Katelyn's Baptism

Our Katelyn.

We've had 8 years to teach and train her, and now that she's suddenly accountable she seems so grown up!  I know that she does know right from wrong and that she wants to follow Jesus Christ and be like Him.  

 She was so excited to be baptized!

 It was really special too, because her friend/our neighbor had been taking the missionary lessons at our house the last few weeks and she got baptized the same day as Katelyn.  It was cool during the lessons to see how much Katelyn knows about the gospel and the scriptures, and she was really excited that she could help her friend be baptized too.

 Her baptism day was a little busy, but we got everyone looking good including the elaborate "16 twists into a bun" hairdo Katelyn had picked and we practiced twice beforehand. :) Also in a classic move Whitney decided to be very emotional and jealous :)  Right before the baptism started I was in the bathroom feeding Maris and trying to comfort Whitney as she cried "Why do we have to wait until we're 8 to be baptized??"  Poor girl.  

 Later when I asked Katelyn what her favorite part of the day was, she said "being with Dad". It was so sweet for them to get to sit together and be together and do such a special thing.  He got to perform sacred ordinances for his little girl!  What an amazing thing.

 When they were in the font together they were both just beaming. :)  Eric did a great job, and then hugged her, it was so cute.  Then she came up the stairs saying the water was way warmer than she thought it would be, and I was a little teary and so happy to hug my big girl and go into the bathroom with her and her friend Allison and Allison's mom Susie and help her change.  She couldn't stop smiling. 

 I'll never forget walking back down the hall to the chapel with Katelyn.  She was twirling and skipping and grinning, and I couldn't help but think of the next time she'll be in a white dress, so happy and twirling and beautiful--when she gets married!  It's going to come in the blink of an eye, I know it!  She'll be all grown up and making her next covenants with God and it will be so wonderful--but my little girl will be gone!  While I watched her I got a lump in my throat and took a couple of quick steps to catch up to her and held her hand and kissed her. :)

 Her Confirmation was also really sweet.  Having all those men around her who love her, and Eric blessing her to be able to understand and recognize and use the Holy Ghost in all the ways that it can help her, very cool.

I am so grateful for the sacrifices my parents made to be at their first granddaughter's baptism!  She was also lucky to have Derek, Jonathan, Melissa, Katrina and Phillip, Lydia and Ryder there!  Sadly Grandpa Murray had to be in Japan and couldn't come, but Grandma was there and gave a great talk :), and Elizabeth, Ryan, Cortnee and Cleo came.  

 We had treats after and our friends the Shaws and the Bishop joined us.  

It was a great day!  And me and Eric had our first baptism as a companionship. :)