handmade floral crown / baptism dress (Olivia’s is sold out) / photography studio
Our darling girl – she is baptized!
Last Saturday was the setting. At 5:00 PM, with dusk slowly making its way into the world, the sun was warm and the world felt at peace. Olivia was baptized in my aunt and uncle’s pretty backyard pool due to COVID restrictions (baptisms held in church buildings only allow for a small amount of attendees); the voices of all of our families happily filled the air. Then, everything stilled, the water gleamed as Olivia and Ryan stepped into the water, and my sweet girl was baptized, following the example of our Savior. It was so, so beautiful.
Preparing for Olivia’s baptism was a really special experience for me. I read and listened to this talk repeatedly during the week, and I was struck by the responsibility the message conveyed to me about helping my children understand what baptism really is: a beginning of a new life. Yes, the remission of sins because of our Savior’s sacrifice via baptism is priceless (is anything more relieving to know that you’ve been forgiven?). But additionally – and often forgotten – is the sweet reality that the moment you are baptized, your new life as a companion with Jesus Christ and His Spirit begins. And it’s a life that comes with a big responsibility: live like His Son. Talking with Olivia about that through the week taught those special truths to me again, and I felt so, so grateful for that.
Walking through life’s milestones with your babies is just invaluable. Truly. I’ve said this before, but I owe Olivia so much. My first baby – she changed my life when she was born, putting me on a life trajectory that I couldn’t comprehend that fateful September day. I was suddenly a teacher, a guide — and an inept one at that. 🙂 I have had to learn so much in order to raise her. Her unique soul has contributed so much to that, too. Around 3-years-old, Olivia started asking me deep, sometimes tough-to-answer gospel questions — the type of questions someone asks when they’re not familiar with my faith at all and they’re learning about it, like what’s the role of women in the church if they don’t hold priesthood; why can’t anyone go into the temple; what does baptism do for you; if God loves us, why do awful things happen? And more! Her questions over the years have forced me to think, challenged my faith, gain deeper testimonies of so many things for myself, and that darling girl, she let her faith grow as she learned about the gospel of Jesus Christ, too. She heard the answers, asked more questions, accepted truth, asked more questions, and found personal belief. She obviously has so many years ahead of repeating that process and learning and growing more, and how I hope she keeps coming to me with her questions (challenge me babe, keep helping me grow)! Faith is like a little seed, after all, that when planted – and nourished and constantly attended to – it will grow.
Thank you, Olivia, for giving me the chance to watch you plant seeds of faith that you have then grown. Thank you, darling, for pushing me to do the same. Love you forever! xo, Mom
