Baca Family Videos

OK. I have been trying all day long to get these videos to upload through blogger, the way I usually post these. Unfortunately, I think the files are just too large so I couldn't get it done. Since I really, REALLY wanted these on my blog for the Grandparents to see the kids 'cause they're just so dang cute.......I ended up uploading them to YouTube (privately, of course!). Here are the links for the 2 videos. I hope you enjoy them!

This first video is of the Kennecott Wetlands Exhibit at Tracy Aviary in Liberty Park.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_0CShYn-Bk

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This video is of us having a picnic lunch in Liberty Park after coming out of Tracy Aviary. Soon after we sat down, the seagulls came flocking and the kids had a ball feeding them!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKk7JCQa_7s

Happy Birthday, Tylor!!

It's hard to believe that it's been that long ago, but 10 years ago today a sweet little baby boy was born to my sister and her husband about a year after they were married. Now it's been 10 years and he's growing up so much!

I just wanted to take the time to wish Tylor a very HAPPY 10th BIRTHDAY!! We hope you have a great one and wish we could be there with you! We sure love you and miss you tons!!

Happy, Happy Birthday Tylor!!!!!

Water Park at Liberty Park

There is a little water park at Liberty Park that kids can play in and run through. Of course, Pauline's boys LOVED IT!! They were all soaked to the bone by the time we went home.

You can see little Kayla here right in front. She actually didn't go into the water much, but she enjoyed running around and swinging, etc.

I didn't get much video on this one because my batteries in my camera ran out and I didn't have any extras with me at the time. But this will at least give you the general idea....

Liberty Park

July 13, 2009 -

Pauline and I took the kids downtown to the Tracy Aviary located in Liberty Park. I have to admit that in the 11 years that I've lived in Salt Lake......I have never been to the Tracy Aviary or to Liberty Park. It was pretty cool. We had a very enjoyable day!

I took some pictures and some videos of the kids so that those who don't live close by and get to see the kids very often can see them in action. Enjoy!

First, here are some pictures of the kids that were taken at the Tracy Aviary, which is basically a bird park. All kinds of different birds. It's not super huge, but it's pretty cool.

Here are the 3 handsome boys: Chayton, Tylor, and little Jorden

Here is adorable little Kayla

Here are some pictures of some of the birds we saw

Our Personal Liahona

"The words of Christ can be a personal Liahona for each of us, showing us the way. Let us not be slothful because of the easiness of the way. Let us in faith take the words of Christ into our minds and into our hearts as they are recorded in sacred scripture and as they are uttered by living prophets, seers, and revelators. Let us with faith and diligence feast upon the words of Christ, for the words of Christ will be our spiritual Liahona telling us all things what we should do."

--W. Rolfe Kerr, "The Words of Christ, Our Spiritual Liahona", Ensign, May 2004, 36

The Lenz Family Sealing

Once again, I'm behind in posting. :) This summer has been a little crazy busy. So I'm going to attempt to get updated in the next couple days. Here has been what's been going on with us in the last month and 1/2 or so........On July 11, 2009 my dear friend, Salina, was able to go to the Mount Timpanogos Temple with her family and have them all sealed together for eternity. Without getting too personal, let's just say that it was a great miracle to see the 2 older kids, Donovan and Nickelle, be able to join Salina, Andrew, and little Clarissa in the sealing room that day. Salina was married before and was having trouble getting the 'Ex' to consent to letting her have Donovan and Nickelle be sealed to them. Up until about the day before the sealing was to happen, she was heartbroken in thinking that she was just going to have to accept that the 2 older ones were not going to be able to join them. She and I had talked on more than one occasion about her frustrations and concerns with it, but then things got crazy busy and I didn't get a chance to talk to her again for a few days before the sealing.

As Matt and I sat in the Sealing Room and were able to be a part of this marvelous Event, I listened to the Sealer as he spoke to Salina and Andrew and somewhat reflected on how mine and Salina's friendship has grown. I was sitting pretty much next to where the Sealer was standing as he was speaking to Salina and Andrew, and I could see his clipboard with their information on it. It suddenly dawned on my that there were 3 children's names on that clipboard.....all 3 of Salina's children.....and I began to feel my heart beat faster. I started to get really excited for Salina, and was hoping that it meant what I thought it meant.

As the door opened and Donovan and Nickelle walked into the room, carrying little Clarissa....all 3 dressed in white....the dam of tears completely broke!! It didn't help that Salina was within eyeshot of me and looked directly at me as the 3 kids came in......and we both just started crying harder than we already were at that point. I knew as I watched that family receive the blessings of being sealed together for time AND eternity that the Lord was definitely mindful of Salina and all that she had been through to get there. He was obviously watching out for her and helped to soften her 'Ex's' heart so that it was possible that such a miracle should take place. I DEFINITELY witnessed a small miracle that day!!

Thanks so much for being my friend, Salina-girl, and for allowing me to share in such a special day with you! I love you and I'm so proud of you!

Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium

Matt and I watched the movie 'Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium' last night. What a cute movie! We both really enjoyed it. It's a wonderfully imaginative movie where nothing is impossible.

There was also something in the movie that Dustin Hoffman, who plays Mr. Magorium, said that really struck me and I ran to hurry and write it down. I think it's a really great quote to keep in mind as we are hurrying through our busy lives. I wanted to share it with you.

"Your life is an occasion. Rise to it."

-Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium-

Isn't that AWESOME!!?

Faith Implies Trust

"Faith implies a certain trust, even a reliance, upon the word of our Creator. If you should have doubting thoughts, remember the counsel given by President Stephen L. Richards, a former counselor in the First Presidency, who declared: “Just say to those skeptical, disturbing, rebellious thoughts, ‘I propose to stay with my faith, with the faith of my people. I know that happiness and contentment are there and I forbid you, agnostic, doubting thoughts, to destroy the house of my faith. I acknowledge that I do not understand the processes of creation, but I accept the fact of it. I grant that I cannot explain the miracles of the Bible, and I do not attempt to do so, but I accept God’s word. I wasn’t with Joseph, but I believe him. My faith did not come to me through science and I will not permit science to destroy it."

--President Thomas S. Monson, "Great Expectations", CES Fireside January 2009

We Are Somebody

"As children of God we are somebody. He will build us, mold us, and magnify us if we will but hold our heads up, our arms out, and walk with him. What a great blessing to be created in his image and know of our true potential in and through him! What a great blessing to know that in his strength we can do all things!"

--Marvin J. Ashton, "In His Strength", Ensign, Jul 1973, 24

Adoption Update

OK.......I know I need to update everyone on what happened with the adoption stuff last week. So here goes.....

I blogged about the little black baby boy that was supposed to be born at the end of this month. I was very torn over whether to pursue him or not. Well, I called and spoke with the birthmother's caseworker a little while after posting that blog entry and learned a little bit more about the situation. I found out that there were apparently some complications or something with the pregnancy, and the baby was actually to be born the NEXT DAY....so this past Friday. Wow! Talk about a quick decision, huh?

I was in tears with so many conflicting emotions. I really wanted to pursue him.....but there were so many red flags and warning bells going off in my head over the whole situation that I just didn't feel comfortable with pursuing it any further. Matt felt the same way. After talking it over together and praying about it, we decided not to pursue it. There were too many very serious complications and issues that we felt could come up in the future. Now, keep in mind, if we had felt strongly that that child was SUPPOSED to be in our family then we would have found a way to overcome the obstacles and make it work. But we didn't feel strongly about it, so that's what helped us make our decision. It was a tough, emotional decision....but we feel good about it.

Also, I blogged about the neighbor girl of some of Matt's work affiliates who is pregnant as well. We don't know anything more at this point. Our information was apparently forwarded to her and now we just wait.....and keep praying. If she doesn't pick us, then I know someone else will when the time is right. Until then, we'll keep hanging in there..........

Thanks so much for everyone's love and concern, and for your kind words of encouragement and advice!! We love you all and are very blessed to have you in our lives! :)

Oquirrh (pronounced 'o-ker') Mountain Temple

At the beginning of July, as I was getting ready to attend the Jordan River Temple with my good friend Salina as she went through for the first time, I suddenly realized that it was time to get my temple recommend renewed! Good thing I checked! I was able to go that next week and meet with the Bishop and, while I was in the interview with him, I expressed an interest to him in working in the new Oquirrh Mountain Temple. I told him that I had really enjoyed volunteering for the Open House.

I have felt for years that it would be really enjoyable to be able to work in the Temple....any one of them....but have never felt that I was quite in a position to be able to do so. Now I work at home and my schedule is, for the most part, pretty flexible. I also still have no children to juggle, either, so that makes it easier as well. I figured that if I'm going to do it, this would be the prime time for me to do so. The Bishop said he would submit my name and then we'd see.............

Well, I got a call last week from someone at the Temple and an appointment was set up for last night to meet with President Layton, the Temple President. I met with him last night and have now been called to serve as an Ordinance Worker in the Oquirrh Mountain Temple on Fridays, from 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. I will have training from 12:00 noon - 2:00 p.m. this coming Sunday in the Oquirrh Temple, and then another training from 12:00 noon - 2:00 p.m. the next Sunday at the Jordan River Temple. I will begin my first shift on Friday, August 28, the week after the Dedication and the Temple is officially open!

President Layton told me that I will probably be at different stations throughout the Temple during my shifts. He asked me during our meeting if I spoke any other languages. I told him that I don't really, but that I did live in Germany for almost 7 years. He then asked me if I thought I would be able to help someone in German if they gave me a card with the words to say. I told him I thought I probably could, so he marked that on his paperwork. I think that would be so neat to learn in German!! I have regretted for years not learning German while I lived in the country........

Anyway, I'm SO EXCITED!! The Jordan River Temple has always had a special significance to Matt and I because of Matt's family....and we were married there. However, as I have served in various positions in the Open House for the Oquirrh Mountain Temple, I have gained a new feeling of significance for this Temple. I feel that this Temple is MY Temple. This is the Temple in which my children will most likely some day all be sealed to Matt and I for eternity. I feel that this is the Temple that Matt and I will grow with over the years as we watch our family grow and the world around us change. I have grown to love this Temple already. I have truly appreciated having the opportunity to watch as it was being built, to be able to participate in the Open House, to be able to actually be in the Temple to attend the Temple Dedication in a couple weeks, and now to work in the Temple every week.

I'm really looking forward to this opportunity to serve in the House of the Lord!!

Live for Christ

I received this quote in one of my email inboxes a couple weeks ago. I wanted to share it with you, as well as include a link to the entire talk that the quote comes from. It's a pretty amazing talk in it's entirety, but there were a few things that really stood out to me the most.

The talk is split up into sections, and the first section that really stood out to me was the one on, "Christ Gave Us The Constitution". It was amazing to me to read through that section and reflect on the ways of the world, our Government, and the Constitution today. It's interesting (and often sad to me) that things that were said and even prophecied 25 years ago are surely coming to pass today. It breaks my heart and even makes me a bit angry when I see men today, our leaders....those who are supposed to be our examples....corrupting the Government and trying to take God out of the equation. I just don't understand why, when our entire nation was founded upon the principle of God. I hate watching men and women today being so easily persuaded to follow the evils of Satan.......

The second section that really stood out to me was the one on, "Our Gifts to Christ". The final story at the very end really touched my heart. Often, I try to remind myself that nothing I have belongs to me. Everything I have is a direct result of 'gifts' that God and Jesus Christ have given to me. I owe them EVERYTHING! I am forever in their debt and I try to remind myself to be thankful for everything that I have. Often, it's so easy to 'forget' to enjoy the blessings when we are wallowing in our own miseries and focusing on the things we DON'T have.

Anyway, here's the quote and the link. Enjoy!

"Some men are willing to die for their faith but will not fully live for it. Christ both lived and died for us. By walking in his steps and through his atonement we can gain the greatest gift of all--eternal life--which is that kind of life of the great Eternal One, our Father in heaven."

--Ezra Taft Benson, "Jesus Christ--Gifts and Expectations,", BYU Devotional 10 December 1974