It's Great to be Eight!

Ñapymi Y'py = Go under the water (Baptism in Guarani language) 

This is exactly what happened last Saturday, when we went to the Church with the whole family in tow: Grandparents, Aunt Brittney, all extended family living in the area and tons of family friends.  We witnessed Claire going under the water!  Yep, after 2 months from the original date, we finally push down our Claire to the road of becoming another LDS member.  It was a sunny day, and of course a beautiful ceremony. So she was in her completely white clothes... PROUD is the word that described best the feelings of the moment.  She was long ready for it and the holiday weekend helped everyone to enjoy the mix of activities we had planned for this unforgetable event.  

After the baptism, we met at the Taylor house for a luncheon.  To celebrate the occasion, we put together a big Texas-style menu: meat, meat and more meat.  As always, Grandpa Keith was in charge of the cooking. The main course was shredded pork, smoked brisket and smokies seasoned with Crystal Fisher's delicious barbecue sauce.  Freshly made rolls, baked beans, corn with bacon, potato salad and fruit filled the rest of our hungry tummies.  At the end, the kids had a blast with some marble cake for dessert.  Also, as Claire's special request, Grandma Marti made her delicious caramels to be passed out as parting gifts for the luncheon guests.  It was the perfect treat to say thanks to everyone for their support and love.  Thank you again, Grandma Marti!  

Here is a little visual sample of the day's program.  It's very difficult for me to look at the pictures and not think over and over: where I had been the last 8 years?  Time sure passed by fast.  I miss my baby Claire, but more than ever I treasure her courage of choosing the right and getting baptized.  She's a sweet spirit and already a great example for her siblings and friends.  Now that her teen aged years wait ahead, and with Claire getting "wiser and wiser by the minute," (these were her own words!) hopefully we, the parents, "just need to sit and relax..."    And as she already advised me (during a little chit-chat while helping her to change out of her wet baptismal oufit) "... and get a bottle of Tylenol for when my drama queen shows up."    

I was a little bit emotional during the baptism but this heart-to-heart ladies-room talk made me chuckle.  After all, it's great to be eight!