Eight, Eight, Eight is GREAT!

Julianna turned 8 this year.  She wanted a rabbit, her very own bike (since she's been riding a hand me down), and to be baptized.  

Eight.

I can't believe she's 8.  I still refer to her as 5.  I don't know why but I can't let her grow up. Eight is such an amazing age to be.  So precious.  So lovely.  So important in our faith.  8 is the age of accountability and the time where you can choose to be baptized.  Julianna decided to enter the waters of baptism and become a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  To make this important day even more special she was baptized on her actual birthday.  She could hardly wait to be baptized, she was so excited! I took some photos and we also had photos taken.  She shared her baptism day with one of her good friends so we had photos are both of the girls taken as well.  It was a beautiful day for a beautiful girl.  (The first two photos of Julianna in her dress and the one above were taken by me, the next 5 were taken by April Kentner, my friend and real photographer)

 

 

Oh...and she got the bike she asked for.  She didn't get the bunny.  

 

Day 3: Perfect Date...aka Elise's Baptism

30 Day Blog Challenge

Your Idea of the Perfect First Date

AKA: This idea is dumb so let's talk about Elise's Baptism

Today was the "perfect date" for a baptism. Elise turned 8 years old on December 10 and this morning she was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It was a very special day for her and for our family. One of the neatest things that happened today was that Elise's school teacher, who is not a member of our church, came to the baptism. Elise had been talking about inviting her teacher for weeks and she was so excited when she saw her come through the door. She adores her teacher and it was a wonderful expereince to have her join in celebration with us on this day.

Ashlynne wrote a beautiful talk on baptism and told Elise not to be scared because daddy would be holding her the whole time. It was such a sweet experience between sisters because it was a real fear that Elise had and Ashlynne's calm words soothed her. We went to the baptismal font and gathered around to see Elise be baptized by immersion by her father. As soon as she had been baptized I met her at the side of the font with a towel. I wrapped her tight and she said, with the biggest grin and the brightest eyes, I GOT BAPTIZED! It was so wonderful and she just kept smiling and smiling.

I'm a little sad that we didnt get a picture of the whole family but we have some wonderful memories. Unfortunately, the only camera we have requires a special battery and I failed to charge it prior to the Baptism. I took a couple pictures with my iphone plus we did have GrandMarie take Baptism photos when she visited during Thanksgiving. It was an absolutely beautiful baptism with lots of friends and family.

{{Check out some photos from her Baptism photo shoot here}}

It's great to be 8...

On May 2nd Brinton had his 8th birthday. Over the last 8 years there have been many times when I wondered what the future held for our little boy. Would he have a "normal" life? Would the effects of his Lymphangioma and subsequent surgeries be so great that he would be unable to function in this world? Would he walk, talk, hear? Would he live?

As you can imagine watching him enter the waters of baptism and then be confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was such a great faith and testimony builder for me. The Lord does answer prayers...Brinton walks, talks, hears....lives...and he was able to make the choice to be baptized. I was so filled with joy for him. I just wanted to highlight some wonderful things about my son.

He is so funny. He has perfect comedic timing.

He is a wonderful artist and he would really like to be an art teacher.

He loves basketball and running.

He loves to read Captain Underpants books and the occasional comic book.

He is a very loving big brother towards Liam and enjoys playing with him. (ie. dragging him around and making believe he can play Rescue Heroes)

He is a very loyal friend.

He is very musical, he has a good voice (when he chooses to sing loudly) He is a little shy.

He enjoys being a Boy Scout, has earned his Bobcat and is diligently working toward his Wolf. He has a goal to earn all the arrows he can before his 9th birthday
(I think thats like 100 electives he has to do...or something...ask him...lol)

Baptism Day

Yesterday was an amazingly spiritual day. I can't even begin to explain how amazing it was to watch my first born enter the waters of baptism and take upon herself the name of Christ and be baptized a member of the church. Wow! That about sums up my feelings. Getting her dressed in her pretty little white dress to head over to the church was so emotional. I reflected on the day 8 years ago that I dressed her in her little white dress and booties to be blessed....it seems like that was just a couple months ago and yet here we are. I got misty eyed as I told her how proud of her I was and I said Do you know what you'll be doing many years from now when your child turns 8? (fully expecting her to say preparing for their baptism) and she says "I don't know, being frustrated?!" LOL!! It made me laugh. It also made me realize that I need to take a step back and simplify.
As we got to the church she had to change into the baptismal clothes. Again, I got misty eyed realizing that in a few short minutes my daughter would be baptized. Jeremiah and Ashlynne did a few "practice runs" as he showed her what she should expect during the baptism and then the baptism program began. It was lovely and so very spiritual. The best part for me was when Ashlynne got up and sang "Teach Me to Walk in the Light" in her beautiful sweet little voice. She was not even nervous standing there in front of everyone. And then as an added bonus she sang the last part in Spanish, which everyone thought was so neat. The baptism was so beautiful and afterwards the confirmation was amazing. All day I kept saying WOW YOU REALLY GOT BAPTIZED. I asked her how she felt and she said "Even though my hair is all wet I feel so warm!" How amazing! It was an incredible day for our family!!! We bought her a beautiful little baptismal scrapbook to record her thoughts and feelings and she has spent most of today doing so. She even got up in fast and testimony meeting and bore her testimony all by herself. I still can't believe we've come this far!! I still feel like she was just born! Wow!

I can't believe it....

Everyday is getting closer and closer to Ashlynne's baptism on December 1st. I thought I still I had several weeks left and it's next Saturday! I can't believe how quickly this month has gone. The last week has been hectic!

*Spent several hours making the invitations last week.
*Dear sweet husband addressed & stuffed all the envelopes
*Purchased White dress for before and after the baptism
*Called all family members to let them know the invites were on their way...(since they went out later then I had planned)...

I still need to plan for the luncheon afterward and find a pianist for Ash because she is singing "Teach Me to Walk in the Light" and we still haven't gotten one.
Not to mention I have to also buy her tights and shoes and other incidentals.
Oh! and clean my house and ready it for all the family. I feel like there is so much to do. On top of that Ashlynne has a goal to finish the Book of Mormon the day before her baptism and we are about 3 chapters behind.
I think when all is said and done the day will be fantastic and the spirit will be felt so strongly that all the stress of planning for the big day will wash away. But in the mean time I wish there wasn't so much to do and so little time. ;)