anna's special day

Anna turned 8 on April 25th, 2014!

She has been looking forward to getting baptized, and we couldn't have been prouder for her efforts and enthusiasm for this special day.

And then we remembered that we moved! And our new ward doesn't hold Child of Record baptisms on the Stake level...but has the families plan and execute their own baptismal services.

I thought and thought and prayed about it and made the decision to ask our old ward and stake if we could possibly join them for their monthly baptismal service.

I was so very happy to find that they all agreed! 

And so, Anna was able to join with her friends on this special day.

 Here she is with her Daddy.

There is just something special about seeing a child, all dressed in white, preparing to enter the waters of baptism that brings tears of joy to my eyes.  

I can only imagine the feeling our Heavenly Father has when he sees the same thing.

We cannot be more proud and pleased with Anna this day. (and every day!)

 Here she is with her good friends, Yazzy and Brennen.

She has grown up with these children, practically from birth!

She was blessed as a baby with Brennen when she was just weeks old.

Yazzy and Brennen have been with her from nursery through primary...until the day we moved away last year.  Getting to see these three enter the waters of baptism together, seeing them get to celebrate this special day together was the best present of all!

I am so grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ-that brings friends together, and creates families through Ward activities and fellowship.  I know these kids will always share this connection and friendship, and this brings so much joy to me.

Our family.

We did have Anna's extended family come and join us as well...but with the oncoming rain and having to rush back to Airi's for dinner and the rest of the birthday celebration, we were not quite fast enough to snap a group picture.  BUT, we know they were there to help support and show their love for Anna on this special day, and we are so very grateful to them as well.

 Cupcakes and cousins!

 Anna chose purple and pink frosting for her cupcakes...and we had some of her cousins help with the frosting.  I had to go back and "fix" a couple of cupcakes...but it's all good!  No matter what they look like, as long as they taste good, that's all that matters, right? 

And yummy, they were!