Samantha's baptism day was such a very special day. The baptism was beautiful in every way. The Spirit was there, and we appreciated everyone who was able to come, especially Grandma & Grandpa Halliday and Aunt Christyn. We wish that Grandma & Grandpa Carpenter could have made it, but know that they would have if it had been possible. We're just glad Grandpa's health is still improving, even if it is a little at a time.
Samantha asked her Grandma Halliday to speak about baptism and her Aunt Christyn to speak about the Holy Ghost. They did a wonderful job! Samantha wanted all the primary to sing "When I am Baptized" and she wanted to sing "A Child's Prayer" with me. I don't know what I was thinking when I said I would sing with her. Samantha, so brave, sang the first verse. Her voice was indescribably sweet and so beautiful - there were few dry eyes. The minute she began to sing I knew that I would not make it through my verse. It was just too emotional experiencing my first little one get baptized and then hearing her sing a song to her Heavenly Father. Anyway, I made it through about 1 phrase, lost it, and then gestured to the audience to pick it up for me, which they did. It was a wonderful moment to hear the adults sing. I pulled it together for the duet part, just barely. It was a precious moment that I will always treasure.
Samantha is such a sweet, kind, smart, and thoughtful girl. She is my sidekick. She is so sweet to her siblings nearly all the time (the 3 year-old brother can be trying for her). She helps me in the kitchen and around the house. She loves to sew, cook, read, read, read, jump rope, dance, sing, crochet, build things with wood, paint, etc, etc. She recently said to me, referring to a character in a book, "You know how Cherry feels that she is born to dance, well, I feel like I was just born to read." Of course, she said this after I said that it was time to turn off her flashlight and go to sleep. I am so very proud of my now 8 year-old. She is a joy in my life.
I did a little photo shoot of Samantha in her baptism dress. Isn't she beautiful? I just took them around our yard. It turns out that living on a hill creates a wonderful backdrop for photos :)
