Taylor was baptized on May 7, 2011. I should have known that it was not going to be an easy day. I did not realize however how hard Satan would try all day to discourage us and make us not want to go to the baptism.
It started on Thursday when I dropped the boys off to cub scouts. We discovered that the cultural hall was being refinished and would not be ready for a week! What were we going to do about the dinner on Saturday? I called the building scheduler and she said we could do it in another room. She was unaware that the floor was being worked on too. By Friday we had secured enough tables (since all of the tables were in the cultural hall as well.) for our dinner.
Saturday morning started off late because Thomas cried off and on most of the night, and John and I were tired. I was suppose to do haircuts, but that did not happen. We got ready and I took Taylor & Thomas to Costco to pick up some last minute items. Taylor's cake was not in the cooler. I was starting to panic. I asked them and they went to their back cooler and finally found it! I was happy to see that cake. However it took a good 5 minutes and that meant I was waiting in a LONG check-out line now.
We had been having problems with out internet starting on Friday afternoon. We had a technician scheduled to come Saturday afternoon to look at it. We wondered if it could be the modem, so John went and bought a new one. No-not the problem. In the meantime though, we canceled our appointment with them. It was the strangest thing. Our internet would work and then not work. Not something that we can have when I work from home though...That problem took another couple hours.
We went to the church to get things set up. John spent a good portion of the time just getting the tables ready. I worked in the kitchen the entire time getting the food prepped. We got home and changed and were out the door in 15 minutes. (It reminded me of Jonathan's baptism...) Our stake center is 10-15 minutes away, but John took the freeway and we got there in 10. We decided to take some pictures of our family before they changed:
Taylor was the first one changed and he was on cloud nine!
Taylor invited 12 of his friends from school. He had two of them come to his baptism! He also had a lot of a family and friends from our ward there to support him. Taylor was the only one from the stake to get baptized, so they let him pick what songs he wanted to sing and someone to give a talk. (They had to be in our stake however.) He asked Grandma Black if she would give a talk on the Holy Ghost. It was not until mom got there, sat down and looked at the program that she turned to me and said, "Sarah, Taylor asked me to speak on Baptism, not the Holy Ghost." I laughed thinking 'this is what I get for not proofing his emails.' She still gave her talk on Baptism and did a wonderful job! I guess Taylor really needed to know about baptism :-)
Taylor also wanted to sing a song all by himself. He chose to sing "The Holy Ghost". It was very tender to hear him sing those words.
When Taylor was baptized, John forgot his name at the beginning. Taylor had to be baptized twice. John said when they were changing he asked Taylor how he felt after getting baptized. Taylor said, "Which time dad, the first or second time I went under the water?" I don't think John will live this one down for a while.
The second counselor in the Stake Presidency had Taylor come up and asked him some questions. He allowed Taylor to bear his testimony and Taylor did awesome! John confirmed Taylor. Taylor is a very special spirit and has a great mission here on earth. He was blessed with some talents that he will need for this mission. As his parents we have seen these already start to develop.
It was nice to hear from others there that they could feel how special Taylor was. As a parent you feel that your child is unique and wonderful, but it is nice to have others confirm that. By the time I got around to thanking everyone for coming however, most had already left.
We went to the church and finished getting everything set up. I am so grateful for everyone's help. Here are pictures from that:
The best part was most of the food was gone and we did not need to take it home :-)
The best part for me was reflecting back on the time I have had with Taylor over the past eight years. There were times I wondered if he would make it to his baptism day. He is a lot like his dad, and I am grateful that John can relate to him. He is a very sweet boy though that looks out for others and tries to include everyone. I look forward to the next eight years of his life. I know one thing- it will be an adventure!
