Gracie turns 12

12 is a special age for a Mormon girl. She becomes a Young Woman. She has the great privilege of participating in the Young Women's organization in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Gracie will learn her value as a daughter of God and her divine potential. I'm so excited for her. This is something that we have taught her, her entire life. But, now is a special time of life for her. She will be learning and growing exponentially in every aspect of life. I am so proud to be her mom. She received some really special gifts for her 12th birthday. Her birthday just happened to fall on a Sunday. Gracie was presented to the ward as a new Beehive and awarded her Faith in God award. She was also able to have her Bishop's interview and received her first temple recommend. The following Tuesday (the first day the temple was open following her bday, she was anxious) her Daddy and I took her to the Mesa Temple to perform baptisms for the dead. Gracie's daddy baptized her for 4 family names on his side of the family and then confirmed her. I loved watching them. My heart swells just thinking about it. I could not be more proud of the wonderful Young Woman that she is.   

We went to Disneyland to celebrate her bday a week before, she had a Nutcracker performance on her bday

Here we at the the Christus statue in the visitors center of the Mesa Temple the day she did baptisms

On her bday, in her new bday dress, so excited to have received her temple recommend

My beautiful young woman. I am so excited to see the amazing things she accomplishes in life. I am so overwhelmed with love for her, so thankful to be her mother, and so proud of who she is.