It’s great to be eight

Posted by Justine | February 7, 2009 | 16 Comments

I don’t have anything funny or witty or profound or intellectual to write about today. It’s my daughter’s baptism in a few hours. The third child from our home to be baptized. I’m running around planning the entire event that goes along with a baptism, wondering when I’m going to get to think about the actual baptism.

Instead I’m spending my time thinking about the food, the plates, the kitchen floor, the programs, the music person, the rain, the utensils, the seating arrangements, the toilet’s cleanliness, the missing hairbrush, and the punch bowl’s location.

I’d really just like to be thinking about my 8 year old, who is so self-assured. My 8 year old, who wants so much to do what’s right, who has more of a testimony than I did when I was 15. My 8 year old who used to be so tiny and destructive, who is now making covenants with the Lord.

If I had time to think about it, I’d marvel that someone so small is so assured, so excited and ready to make serious promises to the Lord. Yet she is. Wasn’t she just eating baby food and writing on walls? Wasn’t she just learning to walk and biting the neighbor’s dog?

But she’s eight. And she’s ready.

(Now if only I were ready)

Category: Daily Special

Comments

16 Responses to “It’s great to be eight”

dalene
February 7th, 2009 @ 9:36 am

I hope you have some moments peace to yourself once you get there and that both you and your sweet daughter have a wonderful experience.
Brooke
February 7th, 2009 @ 9:42 am

my first is turning 8 in a few days. her baptism is in three weeks. i’ll be thinking of you today. and if you need it, you can borrow my punchbowl.

xo
Angela
February 7th, 2009 @ 9:54 am

Happy Baptism Day!
Jennie
February 7th, 2009 @ 10:22 am

Just try living some place where you have no relatives and only a few friends. Thus no party afterwards. It’s pretty easy, but it’s also a little bit sad.

Hope the experience is a good one for your daughter.
cheryl
February 7th, 2009 @ 12:21 pm

I’m already thinking about my oldest’s baptism (wondering, semi-planning) and it’s not until May. I keep thinking I should be doing FHE’s geared towards her preparation for baptism, but every time I talk with her about any aspect of the Gospel, I’m blown away at everything she already knows. She understands so much and like your daughter, she just really wants to do what is right. Her testimony is a marvel!

Have a great day! I’m looking forward to ours…
Michelle L.
February 7th, 2009 @ 12:49 pm

Have a wonderful day Justine!
lee
February 7th, 2009 @ 2:31 pm

I love this because it expresses what moms and primary workers often feel. We are sometimes so “in demand” that we don’t get the time and space to cultivate the spirit. What amazes me though, is that it always comes anyway, as a gift of grace. Some beautiful moment will occur, and you will know that was for you, for your efforts, and that God approves of women working their darndest in the real world instead of sitting off on a cloud somewhere. He understands and his grace truly is sufficient.

All this from the woman who was praying earnestly this morning only to be interrupted by the words, “Mom, I wet my underwear.” Oh, life. I just know that God knows, he sees, and his rewards are amazing.

Congratulations on your special day.
Erin
February 7th, 2009 @ 5:48 pm

Don’t you guys have Stake Baptism day? Ours are the second Saturday of every month. The Stake takes care of the entire program, allowing the families to participate where they would like to. Definitely low stress. (Or lower…We don’t let you hold the parties in the building afterward. It has to be elsewhere.)

Enjoy!
m&m
February 7th, 2009 @ 6:06 pm

What a milestone this always is.

I have loved to watch how my children really have been ready. It’s a cool thing to *feel* that.
Mrs. Olsen
February 7th, 2009 @ 6:14 pm

I felt the same when I was getting married. Major covenants! Life-changing event! And we’re running around stressed about stationery and cake. It’s almost better to have a quiet private ceremony (wedding or otherwise) then have a bash a week later…but maybe that wouldn’t work.
Justine
February 7th, 2009 @ 7:35 pm

Oh, what a great day. In the middle of lunch, with 50 people in my dining room and living room, I looked around and had such a great reminder that I am surrounded by people to love and that love my children. What a great blessing in my life.

Brooke, you’ll have a great day! And Cheryl, if you’re spending time worrying about it, I’m sure you’re doing what already needs to be done to teach her. Have a great day!

And Erin, our Stake just fills up the tub on a proscribed Saturday each month and then schedules one hour blocks for families to do their own thing.

It was a great day. Great great day.
Emily M.
February 7th, 2009 @ 8:41 pm

Justine, my oldest is getting baptized soon, and it feels so surreal to me. Like it’s just too fast. I feel like he’s ready, but it’s hard for me to let go of the child.

I’m glad you had a wonderful day.
JKS
February 7th, 2009 @ 11:08 pm

Thank you so much! I’ve felt guilty that my oldest two had baptisms with no refreshments or party (youngest two aren’t old enough yet). Thank you for reminding me that all those little things have nothing to do with the baptism. It is ok to celebrate a baptism with those things, of course, but it isn’t the point of the event.
I hope everything went smoothly for your family and you enjoyed the day!
Sunday in Outer Blogness: Lifecycle Edition! | Main Street Plaza
February 8th, 2009 @ 10:42 am

[...] is not enough. Just to keep the discussion lively, I’ll note that Blog Segullah provides a contrary opinion, saying that eight is a great time to be making covenants with the Lord. And Saganist gives a [...]
Sue
February 8th, 2009 @ 5:01 pm

I remember being eight years old very well, but my baptism is slightly less clear in my mind than my confirmation. I listened carefully to my dad as he pronounced me a member of the Church of Jesus Christ and gave me a blessing. After he finished, I recall standing up, shaking hands with all those big, kind men, and saying to myself, “They think I’m just a little girl.”

But I saw myself as a full-grown member of the Church, and I understood the covenants I was making. In that moment, I felt the magnitude of my commitment to the gospel and knew who I was, spiritually. (Or like Sheri Dew always says, I not only knew who I was…I knew who I had always been.) It was a day I will never forget.

I hope your daughter’s baptism day was wonderful for both of you.

=)
Adri
February 8th, 2009 @ 8:31 pm

Justine, that was beautiful. Thanks for sharing. I’m always amazed at how quickly time flies when you’re raising kids. Hope your day was fantastic!