Yesterday was such a special day in our family. I told Mylie she should write down everything about how she felt so she wouldn't forget. I want to remember how I felt too!
Personally, I have been in a spiritual famine for the past few years. However, the last few months, and especially yesterday, I felt like the heavens were opened and spiritual manna poured down on me. Mylie's baptism was such a special day and I am proud of her for making the choice to be baptized.
Her baptism was a stake baptism and there were eight children getting baptized, including her and her friend Josh McKnight from our ward. There was a sweet spirit at the baptism program. There was a talk about baptism and then a little girl sang the Primary song, "Baptism." It was beautiful. Grandma got to give the talk about the Holy Ghost and she did a great job. She talked about how she likes to wear her warm gloves and keep them in her pocket so they are always with her. She compared this to the Holy Ghost and how we can have it with us. She told the children to make sure when they say their prayers to thank Heavenly Father that they get to have the Holy Ghost as a companion.
We were dismissed in groups to go for the baptisms. Mylie was the first one to get baptized! Jeff baptized her and Grandpa and Uncle Ben were the witnesses. She understood that she had to be baptized by immersion and that meant she had to go all the way under the water. She remembered to plug her nose, but not close her mouth. But she went all the way under. Her cousins and friends were able to sit on the ground by the baptism font so they could watch.
I went to help her change out of her baptismal clothes and back into her beautiful white dress. I was so happy that I got to be in the changing room and be the first one to give her a big hug. After both Mylie and Jeff got changed into their dry clothes, our family and friends went with Josh's family and friends into the primary room where Bishop Perkins conducted and both children took turns getting confirmed.
Mylie was confirmed first. Last month Jeff asked Mylie is she would like to ask Grandpa to confirm her. She thought about it for a few days and decided that she did. This was special to me as I was baptized by my dad and confirmed by my Grandpa. Grandpa gets choked up easily (he said it was the chlorine), but gave Mylie such a nice blessing. Jeff, Uncle Ben, Uncle Jason, and Bishop Perkins stood in the circle with Grandpa. When the confirmation was over Uncle Ben told her she had to give everyone a hug. She had such a big grin on her face and had big hugs to give to Grandpa, Jeff, Uncle Ben, Uncle Jason, and Bishop Perkins.
After both kids were confirmed, Sister Perkins, their Primary teacher, got up to talk to Mylie and Josh. The Perkins have been in our ward for a long time and I just adore Sunny. I have often thought how much she reminds me of my own Grandma. She got up to talk to Mylie and Josh and had a gift for each of them. She had made them each a blanket and talked about how the blanket is a comforter just like the Holy Ghost. I was overcome with emotion for how much she loves the children in her Primary class. And I knew this was something exactly like my Grandma would have done. As I talked to Sister Perkins afterwards I told her again how she reminds me so much of my Grandma and that I appreciate all she did today and how I felt like my Grandma was here. Bishop Perkins then told me that she probably was.
At the closing of the confirmations, Bishop Perkins called Mylie and Josh up and asked them to look out and see all the people who were there today and who love them. My heart was full, because I know that all those people love me too.
After the baptism and confirmation, we hosted a luncheon at the neighborhood clubhouse in Star. It was so fun to be able to visit and spend time together. Mylie and Blake loved having all their cousins there.
Today was a special day at church. The Bishop called her and Josh up to introduce them as the newest members of the church. Today was fast and testimony meeting and Mylie also chose to bear her testimony. She has such a sweet spirit. I also bore my testimony today. I have been so overcome with emotion since yesterday. It took a long time for me to get pregnant with Mylie. I remember pleading with Heavenly Father that if he would bless us with a baby, I promised I would raise that baby in the Gospel. I thought about that promise a lot yesterday. I know that Heavenly Father is proud of Mylie, but I hope He is also pleased with Jeff and I as parents.
I am so grateful for Mylie and the sweet, kind, smart, funny, loving girl she is. She is such a help at our house and a good friend and example to Blake. I am so grateful for Jeff and his desire to be a righteous husband and father. I am so blessed to be married to my best friend. I am grateful that we are an eternal family. I am thankful for my family and the effort they all made to share yesterday with us. It meant so much to me to have my entire family there. I am thankful for Jeff's family and their support. And I'm thankful for my wonderful friends who shared yesterday with us.
My heart is so full! I couldn't have asked for a better start to the Christmas season than to spend it focusing on baptism, Jesus, family and friends.
