A Day for Zoe - Take 2

Saturday, March 3, 2018 was Zoe's baptism! We are lucky that she got to have her baptism just for herself. I know you're not really supposed to but I feel like it makes the day so much more special and memorable! We scheduled the baptism specifically for 2:00 in the afternoon because Jonas always naps from 10:30-12:30 or so and I didn't want him to ruin it by being a nightmare. Of course, this was the day he refused to nap! Ha! I printed the programs that morning and had had everyone's clothes dry cleaned earlier in the week so we were all ready.

Dave left early with Jonas hoping he'd fall asleep in the car, which he did. He cracked the windows and locked the doors and set up chairs and tables in the church while I got everyone else ready at home. We tried to get here by 1:30 but didn't leave our house 'til then. I had planned to do ice cream sundaes after the baptism and had Isaac and Noah grab the ice cream out of the freezer for me. Unfortunately Isaac forgot his sitting on the floor outside his bedroom so we only had Noah's chocolate but I realized when we were almost to the church and we couldn't turn around or we would be late for the baptism. But my dad saved the day by running to the store as fast as he could after the baptism. He also picked up ice and flowers for me (though I forgot the vases, too. Oy).

I had asked a few people to help lead the music and nobody was able to so I asked Isaac that morning if he could do it and he said sure. Only I didn't know he didn't actually know how, so that was kind of funny! I played the piano (badly) but nobody seemed to notice our ineptitude with music. My nieces Alex and Bekah sang "I am a Child of God" and it was so beautiful! I would've bawled if I hadn't been playing the piano. Then my sister Sara gave a talk on baptism and laid out papers on the floor far apart, one labeled baptism and one labeled heaven. She had Zoe come stand on the paper labeled baptism and asked if she could get to heaven from there without touching the carpet, but they were too far apart. Then she placed other papers on the floor like Sacrament, church, prayers, etc. and Zoe was able to make her way to heaven. It was really cute. Then it was time for the baptism! I hadn't checked earlier (d'oh!) but the door to the font was locked so I was scrambling to try and find a key to open it, but Dave just walked through the water and unlocked it for her. The water wasn't very high so I was glad she agreed to let me put her hair in a ponytail so she would go all the way under without flyaway hair! He only had to baptize her once, thankfully. My dad and Dave Skousen were witnesses and I trust them. Heh. Dave got choked up as he said the prayer, (me too). And then I ran back into the dressing room to help her out of the font and get her dried and dressed. She had the biggest smile as she climbed up the stairs, she was so happy. She said "Mom, I'm baptized!"I said "I know! I'm so happy!" It was so cute. She wanted to dry her hair but I didn't want to take too long so we just brushed it and left it wet.

At this point my sister Alice came in and asked where Jonas was. I told her he was asleep in Dave's car and she said "No he's not, we just checked and he's not there." I felt like I was going to throw up and went running for Dave's keys. Luckily they were looking in the wrong car and he was there, and had just woken up. Perfect timing...for some tantrums. My brother-in-law Dave held Jonas while my brother Delos gave a talk on the Holy Ghost. I loved his talk and was so glad Zoe asked him. He shared a bunch of experiences from his time as bishop and the story about "Very High Spirit" from Sherry Dew's book and it was so good. About then Jonas started freaking out so I took him out and was wondering what to do when it was time for Zoe's confirmation. I was feeling so frazzled at this point and luckily Alex came out and took Finn and Jonas (Finn was screaming for Dave, who had to confirm Zoe) so I could be there. And I'm so grateful I was. Dave gives particularly great blessings and this was no exception. In the circle were Dave, my dad, Dave Skousen, Delos, Bishop Tanner, Kyle Briggs, Kasey Connell, Clayton Carpenter (I think? I better ask Dave and come back to edit this part....). I just cried as he confirmed her and gave her the gift of the Holy Ghost. In her blessing he said she is blessed to live on earth now because of her righteousness in the premortal life, and it’s important for her to maintain that obedience now. The Holy Ghost will help her ignore the mocking and scoffing from the great and spacious building spoken of in Lehi’s dream (that was one of my favorite parts--it's hard in this day and age). The Holy Ghost will help her gain a strong testimony of Christ and others will believe on her testimony. She was also blessed that she can trust her parents, and that the Holy Ghost will direct us as we give her counsel. He said the Holy Ghost will lead her to the temple, and it will be important for her to go to the temple frequently for peace and safety.

He also mentioned that she is our only daughter and how grateful we are for her and I couldn't help but cry. She really is so special and I'm so glad we have her. Later Delos joked that it's not too late to have more and we all replied "YES IT IS."

My friend Lacie Briggs welcomed her to primary then Bishop Tanner closed with his testimony. It was a terrific, spiritual feast of a day. The feeling in that room was sacred to me. There are a few times in our lives where all the things we do--all the sacrifice, all the time spent away from family for callings, all the hours spent preparing and reading and praying--that make it all worth it, and this was one of those days. I'm so grateful for her choice and for Dave's preparation and worthiness to perform those ordinances for her. I'm so grateful for my family coming from so far, especially my mom, who it is a special sacrifice for to travel. We are so lucky and blessed to be members of the restored Church of Jesus Christ. I love it.

After the baptism we had ice cream sundaes. We had every topping imaginable and the room looked so cute all decorated in Zoe's favorite color.

Everything (even ice cream) is more fun with cousins!

Zoe came home and rolled around on her special baptism quilt, ha! She was so excited to finally have it. My sister-in-law Misty did that for her kids and I decided to follow her tradition and my kids really love it--though it made the week before her baptism especially hard (note to self: start on Finn's NOW). I hope it will always remind her that the Holy Ghost is there to be a comforter to her, and that she will remember she is never alone. I'm so grateful to be her mom and I'm so glad that fighting her every Sunday of her life to get to church has paid off, for now.

Read "A Day for Zoe - Take 1" here!