Baptisms

Last Tuesday our youth went to the Salt Lake Temple to do baptisms for the dead.

How lucky we are to live so close to so many temples. My parents talk about how difficult it is for the people in their mission to get to the Fiji Temple and how hard it is to get home some times. One man missed the boat, or something like that, and ended up having to wait six months to get home.

Thank heavens it didn't turn out quite like that for one of our little deacons.

Deacon Josh and a some of his friends were playing in the elevator and Josh got separated and couldn't figure out where he needed to go to get back to the car. 

Meanwhile, the rest of us are scrambling into cars and making our way to the exit to not miss ice cream at the Arctic Circle. Before leaving the temple grounds I had reminded all the drivers to make sure they had their parking token. So I couldn't figure out what the hold up was with Brother Fryer in front of me. You could see them searching and looking under seats. One girl got out and continued to scour the car. This went on for about two minutes while we waited patiently.

The attendant finally made her way over and let them out. I paid my token and Kathleen and Liz, my two counselors, were in line behind me to leave the parking garage.

Now remember, at this point I had no idea Josh was lost.

We made it to Arctic Circle where Liz had to tell me what happened after I pulled out. Kathleen repeatedly tried to put her token in the machine and it kept spitting it out. Again, the attendant made her way over and kindly told her she was using a quarter instead of the token. Sheepishly, Kathleen found her token. But before putting it in, Josh comes running across the parking lot to their car. It was then that he explained how he had become separated from his group and couldn't find anyone. He was a lost boy.

None of us knew he was lost (except his leaders who were driving round and round the parking garage trying to find him). But the Lord knew he was lost and needed to get home. I believe these two separate token issues -- one in front of me and one in back of me -- gave Josh enough time to discover his way out.

Don't you just love how the Lord works? Don't you just love the tender mercies he gives us each day? He is so aware of our circumstances and needs and always finds ways to bless us. God is Good!

*And to his credit, Brother Fryer did have his token. He had handed it to the girl in the passenger seat who accidentally let is slip between the seats. And no, that is not Josh in the picture above :)

Good things
temples
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Baptisms

This morning Kiersten and I went to the temple. She was going to do baptisms for some family names my mom has given me and I was going to do some initiatory work. I thought I would walk her in first and make sure she was settled. Before I knew it I was in the clothing line and getting clothes to do baptisms.

We had 16 names so while we were waiting in the line with all the craziness around us (for some reason it was EXTREMELY busy today), I decided to stay and do some baptisms. Kiersten could do eight and I could do eight and then we would flip them for the confirmations.

I have never done my own family names. These were names of people connected to me. And I haven't done baptisms since I was in college. It was just a wonderful way to spend the morning.

 

Baptism book

I forgot to mention that our Primary gave Ashlyn the cutest little baptism book.

It looks like it was made of envelopes glued together where she could put all the nice little notes people wrote to her while she was getting dressed.

Reborn

My little brother Matt told Ashlyn yesterday, "I'm so glad you were born . . . and reborn."

We celebrated with our Ash as she made an important step in being baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Grandma and Grandpa arrived the night before with a few gifts. I let her open mine, her white dress, that she had picked out an entire year before and had forgotten all about it until a few days ago. When she asked about it, I played dumb and didn't know what she was talking about even though the dress was wrapped and sitting on the mantel. She never clued in.

Grandma Jules made her a beautiful purple quilt

and Grandma and Grandpa Leary gave her new scriptures which she and Nate have diligently been reading most mornings.

She was beautiful and glowed all day long. The service was short and simple with Ashlyn being the fastest dresser ever. Her Grandpa Sharm commented that she was like Superman because she changed so fast. We just wanted to hurry and hear the rest of Kiersten's piano solo of "Baptism" arranged by Paul Cardall.

Our new bishop took a few minutes to welcome Ashlyn into the ward. I liked what he told her about the Holy Ghost -- when we are doing right and following the commandments there is a peaceful feeling that accompanies us which is the Holy Ghost. When we are confused, then we know there are some things in our life that we must correct.

There was also a minor change to the program. Nathan was supposed to lead but ended up not feeling well and staying home, so I took over. The first verse of the closing song "I Am a Child of God" kind of hit me hard as I sang "has given me an earthly home with parents kind and dear. Lead me, guide me, walk beside me . . . " Those words touched me as I thought of my own parents sitting in the audience who have been so kind and dear and have taught me correct principles, who have shown me the way that I must go, who have led me and counseled with me. I am forever grateful to them simply for being wonderful parents, for being MY parents.

Breakfast is my most favorite meal of the day. I love it all and so we tried to have it all. There were egg casseroles with salsa and sour cream, Dutch oven potatoes, ham, bacon, cinnamon rolls, orange rolls, lots of fruit and dip, orange juice and apple juice. Oh my! I was in heaven. We ended up with more than enough, but my idea of a good hostess is that my guests leave feeling full, hopefully not wondering where they can stop on the way home to finish filling up.

I hope Ashlyn remembers the good feelings she had about her day. My only regret is that we didn't get a picture of her with Grandma Leary and Grandma and Grandpa Ellis, three of her great-grandparents. It's not usual to have great-grandparents attending such events. What a blessing to still have them around and in good health (Brian did get some pictures of them at our house, just not with Ashlyn).