Special Weekend

We had a very special weekend!
It started out on Friday night when we had a surprise visit from some of our special friends from Virgina! Mary, Todd, Spencer and Brooks dropped by for a quick visit. They were having a family weekend in Columbia, but wanted to meet baby T! I'm so glad they stopped by and wish they could have stayed longer! Spencer and Anna Grace have known each other since birth. Mary and I lived in Sumter at the same time because Thomas and Todd worked together at Federal Mogul. Her friendship was and always will be a blessing to me! She came into my life at a time when I needed a friend. God has blessed me with her friendship and she will always be a gift to me!

Here is a picture of our kids together on Friday night.
AG is holding baby T and Spencer is holding his 22 month old baby brother, Brooks.



AG had her third soccer game on Saturday morning. AG is playing soccer this fall with our church's Upward Soccer program. AG is not a competitive player, but she is having fun on the field and we are grateful for that! She is learning a lot about the positions and has played offense, defense, midfield and goalie!

Here are a few pictures from the game.








Then we cheered for the Tigers as they played Miami in the Homecoming game. Thomas's parents came down to watch the game with us.

GO TIGERS!!



But, the most special thing that happened this weekend was Anna Grace's baptism!
Anna Grace proclaimed Jesus as her Lord and Savior and asked Him to forgive her for her sins last year around this time. She prayed one night last year with Thomas and me in the room with her. After she prayed, Thomas and I prayed for her.
Romans 10:9-10
"That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved."

Acts 16:30-31
'He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household."'

She wanted to be baptized immediately, but we wanted to wait and make sure she understood (to the best she could for a 6 year old) the decision she had made. So we continued to pray over her and talk to her about this decision over the course of the year. She hadn't mentioned baptism in a while, so we decided we would let her talk to our children's director to see if she was ready for baptism. The children's director talked to AG and told us she was ready. We were thrilled and so was AG! She couldn't wait to be baptized!

Acts 2:38-39
"Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call."

As the countdown began to the baptism, AG started to get nervous about going under the water. She asked us if she could wear her goggles, and we told her "No", that the baptism is too quick to wear goggles. She had many other questions about Pastor Bill dunking her under....would he keep her under too long? would he hold her nose? would he drop her? would it be scary? what about all of the people watching....could she do it? Thomas and I had many more talks with her about following God in obedience through baptism, showing the church this important change that has taken place in her heart, and we prayed for God to take away that spirit of fear many times. She was confidant and ready to go!

So, the BIG day came. Gram and Gramps came to town, and Nana and Big Pop came to town to watch this special occasion. On our way to church, AG asked me for a pen and paper, and I gave her one. She started to ask Thomas and me questions..."How do you spell the word careful?" and "How do you spell Pastor Bill?". Then she read us the note she had just written Pastor Bill. It said, "Please be careful, Pastor Bill." As we walked into church, we ran into a few friends and AG joyfully exclaimed, "I'm being baptized today!"
We met up with the other baptism candidates so they could review everything one more time. AG asked if she could give her note to Pastor Bill. Mrs. Paula took the note and told AG she would make sure Pastor Bill received it. All of the baptism candidates were excited, nervous and ready....
AG is in the middle....


Pastor Bill walked over to talk to everyone before it started. AG exclaimed, "It's Pastor Bill! Daddy, where is my note?" Pastor Bill heard AG and he said, "Here it is, sweetie, I've already read it. I promise I will be very careful."


The little girl before AG was being baptized and Mrs. Paula was calling AG to come on up. AG just sat in the chair and shook her head. Then she ran over to me and said, "Mommy! I have to use the potty!" I told her she was nervous and she could use the potty after she was baptized. So, she was up next.


Pastor Bill talked AG through it.


"Buried in Baptism and raised to walk in newness of life"


After church, we celebrated by going out to lunch! Then we took a few family pictures to remember the weekend!









We were so proud of AG!! What a special day! This is the day we had prayed for since the day we found out we were pregnant. This is the day we had prayed for since we stood up in front of our church in Sumter, and dedicated her to the Lord on December 5, 2004. This is the day we had hoped would come to pass when we stood before our church and our Lord and promised to raise AG in a Christian home. What a sweet day that will live in our hearts forever. Just as Jesus's baptism was the beginning of his ministry, this is just the beginning of AG's relationship with Jesus and her ministry! We can't wait to see what awesome things God has in store for her. We are honored and privileged to be a part of God's awesome plan over her life! We can't wait to continue to watch her grow in her relationship with God!

Matthew 28:19-20
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."