one.) We bathed most of the kids the night before to hope for a smoother morning. Unfortunately it was also day light savings weekend and so we all got to loose and extra hour of sleep. So we all made it to church by 9:00am on time I might add. We then got home at noon from church let the kids change out of their clothes to have lunch and then hop right back in them for Travis' baptism at 2:00. It was crazy and we were running so behind and all I could think about on the way to the baptism was all the things I forgot like an easel and a book for all the guests to sign so Travis could remember who attended his baptism. I was getting so worked up as I do I decided to find a quiet spot and just ask Heavenly Father to help me enjoy the day and really focus on what was important. The baptism was amazing! I know all of my children's have been great but there was a spirit there that I had not felt before. I had been worried as the day was getting closer that Travis was not quite ready to get baptised. I was nervous that he did not understand what it meant. I can tell you now I was wrong. The thoughts and experiences that Travis has shared with me about the feelings he had the day he was baptised are more powerful than I would have ever thought possible coming from an eight year old boy. I know the spirit testified to Travis that what he was doing was right and it has told me the same thing. I hope to never loose the memories from that day and I am grateful for such a wonderful son and the knowledge of the gospel. That evening Roland, Michael's dad, got married and it was wonderful and exciting. The day was crazy but filled with so much joy that it was all worth it!