Grace's Birthday and Baptism

So, Grace turned 8 while we were on vacation and while we were able to do a fun activity to celebrate her big day, her party had to wait until we were home.  I can't believe I didn't get a picture of her cake!  Merritt and Grace have moved beyond asking for a "theme" cake and are now focused on flavors.  Grace wanted hers to be strawberry and chocolate.  Hmmm...what to do?  I searched around on the internet and finally combined two different recipes.  It was two layers of chocolate cake with sweetened whipped cream in the middle, topped off with chocolate ganache and a mound of strawberries.  I almost totally screwed it up but blessings abounded and it came out super yummy and pretty too!  You can catch a glimpse of how it looked in the last photo.

Grace needed some pajamas really badly (she is growing like a weed!), so I spread the word and she got three.  I actually tracked down a mom with an 8 year old daughter at Target and asked if I could hold up the Hello Kitty nightgown I was considering buying just to see if it would fit.  It was a good thing I made a fool out of myself because the one I picked was too short.  I selected a larger size which was nice and long and just ended up pinning the neck and sleeves a bit in order to keep it on her.  Other than some cute clothes from Grandma it was princess toys and fairy toys and My Little Pony toys.  She was thrilled!

Grace's big day was on July 6, 2013.  She was so excited to be baptized and it was a very special occasion for our family.

Grace made the paper flower I am wearing.  I just love it!

We were part of the stake baptisms and there were two other little girls (cousins) who were baptized that day as well.  We gathered in the chapel for music and a talk by the Stake Primary President, then our family was excused for Grace's baptism.  I realized, as I stood at the entrance of the font with a towel and watched Chad baptize his only daughter, that I was having a different experience from when Merritt was baptized.  He went into the font and out of the font with his father and I watched from the front, but this time I was waiting in the wings to receive Grace when she came out.  It was a beautiful and unique opportunity.  I watched her face as she rose up from the water, the look on it peaceful and bright.  I watched a huge smile dawn and witnessed the tenderness between herself and her father.  Then she turned to me and I got to towel her off and hear her whispered confidences and assurances that she "felt great!"  It was so fun! 

I was impressed, as we approached Grace's baptism, with the idea that God never leaves us unprotected.  We spend our first 8 years under the cloak of Christ's atonement; covered by His mercy as we learn to become accountable before our Father in Heaven.  Then, as we reach the age when that covering begins to be withdrawn, we are offered the protection of our first covenant.  We promise to take Christ's name upon us, to always remember Him, and to keep His commandments.  In turn, we are promised that the Holy Ghost will always be with us!  What a marvelous gift!  I am amazed at the goodness of God and how much He cherishes each one of us.  He yearns for us to succeed and return to His presence and has done everything He can to make it possible.  The rest is up to us.  I'm grateful that Grace has made the choice to be baptized and confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  I pray that this covenant is the first of many she will make and hold true to for the rest of her life.  I have every confidence in her.  She is a wonderful girl!