The Russell Family: cty

Today is the big day!

The reason we all we crazy enough to road trip cross country.

Brynn-bear's baptism.

In our faith, Latter Day Saints follow Christ's example by being baptized by immersion in water and then receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. We also believe children are unable to commit sin (are born pure) and are redeemed through Christ's mercy should they die before they are baptized- which, in our religion, is the age of 8.

“Listen to the words of Christ, your Redeemer, your Lord and your God. Behold, I came into the world not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance; the whole need no physician, but they that are sick; wherefore, little children are whole, for they are not capable of committing sin” (Moro. 8:8).

We believe that by the age of 8, children can understand the difference between right and wrong, become accountable for their choices, and therefore have need for repentance. Or in other words, we are baptized in the name if Jesus Christ for the remission of our sins.

(picture pulled from the web so you get an idea)

Those who are baptized enter into a covenant with God to take upon themselves the name of Jesus Christ, keep His commandments, and serve Him to the end. We remember and recommit to this covenant every Sunday when we take the sacrament during our church service.

I didn't take any pictures of the event, or at the family get together afterward.

I was feeling really overwhelmed.

I was so proud of Brynn for making the choice to be baptized, so there's those emotions.

I had been traveling for a week with little kids and no husband and missing him, so there's those emotions.

It was so touching to have my entire family there to show our love and support to this little girl on her special day.

But really it was an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for Preston (Brynn's step dad, married Rochelle last year) and his family who stepped in to this little girl's life and loved her completely. If a father is a worthy, active member of the church and has been ordained with the priesthood (the power and authority of God), he is able to baptize his child. So on this Saturday, it was Preston baptizing Brynn. A mix of emotions that it wasn't Mike up there baptizing his daughter, but again, so much gratitude that Preston was. That Rochelle and Preston have continue strong in their faith, and helped my sweet niece's faith to grow.

Divorce is hard.

Even for aunts.

I gave Preston and Rochelle teary hugs afterward and tried to express my gratitude to Preston and his parents individually, but I have never been good at expressing the truest feelings of my heart.

I am grateful that Brynn (and Caden) have a dad in their life every day.

Of course, I am sad that isn't Mike with them every day.

Of course.

But I am so glad that Preston loves these kids and has happily taken on this responsibility.

I make it sound so formal, and, again, am botching an effort to express how I really feel- just know that I love my family. And that has grown to include Preston and his family now.

After a fun cupcake family get together with those closest to Preston and Rochelle at a local park (again, no pictures! ah! My brain was on another planet.) We drove over to the coast to spend the next 3 days together.

We arrived.

Claimed bedrooms.

Changed clothes.

And hit the beach.