An Angel - the Death of a Baby

Last week, I went to a funeral for my nephew's baby.  She was three days old.  Her tiny casket was open and lying inside was the most perfect, tiny baby I have ever seen.  Before she was born, her parents knew there was a problem with her heart which the doctors could not fix. These same doctors told her parents that they would have maybe two to four weeks with their baby.  I've thought a lot about the agony this must have caused this young couple.

Knowing the fate that awaited his unborn niece, another of my nephews used his talents to lovingly make a tiny casket.  This was such a selfless act of brotherly love. Just thinking about his kindness brings tears to my eyes. 

Today, I wanted to share a few thoughts and my cherished belief.  I believe each of us comes to earth to receive a body and to be tried and tested to see how we will live our lives. When a baby comes to earth and only lives a short time, that baby is perfect already. Because that baby is already an angel he or she doesn't need to be tested.  My church teaches that if a child dies before the age of accountability - which is eight years old, then they automatically go back to live with Heavenly Father and receive the highest glory he has to give to them.  That little baby came to earth to receive her body and that is what happened to this great-niece of mine.  She was already so perfect, she did not need to be tried or tested.

All children start out their mortal probation in purity and innocence because of the atonement. Our revelations also say, “The Son of God hath atoned for original guilt, wherein the sins of the parents cannot be answered upon the heads of the children, for they are whole from the foundation of the world.” (Moses 6:54.) - Bruce R. McConkie

Joseph Smith’s Vision of the Celestial Kingdom contains this statement: “And I also beheld that all children who die before they arrive at the years of accountability are saved in the celestial kingdom of heaven.” (Doctrine Covenants 137:10)

We may rest assured that all things are controlled and governed by Him whose spirit children we are. He knows the end from the beginning, and he provides for each of us the testings and trials which he knows we need. President Joseph Fielding Smith once told me that we must assume that the Lord knows and arranges beforehand who shall be taken in infancy and who shall remain on earth to undergo whatever tests are needed in their cases. This accords with Joseph Smith’s statement: “The Lord takes many away, even in infancy, that they may escape the envy of man, and the sorrows and evils of this present world; they were too pure, too lovely, to live on earth.” (Teachings, pp. 196–97.) It is implicit in the whole scheme of things that those of us who have arrived at the years of accountability need the tests and trials to which we are subject and that our problem is to overcome the world and attain that spotless and pure state which little children already possess.

“And their little children need no repentance, neither baptism. Behold, baptism is unto repentance to the fulfilling the commandments unto the remission of sins.

“But little children are alive in Christ, even from the foundation of the world; if not so, God is a partial God, and also a changeable God, and a respecter to persons; for how many little children have died without baptism!”   -  ELDER SHAYNE M. BOWEN

At the end of the graveside service, pink balloons were released.  Notice how one heart is pulling the other heart balloon up into heaven.  This made me think, "Will the thought of a cherished loved one who has passed onto the next life help us to be better, to act better, to lift others and be more Christ like?  

Sending love to all of those that go through this situation.  Especially sending love and support to my older brother and his family, especially my nephew and his wife.  xoxo

102nd Dipsea Race

For years, Mike has wanted to run the Dipsea Race. His father ran on this trail and talked about his runs and because his father talked about it, Mike wanted to do it. This race is the oldest race in the nation...102 years old this year. For this race, Mike ran 7.4 miles up and up and up the coastal mountains starting in Mill Valley and ending in Stinson Beach. There are also about 668 stairs which aren't even, there are rocks and roots sticking out of the trail and this year there was heat.  Of course, Mike did it and I'm proud of all his training and efforts to be in shape enough to run this. You'll never believe who won the race, not it wasn't Mike but a 72 year old man! (They add different handicaps to the runner's times.) Mike finished #967 out of 1438 runners - amazing considering the difficulty. 

His good friend, John Boro, ran in this race several years ago and on Saturday took Mike and myself over the tough parts of the race and offered Mike tips to finish. 

 Coming through the finish line.

So Blessed to Live Now - William Miller 1775 - 1840

I have been going thru all the papers concerning the history of my ancestors (my mother was really into geneology) and came across a document called "Inventory of the Estate of William Miller" which was filed on 27 August 1840.  William lived in South Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania from 1775 until 1840.  His father, Adam Miller, actually bought his land from the Indians sometime around 1769.  Amazing heritage.  He had nine or ten children. Anyway, as I was typing up a transcript of all of his early goods, I got an overwhelming feeling of being so blessed to have been born in this day and age.  Here is a list of his worldly goods, and according to history books, he was quite wealthy.  Neighbors owed him close to $1,000 pounds or was it dollars by then...hum? His records look like a mini loan statement from a bank.

1 - Stove and pipe



2 - Iron Ports


Gunsmith tools and box


2 - Smoothern Irons


Sundrys


Dunk and tools


Basket and Sundrys


1 - Saddle Bag


1 - Gradel


2 - Kettels


1 - Rifel and Sundrys


2 - Pairs of Boots


1 - Wearing Apparel


1 - Bed and bedding


1 - Table


1 - Small table and one Waiter


1 - Looking glass


6 - Chairs


1 - Coverlid and one blanket


5 - Books and one map


1 - Trunk and Sundrys


1 - Clock or cloack (not sure which)


1 - Tea pot and sugar bowl, pitcher


1 - Dozen knives and forks


2 - Bottles and 5 glasses


1 - Waiter and Sundrys


1 - Prayer book and Sundrys


Bedding and Sundrys


Dishes, Plates, Cuts and saucers


1 - Drawer


3 - Pictures


2 - Hats

How long do you think it would take you to make a list of all of our worldly possessions?

Marshmallow & Cutout Cake Ideas

Do these images inspire you to be creative?

More fun ideas with Marshmallows,

I've never made these but always wanted to

...maybe for the grandchildren.

Can you guess that I think cut-out cakes are adorable? 

Again, the grandchildren will benefit

from my love of being creative.

Fun Recipes for Children

While cleaning out my recipes last night, I came across the following favorite recipes.

• Monster Munchies were a favorite of Rob's.  This came out of a Star Wars activity book. 
• The bird's nests are super easy and fun to make around Easter or what about after talking about birds or going bird watching with your child?  This came from a magazine called Ranger Rick. 
• The cutout cakes are so fun.  I made the space ship for an outer space birthday party for Rob right after we moved to Utah.  I think these adorable cake ideas were from Good Housekeeping Magazine.  Brittany, how about the truck or giraffe for James? 
• I added Cheesy Pizza Soup onto our family recipe sharing blog: http://candriangirls.blogspot.com/

Candrian Relatives



The little boy in the middle, behind his grandfather is Robert Lincoln Candrian.  The old man is Frederick Hauser. I just love this photo.  I can see the love in Frederick Hauser's face for his grandsons. Can you?

  This is one of the few family photos I've ever seen of both of Robert's parents and his brother, Bill. 
Robert is the taller boy in the photo.

Don't you just love the old car?  I wonder what kind it is?



Robert L. Candrian winning a high school track race.
 He held a record for his running that wasn't broken for something like 40 years!

Such a wonderful thing has happened, I've become acquainted with a lost relative.  So, for you Gabby and all the rest of my nieces that read this blog, here are a few photos of your Candrian relatives.  Sorry, they aren't cropped.  These were scanned a long time ago and I had no idea what I was doing back then.

Crafting Saturday

Saturday afternoon was family bonding - craft time. My sister Carol, niece Lorain, great-niece Aubree and sister-in-law, Priscilla joined me for some crafting at my home.  Loved the girl bonding time . We made cards, Carol sorted photos (we laughed at how young some of us looked... we may have laughed at how you looked too), Lorain worked on a cute month to month craft kit and Priscilla whips out the most adorable thank you cards I have ever seen. We diverted our attention by showing the video of Andrea's date on http://www.themormonbachelor.com/ (Please go to date #4 and "like" Andrea...if you agree with me that she's the most amazing person out there and how could you not agree with me)! We read the clever date review of Andrea on http://realitymormon.blogspot.com/  (seriously cleaver blog on these dates) had lunch ,  crafted some more and then enjoyed a little cup of frozen yogurt...oh so yummy and healthy too.  Thanks for coming and crafting with me!