Dear Lily,
I have so much to tell you about the weekend you were baptized. Where should I begin?
Your whole family was excited and looking forward to getting together to see you and being a part of your baptism. That means that your Great Grandma/Grandpa Thompson who are both in their 80’s flew in from Wisconsin. Your uncle Matt & his fiancé AJ flew in from Washington, DC and Grandma J & I drove up from Las Cruces, NM which is about 11 hours away. Your Grandma/Grandpa Thompson live close to where you and your mom & dad live.
Your mom called us on Thursday afternoon to tell us that a big snowstorm was heading for Denver so we might want to change our travel plans. After getting things prepared we left Las Cruces about 3pm in the afternoon. The drive to your house went fine. We got to your house about 1:30am in the morning tired but thankful to be there.
The next morning we awoke to 4 inches of snow already on the ground and still snowing. By the end of the day there was about 10 inches of snow on the ground. Boy, were we happy to be at your house and not out driving in the snow. The rest of our first day with you was spent holding, feeding, laughing at and just being excited about being with you and your mom & dad. Your other grandparents & great-grandparents came over in the afternoon so we could all be together. After eating together we played Farkel. It was fun being together like that.
On Saturday Grandma J & I drove out to the airport to pick up Matt & AJ. It was so good to see them. I bet you didn’t know that they are getting married in September. I know that you and your parents are going to be there. Now there were some more people to hold, feed, laugh at and be excited about being with you. The house was filling up.
During our time at your house everyone took a turn holding & feeding you and loving you up. At almost 3 months you are kicking, trying to talk & waving your arms when you are excited. You also have the most beautiful smile you are starting to show us. Wow! So when we weren’t fussing with you we were talking, joking around, laughing at each other, eating, hottubing, playing games and generally enjoying being together. It was so good being there.
Sunday was your big day.
You were to be baptized at Holy Shepherd Lutheran Church where your Grandpa Rick is the lead pastor. It is a very pretty church. Well everyone got to the church okay even though there was a problem with one car. The gown you wore was made by my mom, Great-Grandma Jorgenson and was worn both by your mom and your uncle Matt when they were baptized. When the big moment came both your Grandpa Rick & I helped baptize you. I don’t know if I ever told you Lily but I am a pastor in the Lutheran Church too. Grandma J & I and Grandpa/ Grandma Thompson were your sponsors. Matt & AJ sat up close so they could take some pictures. The service was very nice.
After worship we all went over to Grandma/Grandpa Thompson’s home for a reception. All the family & some friends from church were there. More food & talking happened along with gift opening. It was a long but great day.
We only had one day left with you, your mom & dad, Matt & AJ so we decided to have some fun in the snow. We went tubing together. Grandma J watched over you while the rest of us tubed down the hill over and over again. It was fun. One more night of eating, hottubbing & games topped off our weekend. It was time to go home.
Well, Cindy & I drove home, Matt & AJ flew home and life returned to normal.
