Carianne

I love April. Springtime, new beginnings, General Conference, Easter, the pageant, beautiful weather. . .Birthdays!

Yes, Carianne was born in this beautiful month! Right on Easter weekend, putting me in the hospital over Easter Sunday that year. Another girl! (Growing up with 3 brothers, I thought I was destined to be a mother of only boys.) How did that happen?!
I always buy the little candy beaded jelly beans at Sees at her birthday time. (Randy brought them to celebrate her birthday at the hospital.) I still eat those beans with fond memories! The hospital nurses also led me to a new lotion . . . Keri lotion. How appropriate! Caianne even had a lotion named after her! I never use it that I don't think of her.

When Carianne was 2 years old, we had Jeff. Our little house on Juniper St. in Mesa had a front room with a big window. We had a stuffed, soft blue, rocking chair (a treasure from my memories with my Grandma Ruth) that fit perfectly in there. The heavenly seat came in handy, especially in the middle of the night, when he'd wake up hungry. Quietly I'd bundle him up and tip toe in the dark, to the cozy chair. Every night, however, just as we settled in, I heard faint little footsteps. But mostly it was the sound of her soft blanket dragging lightly beside her as she floated down the hall. Sucking her thumb on one hand, carrying the blanket next to her ear with the other, and her hair a beautiful mess, she'd lay her little head on my lap and close her eyes. I could never resist rubbing her sweet head. Then, I'd lift her up on my lap with Jeff, holding them both close and rock them back to peaceful slumber in the quiet moonlight. It was such a peaceful and loving time. If I could stop the clock, I'd go back to those nights.
Carianne is a blessing. Full of life and light.

I LOVE you dearly, Carianne.
Happy Birthday!
Mom