Noah and Anna Get Baptized

This precious Sunday, these precious ones, their precious obedience and participation in church life - Baptism!

It was years ago now that they came to a saving knowledge of Jesus and they have grown up in leaps and bounds in their faith since then, certainly with so much more to go,  as we all do.   Noah's Decision -  Feb. 13, 2012 - age @6.  Anna's Decision - Jan 24, 2013 - age 4.  These were precious moments to recall and to have Noah and Anna read to themselves now and recall the decision in its newness back then.

Over the course of this year, they communicated that they wanted to follow up with baptism.   And it is right that they should!  Finally we got around to getting the kiddos through a Desiring God baptism study for review.  Finally, they had a sit down chat with our Family Ministry Pastor at the time.  Finally, the new-to-us old baptistery in our new/old building got fixed and was ready to roll.  Finally, we got the go ahead from Jamie that it was time.  In the meantime, somewhere along the way, I found this pretty thing Anna had drawn.

 

This precious Sunday, it was her and Noah's turn to take a public plunge in front of their church family.   I thought I would get emotional, but I didn't.  I was all grins.  Emily and family came to town to share the milestone and our dear friends Cathy, Craig, and kids joined us that morning, too.  

 

 

Josh shared a verse for the kids that we chose for them at this time that was fitting for our goals in discipling them - 2 Peter 1:3-10.  It's pretty much what we always harp on while disciplining them these days, too.  Ha!  Discipline/Disciple.  Close cousins I think.

 

 

 

Like I said, I was all grins - proud of my babies standing up there facing the church all by themselves, proud of them speaking so clearly and so sure of their answers, amused when Anna snuck her head around to peek at us down below as Noah got into the water, amused when Pastor Jamie confessed to bumping Noah's head on the wall of the tub when he went down.  Ha!  Nope, I didn't get emotional like I thought I would ... until I got to absorb the moments all over again nice and slow via precious pics from my too-kind friend, Brandy, who snapped a bunch from behind the scenes.   Sorrynotsorry for the photo reel coming up! I am so, so, so, so, so grateful for these glimpses to keep forever!  They tell the whole sequence so sweetly. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Say hello to the two newest official members of Redeemer Church! (I did not expect us to have to go stand at the front of the service at the end there - ha!)  Noah felt so cool with everyone coming up to shake his hand afterward and congratulate him and welcome him as a member and tell him that he is now their brother in Christ.  

Anna said it was so fun, that the water was not as warm as the hot tub, and that she was nervous just because she knows she will remember this day for the rest of her life. Love!  Precious day indeed.

Oh yeah!  Cathy was so sweet and got gifts and a card for the kids and Brooklyn gave Anna a bracelet to mark the occasion, too.

Thank you, Lord, for your faithfulness - in answering this prayer of ours hearts since before these two were born, in sending your Son, in your forgiveness of sins, in the faith you author and perfect and complete in your people all the days of our lives.  Too much goodness!  This momma's heart prays that you please continue to hold my babies' hearts fast in the coming years - for their protection and for your glory!  Praising You!