Grace's Baptism

Saturday was a very special day.  Our Grace was baptized.  Eager, as always, she chose the day after her eighth birthday for this big and important occasion (In our church children have the opportunity to be baptized after they turn 8.)  Months ago, when she found out that her birthday was going to be on a Friday, she was filled with excitement as she told me her wishes to be baptized the very next day (She had noted that most baptisms she had been to were on Saturdays!)  She has been so sweet about her decision to be baptized.  Her anticipation had been building up this past year as she had realized what this special birthday meant. I love that she realized the significance of this decision to be baptized, and that it was important to her to prepare herself for it. She increased her desire to study her scriptures on her own,  say her own prayers, and asked a lot of questions.  It has been a wonderful experience for me as her mother to witness just how capable this bright little child is of recognizing truth and wanting to do what is right.  I love her so much, and it makes me so happy that she can share in the joy I experience in having a testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The baptism was beautiful and we are so grateful to those who were able to come share the evening with us.  The biggest surprise was that my parents drove twelve hours to be there for Grace.  We had thought that they wouldn't be able to make it, but surprised us with the news the day before they arrived!  Grace was thrilled when they showed up at our house on her birthday (she had no idea they were on their way!)  She also had her other Grandma and Grandpa, Uncle Brian, Aunt Sarah, Uncle Jason, cousins: Olivia, Chandler, Davis and Hayes, and a few friends from church there for the event.

The moment that stands out to me most is when she came up out of the water and walked out of the font where I met her with a clean, white towel.  As I wrapped her up in that towel and looked at my beautiful, smiling daughter who had just made a sacred covenant with her Heavenly Father, I was overcome with emotion.  I knew that Grace knew exactly what she had just promised and that she felt peace and happiness with her decision.  It was a feeling and a moment I will never forget.

Grandpa and Grandma P, Davis, Chandler, Grace, Grandpa and Grandma L, Daphne, Olivia, Eve, Maren, Aaron, Brian, Sarah, Hayes, Jason

First Day of School

Today was the first day of school for these two.  Where did the summer go?  I really wasn't ready for this, even though they seemed to be.  Is this just a taste of what is to come?  A lifetime of them ready to move on and me trying to hold on?  I know that it's just the first and third grades we are talking about here, but then again it was only just kindergarten and second grade...and before that it was just preschool and first grade.  These sweet children are growing up before my eyes (now I sound like an old lady.)

Don't get me wrong, I am excited for them.  I love to see them grow and develop into the amazing little people that they are (its one of the perks.)  But even as I pump them up for life and encourage them to keep on progressing, I can't help but secretly well-up with tears on a day that it is so evident that they are doing just that.