Love of a near 2 year old

My daughter has a special kind of love that she shares with no one else but one, her brother. "Jace-Jace," she will call out to him as he sits in his swing, barely over two months old. He is not quite old enough to really respond to her, even with a smile, but it is adorable to her mother and I. It is such a different love then she has for either of us or even her "Uh-oh" (teddy bear). Don't get me wrong she still has her moments when she wants her mom and will try to push him off of her lap (thankfully not physically so...yet) but it is so real and obvious in her tone and excitement how much she cares for him. She instinctively knows that he is her's - her little brother.

My wife and I joke that neither child looks too much like either of us. Our two kids, however, are unmistakably siblings. The younger looks so much like his sister that it is shocking. I hope that they are close friends as they get older. My sister and I, a little more spaced out then them, were close in our younger years but grew apart in middle school and high school. Granted we have regained lost ground but we still remember the situations that pushed us away from each other those many years ago.

Blessing my son

Last Sunday, I had the privilege of blessing my first son in the church of my faith. It was a rather simple ceremony, lacking in eloquent prose and predefined displays of knowledge that I would not otherwise know. In short, he was blessed to do what he will grow up learning is important. Also to have good friends who will strengthen him and he them.

One of the more interesting points of the blessing was the number of people that participated in the administration--four. Less then normal and no more than those needed to form a complete circle. I was joined by my father, my brother-in-law (in-law), and the bishop. There was a great spirit that touched me and I knew that the ordinance was accepted of the Lord. My son seemed to know as well, he seemed somehow more content for much of the day; there is a chance, however, that it was only that I looked at him differently.

I love me family. I love the Lord for offering a way for us to return home again.

Mutual

Last Wednesday I met with the young men and women in my ward for mutual. Before starting the meeting I played some prelude music on the piano for something to do; I had arrived a little early. I was not watching a clock and so was surprised when I was asked what hymn we would be singing for open exercises with the youth. I decided, after making sure that no one else was going to play (I'm not very good), that it would be appropriate to sing "We Thank thee of God for a Prophet". After butchering the song, it is amazing how much harder it is to play when people are singing than when I am playing by myself. We then proceeded to stating the Purposes of the Aaronic Priesthood, the women stating their Young Women's Values and announcements before realizing that the bishop was not there to to give his announcement. So, we did what anyone does when things don't work as planed-we faked our way through. To the other leaders that meant me playing a long song, one which I also butchered, just for a longer time. Afterwards we broke into all of our individual groups while the bishop met with each of the youth to prepare for a temple trip next week.

In our little group I felt, as I almost always do, ill prepared to lead the youngest of our youth. I wonder how I was entrusted with such an important task. After our discussions and preparations-as we traveled home-I talked with the other two leaders, who are better prepared for leading a scout group about our small troop. It was interesting how they, being more capable and knowledgeable, were so willing to trust and follow my lead. I felt worst than ever. I hope that watching them I can learn to be a better youth leader.