What name have you given your child?

Samuel Marcus 

What do you ask of God's Church for Samuel Marcus? 

Baptism 

You have asked to have your child baptized. In doing so you are accepting the responsibility of training him in the practice of the faith. It will be your duty to bring him up to keep God's commandments as Christ taught us, by loving God and our neighbor. Do you clearly understand what you are undertaking? 

We do  

My dear brothers and sisters, let us ask our Lord Jesus Christ to look lovingly on this child who is to be baptized, on his parents and godparents, and on all the baptized.

Father, God of Mercy, through these waters of baptism you have filled us with new life as your very own children. 

Blessed be God 

You have become a new creation, and have clothed yourself in Christ. Receive this baptismal garment and bring it unstained to the judgement seat of our Lord Jesus Christ so that you may have everlasting life. 

Father ended with a special prayer and blessing for me, Samuel's mother. It was unexpected and brought me to tears.  Maybe it's only something they do when you get to your 4th baby, because they figure with that many I must need extra prayers!  Just look at my husband's face: if that look doesn't say "she needs this" I'll be a monkey's mother.

Sam was welcomed to the Faith by his doting godbrothers. He already adores those two! 

This priest has a very special place in my heart and this picture shows one of the many reasons why.  Sienna worked all morning making a beautiful picture and thank you letter for him.  He could've taken it and thanked her, but instead he stopped everything, kneeled down and took his time asking her all about every last detail.  This meant the world to her!  As I tucked her into bed she said, "Mommy, I think Fr. Kline thinks I'm a special little girl too."    

"Relax your face.... just keep smiling... don't look too tall and above all don't show how much effort it's taking to keep Bash from leaping for the holy water..."  I say to myself in almost every picture these days.  

The Fathers! 

To us, when we ask someone to be godparents we ask them to become family.   

"The bond that links your true family is not [just] one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life." -Richard Bach 

I love baptisms.  The ceremony, the smells, the reverence, the excitement and the peace.  They immediately bring me back to my very own baptism and the pure joy I felt on that day.  Thank you Lord for this precious gift of salvation!  Thank you for all the people who witnessed this day for Samuel.  And thank you for the honor of being a mother to four of your children!


"And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground."  1 Samuel 3:19