A day to remember

Maryanna just recently turned 8 years old and was baptized. She has been looking forward to this special day all year and was committed to preparing herself.  At bedtime she would share her excitement with me by asking many questions. I enjoyed many late night gospel discussions by her bedside and over the last couple of months focused our family gospel study around the importance of baptism and what it means to commit to live and love as Jesus did. 

       

When it was time to enter the baptismal font Clara would not be left behind.  She wanted to be right by her sister's side.  Maryanna was beaming! 

Maryanna was baptized by Paul, it was a quick ceremony that involved complete immersion.  She stepped out of the font still beaming and a moment later as I greeted her soaking wet in the dressing room, she jumped as high as she could, threw her fists in the air and declared, "I did it!", "I can't believe how good I feel!" I couldn't help but cry as I shared in her excitement and realized how much she has grown in the last 8 years.  What a joy it is to be her mother and be blessed by her enthusiasm and great capacity to love.

  

Maryanna had a very special dress to wear to celebrate the event.  I made this dress years ago before I was even married when I attended a week long heirloom sewing conference with Martha Pullen in Alabama.  Constructed of beautiful Swiss batiste, entredeux, and heirloom laces, I guessed at the length and size an 8 year may wear, I even made an accompanying slip. I somehow knew I would have daughters that would wear it on their baptismal day and happy of the work and foresight from years ago because there is no way I could squeeze such a project into my current stage of life.

We had planned a meal afterwards for our family that would be traveling from over an hour away to attend.  We also invited a few neighbors to join us.  I planned to keep it simple, have everything ready the day before so we could remember that it was the baptism that mattered most on this special day.  

Unfortunately I ended up getting really sick the day before, we even wondered if we would have to reschedule the baptism.  I got a bee sting on my leg (not from my bees) a few days earlier and figured it would heal in time, however, each day it got bigger, redder and more swollen.  By Saturday morning I could barely walk.  I sat in the grocery store parking lot feeling achy and did not have the strength to push a cart.  Since the grocery store is actually really far from home I stopped by a nearby friend's, she gave me some remedies and I sat on her couch for awhile.  Still no improvement so I headed home, arranged for a babysitter and Paul took me to the ER.

It turned out I had cellulitis in my leg.  I was prescribed the proper medicine and sent home to rest and elevate my leg.  I felt so sick, like I'd been hit with a full body flu.

Paul reassured me I'd be well enough to attend the baptism but we'd have to make other plans for the meal afterwards.  By this time it was late into the evening, past 10 pm and I was too tired to think about anything let alone plan a party.

Sunday mornings are always a challenge, but this one was especially so.  We had a baby lamb born that needed attending too, the other ewes were showing signs of labor, there was the usual milking, all the younger kids needed baths, the house was a complete bomb, we were to have over 50 people at our house by mid afternoon and I simply could not even get myself out of bed.  Honestly I prayed for a miracle to happen, and it did.  

Paul and William attended to the animals, James, Peter and Maryanna got the younger ones dressed and they were only an hour late for church.  Maryanna informed me right before heading out the door the beautiful dress I made was gaping open in the back, I forgot to put button and button holes in.  We fixed that with a simple safety pin.

I called my mom who was staying a ways away at my brothers, she was unable to make it to our house in time to help.  Paul called his parents to see if they could pick up a few things. I then texted our babysitter Peggy and put a call across the street to our good neighbors Hank and Carolyn.  I told them the situation and within an hour they were here with ready hands.  Peggy cleaned the house, Hank cleaned up the lawn and set up chairs and tables, Carolyn called another neighbor, gathered table cloths (and floral arrangements!) and headed to the grocery store.  Peggy drove me to the baptism and I left the rest in the hands of my neighbors. 

Here is the scene that I returned to in my kitchen as I limped in from the car.  What a blessing! I was able to spend the rest of the afternoon resting, everything was being taken care of. 

These are the angels that helped make it happen, they are my team of first response, always so generous in their kind words and support showing up out of no where just when I need it most.  Carolyn, my neighbor, Peggy, our babysitter and Paul's mom.  I am so blessed to know them, they have taught me so much.

We enjoyed a perfect day, good food, the company of friends and family and many begging chickens.

I am so grateful my parents were able to make it.  When I asked Maryanna what she wanted most for her birthday she said, "all I want is for Oma and Opa to come to my baptism".  With only a few weeks notice they made it happen, it was a quick trip full of fun times and so happy to share this event with them.

I sat resting as everyone cleaned up.  Clara said, "Carolyn, can you make a party for me next year?"  Carolyn laughed and said, "sure, you should see what I can do with more than two hours notice!"