Eliza's blessing

While we were in Utah, on August 7th, we had the wonderful privilege of blessing Eliza in the Erda, Utah ward surrounded by family who love and support us. Bruce gave her a beautiful blessing. Grandfathers, great grandfathers, and uncles stood in the circle.


Eliza with her parents and grandma and grandpa Richards

Her blessing dress was absolutely beautiful, and it took the help of my mom, grandma, and sister to get the dress on her. It was hard to actually find the baby amongst all that dress. I had every intention of sewing her a dress myself. The material is cut out, and the bodice is sewn together complete with lace. Unfortunately, I didn't get it finished. Luckily grandma Richards bought her this lovely dress at a farm bureau convention.

She was blessed that she would continue to be healthy and strong and grow into a lovely young women. She would continue to bring joy and happiness into the lives of her parents, grandparents and others. (This she has already done. Eliza was/is quite the popular girl). She was blessed that she would feel the love of her Heavenly Father and know that she is his daughter. She was encouraged to turn to him in prayer with her problems and challenges. She was blessed that she would learn from her parents and from their example. (I guess the pressure is on with that one.) She was blessed that she would look forward to going to the temple and be sealed to a spouse forever. She was blessed that she would develop a testimony of Jesus Christ, that she would love him and understand the atonement and its importance. She was blessed to study the scripture and learn from them so that her testimony could grow and continue to be strengthened.


4 generation photo. (Me, grandpa Porter, Eliza, and great grandma Porter)

After the blessing, we had a party for Eliza at Bruce's parents house. Bruce's sister counted 96 people in attendance. That wasn't even everyone. That just goes to show how loved and supported little Eliza is. I hope she knows that. I hope she knows how special she is to her parents and how loved she is. If there is anything I want for her in this life - it is to know that she is loved by those around her and most importantly by her Heavenly Father.


4 generations. (great g-pa and g-ma Erickson, me, Eliza, grandma Porter)

I'm grateful that we were able to bless her surrounded by family. It made such a special event even more special knowing that so many loved family members were able to share it with her. I'm glad we decided to go ahead and do it while we were there.


From top right to bottom: Bruce, my parents, my sister Katie, me, Eliza, my brother Travis, niece Addison, and sister in law Rachel.


4 generations: great Grandpa and grandma Smith, grandma Richards, Bruce, Eliza (I think Eliza is done with the dress and ready to eat.)

I'm grateful for my family.