Saying good-bye to an old friend

This has been a day of mixed emotions.  The kids and I had planned to get up early, to deliver some excess food we had been given to the Food and Care Coalition.  Dakota was up first, no surprise there.  At a little after 7:00 a.m., he came running up the stairs and down the hall to my room.  He said, "Mom, get up.  The Tabernacle is burning!"  Soon, we were all up, staring at the news and the terrible scene from downtown.  A few minutes later, Dakota, Carson, Micah, and I drove to the donate our food.  We didn't plan to go and see the fire, but couldn't keep our eyes off the billowing smoke in the air.  Dakota said that we needed to go and see for ourselves, and say a last good-bye to a gorgeous old friend.  So, we did.  There was not a dry eye in our van as we looked at the gutted Tabernacle, still in flames.  I'm sure that none of us will forget it.  Truly a sad day for Provo, this loss of part of our history.

At 12:30, I went to work at the library, just down the street from the Tabernacle.  Everyone was so sad.  When I left work this late evening, there was still smoke filling the air.  Kudos to the Firefighters who have been trying to save this beloved building since 12:45 this morning, in freezing conditions.  Here are some pics.

Warmth

It is late evening now, the late evening of a challenging year.  Even so, there is our Christmas tree, decorated with ornaments with over 150 years of family memories.  There are the lights on our home, the home I smile at when I return each evening.  The home that shelters my adored family inside.  The warmth of knowing we are celebrating our Savior's birth, comforts and sustains me. The warmth of family, good friends, and kind strangers, keeps me thankful. 

A Beautiful Weekend

Yesterday was the double baptism of my sweet eight year old son (Micah) and my husband (Ray).  This is one of those occasions in which I lack words to describe.  

My beloved family came in force to support us.  Cousins Rob and Carla, and their children came from Tooele.  Cousins Sue and Teri, and Teri's children came from California.  Cousins Karen and Craig, and their children came from California and Colorado.  Then there were our amazing friends and ward members.  We were surprised to see the Relief Society room at our Stake Center was almost not enough to hold all the guests.  Our Bishop said it is the largest baptism our ward has had.  So touching.

The program was wonderful.  For me, the most emotional part was seeing my oldest son (Dakota) step into the font and baptize his younger brother.  He had been so nervous, but that was not on his face.  He did a great job.  His voice was sure and loud, and he was clearly committed to this ordinance that Micah had asked him to do months ago.  I felt in that moment that I saw a glimpse of the adult he will soon become.  Micah was all smiles and hugs, and so happy to be baptized.  He is a sweet and loving child, and continues to draw others to him with that spirit he has.

Then it was Ray's turn.  Our friend and former Bishop (Brian Jensen) baptized him.  It was a great moment, and Ray was very emotional about it.  He has made changes in his life, and this is going to be a huge committment for him. 

Here are some more photos of us.  Some also include the missionaries who taught Ray (Elder Laing and Elder Gallo).  We all benefitted from listening to these young men.  It was a great preparation for Micah's baptism also.  He really understood the promises he was making on this special day.

Lots of friends and family joined us after the baptism, at our home, for goodies and visiting. 

We managed to get a group shot of our family of cousins together.

Today, Micah and Ray were Confirmed in Sacrament meeting.  They were Confirmed by my Cousin (Rob Hughes).  They were both beautiful blessings.  Cousins Steve, Joan, and their son Adam, came to support us today.  We went home and visited, and of course. . . had more food.

I am so thankful to God for my blessings, and proud of my family.

Thankful for friends

I am inspired today by the kind words that my friend Melody put on her blog about me.  She actually thanked her friends in alphabetical order.  That speaks well to the great person she is.

I am so thankful for the friends who keep bringing me back to myself.  I often stray off the path, whether that be in stress, sadness, grief, or some other reason.  I need to be reminded of who I really am inside.  I'm blessed to have several close friends who are very good at that.  I know that I can depend upon their love and loyalty through the days and years.  It is a powerful thing to be grateful for, and I am.

Veterans Day

My Dad was a Marine and served during World War 11.  It's true what they say, "Once a Marine, always a Marine."  I knew all the verses of the Marine fight song by the time I was three, and my Dad would proudly ask me to sing it for friends:)  Of course, I did it, because he was my hero, after all. 

Dad told me stories about the men in his platoon.  He had grown to love and depend upon them, and remembered amazing details of their lives.  Always the stories were followed by tears or a walk in the mountains alone.  There were only two survivors of the entire unit.  Dad was one of those two men.  The rest were all killed after they shipped out to the South Pacific, when a Kamikaze hit their Mess tent.  Here is a photo of the way they were only weeks before.  I will always treasure it and remember, as my Dad did.

I am so grateful for all of these men, and the countless others, who have served and sacrificed for all of us.   

Where do they sleep?

"Once, on Route 23, thirty below,
my Maverick seized up, and a man
with a blanket and a candy bar, a man
for all weather, stopped and drove me home.
It was no big thing to him, the savior.
Just two men, he said, in the same cold."

                From "The Same Cold" by Stephen Dunn

I am so thankful for my job at the Provo City Library at Academy Square.  This building has a long history in Provo and has been many things to many people.  Years ago, it was the place my Uncle John graduated from high school.  For me, it is one of the most beautiful buildings I know, inside and out.  It is filled with books and people, and a staff that have become over the years, somewhat of a family-away-from-home to me.  When I walk from room to room at the library, it feels familiar to me, like a room at my own house. 

There is another constant population at our library, some of the homeless people in the area.  They, like the books and the staff, are there each evening when I work.  No longer someone I might notice sitting at a bus stop or by the side of the road, they have faces and names and stories.  Fear has somewhat given way to familiarity and compassion.  They read, study, write, and sometimes even sleep, but bother no one.  I am a Page and work in Circulation, which means that we are the ones out in the shelves and around the patrons the most.  Some of the homeless people are accustomed to being alone, and keep to themselves.  Others are happy to receive a hello or a smile, and will ask me how I am, or tell me a joke.  They stay until closing each evening, and as I drive home, I often pass them, and wonder where they go.  The other night, one of the Reference Librarians, who has been there for many years, asked me if I had noticed that a certain man had not been there in a couple of weeks.  She said, "When they leave or get a job or something, they should tell us, don't you think?  So we won't be wondering about them."  A kind statement from a sweet lady.
Anyway, it appears that our "Indian summer" is over and our weather is turning cold.  I know that when I walk by these "regulars" during the cold months, I will smell the campfire on their clothes.  It is a reminder to me of all I have to be thankful for.  I give more thought now to those who have no place to sleep.

Happy Birthday, Micah!

My name is Stacy Julin, and my baby turned 8 years old today.  I admit to feeling a little bittersweet about that comment, but happy that Micah is growing and achieving new things each day.  Here is a look back at some younger pictures of him.

We celebrated by going out to "Pirate Island" and trying to eat a Kraken pizza.  Then it was home for gifts and cake and ice cream.

A rare three-way hug:)

Micah chose not to purchase a cake this year, but to make our own.  He wanted to try out the little decorating kit I bought and have never used.  Of course, being a mom who is always encouraging them to create, I was fine with that idea.  So, he chose the kind of cake, frosting, and the colors to decorate.  I set it up and then let him go . . . 

Micah always pats me on the back and tells me I'm the best mom ever.  He snuggles with me on the couch, and makes me feel like I'm a success as a mom.  I love you, my little sunshine boy!