Easter Weekend!

We had a lovely Easter weekend. On Saturday night my best friend Claire came over to have an Easter Eve dinner with us. I roasted a whole chicken that I stuffed with lemons, onions, and cooking wine and it turned out great! I was really excited because it was my first time doing that sort of thing. We also had stuffing , rolls, steamed veggies, and home made angel's food cake. I had so much fun cooking and baking. It is always nice when it is for people you love.

We also dyed eggs with Keegan. That was pretty exciting. His idea of dyeing his egg was to toss it right in the bowl. We had fun laughing at all the broken eggs.

This was the first year I did Easter baskets for our little family. Keegan's first Easter he was only 8 days old an we were pretty exhausted so we had a low key affair at Craig's parents. Last year Easter was on Keegan's birthday but the day before we had a huge 1st birthday party so we went to church and everything but did not do eggs or baskets etc. I had a lot of fun choosing things for the baskets and putting them together. My Mom sent out a really cute package full of stuff so even though she was in Seattle, I like to think of it as a joint effort! :)

We had a good day together as family. We went to Craig's parents in the afternoon for an egg hunt and delicious feast. Keegan had a really fun time running around with his cousins and playing basketball with his Dad, cousins, Papa, and aunts.

We didn't make it to Stake Conference on Easter because unfortunately Keegan can't handle being in the chapel for that long. We did play spiritual music  though, had prayer, and reflected.

The first thing I thought of was this poem that my Mom read to me when I was a kid that was later adapted into a song by the LDS group Afterglow. When I think of Easter and the Resurrection I often remember these words:

THE TOUCH OF THE MASTER'S HAND

'twas battered and scarred and the auctioneer
Thought it scarcely worth his while
To waste much time on the old violin,
But he held it up with a smile:

"What am bidden, good folks?" he cried,
"Who'll start the bidding for me?"
"A dollar! A dollar!" then "Two! Only two?"
"Two dollars, and who'll make it three?"

"Three dollars once, three dollars twice . . .
And going for three . . . " but no.
From the room, far back, a gray-haired man
Came forward and picked up the bow.

Then, wiping the dust from the the old violin,
And tightening the loosened strings,
He played a melody pure and sweet,
As a carolling angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer
With a voice that was quiet and low
Said, "What am I bid for the old violin?"
And he held it up with the bow.

"A thousand dollars! And who'll make it two?
"Two thousand! Who'll make it three?
"Three going once? Three going twice?
"And going . . . and gone!" said he.

The people cheered but some of them cried,
"We do not understand!
What changed its worth?" -- Swift came the reply,
"The touch of the Master's Hand."

And many a man with life out of tune
And battered and scarred with sin
Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd
Much like the old violin.

A "mess 'o pottage"
A glass of wine
A game and he travels on.
He's "going" once
And "going" twice
And "going" . . . and almost "gone"

Then along comes the Master, and the foolish crowd
Never can quite understand
The worth of a soul or the change that's wrought
By the touch of the Master's Hand
I hope that all of our friends and family were able to have a great weekend with those that they love. I am so grateful for the blessings in my life. When I am going through trials and d

Highlights!

I was going to write this long blog post updating everyone on our lives in great detail but then I was worried I would bore all of my dear family and friends to death! Instead, here are some highlights of the last month.

• Keegan turned 2!!!!
• Craig turned 26! What an old man!
• We went to Seattle for spring break to see my family. Craig and I went to our favorite seafood place on the pier. YUM!
• I went to Seattle on my own a couple of weeks later to present research I had spent a year conducting on Victoria Woodhull before a panel of professors and students from various PNW universities. The paper was well received and it was a GREAT experience!
• My book was released. So excited to see the finished product!
• The Vancouver Canucks are doing awesome in the Stanley Cup Semi-Finals! Craig said if they win I  can name our next child Lord Stanley Lane. This makes me very happy!
• Craig and I went curling with the Boise Curling Club. Sooo much fun!!!! Craig was such a natural I think that he must have some Canadian blood in him.
• We are all very excited for a lovely Easter this weekend. I am going to make a lovely roast, cheesecake, and hopefully we can make it to a special concert at the Boise Temple, and  have a good time together as a family.
• Keegan has developed and intense obsession for all things Elmo. I inwardly cringe every time he hands me the remote and yells "Elmo peaaaaase!" I have seen far too much of that little red fur ball lately.
• I have attempted to plant wildflowers in our yard but Craig reminded me yesterday that to be a successful gardener I need to remember to water said flowers. Ooops.
• Craig found a human bone in our yard. Luckily it was fake. He was disappointed...
• We finally watched Tangled. Loved it! I think the horse was my favorite character.
• Gilbert found a girlfriend but their love is limited to peering at each other through the glass in the back door. How terribly poignant. 

Not too much is going on. Craig is busy with school and work, I am looking for work, and Keegan continues to explore, obsess over Elmo and basketball and torment the cat. 

The Best Two Years

I am sitting here in my living room with Craig and Keegan watching General Conference. My heart is so full with the news that we are getting a new temple of the Lord so close to us. I am also very excited for the other areas that will be similarly blessed.

Keegan is sitting next to us trying to sing the hymns with the choir. His little voice is so cute. I am really grateful for modern technology and our local channels that take the time to broadcast it for the members in our community.

As I listen to these beautiful talks my mind keeps wandering back to the Saturday morning session  two years ago on April 4th, 2009.

I was lying in a hospital bed in downtown Boise, Idaho with my sweet husband at my side, the hospital television tuned to General Conference and my arms full with a tiny little bundle. Just a couple of hours earlier I had given birth to our little Keegan Spencer. Big blue eyes, sparse blonde hair, and little rose bud lips... I had never seen such a beautiful little boy.

After a harrowing week of going in and out of labor my water had finally broken on that Friday night. I remember looking over at Craig and telling him I was determined to have our baby in time for us to watch conference. I wanted  our son's first few hours to be blessed with the words of the prophet in the background. I can honestly say I do not remember very much of what was said during those Saturday sessions, but I felt the spirit with us.

What an incredible day. I was never so tired in my life but it was amazing. The last two years have been so full of love and laughter. We were so worried at first when we found I was pregnant. We had only been married a couple of months and we were in school. We didn't know if we were ready. I don't know if anyone is ever really ready but we adapted quickly. I cannot even begin to imagine life without Keegan.

From the very start he was blessed with a sweet and easygoing personality. We were extremely lucky that he has always loved to sleep and began sleeping through the night very early. He was sweet and cuddly and smelled so good! (Most of the time) Every milestone was so much fun and incredibly exciting. First smile, first laugh, first teeth, rolling over. I remember we cheered like crazy when he managed to roll. Sitting up, crawling, walking, first words (kitty!). I just cannot believe how fast it has gone by.

I never knew how much the heart could grow until we met Keegan. I am so excited to see what kind of person he will grow up to be. I only hope that I can be a good mother to him and teach him what he needs to know.

I feel so blessed to be married to my best friend and for us to have been so blessed with our little boy.

Keegan's birthday party is later this afternoon and I will  try not to cry.