Today

...we are in party recovery mode. Gracie deemed it "the best birthday party ever," and that's all that counts in my book. Thanks to all who came and made it so fun for her.

            

...we are still celebrating. In honor of Gracie's day, we had Cocoa Puffs for breakfast, Jenny just treated us to lunch and cupcakes, and we are having Gracie's favorite dinner tonight: "chicken and noodles and squash" (chicken alfredo with a side of butternut squash).

...we are loving seeing Aubrey in her new glasses. We got them in the mail Saturday, put them on for the first time Sunday morning, and she has been good to go since. Sweet baby must be seeing a whole new world to keep them on without so much as a single fuss. She drew quite a bit of attention at church yesterday...lots of "Are those real?!" "How does she keep those on?" and "Awwww!" It's just a bit strange yet to think of them as permanent fixtures on her face and in our lives. A new habit, for sure, for this no-prior-glasses-experience family.

       

...we have the passing of the Prophet and President of our church, Gordon B. Hinckley, close to our hearts. It is a great loss, to be sure, but what sweet reunions must be taking place today in heaven!

       

I'll close with a few quotes from one of my favorite talks by President Hinckley. It makes me laugh and want to be better all at once...so characteristic of him and his presidency.

"Don’t be a scrub!

"You can do it. You may not be a genius. You may be lacking in some skills. But so many of us can do better than we are now doing.

"You will find your greatest example in the Son of God. I hope that each of you will make Him your friend. I hope you will strive to walk in His paths, extending mercy, blessing those who struggle, living with less selfishness, reaching out to others. He is the greatest example of excellence in all the world.

"Let us all try to stand a little taller, rise a little higher, be a little better. Make the extra effort. You will be happier. You will know a new satisfaction, a new gladness in your heart.

"Look to God, and live. Kneel before Him in supplication. He will help you. He will bless you. He will comfort and sustain you. There will be progress. There will be growth. There will be improvement. And there will be much of added happiness.

"May the Lord bless each of us as we walk the path to perfection that the Lord has asked us to walk—with hope, with faith, and with that charity which 'is the pure love of Christ.'"

from "The Quest for Excellence," The Ensign, September 1999