Sunday, April 26, 2009

rebekah's baptism

sorry...i almost got this done a couple hours ago! but it was 90something outside and we were playing in the sprinkler and i couldn't get it done...here you go...it's long, but worth it!

oh, what a special day.
a couple months ago, they announced to the children at church, that there would be a children's baptism coming up. and if anyone wanted to do it, to just let them know.
rebekah came home and told us that she wanted to do it.
we talked about it with her.
and started the process.

it's been really cool to work through it with her.
she had to go through a "study" about baptism with us...just looking up verses and understanding WHY we get baptized...what it IS and what it ISN'T.
that this doesn't save you...but it's a public declaration of something that has already been done inside of her.

she had to have an "interview" with the children's pastor.
then she videotaped her testimony (in the video in the post below).
and today was the baptism.

she wasn't nervous AT ALL.
a couple weeks ago, she burst into tears one day...she was nervous about the whole thing.
but we've been talking through it with her and she seemed so CONFIDENT today.
{i don't relate to that...something she gets from her dad}

this is before...

getting into the water...{they allowed the dads to baptize them if they wanted to}

pat talking...
what he said was so precious...with tears in his eyes...
"rebekah is my firstborn. there isn't much else to say. you can imagine what an honor this is."
something along those lines.
it was hard for me to see to take pictures through MY tears!
{look at her sweet little smile!}


and after.
they wear dark clothes to be baptized in, and change into white...to symbolize Christ's sacrifice covering our sin.

SO MANY special people were there...the Guthries, the Youngs, the Candland's, all the grandparents, my brother Phill and his family, the Henshaw's, the Abram's, even her Sunday school teacher from last year!
it was a very special day for her.





all the grandkids on my side of the family.

we are gave her a Bible tonight.
it has her name engraved on it.
and this is what we wrote inside...
"Rebekah,
What a blessing it is to be your mom! It is such a joy to watch you love - to love God, to love your brothers and sisters, to love your friends, to love dad and I, to love the poor. I pray that your love would continue to grow - for God and those around you. And I pray, no matter what happens in your life, that you would always seek Him and His word to guide you. I love you so much, Rebekah. It is such a joy to watch you be baptized today! Love, Mom"

"Rebekah,
Mom and I are excited to give you this Bible. The Bible is the VERY Word of God. Read it, study it, write about it, obey it. I pray that His Word would transform you into a God-fearing woman and that you would trust and rest in Him all the days of your life. We love you and rejoice with you today. Love, Dad"

we didn't read each other's notes to her til we were done writing them.
pat commented that mine was so "motherly" and "tenderhearted" and his was so "fatherly" and "instructive" - :-)



umm...and he was just about the cutest this EVER, huh?

pat's parents with their grandkids.

my parents with our kids.

11 comments:

jenn said...

Tears are in my eyes. What an amazingly special day!! :)

Beckysblog said...

I cant even comment. Too emotional.

veronica said...

What a lovely day for your family! She is so lucky to have such wonderful parents!

Kim Mattes said...

what a glorious day blessed by our Lord! i am sure that this specieal day with rebekah is carved in your brain forever. :)

Tisha said...

What a celebratory day!! So happy for you.
Also like the changing into white clothes idea! Gives such a great visual.

Michelle said...

How awesome was that, I would have loved to go and see her get baptized how special and joyous for you as her parents. Just so sweet and lovely.

Katy said...

I so enjoyed reading thist post and seeing all the pictures. It's an umbelievable, sort of surreal feeling watching your child up there, isn't it? Something about them looking so little and yet so grownup - making such a serious, real-life decision. Awesome - SO proud of Rebekah...and of you and Pat for all that you have taught her!!!

anthonyandbeth said...

this is such a precious post Courtney! what a special day! is there significance to her bracelet? i'm looking forward to the day Harrison get's baptized!

Judy said...

sniff...sniff... I love what Pat said! What beautiful pictures and a beautiful testimony to the world of what Jesus is doing inside Rebekah!

Megan said...

Thanks so much for including us in that day. It has been such a joy to see her grow! She was such a gift to me to see her on Tuesday evenings as she was growing up and before I had my own babies to love on. And praying you along those early years! I am only sad now that I don't see her so often. What a blessing to know you will one day welcome her into Heaven beside you. And that I get to see her there for all eternity too! I can't wait to see the journey God sets before her and how much she will bring to it and learn along the way.

Peyton said...

I am so glad we were able to be there, I wouldn't have missed it. I can't believe how composed and grown up she was. We love her, and all the rest of you of course.