Emeline was Baptized!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 Emeline's baptism day was gorgeous weather-wise, but a little stressful in other ways.  I had done everything I could to make sure the day ran smoothly.  I double and triple checked with the primary president that the stake baptism day was November 1, 2014 at 11:00 am.  I asked if we needed to provide any talks or music.  The primary president assured me that it was the correct day and that the stake provided all the talks and music.  We just needed to show up.  The Sunday before the baptism I reminded the primary president that Emeline's baptism was the upcoming Saturday and had her get the whites for Emeline and Timothy.  Emeline had met with the Bishop and her primary teacher is married to one of the bishopric counselors, plus we'd chatted about the baptism with him.

In short--even though I had a niggling feeling that the primary president wasn't quite on top of things and everything seemed a little too loosey-goosey, I didn't know what else I could do to ensure that things went smoothly.

So we showed up at 10:45 at the stake center and lo and behold there wasn't a soul there.

Hmm.

Timothy drove home and got his church keys.  While he was gone, more of our family arrived plus the primary president and first counselor in the primary presidency.  They were surprised that nobody was there.  They didn't have keys.  They did, however, know the Bishop's phone number so he was duly called along with the ward mission leader.

Timothy arrived, unlocked the door, and allowed everyone inside.  The ward mission leader started running water in the font.  I asked Amy Rasmussen and my dad to put together talks and the cousins were informed that they were providing a musical number.  Mom and Timothy got a tv/vcr from the library and put on a church movie for the children to help stall while the font filled.  It was all more exciting than necessary.

 In the end, though, it was a lovely baptism.  Amy and Dad both did wonderful jobs on their last minute talks.  The cousins sang "I Am a Child of God" and we even heard a little of the song in German, which was fun.  Kayli was the pianist and Mom was the chorister and it is always so fun to hear all the cousins singing primary songs while they wait for the baptized cousin to change clothes.  Such beautiful music.

The most important thing, of course, is that Emeline was baptized and confirmed!  She was so excited and happy.

 Emeline and Cassidy.

 Emeline with great-grandparents Wilford and Frances Young.

 Emeline with great-grandparents Gene and Marcielle Davis.

 Emeline with grandparents Kenny and Beckie Young.

 Opening the journal from Grandma Rasmussen.  Emeline was pretty thrilled with it because it had a lady in a yellow dress on the cover.  Yellow was the color of the day because as everyone knows--Emeline loves yellow.

 New scriptures and scripture case.

It was fun to have everyone at our new house--an initiation of sorts since it was the first event held there since we moved.  We need to get some folding chairs, but other than that everyone seemed to fit!  Awesome.

Emeline, we are so proud of you for making the decision to be baptized and we are so grateful that you have the Holy Ghost with you now.  Love you so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!