Blessed

Sometime during my teenage years I received a very special present from my mom. She had kept the little white dress I was blessed in when I was only a few weeks old. Since then I knew I would be dressing my own little girls in that very dress on their blessing day.

Well, life doesn't always go as planned...

Hope and Eden were given a name and a blessing on January 20, 2013. I knew that Brother Brian Jensen would be the man I asked to do it. Not only was he the first Bishop that Ben and I met with as a couple, he also officiated at our wedding.

It just so happens that the girls have matching cream colored dresses and I planned to dress them in their matching Sunday outfits for the special occasion. Well, Hope wasn't having it. At first I was going to insist she wear it, despite her tears and overly dramatic sobs, but then I realized that this wasn't about what she was wearing. Originally I had wanted her to wear my blessing dress and that didn't work out either, so what did it matter as long as she is happy excited about the day?

 

 

Pictures didn't go as planned either. No one wanted to pose (normally) for pictures before church, and I took my camera to church so I could get some photos of everyone who stood in the circle with the girls, but I forgot. Here is what I did get.

 

 

The blessings were simple and beautiful and something else that I did not do but intended to, was to take some paper so I could write down everything I could remember afterwards.

 

What I remember from Eden's blessing:

she was blessed with happiness

her happy voice fills our home and will continue to

 

What I remember from Hope's blessing:

she was blessed with an eagerness to learn

and with many other ventures

she was blessed for the gospel to be an important part of her life

and to know her Heavenly Father knows and loves her

 

I was concerned that it would scare the girls because they've never had a blessing before, but they were perfect. They sat in my lap during their blessings and didn't move or make noises, which for Eden is a small miracle. I think that she was feeling the spirit and reverence naturally followed.

 

The day wasn't what I had been picturing for the last 20 or so years, but it was special. Life doesn't always go as planned, in fact, it usually doesn't, but that doesn't mean it isn't beautiful and meaningful anyway. Now I will save my blessing dress for my granddaughters.