Samantha's special baptism day

 Our sweet Samantha girl was baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints this past Saturday, January 4. I still remember the day she told me she had decided she wanted to be baptized ... it was a couple of years ago. She was sitting at our kitchen table and we were talking about church. She got a very sweet, serious look on her face and told me, "Mom, I've been thinking a lot about it. And, I decided that as soon as I am old enough, I want to be baptized and follow Jesus."

It was a sweet moment, and her eyes and mine filled with tears for a minute. I hugged her and told her I thought Heavenly Father and Jesus would be very proud of her choice.

 We took some special pictures of her in her white dress a few days before her baptism, so she could remember this special time, and so that we could make a little invitation for family and friends.

 Samantha was very excited to be baptized on January 4, 2014, because it was a significant date to her. You see, the way she explained it to me, she was born on the 14th, which was a MOST special day. And, now, she would also be baptized on 1-4-14... get it? 14, twice. Important date right there, as you can tell! :)

 The dress is one we got on a super sale at Costco in NY after "confirmation" season was over two springs ago. It has sat patiently in her closet, waiting for her special day. She has pulled it out many times on a Sunday morning and looked at it, then put it back with a countdown: "only seven more months until it's time to wear this beautiful dress... only five and a half more months... etc."

The week before her baptism, we had a special family home evening where we talked about baptism and what she should expect the service to be like. Then, Daddy took turns with each of the kids "practicing" baptizing them....

And then... they got to go take a big bath together with their swim suits and goggles, in our big corner tub, as the family night "activity." Nat was especially excited about the "gobbles" as she calls them. :)

Pool party!! Three happy kids...

Finally, her special day arrived! I wish we could have taken more pictures at the actual baptism, but things felt a bit rushed and hectic, so we only got a few. Here she is with her dad, before both of them went to change into their white jumpsuits for the baptism...

 And, a family picture...

 Grandma and Grandpa Hone happened to walk in right as we were finishing taking our family pic, so they sneaked  a quick one with Samantha...

All ready for the service to begin... Samantha and Brian in their whites...

Samantha and her good friend, Allie, both got baptized together at the same service. After the baptism, before each of them was confirmed a member of the Church, they sang a song together -- "If the Savior Stood Beside Me." It was precious. I had goosebumps the whole time, listening to them, so sweet.

After the service, we had all the family that could be there come over to our house for a lunch of crock-pot soups, rolls, salads and dessert. Aside, there were other family members who had planned to come, but weren't able to make it because of sickness. We missed them!!

One highlight of the "after party" was this snazzy fountain punch bowl my mom gave me for Christmas. All the kids LOVED watching it, and the older kids (8 and older, to be exact), enjoyed filling their OWN cups under the bottom drips of the fountain. Super fun!

Just a cute shot of the littlest kids eating their lunch.. and Samantha popping in for a hello. :)

And, not the best pic of it, but here's her very fun "number 8" cake that we served... chocolate magic cake, like what we had at her birthday. She chose lavender frosting and little pearly decorations for the top. Natalie "helped" make it, and was VERY eager to DIG IN!!

What a special, memorable day it was for our sweet Samantha girl. She got some very special presents from lots of different family and friends, and felt very loved and supported. It's been sweet to watch her these past few days as she's been trying her best to make right choices and keep those special feelings of goodness and warmth with her. She has her new scriptures out constantly, and is writing in her new journal, and her prayers seem a little more focused and thoughtful. She even bore her testimony in Sacrament meeting on Sunday, the day after. I sure do love her and am so proud of her. She really does try so hard to be her very best, and to be a peacemaker and a good example in our family. 

Congratulations, Samantha!!