OLIVIA'S BAPTISM

Saturday was a very special day...Olivia was baptized by her daddy and is now one of the newest members of our church! She planned the program, asking her Grandma Joan and a teacher to speak and others to perform musical numbers. We took some photos of her in Arizona and used those to make the invitations and decorate tables. She chose turquoise and yellow as her colors and wanted a flower halo to wear, much like the one she wore when she was blessed as a baby. The flowers she chose for it were beautiful and smelled amazing! Chris took her out for dinner the night before her baptism, just like his parents did for him when he was a child. He gave her a beautiful necklace with a heart-shaped amethysist birthstone and two little diamonds and she was thrilled with it.Her baptism was at 2pm so we spent the morning buzzing around, getting everyone ready to go. We had a family prayer and then headed off to the church. Olivia was excited, I could tell, as she flitted around and talked to everyone that was arriving. Many of the people she invited were able to come so that made her happy. All but one of our neighbors from St. Charles Street were able to come as well as Olivia's teacher from school! The Bishop conducted and the program went smoothly and beautifully.

 I said the opening prayer and, after the first talk, her piano teacher played the piano and sang the song "My Own Little Lamp." It was perfect! Soon we were opening the door to the font where she would meet her daddy. I gave her a kiss and she told me she was "excited, but a little nervous. Like butterflies, you know." Chris was a little nervous, too, as I saw his lip quivering as he started and the first time through he forgot to say her name before the prayer. It is a big moment, baptizing your oldest child! As she came out of the water, Olivia said, "Mom, dad told me he was a professional baptizer and he still had to do it two times!" We both laughed as she dressed lightening fast in her white dress, halo, and necklace. She looked like a princess! As she dressed, the congregation watched the slideshow "Reflections of Christ" by Mark Mabrey. The rest of the program went nicely and ended with a duet by Olivia and her friend, Ally. They sang "If the Savior Stood Beside Me," and although Ally attends a different church, she was very excited to sing with Liv. Accompanied by a paino and a flutist, they sounded like angels!   Nick gave a darling closing prayer and then we all headed back to the house for treats and visiting. We served all of Olivia's favorite things: Cheetos, Chex Mix, frosted brownies, lemon bars, and chocolate chip cookies as well as fruit, veggies, punch and a few other snacks.

We had a great turn out and our guests took care of most of the food. As they left, Olivia thanked them for coming and gave them each a small favor. We had cards made with her picture on one side and the Articles of Faith printed on the back. We wrapped those in clear celophane bags with Hershey kisses and tied them with ribbon.
We spent the rest of the evening relaxing and enjoying friends at home. Olivia had opened several gifts from friends earlier in teh day, but she opened her new scriptures from Grandma and Grandpa that evening, as well as the Simon Dewey print that Chris and I gave her to hang in her room. She was excited with all of the gifts and attention of the day, but I think her favorite part was the way she felt...perfect, clean, and warm. In an email she sent to a friend, she typed, "Your mom will probably cry when you get baptized. And you will feel all warm in your heart, like 100 and 30 degrees or something. That's the Holy Ghost." She wrote down her feelings of the day and we attached them to the back of the print so she can always remember what a wonderful day it was for her. Livi, I love you so much! I am proud of the girl you are, for how hard to try to be good and do what is right. Thank you for being such a good example to your family. Your Father in Heaven loves you and will watch over you always!