Choosing the Right

Man, I really feel like I'm behind on blogging...it seems like forever ago that Hayden got baptized when in reality it was only two months ago. Two long months ago.

 

We decided to get Hayden baptized in Seattle. We were headed up that way for a family reunion and Jeremiah's two sisters live up there, so we figured it was a good meeting spot for such a special event. And the location was pretty sweet too, we used my sister-in-law's stake center which just so happens to be located right behind the Seattle Temple. It was a gorgeous setting.

 

Let me just say that it's kind of hard to plan a baptism when it's not in your own home ward. And you're working full time. And Pinterest takes up your other free time. I didn't even print programs! Not that I didn't have a program outlined, I just didn't have it available in print for guests to see.

Then, to top it off, no one showed up early to fill the font so the baptism started about an hour later than it was supposed to.

 

Fine, someone didn't want my baby to get baptized.

 

Well tough. We forged on.

 

My whole immediate family was in attendance, meaning Mom, Dad, Carissa and her fam, Celeste and her fam, and Kory and his fam. Aunt Mary from my dad's side was also there. Jeremiah's sister Amy was there with her kids, and she surprised us and brought Nana Lafranca! The kids were so excited.

 

Jeremiah likes to play "paparazzi" and continued to take pictures as I tried to wrestle my camera away from him.

 



The baptism program was beautiful (and I'm not just saying that because I planned it). Amy and Celeste gave beautiful talks on baptism and the Holy Ghost. Nana Lynda made Hayden a fleece soccer blanket to remind him of the warmth he would feel with the Holy Ghost. He has since stopped using the Mickey Mouse blanket he's had since he was a baby and sleeps with this soccer blanket every night. Carissa, Rix, and Olivia sang a baptism song and I even played the piano...of course I practiced about a bajillion times but it went over so well.

 

The baptism and confirmation themselves were amazing. Hayden looked so peaceful and confident in his decision. I'm so proud of him for choosing to become a member of this church.

 



 

I took baptism pictures a few weeks following Hayden's baptism.

 

Hayden may be my wild child, he has quite the personality and can manipulate about as well as an politician, but he's such an amazing little boy. He's always the first to give me hugs when I get home from work and the first to notice when I'm not feeling well. He loves his younger siblings and has shown a lot of patience with them. I'm so proud to be his mom and to watch him grow into a strong and faithful child of our Heavenly Father.