Hudson's Baptism

(8/17) Mama D hung with me while Papa D went kayaking with Seb and my dad

We visited the boys at school

Delicious Cheesecake Factory for dinner!

It was so idyllic on the patio

Ready for a swim after dinner

My sweethearts

A pre-dip before the big dip

Loving her Grandpa!

(8/18) Today's the big day!

We are so happy for our Hudson Boy!

What a guy!

I love this family of mine!

My and my first baby!

We are so blessed to have him in our family!

This guy is so special

Always here for our special memories!

We love you G + G Dunlap!

One of my best friend's daughter's got baptized the same day!

Hudson Boy was baptized and confirmed this month (August 18). It was a special event and many of our family and friends came to support us on this special day (Mama and Papa Dunlap, my dad, Jacob and Shauna's family, the Pickett's, the Reilly's, the Barnette's, the Tracey's, the Kingston's, Don Dentandt, the Barnes', the Mack's, and more!). We really felt the love! Thank you!

Many of our family members were able to participate in the program: I gave the opening prayer, Mama Dunlap picked all of the songs and conducted the music, my dad gave a talk on Baptism (complete with some Japanese karaoke!), Sebastian performed the baptism, and Grandpa Dunlap performed the confirmation. We gave Hudson a journal and some scripture markers, and the Dunlaps got Hudson a beautiful, gold CTR ring. (And the entire Magic Tree House book series!)

Baptism is a wonderful opportunity for Hudson to formally commit to following the Savior. As part of the baptism ordinance, Hudson made a promise to his Heavenly Father to keep the commandments, always remember Him, and love and serve others. What a great way for Hudson to start out his young life! We tried to emphasize this sacred covenant with Hudson during family nights and scripture study all summer long.

Hudson was also confirmed a member of our church and was blessed with the Gift of the Holy Ghost. That, for me, was the most special part of the baptism day. Hudson's grandpa gave him the most beautiful blessing, which I will include below. I felt the warmth of the spirit in my soul as the blessing was given. Our Hudson sure is special. We love him so much.

The day was really fun. I thought it was really special that my friend's daughter played Hudson's favorite song, Peace in Christ, as one of the prelude songs. My memories will include sneaking into the men's dressing room after the baptism to help Hudson change out of his wet jumpsuit. I forgot that Hudson's friend Naomi Tracey was baptized immediately before him, and her dad was in the dressing room, too! Whoops! Hudson was all smiles and said he felt different and so clean. He really wanted to get McDonald's drive-thru after his baptism, fly out of his church clothes, and ride his scooter to the park. I persuaded him to go to Red Robin instead (so we could get all-you-can-drink root beer floats), and we walked to the park afterwards. I rode a scooter alongside Hudson, and we rode all the way around Mariposa Basin park. It was so much fun!

Hudson Geoffrey Dunlap, by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood, I confirm you a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and say unto you, receive the Holy Ghost. Hudson, you now have opportunities to abide in the strength of Christ. [Big] choices and decisions and opportunities will come your way by righteous doing. I bless you to be able to think clearly and to act righteously in the works that you undertake in family and in school and in the world at large, that you might have the patience and the understanding to grow and develop into a great and strong seed. I bless you to also [ ... pause ... ] remember the good that is around you, to treasure always those things that will come to you by goodly parents and by others in this world. Have a discerning spirit with this gift that you have received. Use it well. [Lean upon] its influence and opportunities in your life and develop a great strength that you need to build your own boat, as did the Nephites, to sail a course true and straight to your eternal goal. And so doing you will find peace in Christ. We say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.