christening jacob christopher

After negotiating a number of busy schedules, we had the opportunity to have baby Jacob baptized last weekend.  On the afternoon of Sunday, November 4th, we gathered with about 60 dear friends at a church near my parents' home in south Louisiana, and officially welcomed Jacob into the Christian family.

Although it sounds like a large group, we were surrounded by wonderful family friends whom I have known since childhood, and who have been great supporters and encouragers of Chris and me from the time of our wedding, through our multiple military moves and his deployment to Iraq, and to the births of each of our sweet children.  So it was extra special to me to experience this important milestone in Jacob's faith walk in the presence of so many loved ones.

Equally special was the fact that we were able to share this weekend with my entire immediate family as well as our great friends from our Greenville days, the Carrolls.  These dear folks pulled their kids out of school early on Friday and drove the almost 700 mile journey to my parents' home just to be with us for the baptism weekend.  And we cherished every moment we had to reunite, catch up, laugh and share this time with them.  Their beautiful girls were always so welcoming and gracious to our kiddos back in Greenville, and all six of them have gotten along very well since we met back in 2009.  Despite the fact that these girls are in middle and high school, they possess that awesome and unique ability to interact very naturally with all age groups.  Our girls had everyone playing dress-up, tag, and running around within minutes of their arrival.  Their presence there was a gift to us all.

The celebration of Jacob's baptism was lovely.  Our whole family joined the god parents at the front of the church, and we were so fortunate to have our old Jesuit friend, Fr. Paul, officiate.  Chris met Fr. Paul in New Orleans in the early 1990s (before Chris met me!), and he has been a great friend to us since.  He was one of the pastors who officiated at our wedding, has stayed in touch with us over the years, and also celebrated Joshua's baptism in 2001.  That sort of history is so very meaningful for us, and we truly appreciate Fr. Paul's involvement and support.

We also loved having my sister, Michelle, who has been an incredible aunt to all the kids, as Jacob's godmother,

And a few shots of all of Jacob's godparents. 

 He's a lucky guy to be surrounded by all of this love...

It was, indeed, a very special time.

God bless baby Jacob.

So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 3:26-28