Slam dunk!

Maybe that's an irreverent title for a post on our oldest child's baptism, but that's a bit how it felt to have Bennett make that first and crucial step in returning to live with his Heavenly Father someday.  Entering the waters of baptism, just as our Savior did, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost are hands-down the best and most important choices he's made in his eight years of life.  The Holy Ghost will guide and direct him in future decisions.  It will comfort him in moments of trial and pain.  And most reassuring to this mother of a third-grader is that it will warn him of danger.  I have a feeling the next ten years of his life will warrant a whole lot of warning. 

I love this shot.  Beaming father and son!

 Benito wanted to have his baptism as close to his eighth birthday as possible, so we picked the nearest Saturday. It's just a day, right? Wrong. It happened to be the same date as our ward's huge annual craft day. It also happened to be the same date as the school carnival, THE big fall fundraiser that we've always supported in the past and that typically generates a huge turnout. Whoops. 

Proud Ma and Pa

Our fears about having picked a bad Saturday didn't matter in the end.  Ninety people packed into that little junior chapel for Mr. B and his baptism.  Humbled and touched seem understated adjectives in describing how we felt about all those who came to support us.  I felt terrible about the standing room only situation, but never did we anticipate that many people coming out on such a busy Saturday.  Friends from church, friends from school, friends from soccer, former primary teachers, former school teachers, and of course family.  So many people we love and appreciate in one room.

California girl at heart, Grandma Paula gives the baptism boy a hug

Keeping in mind that some of B's school and soccer friends might be there, we prayerfully approached the baptismal program with a goal of keeping it simple and Savior-focused.  Seeing as we let Bennett pick the songs, speakers, and prayers, all that left us with was the interlude--which for some reason stressed me out to no end--and musical numbers and such.  I never realized how many little decisions go into one baptism.

 

 

Connie, Little Aunt Kendra, Bennett, and Grandad Jory

Conducting: Mark Kiene

Opening song: When I Am Baptized

Chorister: Connie         Pianist: Paul Bankhead

Invocation: Mommy

Talk on Baptism: Aunt Kendra (Seymour)

Musical Number: Grandma Paula

Baptism by Daddy (witnesses: Grandad Jory & Grandpa Geddes)

Interlude: Baptism sung by Cynthia Lee

while Eli & Millie held up pictures of the Savior's life

Notes written to Bennett by all those in attendance

Talk on the Holy Ghost: Grandpa Geddes

Confirmation by Daddy, Grandad, Grandpa, Uncle Joseph

Ward welcome by Steve Hurst

Primary welcome by Cathy Anderson

Closing song: God's Plan for Me

Benediction: Grandad Jory

 

Grandma and Grandpa Geddes

Everything felt just right.  To me at least, the Spirit ratified the truth of the ordinance of baptism and the power of the priesthood.  I felt Heavenly Father's love for my own child and knew that this was what He wanted for me and for Bennett in that moment in time.  I hope I never forget that feeling.  Nothing could be better.

 



B's first-grade teacher came by for some pre-baptism congrats 

Only regret? Forgetting to take pictures of everyone else who came to the baptism. We got so busy talking to people afterwards that neither Stephen nor I thought to bust out a camera and document the moment. I think I'll regret that one for a long time to come... but at least we have the notecards everyone wrote to B during the interlude to remember who came and the sweet things they said to him.