My boys were baptized the other day.
Like well over a month ago, but I haven't blogged about it yet, so lets pretend it was just recently for the sake of writing…
When we brought our boys home, we obviously knew we wanted them baptized. It wasn't really something that needed discussing. We will raise our boys to know the love of God, and teach them to live life in a way that is honorable to God. As best as we can, with the support of our family and friends of course.
But church is a rather overwhelming place for "new to the U.S." twin boys who are adjusting to their new family. During our serious cocooning time we weren't really leaving the house at all with the boys, let alone to go to a VERY busy, loud, and overstimulating church service. Where everyone would want to see the boys, and the boys would want to be at home in their 'safe place'. So we stayed home.
Oh, and also we do not have a home church.
Minor detail.
We've pretty much been on the hunt since we got married (um… 3 years ago). And we haven't found a place yet that really meets all our needs. We've found some really great churches that we like to attend, but we haven't found the one that feels like home to us.
We're a strange mix. I was raised Christian Reformed, which is a very "Zeelandy" thing to be. Or maybe just West Michigan in general. David was raised Catholic. Even went to a very lovely Catholic school growing up. What we are looking for is neither Reformed nor Catholic. More non-denominational, maybe. With some traditional feel, but a semi liberal attitude. Modern music, but not something that has to feel like a concert. That has outreach programs for widows/orphans/people in our community and across the world in need, but also is small enough that we don't feel lost in the crowd.
So you know… just your ordinary ole' church :)
So where do we baptize our boys? And when?
It was one of those things we sort of just "tabled" for awhile.
And then one day just decided.
We opted for the church I grew up in, because its where we got married. Also, the pastor there did our pre-marital counseling, so he knows us, and helped us out with some adoption paperwork we needed from a church leader.
And then we found out he was retiring. Okay. So lets do this people. Like quick before he is not there anymore and we have to have a stranger do it!
(I mean really… its OUR promise to the boys to raise them in the church. Not the pastors. So it doesn't matter.) But whatever. It did matter.
And one of the only dates that worked was already chosen for another family baptizing their child. (This is a very small church, where you get your OWN Sunday for baptizing. Not a couple days a year where everyone does it. - And I'm not knocking churches that do that. Just explaining that some families may not want to share their day.)
Oh. And that other family was my brother's family. Baptizing my beautiful nephew, Charlie. On a day that his Mom had chosen specifically because it was near her father's (Charlie's middle namesake's) birthday. Because her first son was baptized on the birthday of my father and great grandfather, whom he is named after.
Oh. And she planned it like the MOMENT she knew her due date. Probably. Because that is how she rolls. All organized and such.
And by some miracle, she was willing to share the special day with our boys! She said it would be special for Charlie to be baptized the same day as his cousins. :) YAY! And it was special. It was awesome. It was perfect.
Thank you Katie, Cort, Eddie and Charlie for sharing your day with us! It was so special for Kingston and Kyrie to be able to enjoy this celebration with you!
Here are some pictures…
Like well over a month ago, but I haven't blogged about it yet, so lets pretend it was just recently for the sake of writing…
When we brought our boys home, we obviously knew we wanted them baptized. It wasn't really something that needed discussing. We will raise our boys to know the love of God, and teach them to live life in a way that is honorable to God. As best as we can, with the support of our family and friends of course.
But church is a rather overwhelming place for "new to the U.S." twin boys who are adjusting to their new family. During our serious cocooning time we weren't really leaving the house at all with the boys, let alone to go to a VERY busy, loud, and overstimulating church service. Where everyone would want to see the boys, and the boys would want to be at home in their 'safe place'. So we stayed home.
Oh, and also we do not have a home church.
Minor detail.
We've pretty much been on the hunt since we got married (um… 3 years ago). And we haven't found a place yet that really meets all our needs. We've found some really great churches that we like to attend, but we haven't found the one that feels like home to us.
We're a strange mix. I was raised Christian Reformed, which is a very "Zeelandy" thing to be. Or maybe just West Michigan in general. David was raised Catholic. Even went to a very lovely Catholic school growing up. What we are looking for is neither Reformed nor Catholic. More non-denominational, maybe. With some traditional feel, but a semi liberal attitude. Modern music, but not something that has to feel like a concert. That has outreach programs for widows/orphans/people in our community and across the world in need, but also is small enough that we don't feel lost in the crowd.
So you know… just your ordinary ole' church :)
So where do we baptize our boys? And when?
It was one of those things we sort of just "tabled" for awhile.
And then one day just decided.
We opted for the church I grew up in, because its where we got married. Also, the pastor there did our pre-marital counseling, so he knows us, and helped us out with some adoption paperwork we needed from a church leader.
And then we found out he was retiring. Okay. So lets do this people. Like quick before he is not there anymore and we have to have a stranger do it!
(I mean really… its OUR promise to the boys to raise them in the church. Not the pastors. So it doesn't matter.) But whatever. It did matter.
And one of the only dates that worked was already chosen for another family baptizing their child. (This is a very small church, where you get your OWN Sunday for baptizing. Not a couple days a year where everyone does it. - And I'm not knocking churches that do that. Just explaining that some families may not want to share their day.)
Oh. And that other family was my brother's family. Baptizing my beautiful nephew, Charlie. On a day that his Mom had chosen specifically because it was near her father's (Charlie's middle namesake's) birthday. Because her first son was baptized on the birthday of my father and great grandfather, whom he is named after.
Oh. And she planned it like the MOMENT she knew her due date. Probably. Because that is how she rolls. All organized and such.
And by some miracle, she was willing to share the special day with our boys! She said it would be special for Charlie to be baptized the same day as his cousins. :) YAY! And it was special. It was awesome. It was perfect.
Thank you Katie, Cort, Eddie and Charlie for sharing your day with us! It was so special for Kingston and Kyrie to be able to enjoy this celebration with you!
Here are some pictures…
 |
| Sorry about the blur... |
 |
| Cousin Charlie |
 |
| Sweet boy :) |
 |
| Blur again. But I don't care :) |
 |
| Flirting with Auntie Liz and Uncle Cody's niece behind us |
 |
| Mama does double time |
 |
| My family that I adore. |
 |
| And here we are again. |
 |
| Daddy hold two boys |
2 comments:
Congrats babies on your baptism!
P.S. The church you described is also our dream church! It is a needle in a haystack to find, but the right church is out there for you. You may have to give and take and hop around, but you will find it.
You are silly...of COURSE we were going to share with you! It made the day even BETTER!
Post a Comment