Jack's Baptism

I know, I'm the worst blogger in history of bloggers.  But, in my defense, I have three more posts ready to post this week after we tie up a HUGE project and school ends.  It's been really busy, but everything is dragging on and on and I don't want to post until it's all DONE.

But this project began and ended fairly quickly.  Jack decided a few weeks ago he was ready to be baptized, so his Dad baptized him yesterday!  We are pretty excited for Jack.  He has always maintained that he wasn't going to be baptized because he doesn't like to be in front of people.  He is extremely shy and well, he doesn't like people.  We have covered that several times already and not much has changed.  Although being baptized at age 8 is pretty much standard in our church, we were not going to force him.  

But, he decided to do it and we happily made the arrangements.  One of the greatest treasures in our home is that Joe holds the Melchizedek Priesthood and can baptize the kids himself.  Awesome.  I love that.  

Funny story.  I posted this picture in a FB group I belong to and all the LDS members came out of the woodwork just "knowing" we were Mormon.  How?  Well, it could be two things.  The deadly scratchy wallpaper and blue carpet combo that graces ward buildings all across the United States, or the circa 1970's pattern white jumpsuits that linger on like bad things that just never die.  Haha!  :)

Well, Jack kept to his typical personality by being SO shy during his baptism.  He eventually started to cry from the attention.  When we got home I talked to him about dealing with his emotions and that crying was ok when you are emotional about something.  He was having none of that, claiming he had a headache instead of just being emotional about his baptism.  He did say, and I quote:

"So the gift of the Holy Ghost means your gonna be one of those people that cry at church?  UGH." 

Bahahahahahahaha!  OH Jack.  I suppose so, buddy.  

I tried to get some pictures of Jack but for some reason whenever he smiles he closes his eyes.  There are four thousand pictures of him on my camera with his eyes closed.

In an effort to get a picture of his eyes open, I told him to try to not smile.  Maybe that would help.  

Nope.  Didn't help.  LOL.  I promise I comb Jack's hair, I swear I do.  This picture was AFTER his baptism.  But who am I kidding, he looks like this ten minutes after I comb it anyway.  Haha.  

Aha! Finally!  And that's as good as it gets.  

A wonderful lady at our church surprised Jack with this tackle box/fishing cake at his baptism.  He loved it, he loves to fish.  Jack doesn't like a whole lot of people, but he loves Rose.  And she loves him, in spite of his charming personality.  Jack is not easy to love, but she sure does it unconditionally.  He is blessed.  

Jack's gift was his own set of "real" scriptures.  He was more excited about that than anything, I do believe.  

I am grateful Jack made the decision that in spite of his shyness, he wanted to be baptized, and I'm grateful he made it through without having a TOTAL breakdown.  I am also grateful his Dad was the one to do it.  We are a blessed home.