With General Conference the first weekend of April, our fast and testimony meeting moved the Easter Sunday. The timing worked out well to have Patrick participate in the blessing while he had a couple of weeks home from Iraq. We considered other Sundays because we wanted co-workers to come as well, and we knew most had plans with their own families on Easter. All the men in the family were able to attend: my dad, Scott, Lynn, Aaron, Jacob and Patrick.
Through the week prior to this idea, I spent much time on my knees for the spirit to give me the words for Ava to begin her mortal life.
After giving her a name, I told her she has brought so much joy into the lives and a great number of people, many of whom had not met her yet, and that she should spend her life striving to bring joy to everyone around her. She was blessed to have a testimony of the restored gospel in the latter days and to know and understand the scriptures. I blessed her to participate in all of the ordinances of the gospel from baptism through marriage in the temple. (Lindsey commented to me later that she thought I would bless her to be sealed in the temple with a worthy companion, however, I purposely avoided that language because I try to keep cliches out of blessing).
During the blessing, emotion overcame me as I could feel the love of our Heavenly Father filling the chapel. Later that morning, Kelsey (who held the microphone during the prayer) came to me and commented about how I got choked up during the blessing. All I could say in response was that he would understand when he became a father.
