Taking Alice to the Temple

Tonight made my Mama heart so very happy!! Ken and I took Alice and Kate to the temple for Alice's first trip to do baptisms for the dead. I love the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am thankful that temples make it possible for everyone to be able to enter the kingdom of God if they so choose. We are commanded to be baptized but not everyone has the opportunity to hear the gospel and not everyone has the opportunity to accept the gospel in this life. A loving Father God would not set up his children to fail. He would not institute a plan where only some make it, it just doesn't make sense. 

I am so grateful that we can take our kindred dead to the temple, to do the ordinances for them, that they couldn't do for themselves. And I'm so grateful that choice is always part of the plan. It is their choice whether in this life or the next to accept and act upon the covenants made for them in proxy. I love the spirit of peace and love I feel within the walls of the temple. I'm grateful that there's a temple an hour away, and that I can go there with my sweet Ken and my sweet Kate and now my sweet Alice. (And I might be a little excited that in two years we can take Fiona too!!)

One of my favourite parts of tonight was the joy on Alice's face each time she came up out of the water. She couldn't hold back the smiles! 

Tonight Alice and Kate did the baptisms and confirmations for: Rebecca Cronnis, Raisel Siskind, Mary Solomon, Mary Ann West, Teasey Martin, Ellen Scott, Ellen Skott, and for sisters Iva & Elsie Kaplan, and for sisters Freda & Katie Saiger. (And Mary is the mother of Freda and Katie!)

I am so grateful that families are forever!

Wanderlight Alpaca Experience - Kate's Birthday Part One

What better way to celebrate Kate's upcoming 14th birthday, than go to a farm and take an alpaca for a walk?! Ken's internet searches prove fruitful and this experience was no exception.

We travelled to Lakefield which is just north and east of Peterborough. The forecast was calling for rain, but thankfully the rain held off for most of our adventure. We met Katie (Jackson) who owns and operates the experience from her parent's farm and we met the alpacas!

It was amusing watching the alpacas eating hay and hanging out in their barn. She introduced them to us, and told us a little about them. 

 

Ken picked Joker.

Kate picked Q (Quiet Storm)

Alice picked Cartwright.

Fiona picked Puck.

And I picked Heaven.

We were each given a bag of alpaca food and off we went.

Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their alpaca time, even if Fiona was a bit grossed out after getting the alpaca food all over her hand.

After the delightful walk we headed to Dairy Queen for Kate's lunch of choice - blizzards and french fries. And then it was back home. Happy Birthday Kate - Part One!

A Bakery Adventure

I had been craving a gluten free muffin for a little while, and when our plans changed, I had a free afternoon and with Ken's encouragement, Fiona and I were off for an adventure.

Buddha Belly Bakery in Newcastle makes yummy cookies, muffins and other treats. Our first stop was the library in Ajax to pick up a Dork Diary book for Fiona, but then we were off across the 401 for points east. Fiona was a good sport considering that she didn't quite understand that she was going to Newcastle which is about a half an hour.

We popped into the Bakery and I picked up two muffins, four cookies and a dairy free hot chocolate - yay! Then we popped into Tim Horton's for a treat for Fiona, and then we headed south to the lake. I've been to the bakery a few times, but we never went down to the lake, until today.

Just south of Newcastle is the historic village of Bond Head. There was a little marina, and a cute little beach covered in ice, snow and geese.

It was a quick little adventure with my Fiona. I love getting to hang out with them one on one which I don't do often enough, but cherish when I get the chance!

Fiona Climbs!

This afternoon, Ken took Fiona to redeem her climbing gift certificate. It was an exercise in patience for Ken and pushing yourself for Fiona. Fiona loves to climb, but she gets afraid. She wants to go up high, but then freaks out. She kept climbing up a short ways, about five feet, and then chickening out and going back down. Finally after much cajoling and a promise of Mr. Puffs ( a kind of donut hole), she climbed about 12 feet up the wall.

Hair Cuts!

My visit to John Lanzi was for grade 8 grad in 2008. I've never enjoyed having my hair cut more. He is so good at what he does. This summer I took Kate to see him and when she asked to get her haircut over the Christmas break, she wanted to go see him again. So off we went.

Before...

After! Look at how happy she is! So cute!

I forgot to take a before shot, so this is my before...

And here's the after. So sleek, so lovely!