Gretchen's Baptism

Sunday was a very important day for our family. It's a day that I prayed for since before I had children. It's a day that I will remember forever. Sunday is the day that Gretchen was baptized. 

One evening in May, as I was tucking Gretchen in to bed, I had her say her prayers. There were no conversations before, I just told her to say her "prayers from the heart". That night, I listened to the most amazing little prayer. Gretchen asked Jesus to live in her heart. She told God that she wanted to go to heaven. She said that she wanted to be forgiven.

After her prayer, I looked at her and said, "Do you know what you just did?" She shook her head and I told her that she just asked Jesus to live in her heart and that now He does! The smile on her face. The biggest smile I have ever seen! She squealed with delight, jumped up and down, and clapped her hands together. 

After she prayed her prayer and I went downstairs, I stopped thinking about what she had just done. I don't even remember if I told DJ that day or if I waited a few days. It was weeks before I actually told my mom. 

We continued to go to church on Sundays, say her prayers, and go on with our lives. She had mentioned that she wanted to be baptized and I told her that we would talk to the preacher at church. And we continued to go on. Every Sunday, I would leave thinking, I have got to remember to call the church this week, and then I'd get busy and forget. Then one Sunday, DJ and I were sitting in the service, and two children were baptized. I looked at DJ and said, I'm emailing the preacher right now. I sat in that pew and sent that email. 

A few days later, we received a phone call and we scheduled the date for Gretchen's baptism. She had the choice to be sprinkled or to be "dunked". She chose to be baptized the way that Jesus was baptized. The way John the Baptist, baptized Jesus. She wanted to be dunked in that water and raised clean and born again!

We invited our family and friends to attend and unfortunately, only my parents could attend. We also had local friends attend. 

Above is her getting ready to leave the house. She had her change of clothes in her backpack.

We took a few family photos before leaving. Megan had to take her backpack too. 

Words cannot describe how proud we are of her. I have prayed for this strong willed little girl since she was tiny. I have prayed that she would grow up to do BIG things for Christ. I pray that her strong-willed, determined personality will resist and go and do BIG things. I honestly believe that if Gretchen decides to be a missionary in a far away country, that she will set her mind, be determined, and go. If the Lord wants her to do His work closer to home, she will. Her faith. Her child like faith. It's big. 

The girls with my parents. 

My parents with Gretchen. 

We arrived early to church, which was a miracle in itself, and after taking the little girls to their classes, we headed up to the baptismal room. Gretchen put on a robe and she was walked through the steps of what would go on. We prayed and then we were able to get a photo with Pastor Jon.

Gretchen's mood Sunday morning was totally her. She was happy, excited, hyper, giddy. The girl was alive in Christ.

When it was time in the service, for Gretchen to be baptized, she entered the baptistry, and we waited on the windows to open. When they did, and Pastor Jon introduced the importance of what was about to happen, she leaned over, looked at the window, waved to everyone, and then answered 3 very important questions. Does she come willingly? Does she repent of her sins? Does she believe in Jesus? Her answers were an adamant YES! 

After she was baptized, we prayed for her, and then she swam, yes swam, out of the baptistry. 

We are so thankful that our church has a live stream of our services, and her grandparents, and aunt were able to watch from home. 

After church, we invited her friend Connor, his parents, another friend, and of course my parents over for lunch. We fixed a taco bar compete with guac, salsa, and queso. 

We tried to get pictures of the kids together, but they were too silly.

One day, we're going to reenact this photo at their wedding. 

I'm so thankful for these little friends.

(I'm also thankful that their friendship forged a friendship between their parents too!)

I ordered cookies from OK Cookie Momster. 

(They were delicious!)

Once our company left, we let Gretchen open a few presents.

My parents bought her this angel.

DJ and I bought her this cross necklace.

And DJ's parents bought her an engraved jewelry box and gave her her great-grandmother's cross necklace. 

We will never forget this day. We are so grateful that Gretchen has a love for Christ. We are thankful that she desires to know Him more. We are thankful that she is our sister in Christ.