Twenty One years ago on this day, I was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I only wish I knew where there was a picture of my sweet little missionaries. Hopefully one day I will find it because I know it is out there somewhere. This was a big day for me. I wrote on the bottom of the photo page that Nate had driven all night from Provo, UT to be there in Longview, Wa (which is a 14 hour drive - during - I believe- finals) for my baptism. He was also the one who confirmed me a member and through the Priesthood gave me the gift of the Holy Ghost. I can still remember what it felt like to emerge from the water. I really did feel spiritually clean. I was also a bit terrified because of the turmoil it had created between me and my family, but I had adopted family in the gospel there with me and I felt calm and peace and joy.
The funniest and perhaps almost more memorable part of the day was when we went back to Nate's parent's house after my baptism. There was no denying that we were going to be together now that I was a member of the church and he had driven all night to come and support me. Nate is a very practical person and had major ambitions. He needed to be sure I shared those ambitions and I was walking into a relationship with him with both eyes wide open. He knew the divorce statistics among medical school graduates. He also knew how intimidating it can be for new members of the church. He laid out all the statistics before me and then sat his 3 sisters down on the couch and made them tell me every annoying and horrible thing about him so that I had ample warning to run while the getting was good. Well, it didn't scare me off. If anything is strengthened my resolve and made me love him more. He cared that much about me to lay out all his "ugly" so that I couldn't ever say that I was tricked. He already knew all my baggage because I'm a pretty open book and he was willing to take it all on. (the top picture is one Nate took of me because he thought it was so cute that I was crying because he had to get back to school and I was being left behind)
I am just completely amazed that a recently returned missionary that had a love and understanding of the gospel that was completely contagious could want to travel the road of a new convert with me. If something were to happen to him and I had to remarry, there is no way I could be with anyone that wasn't where I was spiritually. I would want someone better than me (which is exactly what I did in marrying him). I tell him all the time that he took a huge gamble on me.....especially knowing what his goals were when we were dating. The more I learn and study about why we are here, the more I realize how important "the one" is in the gospel. It's not about some super spiritual power house couple. If the only work he ever accomplished here on earth was me and our children, that's all he was supposed to do and that is more valuable than anything else - and so I should be willing to do the same if the situation arose. He does so much more though, he's the kinda guy that can work the gospel into just about everything and he is always sharing it with his patients. His patients love him because he genuinely loves them. He is always getting presents from them and finding out all kinds of details about their lives that I don't know how he manages to get into in the amount of time he has with them.
Just for fun, I decided to throw in this picture of us. We were newly married at the time. Don't you just love the rolled up narrow ankle mom jeans with the socks and birkenstocks? Classic and classy! Hey, it's cold in Wa and you want the benefit of sandals whilst keeping your feet warm. Duh!
Now, 21 years later on this very day, I took our youngest child to the orthodontist to get her braces on. Isn't she adorable?
Last night to celebrate the end of seminary for the 2 oldest, we had a testimony meeting instead of scripture study. Ethan gave a really amazing one and I found myself again wishing that I had a go pro strapped to my head at all times to capture such events. He took pity on me and did it again on the camera on my phone. Seeing the fruits of my decision to be baptized and the eternal ramifications or ripple effect are astounding to behold. It's almost too much to take in. I have a beautiful eternal family - one that I only dreamed was possible.
Here is my 11 year old son's testimony as recorded on my phone (minus a couple of umm's):
"I'd like to bare my testimony, I know this church is true. And even though I can't see Heavenly Father, I know he's true because of the scriptures. And I am thankful that Joseph Smith has restored our gospel for us and that he has translated the scriptures. And the scriptures have really helped me out in my life and I really love them. And I really like Sunday School cause I like learning lessons. My favorite lesson, so far, has been Joseph and the Pharaoh. I look up to Joseph because he was very honest and he could get the Pharaoh's trust. And the Pharaoh put him in charge for the seven years of famine and the seven years of plenty. And I look up to him and try and be just like him. I really like the gospel and I'm glad I'm in it. And I'd like to say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."
The specialness of this day was affirmed again when I decided to stop at the store before I went somewhere else. I ran into the new Laurel advisor that was called on Sunday. She had a list of questions for me and really needed to talk to me and thought it divine that we ran into each other. You know how when you meet someone and you feel like kindred spirits? This is how we feel about each other. Her and her husband just moved here to be with her daughter before they go on their mission. As we sat and chatted in the isle and talked we discovered that we are both converts. Her at 18 and me at 19. Both had parents that were very upset. Both of us just did the one marriage ceremony in the temple and made our parents even more upset. Her parents didn't want to make the trip from Puerto Rico to not even get to see their daughter get married. Mine begrudgingly went to the temple and had a tour of the temple grounds with the temple president while I was being sealed to Nathan but they were very bitter the whole time. She was a hippie when she joined the church and I was a rebel. We shared spiritual experience and both teared up several times. She shared with me how she came to know what her mission with the Laurels is. She is to use her getting prepared for a mission to engage the girls in helping her to prepare. Brilliant and completely inspired. Sometimes the gospel is invigorating and alive and exciting. We got to share that with each other today and it was a perfect commemoration of this very day so many years ago that put me on this path.
How do I get to cap off this day? By attending a youth baptismal trip. I may not have any living relatives that are members of the church, but I have several dead ones and I get to witness a handful more join the church tonight as my children do baptisms for our ancestors. I am blessed beyond measure and hope I live my life worthy of such special favors and blessings.
One last thing that I can't forget....I walked away with a piece of advice that my new friend didn't know she was giving because it was something she was telling herself. It was related to everything she had to do to get ready to serve a mission with her husband. Things are expensive and she was getting bogged down and reminded herself that:
"it's only money, you've got to keep your eyes focused on the eternal."
How perfect was that to hear when I've been getting all gloomy and doomy over paying for everything that is broken in my life and wondering how we are possibly going to survive the new healthcare laws that are affecting our practice.
We have always been blessed with everything we needed and there is no reason we won't continue to get that blessing.
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