I'm not quite sure how we have an almost-eight-year-old in the house, but we do, so we were invited to attend "8 is Great," a special evening to help children preparing for baptism understand what their baptism day will be like.
I've been involved with "8 is Great" in this ward for the previous two years because I was in the primary presidency, so it was a little weird to be an invitee rather than on the planning committee. It was a rather low-key event, but I don't see how they could have helped that. Rachel's class is down to two members: Rachel and Callin. When we moved in there was a whole row of sweet little girls: Eliza, Grace, Chloe...and others we didn't get to know quite as well. One by one they moved away, leaving just Rachel and Callin.
Numbers were few, but we had a good time. We played Baptism Bingo, which was more of a mix between tic-tac-toe and Jeopardy. There was a 5x5 chart on the chalkboard and we had to try to get at least four in a row. Rachel and Callin took turns choosing a box and answering the corresponding question (asking their families for help when they needed it, but for the most part they came up with the correct answers on their own).
One question that Rachel got right was a fill-in-the-blank scripture, John 3:5: "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into _____________________."
That's one of the scriptures we've memorized as a family this year so she didn't miss a beat when answering it. There were a lot of other questions (24, to be exact) but I can't remember them all.
We got to have a tour of the baptismal font and were shown how to fill it, and we talked about what clothes to wear and bring and other relatively boring details like that.
Rachel is rather excited to turn eight. Just before April's General Conference this year, she found a flyer for last September's "Cookies & Conference" activity for the General Women's Broadcast in the church bag (let's not talk about how often I clean that thing out (the answer is obviously not "every six months")) and said, "I can go to this! I'll be eight!"
I didn't have the heart to tell her that paper was from an activity that happened six months ago, so I just said, "Yup! You can!" because there's going to be another get-together this September as well.
It'll be fun to have someone to go with (a built-in someone). I've just watched from home since we moved out here because going seems like so much work that late at night, but I think I could make myself go for some one-on-one time with Rachel. Plus, I won't be diabetic then so "Pie and Prophets" or "Cookies and Conference" or whatever they come up with will sound more like an appetizing event rather than an are-you-trying-to-kill-me one.
Still, I can't believe eight is right around the corner!
I've been involved with "8 is Great" in this ward for the previous two years because I was in the primary presidency, so it was a little weird to be an invitee rather than on the planning committee. It was a rather low-key event, but I don't see how they could have helped that. Rachel's class is down to two members: Rachel and Callin. When we moved in there was a whole row of sweet little girls: Eliza, Grace, Chloe...and others we didn't get to know quite as well. One by one they moved away, leaving just Rachel and Callin.
Numbers were few, but we had a good time. We played Baptism Bingo, which was more of a mix between tic-tac-toe and Jeopardy. There was a 5x5 chart on the chalkboard and we had to try to get at least four in a row. Rachel and Callin took turns choosing a box and answering the corresponding question (asking their families for help when they needed it, but for the most part they came up with the correct answers on their own).
One question that Rachel got right was a fill-in-the-blank scripture, John 3:5: "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into _____________________."
That's one of the scriptures we've memorized as a family this year so she didn't miss a beat when answering it. There were a lot of other questions (24, to be exact) but I can't remember them all.
We got to have a tour of the baptismal font and were shown how to fill it, and we talked about what clothes to wear and bring and other relatively boring details like that.
Rachel is rather excited to turn eight. Just before April's General Conference this year, she found a flyer for last September's "Cookies & Conference" activity for the General Women's Broadcast in the church bag (let's not talk about how often I clean that thing out (the answer is obviously not "every six months")) and said, "I can go to this! I'll be eight!"
I didn't have the heart to tell her that paper was from an activity that happened six months ago, so I just said, "Yup! You can!" because there's going to be another get-together this September as well.
It'll be fun to have someone to go with (a built-in someone). I've just watched from home since we moved out here because going seems like so much work that late at night, but I think I could make myself go for some one-on-one time with Rachel. Plus, I won't be diabetic then so "Pie and Prophets" or "Cookies and Conference" or whatever they come up with will sound more like an appetizing event rather than an are-you-trying-to-kill-me one.
Still, I can't believe eight is right around the corner!
Exciting! Will she be baptized here or will you wait until you got home (meaning Utah) this summer? Or are you still deciding? (Or maybe it's none of my business until you post the news later this year. ;))
ReplyDeleteI have been reading a couple of books about Mormons so I am more aware why this is a big deal. Congrats to Rachel - and the whole family!
She doesn't turn eight until after the school year starts again, so she'll be baptized here for sure. :)
DeleteThanks for all the posts to read today! I love to read what you write! I can't believe Rachel is going to be 8 either! Time flies! I love you all all beaucoup!
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