Macey's Baptism

My niece, Macey was baptized yesterday. She was absolutely glowing with a huge smile on her face all day! I don't think I have ever seen her just radiant, like she was yesterday.

The primary children sang a song and the words were "I want to feel as clean as the earth right after rain". I started thinking about how the earth actually feels to me after it has rained. I love rain, I love the way it smells, the way the gentle breeze feels on my skin, the taste of the newness. With all my senses, I can feel the cleanliness that rain gives the earth. A renewed life, a new beginning a fresh start.

I started thinking about the relevance between baptism and rain. Baptism, like rain, also gives renewed life, it is a cleansing of the body and soul. It is a new commitment to pattern our lives after the Savior. I found myself wishing that baptism wasn't a one time thing, how I would love to be like Macey, and be as clean as the day I was born, to be completely pure and worthy to be in the presence of our Savior. Although that cannot happen, I am grateful for the opportunity to take the Sacrament each Sunday, to be reminded of the covenants that I made with the Lord on my baptism day. To be able to try harder to be like our Savior. I am thankful for His perfect plan to allow us all the opportunity to repent and again become clean like the day we were baptized. I am thankful for baptisms and sacred gospel ordinances that help me to remember the covenants I have made and it renews my dedication of patterning my life after our Savior.

Me and Macey right before she was baptized.

Me and Brinley. She was so funny, she doesn't like anyone besides her mom. But, I had skittles (I knew she would be there) and she loves candy. So all during the baptism she would run up to me, get candy and run back to her mom. She eventually caved and figured she'd get more candy if she just let me hold her.

It is funny to me how much Hayden and Treyson adore each other considering the age difference. Hayden is convinced that Treyson is going to grow up and be just like him.

Hayden sat with Grandpa at the baptism and was his shadow. He loves his grandpa.