A great talk!!

I found this talk from April conference that has really helped me. I hope it helps someone else out there who may be struggling.
For Our Good

The Boy's adventures

The day after Emma's funeral I was not allowed to do anything by my husband. He said I needed a day of recovery. He let me lay around all day and do whatever I wanted. He took the boys over to a fishing pond and playground to work out their energy.






Later that day my mom called and said my brother had 7 tickets to the circus and wondered if the boys would like to go. Andy had gone to a football game so I thought it would be good for the boys to have a fun time with grandma. I sent Alex with the camera to take lots of pictures. He did a great job with that assignment. I am so glad my kids had a great weekend.

Farewell baby girl!!!

Our sweet baby girl Emma was laid to rest yesterday in American Fork. In the morning we went to the mortuary together as a family to prepare Emma in her casket. I was able to have some quiet time with her as I put her in her booties and bonnet. Then Andy brought the boys in to meet their sister. I then let Andy have some alone time with her. We then gathered together and placed her in her casket. (On Monday before we went into the hospital we bought a white blanket. Throughout the week we have cuddled with this blanket and filled it with our love.) Andy's mom cut this blanket down so that we could put a piece in the casket with Emma. Each of us also have a piece of "Emma blanket." Alex also bought her a little white dog that we placed in with her. We then closed her casket and said a family prayer. That is the hardest thing I have ever had to do as a mom.
We then gathered with our extended family at 3:30 at the American Fork cemetery. Alex wanted to be the one to carry Emma to the grave side. He was a very protective big brother. We had a simple service. We sang "Families can be Together Forever" along with Andy and I bearing our testimonies. Andy then dedicated the grave. After that as a family we placed Emma in her final resting place. Emma was buried with my Grandpa Wootton who I know will take great care of her. We then as a family closed her grave. We know this is not a goodbye. This is just a temporary separation and that through the atonement of Christ we may hold our Emma girl again. Until we meet again sweet Emma. We love you!!!

Emma Lillian

I am so far behind in my blogging but I couldn't sleep tonight so what to do at 4 am then to blog. I am not even sure where to start with this post. Our sweet baby girl was born on Sept 21st at 2 am. I know I am so far behind we haven't even announced I was expecting. I went in on Monday for a regular appointment, I was 23 weeks. The doctor was having a hard time finding a heartbeat so she took us back for an ultrasound to see what the "little stinker" was doing. As soon as the picture come up of the chest I could see the little heart, still. The doctor turned to me and said, "Marissa there is no heartbeat. I am so sorry." I was lucky that Andy had decided to go to the appointment with me. The doctor left the ultrasound room and I cried while he called his parents to come up and help with the boys. After dropping Logan off with a friend we headed to the hospital. They induced me about 1:30. That was the longest 12 hours of my life. We didn't find out the gender of the baby at the ultrasound so after I delivered I was anxiously waiting to hear. Finally one of the nurses asked the other and she said, "It's a girl." They asked if I wanted to hold her and of course I did. She was the sweetest, most beautiful thing ever. They asked if we had a name and Andy looked at me and said what about Emma. It just seemed right. Emma Smith was truly an elect lady who was so strong and valiant. Lillian is after my great aunt who has always meant a lot to me. I held her and loved on her and then passed her off to Andy who did the same. Then a group called SHARE came in and took her from us to bathe and dress her. They took some precious pictures of her as well as doing molds of her hands and feet. They brought her back to me after about an hour and we kept her with us for a few more hours. I have lost count of how many times I have looked at those pictures over the last 2 days. We will be burying her next to my grandpa and great-grandpa in American Fork on Friday.
At times like these the gospel is so real and I have felt the love of my Father in Heaven circle me and hold me while I cried. My husband has been fantastic and has just let me loose it while he held me, done all the household stuff while I have tried to figure out all the plans. We have had wonderful family and friends that have encircled us and given us strength through meals and gifts that have truly been answers to our prayers. I know my Father in Heaven lives. He has a plan and a purpose for all of us. I am grateful to him for allowing me to be a vessel for our sweet angel. I am grateful for the Plan of Salvation that I know without a doubt that I will see my baby girl again and get to hold her, love her and have tickle fights with her. I will get to see her wrap herself around her daddy's finger. The gospel truly gives us hope of a better life yet to be and for that I am truly grateful.

Tri-school Trot

Alex's school decided to do a twist on the typical school fundraiser. I was a doubting Thomas but I was proven wrong. HIs school earned a lot of money and no one had to buy any junk either. A win-win. He completed all of the laps he needed to and did a great job. Way to go Alex!!!




This is Alex's awesome teacher, Mrs. Adams, in the black hat.

Logan's Birthday Party

Logan requested a Bob the Builder birthday this year. A few days before his actual birthday we had a little friends party. We had contacted a local trucking place and they were happy to show us all of the big trucks. Logan was in little boy heaven.













On his actual birthday we just did a small party with just our family. He had a blast!! We love you Logan and hop you had a great birthday.