Special Week for String Cheese

My oldest child turned EIGHT YEARS OLD on the 15th.  She had been looking forward to it for a very long time.   I'm not going to lie, it had a lot to do with the fact that she has been longing for her very own American Girl Doll for a few years.  Her Grandma Debbie decided that since this was a very special year, she would buy her one.  SC has been poring over her AG Doll magazines for months and months trying to make her decision.  Finally she got her!  And I don't even have a photo...   But I do have these.  Luckily she liked Deedle's idea and opted to have me make the cake for her and to let her decorate it.  She enjoyed using an entire package of m&ms on the top. 

We didn't  have a friend party this year, just a small gathering with a few aunts, uncles, grandparents, and her little cousin, Camberly.  It was a much more relaxed birthday than we've had in the past and I was grateful.  She seemed plenty happy.  She took Hostess Dingdongs to share at school and cupcakes to share at dance.  And...did I mention she got an American Girl Doll among many other gifts?

The next day (Wednesday) was special for her and for all of us.  Chancho's youngest brother, Uncle Tyler (Unky T), received his mission call.  We went over to his house and SC promptly stole the large, white envelope containing his destiny for the next two years.  We are all very excited that he made the decision to go.  He has a very strong testimony of the gospel.  I know he will touch a lot of lives and I know that the mission will change his forever.  Eventually everybody got assembled or connected via skype, I stole the envelope back, and it was time for Tyler to open and read the call.  He has been called to serve in the Tallahassee, Florida mission.  The cool thing about this is that the mission covers the city where he was born and lived until he was almost 4 while his Dad was in the military.  T is an awesome kid, now man I guess, and I love him very much.  One thing I love is the cool faces he makes when having his photo taken.

Tyler is leaving in March and we are all super excited for him but will miss him TERRIBLY!!!

Saturday, the 19th, was the most special event of the week (or life?) for String Cheese.  She became an official member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  SC has never had a question in her mind about whether or not she would choose to be baptized.  She has had the beginnings of a testimony of the gospel from a very young age and is extremely knowledgeable and spiritual for one so young.  Here she is in the car on the way to the baptism.  She was a little nervous about the actual baptism part--wondering if she would make it all the way under the water, if her dress might float up, etc. etc.  And she wasn't entirely thrilled about the "old fashioned" lace collar on the dress that we borrowed from the church, but mostly she was very excited and happy.

I was excited and happy, too, though a little nervous about how the program would turn out, if people would make it, if the refreshments I was serving would be okay, etc.  To my delight, and, I'm ashamed to say, to my surprise, the whole service was extremely spiritual and had me in tears for much of it.  

This part might be boring, but I want to make sure to capture it all for my journal.  Our Bishop Jensen presided.  Our opening song was from the Primary Children's song book called "Baptism" and Grandma Debbie said the opening prayer.  Unky T gave a very touching talk on baptism.  It was short and sweet but his testimony was powerful and he looked great in his new suit.  SC's cousin, 12 yo Hannah, then sang the most beautiful song.  I love it so much.  ESPECIALLY when she sings it.  I wish so badly I had it recorded.  I think she sounds just like an angel.  It is called "Three White Dresses".  If you don't know the song, you can hear it here.  This is a beautiful version, but Hannah is sweeter (even, or especially, when she gets all choked up in the middle).

After the song, which brought in the spirit even more, my Mom gave a beautiful talk on the Gift of the Holy Ghost.  She had this small wooden box with all of these little items to help SC remember the ways that the Holy Ghost blesses us.  SC loved it.

Then it was time for the actual baptism.  The water was warm.  Chancho did a great job and SC looked like an angel in the water.  I want to save that image in my mind forever.   She only had to be "dunked" once.  I helped her change quickly into her beautiful dress (seen below), then she went back into the room where she was surrounded by men holding the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood of God.  Her father gave her a beautiful blessing, confirming her a member of the church and giving her the best gift she could ever receive, the gift of the Holy Ghost.  And let me tell you, the Holy Ghost was present.  The men in the circle were:  Chancho, Grandpa Gordon, Grandpa Guy, Uncle Tyler, Uncle John, Uncle Rob, Uncle Chris, Cousin Christian, Bishop Jensen, Isson Joseph, and Max Laforet.  (If I forgot anybody and you were there, will you remind me in a comment?).

After the confirmation, a few words were said by Jamie Pierce, a member of the Primary Presidency.  She is super sweet and she said that on the very first Sunday in our ward (about 5.5 years ago) she saw this tall lady with two little blonde daughters and the 2 year old was wearing a princess dress, heels, and was running along the church bench.  Yes.  That was me.  Yikes.  Anyway, she said she could tell that little girl had a very strong spirit and that as she's gotten to know that little Princess, she has found it to be true.  She reminded SC that she truly is a Princess because she is the daughter of a King, our Heavenly Father.  And I was crying again.

Then the Bishop said some nice words and it was time for the closing song ("When I Am Baptized") and closing prayer by my father, Grandpa Gordy.

I could go on and on about the day but this post is super long and its actually Christmas day and I'm not even close to ready to blog about Christmas yet.  Whew.  I'll mention that it was very special to have so many family members come to the baptism, despite very hectic schedules that everybody has on the last Saturday before Christmas.  I'm especially grateful that the Joseph family drove 1.5 hours from Orem to be there. They came over to our house to talk about Haitian Roots and to have time for the kids to play together before they move to Florida next week.  If you recall...the Josephs happen to have a certain son named Brian...and...yes, he did pick SC up and carry her for a time (as she explained, "like when a man carries his wife through the door when they get married") and kissed her on her cheek.  She liked all of this attention because she still tells me that she thinks they are "meant to be".  Apparently he thinks so as well.  But can you believe I didn't get a picture of them together?  Argh.  She was impressed that he could carry her (why exactly was he carrying her???  I have no idea) because it showed that he is strong and she really wants "a man that is really strong.  I want him to be taller than me, too, but, if not, he has to be really strong."

Is this not the cutest card you've ever seen?  I took some pics of SC and emailed them to my sister, Meg, and she created this masterpiece.  Then my friends printed it for me on this fabulous pearlized cardstock.  I'm in love with it!

Nearly lost in the excitement of the day was my 9th wedding anniversary.  Neither of us were too upset.  We both felt that the baptism and everything else of the craziness of the week and December in general was about enough to fill our plates.  But we did sneak off to fill our bellies at Temari that evening.  I love my Chancho so very much and fell even more in love with him when I watched him baptize and confirm our daughter than I ever could have with chocolates and roses.