Charlotte's Baptism

It was a great adventure to say the least, but Chris and I never ever have an event that doesn't have something happen.

On Saturday morning my sister and Chris worked in the yard mowing and such. It was going to be such a hot day that they wanted to get it done very early. As they worked outside I worked on finishing the cake. Around 10am we had to stop to get ready to head over to the Church for the rehearsal. Chris and I left the girls behind. Lily and Juice we having too much fun and Rdette was sleeping. So we took the drive over to take a nice long deep breath! The rehearsal went great and we went back home. The plan was for my mom and I to head over to the store to pick up the last minute things we needed. This was supposed to happen around 12 or so. We didn't end up getting to a point that we could go until around 6! We just couldn't get ahead!!

After we got back from the store and the girls were in bed everyone spread again to finish up the last few things we could do the night before. Chris and I decided to go out into the yard and put the chairs around the tables that we had rented. This is where the fun begins!

I got out into the yard first, I noticed that the canopy's that Chris had worked so hard to get up had blown to the bottom of the yard and were now in the trees. He is right behind me, we both look up and the sky is almost green in color. I am thinking at this point that there were NO thunderstorm warnings so what is going on. We go down into the yard taking chairs with us to put into the now upside down canopy's to hold them down. We also tried to pull them out of the trees as much as we could. All of this is going on while this huge thunderstorm is building around us. After a few more minutes and some too close for comfort lighting we head back up to the patio. We were talking about how crazy this was when all of a sudden a tree in our yard makes a very loud cracking sound, then as if in slow motion it falls.

Now could it fall AWAY from the RENTED tables and chairs? Really why should it?!?! Nope, it falls full force into the tables, shoving one side of a table into the mud! Chris and I just stood there, I ran up to the house yelling that we needed help (I don't know what anyone could have done!). We stayed on the back patio/porch for a while longer, hoping that it would stay light a little longer, or at the very least the tree would magically right itself. Almost like God saying "Opps my bad!", but nope by the time it was over it was too dark and the tree was still there

We had a great plan already worked out so that the next morning should have been seamless. Ever heard that saying 'Ya wanna make God laugh show Him your plan.' I am sure he got a good chuckle out of us!

The next morning we were up about 530am, the Church service started @ 1030am. Chris, Maggie and I headed out. Chris chainsawed it all, Maggie even got in on the action! The first time she used it she looked up and said "I like power tools!" Uncle Jeff also came to help out, by the time he got there we had the tree done, but he was more then willing to help out getting other things done.

Charlotte's God Parents arrived to a house in a full on frenzy! Charlotte's God Mommy put on her dress. Each God parent made sure she had bling! Ken and Sarah gave her a bracelet that read 'Jesus loves me' and Tracy gave her a cross necklace. The best part is that we make it out the door without her spitting up on it!

Even with all that we made it to Church on time! It was with minutes (literally) to spare! All of our family was there, and the service was not only going to celebrate Charlotte's Baptism, it was also Promotion Sunday for the Sunday School! When Rev. Cindy told me about that I think that she was afraid that Chris and I would be upset. We thought it made it even sweeter!

Before I go any further, I have to brag a little on our Lily. She was SOOOOOOO good during the service. She tried to sing along with the hymns. She could only catch the last word but to have her sit through a service is hit or miss. She is two and that is a lot to ask, esp because the service was longer then normal.

When the time was right we headed to the back of the Church to the Font. Chris,Kenny, Tracy and I all made a semi-circle and the Sunday School kids came up to fill in the back. This is the only time Lily got a little antsy. I think it had more to do with a height issue. She worked it out though and found the pew along the wall and stood perched over trying to get in on the action.

Charlotte, as always looked unimpressed with the whole thing. After everything was done, we found our way back to our seats. We handed Charlotte back to Kenny, and she promptly fell asleep! In the Episcopal faith, the 1st Communion is given the same day as Baptism. Rev. Cindy was going to break off a tiny piece and give it to her. Yeah, well she slept through it! So we will have to wait for that. Lily took hers this time without incident. Thankfully! Once she took it and said that it was yummy, and several times Rev. Cindy had to tap it into her mouth! She is getting so big!

After service, we came back to the house, and it was time to relax. The only problem with that was that it was 100 degrees outside with a heat index of 105! It was pretty hot. We had lunch out there and then headed inside for gifts and cake. Our house is not very big and we pushed to the seams this time! We just didn't plan for people to be in here. Our family is very forgiving, I think that at that point no one cared how crowed it was it was 25 degrees cooler! Everyone stayed only a little while longer after that. The girls were able to get into the pool even Rdette got in on this action! My best friend from High School, her hubby and her two little girls stayed for dinner. It was nice to catch up a little while the girls played! Her youngest daughter and Lily are a month apart, so we had a few toddler throw downs for different toys in the pool/yard. But in the end they kissed good-bye!

I kept telling Charlotte all day this was just for her and that even if she won't remember it we would. She was such a good baby, well she is a sweetie (almost) everyday! But, Sunday she seemed more peaceful.

Stay tuned for pictures!