baptism review

 

The day of Buster's baptism he woke up early and excited and asked how soon he could put on his white jumpsuit.  "After breakfast" couldn't come soon enough for him.  He put that thing on and danced around the house, happy as can be, unable to contain his excitement.

We got to the chapel 10 minutes early and as our family arrived, Buster greeted as many as he could with tight hugs and high fives.

He sat through the talks by his cousin and uncle with anticipation and sprang from his chair when it was time to get wet.

After the ordinance prayer and when it was time for immersion, Buster jumped up, causing Spouse to have push him down into the water.  It was funny to watch and even funnier that his feet never made it under.  There was a redo.

Buster immerged from the changing room in his new suit and white shirt, his grin a mile wide.  He looked perfect to me.

Not long afterwards, out in the parking lot I found him racing around, chasing his cousins.  He tripped, hard, skidding to a stop.  I heard 5 aunts gasp with me as we expected to see holes in the knees of the new suit pants and possibly a few tears or at least a sad face.  But he popped up, pants in tact, dusted off his scraped up hands and kept running. 

During our luncheon I lost count of how many bottled root beers Buster consumed.  Its his favorite beverage and I wasn't going to slow him down on his special day. 

A few days later, back at home in AZ, a while after I had tucked him in and turned off the light, I heard murmurs coming from his bedroom. I cracked the door and found him huddled under blanket with his night light, reading from his new, engraved scriptures. 

What a kid.

About a week before Buster turned 8 we were talking about his baptism, in particular about testimony.  I asked him, "Do you have a testimony?" Buster answered, "Yep, I do.  I believe in God and Jesus Christ and I also believe that I'm old enough to have my own gun." 

If I could capture Buster's essence in a bottle I could sell it to the world and make millions. It would be a happy mix of true joy blended with innocence, earnestness, energy and humor.  Side effects may include an insatiable appetite and the risk of being hurt because you want to love and be loved with all your heart.  Fortunately, this essence would grant you a most forgiving heart and your capacity for love will grow bigger.

Ahh, my Buster.  My one son.

Did I tell you how on Christmas morning he came out to find that Santa had left him a basketball?  He was thrilled.  Thrilled!  He shouted, "A basketball! A basketball!" holding it high in the air as if it were the greatest prize.  He was equally enthusiastic for his sisters and their gifts from Santa.  "I can't believe you got a bike! A BIKE!!! Yes!" "No way!?!  A robot!"  It wasn't until he had gone through his stocking that he ripped the basketball out of its packaging and started dribbling it towards the front door.  Suddenly he stopped, looked up and gasped for air.  Santa had also left him a basketball standard, all set up inside the house.  It was quiet for a moment while he processed that this was for him. First there was disbelief: he fell to his knees, covering his face with his hands.  Then absolute pleasure: happiness and surprise expressed through shrieks and screams, running up and down the hall, dancing and leaping, laughing! 

One of my favorite moments of parenthood. 

The night before his birthday when I tucked him into bed I held him a little longer.  "I just love you so much Buster and I can't believe you're going to be eight tomorrow."

"I know why you're sad mom. Because I'm going to be in Cub Scouts now and then I'm going to be in Boy Scouts and then I'm going to be old enough to have my own gun."

Yep.  That's exactly why I'm sad and so very happy.

Buster with his best buddies

It's air soft. And he got safety glasses, so there will be no eyes shot out here.

First den meeting!  This may be the only shirt he hangs up without me asking.