Baptizing the boy

Last week was Tobias' birthday, and his baptism was scheduled for his birthday.  That was a week we had to go to QC, so we had a full weekend scheduled 'till the Bishop called and told us that the Stake baptism had been postponed for a week.  So I got to baptize him yesterday.

We woke up early, got breakfast and headed for the barber shop.  I sat Tobias in the barber chair and found another one myself.  (Lisa says that it wasn't me she was worried about, but why bother spending the time at the barber shop without making full use of it?)  We got home and jumped in the shower to make ourselves good smelling and to get rid of the last vestiges of loose hair.

The baptism was at 11:00am, so we had a leave the house goal of 10:00am.  That would get us to the church at 10:30 and we would have time to find baptism clothes for Tobias.  I made sure we packed extra underwear, towels and clothes since this was a getting wet occassion.  They didn't call him John the Sprinkler.  He performed baptism, which is a greek word for full immersion in water.   The girls got into their pretty dresses and we were on our way.

Tobias and Me Before changing into our white clothes

When we got to the church we were worried that we had he wrong place, because the place was empty.  Eric drove up a few minutes later in his fancy Mazda Miata.  We took some pictures of everyone in their nice clothes and set off to make some calls when the ward mission leader showed up.  He let us in and I ran inside to find something to baptize the boy in.  After rummaging through the entire closet I came out with a jumpsuit that looked too small.  It was smaller than it looked and Tobias couldn't even get it on his body.  

We found some pants which were only a little too small.  I gave Eric some money to go buy Tobias a white shirt, careful to tell him short sleeves, and what the neck size should be.  He came back with a white T-shirt!  By that time it was too late to change anything and the Bishop chimed in to say that was fine, as long as it was white.  Another boy named Seth was getting baptized the same day.  He had found a bigger jumpsuit the week before while we were in QC.  I guess it was the last one.

Tobias and Me in our white clothes AND before Eric showed up with the T-shirt.

Uncle Mike gave a nice talk on baptism.  He used a demonstration of putting food coloring in water to represent our misdeeds, and then miraculously cleaning it out with bleach, making it clear and beautiful again.

Lisa got everyone's attention with pots and pans.  She let the children pound on them to represent the noise that prevents us from hearing the still small voice of the Holy Ghost.  Let's just say the children got it.  She certainly never short on good ideas.

The Bishop sent Tobias and me into the water first.  By this time Tobias was about to jump out of his skin.  I know you're going to read this and think "no way!" but he was more excited about being baptized than about letting him steer the car, go to Disneyland or play a video game.  The water was just a bit cold, but Tobias didn't notice.  I said the ordinance and dunked him under.  He asked me if he could swim back to the steps, but I said no.  He floated a bit and scrambled up the steps.  

I tried to hustle him in to get changed, but Seth and his father were already walking into the water and he wanted to watch.  He was asking me excitedly whether or not he was all clean now.  I smiled and told him yes, and then Seth got baptized and he was all clean too.  Holding Tobias down was like bouncing a basketball at this point.  He was asking if he could get baptized everyday, or at least once a week.  I told him that was like taking the sacrament, but he asked if he could just get baptized instead of taking the sacrament.  I had to content him with telling him I would explain it later.

Tobias got baptized first so Seth got confirmed first.  (The first shall be last and the last shall be first?)  I feel a little guilty to confess that I don't remember anything about Seth's confirmation.  I'm sure it was beautiful, but I get the shakes thinking about performing a Priesthood ordinance, and I spent every available brain cycle to calm my nerves.  We invited Grandpa Boughan up and Martha's brothers and we all stood around.  My mind went blank.  I asked the bishop if I should call him by name.  He said yes, call him by his full name.  As soon as I said the name the rest of it flowed.  I felt comfortable and sure giving Tobias the gift of the Holy Ghost, and giving him a blessing afterwards.  I feel that God will honor my blessing, and I feel that Tobias will live up to it.

We got home and had a birthday party with the Sullivans, Grandma and Grandpa Boughan and Uncle Walter's family, making 24 people in all.  Lisa barbecued hamburgers and hot dogs.  we sang and fed everyone cake and ice cream.  We gave Tobias scriptures and a mission bank.  Aunt Laura embroidered his name on his canvas scripture case.  I remembered feeling like Tobias when I got baptized.  I didn't ever want to sin again.  Oh well.  You see how that worked out.  We'll just have to hope for better for Tobias!

Maybe Tobias wished to never sin again.