She's A Mormon Now

One of the boys said, "Kate! You look like a ninja!"
That's right.  Because we are fighting sin.

 Kate was baptized today!  It was a great day, and even though we were far from home, our branch made it special for all of us.  Kate was baptized with her friend Elise, and that was a big deal here- to have TWO baptisms at once.  I think most of our branch came to see the girls and that was very meaningful to me.  Everyone here is away from family, and I (again) feel such gratitude for my friends in the Philippines.

The most memorable part about today?

That we had to shovel a dead rat out of the baptismal font.

For reals.  Actually, that isn't the MOST memorable, but we definitely won't forget that. 

I want to write some specifics about today since most of my loyal readers weren't in attendance.

Mark Landry from the branch presidency conducted, I played piano, and my friend Jill (whose daughter was also getting baptized) led the music.  We sang "When I Am Baptized" for the opening song, and Elise's sister Rachel gave the opening prayer.  Jamie Bohn (who is the Primary 1st Counselor) spoke on baptism.  She talked about going to Disneyland- that when you arrive at the gate, it is only the beginning of an incredible experience, and that these girls' baptism was like going through the gates on to great things.  Then the girls were baptized, which I sobbed all the way through (Go Me.).  Kate broke the family trend and required only a single dunk, and Mark Landry and Derek Hable were witnesses to it.  Then Jill and I played a piano duet, "My Heavenly Father Loves Me" which was going really well until I broke a piano key about 2/3 of the way through.  Jen Jensen (dear friend, how I love you) spoke on the Holy Ghost.  She spoke about the power of the Holy Ghost and the gift of the Holy Ghost, and that the Holy Ghost could be your best friend.  She told the girls that they had to treat the Holy Ghost like they would a best friend, or He would go away from them.  Then Kate and Elise were confirmed.   Mark and Derek also confirmed Kate with Bruce.  Bruce did a great job- He blessed Kate to know how proud her Heavenly Father was that she had made this choice, and with health in her mind and body, and with charity, kindness, courage, and strength.  And some other stuff which I won't write here.  Then Charity Windsor, our Primary President, said a few words of welcome, as did Mark, and then we closed with "I Am a Child of God."  Kate and Elise's Primary teacher, Liz Healy, said the closing prayer.  We had treats and socialized, and it was a very good day. 

Here are some "after" pics.

Kate and Elise

Jill and I with the girls.

Ryan and Bruce with their daughters.

Sister Healy and Kate

The ward girls.

It was a rough day for Kiki.  She was so jealous of Kate being the center of attention that she cried multiple times throughout the day.  Hopefully she recovers from the horrible snub of not being the center of the universe for a few hours. 

Kate has been aglow all day long.  She was so excited to be baptized that she hardly slept last night.  She was so excited to wear her white dress, white shoes, and white hair bow.  She has been looking forward to this ever since she turned eight.  It was hard to be away from our families today- I couldn't help but think of those we love who would have been there had we done this at home- but I know that this was the right time for her to do this, and so did she.  I don't think she could have waited another second!  She can always remember her baptism in the Philippines.