a week ago today, on august 19, 2012, pat, joshua, bailey and myself got baptized!
we arrived at the beach (emerald isle, nc) the day before to stay for a week with 4 other families for our annual beach week.
bailey and joshua both told us they wanted to be baptized in the spring. after a series of events and talking through options with them, they decided they wanted to do it during our week at the beach.
pat and i decided to get baptized also. i had never been baptized (just dedicated as a baby) and pat was baptized as a kid before he was a believer.
it could not have been more special and perfect (well, actually, if our families had been there, it would have been...)
but it was an AMAZING, worshipful, joyous time!
we started by gathering at the pool and sang 3 songs together (not to us, hosanna and give me faith)
it was VERY casual - in our bathing suits and ready for a day on the beach!
we each shared a little before we got baptized. i cried through the whole thing...
pat, as always, was super confident and well spoken.
our friend, tim, baptized us, and said some very encouraging words beforehand.
ej piped in with some encouragement also - that meant a lot!
i need to frame this picture. such a special moment, to be baptized with those people present, and the ocean roaring in the background (right over that seagrass).
there was cheering and laughter and hugs and CELEBRATION!! what a day!
then bailey and joshua were baptized by pat.
she had been counting down the days for MONTHS. she.could.not.wait! and, truthfully, her desire is what sparked joshua to think about it...and pat and i to consider if this would be the right time for us to consider it!
joshua was more quiet about it, but he never wavered in wanting to do it. his quiet confidence is precious.
JOY!
more cheers and laughter! what a day!!! and an amazing way to start our vacation.
thanks SO much to our friends for being willing to let us do this on our vacation together. and thanks to ali for taking all the pictures!!!
here's a video of bailey and joshua's baptisms...
9 comments:
How marvelous! How wonderful!
How special to get to share this moment as a family together!!!! Love it!!!
How special to get to share this moment as a family together!!!! Love it!!!
How special to get to share this moment as a family together!!!! Love it!!!
How special to get to share this moment as a family together!!!! Love it!!!
AWESOME! Praise God!
oh. my word. I just cried through this whole post. how incredibly beautiful. how special- knowing how much you all mean to each other & getting to share in that meaningful symbol together. I've been thinking a lot about baptism lately (Berkley's one day) and how beautiful it would be for him to be surrounded by friends and those who are truly watching him grow & guiding him in the Lord...this inspires me to ensure that happens for him. Just Beautiful.
Nothing is more important than in the presence of fellow believers! As I sat and watched and cried my way through it it brought back when I was baptized. My Uncle was a pastor and he baptized me and my dear sweet grandfather at the same time! Never have I forgotten that experience and I can still see it in my minds eye.
Matt Redman has a new song out and the words fit so well with they way your family was baptized. 10,000 Reasons is the name of the song. Here's one verse and the chorus -
The sun comes up
It's a new day dawning
It's time to sing your song again
Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes
Bless the Lord, oh my soul
Oh my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
Oh my soul
I worshhip your holy name
Can't think of a better way to worship and to allow others outside of your own friends and family to hear the worship and see it with their own eyes going on. Praise the Lord!
i just cried through every one of your posts this morning. really. i'm red-faced and snotty nosed. thank you, friend, for sharing your life with me.
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