Erika's Baptism Day

ERIKA'S BAPTISM DAY!

So Erika's day was just awesome!!  I loved that we kept things calm and peaceful all morning and that she was able to talk and express her excitement and just be excited.  She did come with me to get a few things at the store which ended up being a fun time for us to talk. She picked out a cute pen with bells on it.  We got the house all cleaned up and ready to go with time to spare.  I even got my ornament wreath done in time as well.  We headed up to the Stake Center, took some pictures, got all situated in the dressing room and then sat in the Chapel waiting.  It was nice to visit with some of our family.  I was nervous about who was going to be her witness- we were short Priesthood brethren from the family.  So I asked Bro. Pedersen if he would step in if nobody else came, but luckily Uncle Mark showed up, so it was Mark and Chris that were her witnesses.  We were so glad they came!  Erika looked beautiful!!  She was seriously glowing the entire time!  Charity gave a beautiful talk about baptism.  She did an amazing job really.  I loved watching her do that for her little sister.  I was glad Molly at least let me stand in the back :).  I did spend the rest of the time in the foyer, but it was all good because Emily came out.  We laughed about the musical number and then it was time!!!  It always happens so fast, but suddenly we were in the font!  Erika was a little nervous about where she was going to put her hands and stuff, but from where I was watching, it looked like they handled it okay.  Her dress did go up just a little as she was getting in the water.  But I don't think there was much anyone could see.  She got baptized and as she came out of the water, the Spirit just POURED over me!!  And Erika too!  She came out of the font with the BIGGEST SMILE EVER!!  If people could see the look on her face when she came out of there- they'd never question the truthfulness of the Gospel.  It was priceless.  She came running into the dressing room with me and gave me the biggest hug!!  She was SO HAPPY and SO EXCITED!!  She said, "That was so cool!!" And cute little tears started flowing.  Then she said, "I'm shaking, but it's not because I'm cold!  It's because I'm happy!"  I loved it!!  It was such a special time for the two of us.  We both didn't want it to end, but we needed to get Erika out of there so Lucy could come in.  So we quickly threw on Erika's clothes and hurried out of there.  It was kind of funny because we had put her hair in a sock bun thinking it would be perfect for getting wet and coming out okay, but then as we sat there waiting for Nate to get out, it was just dripping buckets of water down her neck!  So much that we had to go get the towel and squeeze it a couple more times!  The sock was just full of water!  Who woulda thought it could get so much water in it with just one dunk!  I had no idea.  We learned our lesson :).  But it was a funny little thing to remember and laugh about later.  Erika had wanted the kids to sing and sign the Rainbow song, so once Nate came back, they did that.  I played it for them.  And from what I heard- it was just as good as when they did it for the Primary Program.  I sure love the Spirit that the sign language only version brings.  She then got confirmed.  What a neat experience.  It was so special and so sweet to see her experience that.  I just love this part of being a mom.  One of the few paychecks.  Wouldn't trade it for the world!  We came home and everyone visited and ate treats.  Erika got a few gifts, one of which was her blanket from Grandma Ruthie and she ended up spending most of the day wrapped up in it.  That was cute.  It is super soft- even got the Molly Softness Stamp of Approval.  She also got a cool mustard seed necklace from Grandma Hatch and a cool baptism journal from Grandpa Hatch as well as her own, little, hymn book, engraved with her name from Aunt Jen.  Lots of cool things to help her remember her baptism day.  Hopefully she remembers her day and how she felt.  I'll have to have her write down her feelings here to.  She was so tired when everyone left, she ended up sleeping a good portion of the day.  She'd probably been pretty sleep deprived because of her anxiousness!  What a neat day though!  I loved it!  12-2-17