Tanner's Baptism

What a fantastic day our family had!!!

Tanner was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Despite all the planning and checking and double checking the details, there were a few minor hiccups, that luckily I'm laughing about now that it's all over.

I tried to take my sister's advice and tone it down on the 'party' side of things, and really focus on the reason for the gathering.  The saving ordinance that Tanner participated in is/was definitely more important than any decoration.  Together, Tanner and I carefully planned the program; who would talk, who would say the prayers, what songs would be sung, to invite the Spirit into the service.  I tried to delegate the 'details' out as much as willing souls would allow, and I'm forever grateful for the helping hands I had!

There was a mis-communication about filling the font.  And while it doesn't matter, it is very comical that we were filling the font with water from the kitchen with water coolers and any receptacle that could hold water. At the time I was VERY frustrated and more than stressed that the font wasn't filled with warm water, and that the faucet (once unlocked and turned on) was running during the talks.  But when all was said and done, we had a total of 12 inches of ice cold water (usually there's 3 feet of nice, warm water).

My siblings sang Tanner's favorite primary song, "I Like to Look for Rainbows", which is about baptism...and was also sung at all of our baptisms!  Ryan's mom spoke on baptism, and my mom spoke on the Gift of the Holy Ghost. Grandpa Poulsen and Grandpa Crandall were witnesses to the baptism.

Tanner and Ryan were troopers though!  There were no negative words muttered about how cold the water was once they entered the font, and Tanner was surprisingly calm. As Ryan brought Tanner out of the water, I could see a silly smile cross my dad's face (he was one of two witnesses to make sure Tanner was fully immersed)....and then I knew....a toe had popped up.  Well, as is was, TWO toes popped up!  And So Tanner was baptized again, having the first time not count.  Poor kid was nearly purple from the cold!  But he did great, and we will never for get this experience.

By the laying on of hands, Ryan confirmed Tanner, giving him the gift of the Holy Ghost, as a constant companion if he keeps the covenants he made.  Those who stood in the circle included Ryan, Ken, Kevin,Gary and Mitch Poulsen, Craig, and Reed Crandall, and family friends Nick Croft and Matt Hansen (bishopric member).

I had the luncheon all set up the night before.  First thing in the morning, I took soups and crock pots to the church and loaded them up with yummy goodness, plugging them in to warm so immediately after the service we could have a luncheon and feed all our family who drove hours and hours to join us.  Even though I had carefully planned, when we got back to the church to eat, three of the main crocks were COLD!  The one I had plugged into the kitchen was warm, but apparently the outlet I used in the cultural hall was tripped.  Oy!!!  THANKFULLY my mom and other family members came to the rescue (yet again!) and got all the soups heated as quickly as possible....and we all really enjoyed the food and company.

There was one detail that I was adament that happened.  Because we were birthday'd out, Tanner didn't get a birthday cake of his own (I had convinced him that rootbeer floats were much more cool!), and I promised that for his baptism he'd have a lot of cupcakes....

So I made 100 cupcakes.

And they weren't too shabby!!!

I am so proud of my little boy, who is quickly growing up!