EIGHT.

Baptized.

My baby is old enough to be baptized.

Time really does fly when you're having fun, I guess?  Harrison is such a good kid.  I seriously was so proud of him this day.  He was happy, he was excited, and I felt like he really glowed all day.  I asked him right before the baptism started if he was nervous or excited, and he thought for a couple seconds and responded, "Mostly excited!"  I feel like he really understood what was happening and just how important the decision he was making that day really was.  Later when I asked what his favorite part of the day was he said, "Well...  all of it!"  I love this kid so much. 

 

I hope he always remembers his baptism.  If not any of the details, just the feeling of happiness and excitement he had that day.  I tell Peter all the time that I hope our kids "get it."  I can't make them believe what I believe, I can't give them their testimonies.  They can lean on my testimony for a time, and I can teach them, I can lead by example, I can encourage them, but ultimately it's up to them whether they choose to accept and live the gospel of Jesus Christ.  And I hope that's an easy decision for them.  I hope the "get it" meaning I hope that their own testimonies come easily to them.  I hope they are quick to see that choosing the right will lead them to the most happiness in life.  I hope they can understand the gospel, accept it, and live it, without hesitation or doubts. I hope they just simply... "get it."

I thought I would cry when Harrison got baptized.  He's my baby.  Somehow he grew up to be eight years old!  I had been thinking all week of my mission and how I got a little choked up at the sight of investigators coming up out of the water, and thought that surely I would have the same reaction. But he went in, and he was just so darn cute, that all I could really think about was how happy I was for him.  Then he had a little foot pop up and they had to do it again, and we were back in the chapel before I knew it.  No tears.  I was surprised! 

 

 

Then came the time for his confirmation.  I caught myself of guard - THIS is when I teared up.  I thought I was in the clear!  You just can't trust those darn pregnancy hormones.... 

Another mission story:  One late night my companion and I were walking to the church.  It was dark, we were, as usual, walking on scary back roads with poor lighting that I would never in a million years walk on again without being a missionary but didn't think twice about at that time. Without all the details, there was a small incident in which a man appeared and disappeared very quickly, but not before touching the backsides of me and my companion.  I felt shocked, and afraid, and violated.  (and if you're my mom reading this, sorry...  these are stories I didn't include in my letters home...)  I couldn't believe how dirty that man was and how dirty he made me feel.  We were just minutes away from the church and ran the rest of the way. When we entered the building there were at least a dozen priesthood holders standing in the foyer.  The bishop was there, his counselors, several auxiliary leaders, and without even blinking they one by one came over and shook my hand and my companion's hand.  They didn't know what had just happened.  It was just to say hello.  Just to welcome us to the building. 

I wish you could understand the overwhelming feeling of purity, cleanliness, and POWER that I felt with each one of those handshakes. 

People, there is power in the priesthood. 

I was moved to tears as we stood there in the church shaking the hands of these brethren.  Opposed to the dirty and vile hands we had just encountered, these hands were clean and worthy.  These hands were able to bless and uplift.  These hands were able to serve and honor Christ's name.  My testimony of the priesthood grew ten fold that night.  Never have I been so aware or so grateful of the worthiness and power one has when they hold the priesthood.  Those hands were doing the work of Christ here on this earth, and it was nothing short of miraculous and incredible.  It was, in that moment, blatantly obvious the difference between the two types of hands.  I could feel it. So powerfully that it was almost like I could see it each time a hand took mine.  It was more than just being grateful for the priesthood or aware of the great blessing it is to have been restored on this earth, for the first time in my life I could literally feel it's power in each one of these handshakes, and with it I could feel God's love for me.   

How blessed we are to have men here on the earth with hands and hearts clean enough to hold such a calling!  My testimony of the power of the priesthood is deep and unwavering.  And when large groups of worthy priesthood holders gather together, well...  it gets me just about every time.  I remember this experience and I am reminded of the great power there is in the priesthood. 

So surely I should have been prepared for Harrison's confirmation, but I didn't think it through! I cried when I saw how lucky he is so have so many worthy examples of priesthood holders in his life.  His dad.  Two grandpas.  Uncles.  Good family friends.  As a large group of priesthood holders stood and gathered around Harrison to confirm him a member of the church and to give him the gift of the Holy Ghost, I was overcome, once again, with the awesomeness that is the priesthood.  How incredible it is.  How amazing it is that Harrison has it's influence in his life.  It was as if a troop of guardian angels were surrounding him, and I once again felt it's power and greatness.  Thank you, to each of you who participated in that ordinance, for being worthy to do so, for being an example in Harrison's life, for using your hands to do the good, clean, worthy things that Christ would have you do with them. 

THAT was my favorite part of the baptism. 

The priesthood is awesome.  I am so grateful that it is here on this earth, that I have a husband worthy to hold it and use it to bless our family, that Harrison was able to be baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints by the proper authority so that he can begin his journey back to Heavenly Father.  I'm so glad Harrison chose to be baptized.  I am so grateful for the gospel in my life and the great blessing that it is to be a member of the church.  I hope that he remembers the happy he felt on this day and that he will follow in the footsteps of the great men that gathered around him and blessed him that morning.  They are big shoes to fill.  I know he can do it!  He's already off to a great start.