A Little T.L.C. For the Baby Daddy

Just wanted him to know that we thought he was pretty wonderful too!!!
Having a baby can be rough on a guy!!!
Love you Mikey!!!

He Wasn't Sure at First, But Now???

This was when Preston first saw and was introduced to Madi.  He wasn't sure about the whole thing and insisted Mike stay a very 'safe' distance away from the new addition.

Preston was forced to sit 'near her' and he wasn't any too happy about it.  He wanted out of there  as soon as he could leave.

When they came home and Mike would hold Madi, Preston would INSIST that Kylie come and take Madi from Mike so that Mike could then play with Preston.  He did NOT like Mike holding Madi.  That went on for a full day.  Then today, Preston actually wanted Mike to take Madi from Kylie so he could play with Kylie for awhile.  Eventually, and through the bribery of candy, Kylie was able to get Preston to come over and 'touch' Madi, talk to her and look at her.  

Well, that's all it took.  Guess who can't get enough of holding and touching Madi now???  Kylie says Preston wants to be with Madi all the time now.  It just took a little time...They are BFF's.

The Bishop

Yes, that would be Del.
Del was called and ordained as the new Aubrey Ward Bishop today.
It has been an overwhelming past three weeks, when Del received the call.  So many emotions, thoughts and blessings have been ours to enjoy and cherish.  We are so blessed.
I do not have time right now to write everything about the past week...so I am going to end this now and write more later tonight...so this post will be a continuation later...
Later....just got home from going over to Kylie and Mike's home.  They are getting settled into their house with little Madison and trying to adjust to their new circumstances.  We dropped by with dinner and some moral support.

And now back to our news of the day.
Yes, Del was made the new Bishop of the Aubrey Ward.  I guess we know now, ONE of the reasons we are here in Aubrey.  We keep getting told that 'we were prayed here' by the members in the Ward and by the leaders in the Stake.  Apparently, they have been needing to make this boundary change for our ward for over a year, but there has been a hesitancy in the minds of the Stake Presidency and Bishopric as to who could or should be the new Bishop.  They felt the new Bishop just wasn't here yet, and so they decided to make it a matter of prayer.
I can't remember if I shared the circumstances of us finding and finally buying this home, but the process and results were completely and divinely governed by our Heavenly Father.  We are here, in this home, because that's where Heavenly Father wanted us.  We just happened to love it too.
Even the very first Sunday we were here, the Bishop's wife, the Bishop, a counselor, Stake exec. secretary and two or three others all made the 'we prayed you here' comments.  We accepted their comments as 'welcome to the ward' type comments and they were glad to have us here; nothing more than that.
Then about 2 months ago, the rumors started flying in the ward that there were going to be some boundary changes.  We heard everything from we were going to be in Mike and Kylie's ward, to we were going to be in the Denton 4th Ward to a few others but mostly we heard that we were going to be losing our current Bishop and his neighborhood to another ward.  I was so disappointed, as Del and I had become, and are, good friends with Trey and Patti and their family and neighbors.  I was hoping that the much spread speculation was just that, speculation only.
Del and I noticed the Stake President and his counselors visiting our ward on several occasions.  We didn't think anything of it.  But the rumors became more frequent and started to get even more specific.  Then three weeks ago, after a Sacrament Meeting where our Stake President had attended, I was making my way to the Primary room where I would be teaching my class when the Stake President caught me in the pew and asked if Del and I could meet with him in his stake office.  I told him we would be right there.
I tracked down Del and told him we were wanted in the Stake Presidents office.  'The Look' passed between us.
I had been feeling , the previous week, that there was the possibility Del was going to be called as the new Bishop.  So much so, that one night, while we were laying in bed, I told him my feelings.  I tried to strongly impress upon him that I didn't feel I was receiving any revelation or anything, and I didn't want to appear that I was presuming ANYTHING unrighteous, I just had a calm feeling that Del would probably be the Bishop. He, of course, prayed I was 'out in left field' and said 'he hadn't been having any of those kind of feelings'.  I was relieved and said 'Good, I'm probably just crazy'.
The Stake President spoke with me first, asking me to tell him about myself and my family.  He asked me to share with him information about Del's MS, his work, my feelings about him and our family.  Then he informed me they were calling Del to be the Bishop.  I cried.  Our conversation lasted about 20 minutes.  When I left the office, Del was called to come in and when he passed me, he gave a questioning look of 'why are you crying'...I whispered, 'You'll understand in a few minutes.'
Pres. Peterson came out about 20 minutes later and asked me to join him and Del in his office.  Del and I hugged and Del said, 'You forgot to tell me to run..'  The call was extended, counsel was given and then we left.  We told our children that evening and have remained in a state of humbleness ever since.
Last Thursday evening, after we had finished watching a BYU basketball game, it was late and we were getting into bed, when the phone rang.  It was Brian Holdman from our ward...the Stake exec. secretary. (BTW, he's the one that suggested Del's name to the stake presidency - BUT, as Karma has it, HE was called as the new Bishop of the Denton 4th Ward today too) Del and I had just finished our evening prayers and we were talking about the excitement of the next day when our sweet Madison was going to be born.  Brian's phone call would dampen our spirits significantly.
Apparently, one of the new families moving from the Denton 4th Ward into OUR ward were preparing to leave on vacation to Arkansas, and went in to awaken their 20 month old son, only to find that he had passed away from SIDS during his afternoon nap.  The funeral was going to be held this next week, and Del, as their new Bishop, would be conducting the meeting.
I was heart broken for the family.  And I was heart broken for Del.  No Bishop should have to conduct the funeral of a baby as his first assignment after his ordination.  But then such comfort came to me knowing, that if ANYONE could comfort this sweet family, it would be Bishop Lott.  WHY???  Because Bishop Lott has been through the same exact experience, having lost his own baby son 27 years ago during the Christmas Holidays.  Bishop Lott knew EXACTLY how they felt and would be able to not only have compassion, but empathy for this sweet couple.  I was so comforted knowing Del would be able to help them...and I would too.
More phone calls were made over the weekend, back and forth to the new Bishop, old Bishop, Stake President and so forth, as to who would officiate, conduct and all funeral arrangements.  In today's meeting, previous Bishoprics were released and new Bishopric's were called.  Both Del and I were asked to share our testimonies as were several others.  Then after Sacrament meeting, as we were making our way to the Stake offices for Del's ordination, I was stopped by Del in the hallway, who introduced me to the parents of the deceased baby boy.  I was humbled to meet them as they took me into their arms and thanked me for my testimony and words of comfort.  I told them how much I loved them and looked forward to many years of friendship with them in our ward before Del and I were rushed off down the hall.  I really wish I could have spent more time with them, but I know there will much time in the future.
Tonight, while over at Mike and Kylie's, Del left for a few hours and went to the home of the family to help them plan and organize the funeral.  I almost wish I could have gone also, but instead, Del had the whole Bishopric go.  It was probably better that way.
This whole experience has been sweet for us.  From the calling, to the recognizing of the anniversary of Michael's passing, to the death of a baby to the birth of a new baby...The Lord knows it all and his plan is perfect.  And I have found each and every moment sweet.  I'm so grateful for our Saviors love.
The first thing I told our Ward members was...I love Bishop Lott, with all my heart.  And they will love him too.  And I know the Lord loves him too.
Of this, I have no doubts.

Madison Comes Home

Doesn't she make an adorable little bundle of joy???
Mike and Kylie got to bring little Madison home today at the exact time that we were at church.
I just sent Kathryn over to their home with plates of food, and Jordan and Lexi just left our place to go on over also.  I am waiting for Del to get home from church so we can go over after he eats dinner that is staying warm in the oven.
It is so nice to know Kylie and Mike have their little family all together at home again.  Can't wait to go over and see them.

'Pete, and Re-Pete'

They look the same, with only a FEW slight differences.  Otherwise, Preston and Madison are going to look as much alike as Jordan and Kylie do.  Same lips, noses eyes...oh my, they DO look alike.  I hope they are much like Jordan and Kylie in many other ways too...BFF's, look the same, act alike, help each other, love each other, hate each other, cry over each other and laugh with each other.  Many times, people thought Jordan and Kylie were twins.  I'll bet the same happens with Preston and Madison.
But can you see the similarities???

Time to Play Dress-Up

And this is why Kylie has always wanted a girl.
This little girl will be the fashion statement of the century.  She has more clothes hanging in her closet than I think I have EVER had..EVER!!  There aren't enough days in the year to use them all...but Kylie will sure have fun trying!!!
Went to the hospital today so Kathryn could meet her little niece.  It was nice to see Kathryn falling instantly in love with little Madison.  She held her for quite awhile, until it was time for Kylie to nurse and we left shortly after that.  Madison looked like a little angel.
She's not going to be spoiled...much.

Madison Paige Crump

And she is beautiful.
This is my new granddaughter, Madison Paige Crump.
She was born at 2:42 p.m., weighed 7 pound 11.6 oz and was almost 20 inches long.
And she will have a story to tell.  I was invited by Mike and Kylie to be the photographer of this wonderful event and, if I do say so myself, I got some GREAT pictures.  None of those will be posted yet, as I promised Kylie I would give her the opportunity to crop and edit them to her likes and dislikes and then only put on what she allowed.  The above pic was one Kylie took from her cell phone to be posted on facebook for all to be introduced to this sweet child.
I witnessed the whole birth, and for not having even seen the birth of my OWN children, this was an awe inspiring experience.  It was truly a miracle and a sacred experience.  I watched MY daughter give birth to HER daughter.  There is nothing quite like it.  Direct from from our Father in Heaven.  What a gift.
I feel so blessed.
Welcome, sweet Madison Paige, to our family.
We love you already.