Kailey's Baptism

With loving hands, He formed you. With open arms, He welcomes you. With everlasting love, He will keep you.

Our beautiful little girl was baptized yesterday in front of family and friends on a *beautiful* rainy day. She was so good and awake throughout the entire service and we were blessed to have our Pastor and friend, Bill Turner baptize Kailey. Chris and I feel that baptism is important in our faith and we are happy to raise our daughter in His way.

Kailey looked beautiful in her dress and was happy to show it off before we left for church.

She didn't wear the hat, but I loved the way it looked on her! She looked like a southern belle!

Colin was happy to participate in the obligatory brother-sister photo shoot, although I just could not get them both to look and smile at the same time.

Prior to the service, I had asked Pastor Bill if Colin was going to come up with us, although I knew he would and he told me that he was going to have Colin "help" baptize his sister. I loved the idea and knew it could go in one of two directions: 1. happy colin or 2. growling/"no" colin.

As soon as we got up and were standing with Pastor Bill, Colin immediately reached his arms out to be held by him. It was so cute the way Colin watched him and listened as he started the baptism readings.

Kailey was so good and didn't even make one peep.

When it was time, Colin helped by dipping his hand in the baptism water...

..and laid his hand on Kailey's head the way Pastor Bill showed him how.

It was incredibly sweet and made for an even more meaningful ceremony.

The sermon that day was titled "Who Among you are Disabled" and it couldn't have been more fitting for our family and for the message that we have been trying to spread since Colin was born. The message was basically that we are all disabled in many different ways, it's just that some of us are able to hide our disabilities more than others. For some, our disabilities may be financial struggles, physical struggles, loss, etc. and are not necessarily things we wear on our faces. For all of us parents of children with special needs, we know that our children are not any different than their peers. We know that things may be more challenging for them, or they may have more medical issues than others, but despite a disability, they are not any different. They are not any different.

Later in the day, Colin and Kailey spent some time with their friends and we enjoyed the rest of our day with everyone!

Thank Jorie for the pictures!! :)

"I have loved you with an everlasting love." Jeremiah 31:3