Two Names and Two Blessings = A Heavenly Day

"A wee bit of heaven
drifted down from above-
A handful of happiness,
a heart full of love.

The mystery of life,
so sacred and sweet-
The giver of joy
so deep and complete.

Precious and priceless,
so lovable, too-
The world's sweetest miracle,
baby, is you."

- Helen Steiner Rice

Maisy Dahl Stevenson

Laurel Ann Stevenson



Sunday, April 13th was a Heavenly Day. Laurel and Maisy received a name and a blessing from their Dad. Jeff gave them each a very special blessing and was supported in the circle by his Dad, my Dad, my Grandpa, Micah, Cedric and Clint. They wore dresses made by their Aunt Britta and were showered with love by so many others. Here are some of the pictures of the day:

Our precious little girls

So many arms to hold them

Our FOREVER Family - Wow, that means a lot.

I love this picture...Grandma and Grandpa Anderson and me admiring beautiful little Laurel. Laurel is named after Grandma Anderson's little sister (my great aunt). Aunt Laurel is like an older sister to my Dad since when she was twelve she came to live with their family (their mother, my great-grandma had died). She lived with them until she graduated from High School. She is one of the kindest, most generous and funny people I know...we hope our little Laurel will be the same (no pressure Laurel). Her middle name (Ann) is after Jeff's mom, Shirley..Ann is her middle name.

Four generations. My mom (on the left end), Grandma Dahl, Me, Maisy on Mom's lap and Laurel on Grandma Dahl's. Maisy is named after Grandma Dahl. Her name is Margaret. Maisy is the Scottish nickname for Margaret. This is extra meaningful since I got to go to Scotland with my Grandma (and Mom and Dad) as her traveling companion..we had a wonderful time in Scotland together...it is one of my most cherished memories. She is a very special lady, very, very special....and so is Maisy Dahl! Dahl is my mom's maiden name (and middle name now).

Four generations of the Anderson side. Dad on the left end with Maisy, Grandma Anderson, Grandpa Anderson with little Laurel and Me. I love all of these people SO MUCH.

The Stevenson's! We are missing a few (Curtis, husband to Heather, Ben and Kerri , Phillip and Rebecca and all of their kidlets) but it was so fun to see Heather (on the left with crying Laurel)...she flew all the way from Boston to be here! It was SO good to see her even if it wasn't for very long.

Heather's main goal was to before she left, be able to tell the girls apart...she really studied each of them and was happy to report by the end of her trip that she was successful! She didn't even cheat (it would have been so easy with the bracelets Grandma Stevenson made for them)...

Aren't they great?! Thanks Grandma Stevenson!

I love this face! (Laurel)

Both Grandma's and Grandpa. I was so happy that they could be there. There is a total of 268 years of experience sitting here! Grandma Dahl is turning 90 this summer, Grandma Anderson is 86 and Grandpa Anderson just turned 92 yesterday! It meant so much to me that he was in the prayer circle when both girls were blessed. He was there to help give me a blessing before we went through the whole in-vitro process....he also gave me my patriarchal blessing. I wish I could express how much I completely love and admire him.

Grandma Dahl didn't stop all day! She is always busy helping. She doesn't say anything, she just sees what needs to be done and gets to work. I want to be just like her when I grow up. When I served a mission, they taught us in the Missionary Training Center the importance of striving for the quality of "quiet dignity"...that is the best way to explain Grandma Dahl...I respect her and love her so much.

Part of the Heavenly day was that Mom and Grandma Dahl came over a few hours before church to help get the girls ready...they gave them baths, folded clothes, ironed dresses and "oohed" and "awed" over the girls the whole time...

Grandma Dahl with her name-sake

Britta taking pictures of the girls in their dresses...she worked for five months on those dresses...I still get tears in my eyes when I think about it (not to mention that she has eczema so her hands always hurt. She worried that her dried, cracked hands would bleed on the dresses the whole time she worked on them...seriously, never a thought for herself). The dresses are so beyond beautiful.

I hope that Laurel and Maisy have the same kind of special relationship Britta and I enjoy. I was so happy when we were told we were having two girls for this reason...a sister is the sweetest blessing.

Walk away from the knife Jerry...:) Papa Jerry is so cute with the girls. We love him so much! It was so nice of Jerry and Shirley to host us at their big, beautiful home.

Papa (my dad) talking to Calvin...all the kids love him. He is the best Dad any girl could ever ask for...

Calvin and Laurel...Calvin was so cute with the girls...always wanting to hold them and getting so tickled when they smiled or basically did anything!


Britta's little Elsa Lou...


Clint (Britta's hubby) with Abby O. (her youngest)

Two of my favorite people...Camille (Micah's wife and my good friend) and Nigull (Nigel..the girls' cousin).

Joey Buttafuko...in the green (Johanna Holliday) and her friend Veronica came from Pocatello, ID. Joey just finished getting her Masters in Family Therapy (o.k. almost a whole year ago!). She is one of my oldest, truest friends...I was so glad she came ...Veronica is pretty cool too!

Micah looking like a pirate with a baby rattle ... ARRGH!

Issac representing the Canlas Family. I think he is pointing to a bee that he and Dallin and Elsa found. Thanks for coming Isaac!


Some of my cousins came too...Cherie and her family and Robin (her back to us) and her little family. It was so good to see them!

The front side of Robin with her newest little one.

and Cherie holding Laurel

And we can't forget the Covey's with little Johnny Tsunami! Thanks guys for coming to celebrate!


Jeff's Aunt Amy talking to Mom and Britta



A four generation picture with Cedric and Scout. I love how Scout is studying Grandma Dahl here...she's sporting her dress that Uncle Andy (Andy Saffron) brought back from Cancun.



Aren't these flowers beautiful?! LIFE is beautiful!

The End.