May Part 4: School Programs

May is a crazy month when you have kids in school like we do. Our schedules are not generally our own--someone else is deciding where I need to be. Sometimes, we have to divide and conquer to get to everything, and other times, things magically work out. Gabe's baptism weekend ended up being one of those serendipitous things that just worked out. My mom and grandparents were able to be in town for not only the baptism, Dad's sealing (okay, this was the only thing we planned because of Gabe's baptism the next day), Gabe's Let's Play Music graduation, but also for Gabe's end of year school program (and a soccer game). Before Gabe's program, we went to dinner at Cubby's, and I loved watching Michael escort Grandma into the restaurant. 

Gabe did a great job at his program, singing and saying his parts. 

The next week, Rachel got to participate in Hope of America. We had heard of this big 5th grade Utah rite of passage for years, but due to Covid, we missed having to go participating with Michael. Before the program, we grabbed dinner at BYU, and Brian and Rachel even did a mad dash of BYU store shopping for our reunion gift exchange that was coming up at the end of May (chocolate covered cinnamon bears and a BYU t-shirt). It's always crazy seeing how much campus keeps changing. Here they are working on the HFAC (Harris Fine Arts Center) where Brian spent so much time during his band days. 

This new sign is really fun, and we had to take a picture

or two. 

They coordinated the different schools with shirt colors to create this giant flag. I thought that was pretty cool. 

Can you find Rachel? 

How about now? 

They had groups come in for some preshow entertainment. One of the groups was a senior citizen dance company, and this lady did the splits! It was so impressive that I had to include it in this blog. You go, Girl! 

We also got to see the BYU dunk team and we were sad that Ella was in the Dominican Republic instead of performing for us. 

The program was very patriotic and inspiring, if a little bit cheesy. 

They included a number that involved the kids shining flashlights, and it was a pretty cool effect. 

We could hardly believe that another school year was coming to a close (we won't mention that I'm writing this post 11 months later, which means that yet another year has also passed.) We're proud of our amazing kids! 
 

May 2024 Part 3: Gabe's Baptism

 On May 4, 2024, Gabe chose to follow our Savior and be baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He wanted Papa to baptize him (which really worked out because Brian couldn't due to his recent wrist surgery). 

Trent Read, the 1st counselor in our bishopric conducted the service, and Lea was the chorister with Nana on the piano. We sang "I Love to See the Temple" for the opening song, and Aaron England gave the opening prayer. Rachel gave a talk on baptism, and she did such a great job. Nana played "I Am a Child of God" on the piano for a special musical number, and then Gabe was baptized by Papa.  

While Gabe and Papa were changing, we moved to a different room, and Nana played music to maintain the spirit of reverence while we waited. Then, Grandma Chadwick gave a talk on the Holy Ghost. Gabe was then confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and given the Gift of the Holy Ghost by Brian. Brian also gave him a beautiful blessing. 

Trent Read gave some closing remarks, we sang, "Come Follow Me," and then Elijah England gave the closing prayer. It was a beautiful service, short and sweet. After the service, we went back to our house for brunch. 

We were so grateful for our friends and family who were able to join us on this special day. We were delightedly surprised to see Larry Smith, one of our Saville side cousins at the service. Brian's mission president also came, as well as some of our neighbors, friends, and our amazing family. 

Here's Rachel with Elise and Elsie. 

Rachel with Aaron. 

Gabe with Haven. 

Lea was kind enough to take these pictures for us: Michael, Papa, Nana, Brian, Gabe, Me, and Rachel. 

Michael, Papa, Brian, Julie, Devri, Gabe, Grandma Linville, Grandpa Linville, Rachel, and Grandma Chadwick

Grandma Chadwick, Michael, Brian, Gabe, Devri, Rachel, Grandma Linville, Grandpa Linville

Our family plus Gracie (who follows wherever I go). 

Since Gabe was baptized on May 4th, we couldn't help doing a little May the Fourth celebrations. We made these Star Wars themed chocolates for this event. They were filled with peanut butter and cake pops. 

I also made these temple and number 8 sugar cookies. 

Here are a few pictures of our supportive friends and family: Grandpa, Lea, Kristina, and me (and clear in the back Papa is talking to President Smith, Brian's mission president. There is someone else back there, but I can't tell who it is). 

This looks like Haven, Aaron, Elsie, Rachel, Abby, Chelsea, Lea, Gabe, Grandpa, and Michael. We served breakfast casseroles, yogurt parfaits, sweet breads, and fruit. 

Me with Kristina.

Michael, Atlas, Nana, Serene, Dustin, Haven, Aaron, Rachel, Abby, Chelsea

Chelsea, Lea, Gabe, Mom, Al & Dylene Metcalf (next door neighbors), with me, Kristina, and maybe Atlas in the background). 

Michael, Shayne, Danny, Skyler. 

Taryn & Mom (aka Grandma Chadwick)

Here's Gabe opening presents

Scriptures (from Mom and Dad) and a scripture case (from Grandma Chadwick). He also got lots of little gifts of candy and things from our friends. I didn't even see all the things, and we felt so loved and supported. 

Dustin, Serene, Devri, Brian

A few days later, we got a package from Grammy Bobbie and Papa Joe. They are so kind to remember our kids and honor their baptism days. I'm including all the pictures because Gabe's faces are the best. 

It's this beautiful framed drawing of Jesus with a lamb, and Gabe keeps it on his nightstand. 

We're so proud of Gabe, and we're so grateful for the love and support from our friends and family members. 

May 2024 Part 2: Gabe's Let's Play Music Graduation

On May 3, Gabe officially graduated from Let's Play Music. I've been so impressed with this program, and we've loved having Miss Kara as his teacher. 

For their final recital, the students performed original compositions using all the theory and chords that they had learned over the past three years. Gabe wrote a composition called, "Shark Attack." We all thought it was about someone getting attacked by a shark, but Gabe later let us know it is actually about a shark getting attacked. Sharks are his favorite animal, so naturally he would tell the story from the shark's perspective, and the tragedy would be the shark getting hurt. Here he is introducing his piece,

and here he is playing his piece. 

The amazingly enthusiastic bow: 

and the mad dash back to his seat with cousins and Grandma cheering him on. I love how his mannerisms are captured in these photos. He has so much personality in his little body! 

Here he is with his class, receiving his final praise and recognition from his teacher. 

Thank you, Miss Kara, for all your love and care over the past three years. We're amazed at how much he has grown and learned! 

I'm so proud of my Gabe! 

 

May 2024 Part 1: Dad Finally Was Sealed to His Parents

My faith is that somehow, some way, the Atonement of Jesus Christ is going to make everything that is wrong about this mortal life right. Someday, all our losses will be made up. Somehow, everything that is broken will be fixed by Him. 

We believe that the highest blessing available to individuals and families is to be sealed together--bound together to the Lord and to each other--forever, and it can only happen in the Holy Temple by one who holds authority. This authority was restored by Peter, James, and John to the prophet Joseph Smith, and the keys of sealing, the power to bind on earth and heaven,  were restored by the prophet Elijah to Joseph Smith after the Kirtland Temple was dedicated in 1836. We also believe that the Lord, in His great love and mercy, allows saving ordinances such as baptism and the sealing ordinances, to be performed on behalf of those who have passed away without having an opportunity to receive the ordinances, and they then have the choice about whether to accept those ordinances.

My dad's childhood and family situation was not ideal, and when he was sixteen, his parents divorced. His relationship with his siblings and parents has never been what he wished it was. There has been a lot that needs fixing and healing over the years. 

Despite doing his best to follow the Savior, my dad was unable to be sealed to his parents while they were still alive. My grandparents had many struggles that kept them from being able to go to the temple. My grandpa Chadwick passed away in 2006, and my grandma Higley passed away in 2011. They had both remarried not too long after their divorce from each other, and my step grandparents both passed away in 2021. 

Sometime in 2023 when Brian and I were in the temple, I felt very strongly that I should do the sealing ordinances on behalf of my grandparents and my dad. It's tricky to talk about sealings with divorced individuals. Why would they want to be sealed together if they got divorced? The answer: they don't. But then how can my dad be sealed to his parents? A sealer did tell me that a child can be sealed to his parents, even if they aren't sealed together, but they usually seal the parents to cover all their bases. I have assisted in the temple work for my biological grandparents, and I noticed that someone else had already done the temple work for my step-grandparents and my dad's half-sister Melanie. Every ordinance was complete for all of them except the sealing ordinances. 

I reached out to my aunts to get permission to do the sealings, including my dad's brother Scott who died as an infant. In trying to get the permissions, I noticed that my Grandpa Chadwick's sealing to Grandma Chadwick (his second wife) had been reserved by someone I didn't know, and I reached out to this individual to ask if we could do the ordinance. This led to texting and a phone call. I found out that she was best friends with my Aunt Melanie, and that she had been the one to do my Aunt's work as well as my Grandma Chadwick. She had talked through temple ordinances with my Grandma Chadwick before Grandma passed away. We both felt strongly like they wanted these ordinances to happen--she felt a pull to do the work on her end and I felt the pull on my end. We made arrangements to go and do all these sealings together in the Orem Temple on May 3, 2024. It was so healing talking to her, getting to know someone who loved my family and knew them, someone who understood their struggles and challenges and who wanted them to be healed like I did. 

The anticipated day finally arrived. My grandparents and my Mom came down from Idaho and Taryn and David came down from Tremonton. Unfortunately, Melanie's friend had to cancel last minute, and we missed having her there. It was such a sweet session in the temple witnessing these ordinances be performed. 

Brian and I were proxy for my Grandpa and Grandma Higley. Grandpa Higley was such an incredible man who stepped into the family and loved my dad and his siblings so well. I loved teasing him on visits; it seemed to be his love language.  I always had the impression that the gospel mattered to him, but for whatever reason, he couldn't get himself to the temple. He loved my grandma, and my aunt Shirley (their daughter together) told me that he absolutely wanted to be sealed to her, that it was his last wish. When they were sealed as husband and wife for eternity, the tears were streaming down my face. I knew they were with us. 

The best moment was when my dad got to be sealed to his parents. Grandpa Linville was proxy for Grandpa Chadwick, Mom was Proxy for Grandma Higley, Brian was proxy for Dad, and David was proxy for Scott. After all his years of waiting, my dad finally has been sealed to his parents and one of his brothers, and it was wonderfully joyous. 

I don't know how all the tangles of divorced couples and their children gets worked out, but I do know that it will. Everyone will be happy with the situation, and the necessary healing for my dad's family will happen. The Savior's atonement and His holy ordinances in the temple will make all of it right. I have already felt it working, and I am so grateful that I got to be apart of this day.