....the long walk....

Two Sundays ago was fast Sunday. Meaning Fast and Testimony meeting at church. No biggie. Done it 100 times. Gone, felt like I should or shouldn't get up to bear my testimony. Sometimes I get up, in fact last month I did. More times I don't in sacrament meeting but almost always do if we do testimonies in Relief Society. I enjoy it sometimes actually. In the 9 years of marriage to my dear Chad I can count how many times he's gone up to bear his testimony and many of those were only if he had to be up there to talk - which has been extremely rare. I will admit it. The thought had crossed my mind that this fast Sunday happened to fall the day after Daija's baptism. I figured I would probably go up. It's what mom's do.
It was a normal meeting. Children and adults alike took their turns going up to profess truth. It was wonderful. I did happen to be pretty busy juggling children though. You will imagine what a surprise it was to me then when Chad - my sexy hunk of a man - stood up, and did NOT walk out of the chapel, but DID walk up to the front of the room and bare his testimony. He has a beautiful testimony. It's strong. It's plain and clear. He's always a little funny and a little serious.
After he sat down - of course I was beaming a smile because of how proud I am of him and all I get back is a sly grin back that says "your turn". hahaha... nice try buddy. Apparently he had a sort of "deal" with Daija that if he went up, she'd go up. She has been asking for several months if she can, we always say yes!, and then she gets scared and doesn't want to so we never pressure her. She really wanted to get up this Sunday though so Dad gave it his best shot. Even after he sat back down he volunteered to go back up with her and sit there while she took her turn. Eventually she swallowed her fear and stood up to walk up to the front. It's such a long walk. We don't sit too far back anymore. Not like we used to - like not even in a pew. Thanks to Chad's calling of doing the programs he's there early enough to get us decent seats. But man, that walk no matter how long or short, to get up in front of a bunch of people - and I remember especially as a little kid - is a looonnngg walk. So they walked up together and sat down in "line".
Next it was her turn. Then it was our neighbor Tayler's turn. She kindly turned to him after hesitating for a while and let him go first. While Tayler was bearing his testimony, Daija's good friend, Emma, came up and sat next to Daija. They held a very reverent, whispered conversation about how Emma knew Daija could do it. It was exactly what Daija needed. She got right up after Tayler took his seat. Stepped up to the mic and like she'd been saying it every month of her life bore a beautiful testimony. "I'd like to bear my testimony. I know this church is true. I love my family and I know they love me...." I'm pretty sure she said something like, "I am happy I got baptized yesterday...." I don't remember exactly (it's been a drug filled week for me and I'm worried about quoting her exactly and getting it wrong...) She did such a good job! My little girl is growing up!
That same week she had her first Achievement Days activity. They each brought a dozen cookies with them. I guess they took plates of cookies around to some of the elderly in our ward, and also got to take one of everybody's cookies home. I think they did more because she told me more...but I can't remember right now. I'll have to ask her tomorrow and edit this later. It's late. I'm going to bed. :) I love you Daija!!!