A day to be remembered...

On Thursday, June 5, 2008 Adrian turned 8 years old. This was a big day for him as he would now be old enough to be baptized. On Friday, June 6, 2008 Adrian was baptized by his father and also confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. For Andrew this was quite special as he was never sure that this day would come. For various reasons we never thought that Adrian would be spending his 8th birthday with us, let alone be getting baptized. But, he was and he did. Even after Adrian came to live with us we weren't sure if this would happen, mostly because his attendance at church and being in a home where the gospel is taught and lived has been so sporadic. We weren't sure that he would be ready for it and we never wanted it to be something he would look back on and feel like he was pressured into doing. For the last few years his mother has been practicing Buddhism, which has some really positive things about it, but has left Adrian confused by his desire to believe that Jesus Christ was really his Savior and then being told by his mom that this isn't true. It was apparent he was conflicted between what he knew in his heart to be true and a desire to please his mom. One day last summer he asked me in a very serious and concerned way if we would still love him if he decided that he didn't believe in Jesus. I almost cried because I felt for him, of course I reassured him that we would always love him and that as long as he was a good person and chose the right we would be happy. I didn't want him to think we wouldn't love him for that. These concerns of his were put aside shortly after he moved in with us, he seemed to have a weight off of his shoulders that he could choose to believe without pressure from either side. About 2 months ago another boy in his CTR 8 class was baptized, although we were unable to attend Adrian started to ask about when he turned 8. He said that he wanted to be baptized and wanted to know if he could be if he wanted to. Of course we said he could! Adrian then was counting down the days to his special birthday.

Andrew was able to not only baptize his son, but for the first time he was able to perform the ordinances of baptism and confirmation. It was a very special moment for our whole family. Without rehashing the past, there was a time when Andrew was not active in church and was not "choosing the right." These are moments, days, and years that weigh heavily on him as some choices made affected people other than himself and repentance cannot change facts and alter the existence of children. I was touched today when I read my friend Rochelle's blog about this very thing. The choices made by a 21 year old guy who just wanted to have fun and live his life brought children into the world who were going to be at a disadvantage from birth due to the choices their parents made. The reason I bring this up is only to somehow try to convey how special this day was and how much more meaningful the blessing Andrew gave to his son, Adrian, when he was confirming him. I wish I could remember word for word the blessing, but here is my attempt at the highlights. After the initial part of the blessing where Adrian was given the gift of the Holy Ghost, there was a brief pause and then (Andrew says he cannot remember what he said after this) Andrew blessed Adrian that as he grows and develops in the gospel he will be an example to his brothers and sisters in helping them to learn the gospel and have a desire to live by its teachings. Then he told Adrian that he was born into this world with many challenges and adversities that he would have to overcome. And that these challenges were given to him that he would have the opportunity to grow in the gospel and become a strong servant of our Heavenly Father as well as an example to his family of how to choose the right and be happy. He was promised that he would be given the strength to overcome these things and be better for them.

I cannot remember the whole blessing, but I remember feeling the Spirit very strongly and being so grateful to have a husband who holds the priesthood and lives his life worthy to exercise the priesthood when needed. I am thankful that he is close enough to the Spirit that the blessings he gives are truly the words that our Father in Heaven wants us to hear and know. Adrian may not remember this blessing, but I will. It was a moment where I was reminded that although we make mistakes and sometimes these mistakes hurt others in a way that we can never undo, Heavenly Father is aware of us and truly He knows us and loves us in a way that He will never give us more than we can handle and overcome. Adrian has such a sweet testimony of the gospel and although it is delicate and immature, it has so much power in it. We are so proud of him and his decision to be baptized! Adrian just after the closing prayer, so happy!
Andrew and Adrian
Not the best picture, but shows the birthday cake.

(Being forgetful preggers I spaced getting a picture of them in the baptismal clothes, I remembered as they were exiting the font! I could kick myself...)

The program:

Opening Song--I Am a Child of God

Opening Prayer--Aunt Julie

Talk on Baptism--Me

Special Musical Number--"Born of Water, Born of Spirit" (Me)

Baptism

Talk on Holy Ghost--Grandma Candy

Confirmation

Closing Song--When Jesus Christ Was Baptized

Closing Prayer--Aunt Taylor
***As a side-note of sorts, Grandma Candy talked about how in order to know what the Holy Ghost is like we only have to look outside. Even though you cannot always see the sun, we can still feel that it is there. We have light and warmth always (relatively speaking!) and without the sun we would have complete darkness and it would be 300* below zero. So even though we cannot see the Holy Ghost we can still feel him. Then she said having the gift of the Holy Ghost is like wearing spiritual glasses that help us to see the right things to do. I mention these things because I want to remember the object lesson, but also because as we were leaving the church the lights were off and I was walking down a dark hallway with the boys when Luke said "it is so dark in here, can you see anything Adrian?" To which Adrian replied, "Yes, it is a good thing we have our special glasses on!"