may you know days of wonder and delight in Jesus Christ

I will rejoice in the LORD

I will take joy in the God of my salvation.

Habakkuk 3:18

Two Sundays ago, Luke was baptized at our church's regular worship service, just like his brother was a little more than a year ago.  We've all been excited about this event; the girls have been practicing "bath-tisms" in the bathtub for some time now.  In fact, they were the first ones up the morning of the baptism and ran into our bedroom, asking, "Is it today?  Is today Luke's bath-tism?  Can we get ready?"

Nan and Grandpa, Uncle Craig, Aunt Caroline, and cousin Emily joined us to celebrate.  It was a blessing to be surrounded by family.  As an added treat, Auntie Caroline photographed everything for us.  She captured moments we'd never have, like Luke and Daddy sitting together for the beginning of service.  (Plus, it means there are actually a few pictures of me!)

We stood as a family to bring Luke to be baptized.  All six of us in front of the congregation seemed a little risky, but we decided to chance it.  In this case, the risk paid off -- everything went smoothly.  The girls were quiet and stood reasonably still, at least at the start.  Even John David cooperated.  We'd given him a new allergy medicine that morning (we didn't want nursery workers worrying about whether his drippy little nose would infect other children) and it knocked him out! He fell asleep in my arms during worship and woke just as we stood to baptize Luke. He was groggy and snuggly through the baptism. By the time he was fully awake, it was time to go play with his friends in the nursery.

Our pastor, Drew, baptized Luke.  The girls watched, rapt.  I wept -- just a little.  So did Luke.

The title of this post comes from the words Drew used in baptizing Luke.  He prayed that Luke would "know days of wonder and delight in Jesus Christ" and that "people would see that wonder in and through" him.  It is a prayer for Luke that I know we will return to, again and again.

(This video will let you see the prayer over Luke... also, that the girls' "standing still" had pretty much ended by that point.)

After the baptism all the children were dismissed to their classes while the service continued.  Luke doesn't have a class, obviously, but he made a break for the nursing mom's room and then took a stroll around outside.

When service concluded we headed home with our family and some dear friends for a little luncheon celebration.  Everyone wanted to snuggle with the little man.

And we enjoyed some good food...

and the company of friends and family.

Hooray for cousins!

And -- of course -- there was cake.  Yum!

It was a sweet day of fellowship, a day in which we were oh-so-aware of the blessings we have received in these children, this community, this covenant.  We wait in joyful hope for the day that Luke will make his own confession of faith.  God bless Luke!