Robin's Nest: Baptism

Katie was baptized at our church on March 9, 2014. Our pastor, Pastor Jane, has now baptized both of our daughters. Ellee was baptized in Cayuga Lake in the summer of 2011. Since it is crazy cold and Cayuga Lake is frozen, Katie was baptized in the sanctuary right after returning to public from our heart surgery germ isolation. Pastor Jane traveled to Israel last year and brought back water from the Jordan River, which was mixed into the baptismal water Katie received. I think that is just about the coolest thing ever.

The night before we talked to Ellee about the baptism so she would be prepared. We told her that we would go up to the front with Katie to have a ceremony to show how much God loves Katie and ask the church people to love Katie as much as we do. Ellee was immediately concerned and asked “but will we ever see her again?!” Once we assured her that Katie would stay with us and go home with us, Ellee thought it would be fun. Then we read the story of Jesus being baptized by John the Baptist in our children’s bible for bedtime.

Katie did wonderfully through the baptism. She didn’t cry at all and spent most of the time looking directly in the eyes of whoever was holding her. She was held and carried through the congregation and Ellee kept an eagle eye on her to make sure she came back to us.

Pastor Jane asked Ellee if she would promise to teach Katie everything she knows and learns about God. Ellee’s response was “Yes, and I promise to take care of her”. Our sweet girl melted the hearts of everyone in the room.

There is a group of ladies in our church who knit blankets and give them to people who need some extra love, called the Prayer Shawl Ministry. The week before the ladies decided to start making baby blankets to honor baptisms as well. They gave us two gorgeous blankets to honor both Katie’s and Ellee’s baptisms. Ellee chose a pastel rainbow blanket and Katie received a peach colored blanket. Ellee has slept with hers every night since. Mike and I also received blankets when we were dealing with Katie’s surgery. We now have a family of blankets from these sweet ladies, we definitely feel the love!