Somehow, in the blink of an eye, Thad turned eight years old and was baptized last Saturday, March 4, 2017. Time passing so quickly while raising children seems so cliche, yet here I am watching time pass quickly before my very eyes. Sometimes it makes me sad, but much more often, it makes me happy beyond measure because watching kids learn and grow and become just makes my heart swell.
Thad's baptism was definitely a defining, happy, special, sacred and unforgettable experience for us, and by us I mostly mean, Brian, Thad and me. I hope Wes and Eve are able to remember a snippet of it in their brains, the spirit they felt, their brother entering the waters of baptism and I hope and pray with all my heart their desire will be the same. But Thad, Brian and I shared a very special connection that day that I will never forget and I have thanked the Lord over and over for the wonderful experience that it was.
We had a few Family Home Evenings and talked frequently about his baptism the month or so leading up to it and we felt he understood and was excited about baptism. On his birthday Brian asked him what he was most excited for after turning eight, and he said, "To get baptized!" This boy has a heart that desires to do right and he has yearned for the opportunity to be baptized over this last year. He has made us so proud with his righteous desires and wonderful example.
Grandma Cindy and Grandma Teresa flew in on Friday night and helped that night and the next morning finish up preparations for the luncheon to follow the baptism. I also caught Thad and dad doing some practice runs before the real deal.
And soon enough it was time to send our boys off to the stake center-
Thad wouldn't want anyone else by his side.
They had a wonderful morning getting ready and Brian sent me some cute pictures of them before we got there-
The program started at 10am and the stake did a very nice job. They include the youth in planning the program and the two boys that gave talks on Baptism and Holy Ghost were short and sweet and perfect for 11 eight-year-olds waiting to get baptized.
Thad would be baptized in the last group and as we waited in the chapel, I basked in the love and support my oldest child and our family felt. We had grandmas, our best Texas friends, a couple of Thad's primary teachers and one of his friends from school. We didn't have the largest group out of all the kids there, but we definitely felt the same (or more!) amount of love all the other kids did!
It was finally Thad's turn to be baptized and as I watched him enter the font with his father, my heart jumped to my throat and the joy I felt was incredible. Brian started to get choked up as he started the prayer and as soon as Thad heard that, he got choked up too. I held Eve and sat with Wes and just felt so grateful for this amazing little family I have been blessed with and the life we are leading. The gospel means everything to us and even though we don't live it perfectly, we are always trying and I know that is what matters most. And that is exactly the beauty of baptism. We promise our Heavenly Father that we will always try to follow Him and in return He helps us to do just that. Living the gospel isn't always the easiest path, but it is the most fulfilling and joyful path and I saw Thad's testimony begin/deepen of the importance of the gospel and its saving ordinances that beautiful Saturday morning.
We went back to the chapel and waited for the boys to return to be confirmed and Thad came in and sat with me. I hugged him and asked how he was and he was quite emotional. I told him how proud I was of him and asked if felt happy and he just said yes and kept hugging me. We were sitting by his friend Azael from school, so I lightened the mood and he had fun spending time with his friend before it was his turn to be confirmed. He went up and was confirmed by Brian with four other men in the circle; Uncle Todd, Bishop Bjarnason, Brady Williams and Ryan Ballestero. After his confirmation he couldn't contain his emotions and we hugged and shared some very special minutes together that I will never forget.
(Kristen snuck this picture of our special moments and I will always cherish it)
I was so happy that he wanted me as he felt this overwhelming amount of joy. I wasn't prepared for him to be so emotional, and it was probably the best part of the day for me because I was able to see him KNOW that what he did was right. I watched him FEEL the joy and happiness that comes from following commandments. I watched him and his testimony GROW in the joy that the gospel brings. And really, that is my #1 hope and dream with all of my kids. That they gain their OWN testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and live their lives in accordance with it to reap the joy and blessings that come from doing so.
It took a while for him to settle down and he did good until someone asked about how he was doing and he would get a little shaky again. So we took a family picture and he headed to the store with Brian to have some time to himself and let all his emotions settle.
Afterwards we enjoyed a wonderful luncheon with some of our very favorite people. I don't have a big house, but it was full of love and people I adore.
NACHO BAR!
We couldn't have asked for a better afternoon with better people.
We are truly blessed.
And Thad's favorite gift of the day-
His very own set of scriptures!
He was so excited and that very night he read them until he fell asleep. He has made it to Genesis Chapter 11 over the course of the last week and I am just so proud of him and his excitement and happiness he finds in choosing the right.
