Sydney's Baptism

The great thing about being a grandparent is the fact that you get to participate in so many wonderful events with your family. Even though ours is very spread out, we try to attend as many of those special events as possible. This past weekend, George and I flew to Dallas for Sydney's baptism. It truly was such a beautiful, spiritual experience, and we loved spending time with Cameron and Anne's family. The 40 hours we were there were certainly not long enough! However, we tried to pack as many things in as possible in the short time period! Since little Mason is so young, we have to get him to know us each time we see him. George worked extra hard, and he was finally getting a little warmed up to him.
Friday night when we flew in, we went to a beautiful huge softball park that had about 8 or 9 fields with bleachers and lighting--it seemed like the professionals! These fields were just for softball leagues. We loved being out in the open air watching Cameron play just like when he was a kid playing all the sports he was involved in. Of course, George gave him a few "helpful" hints as he always did when Cameron was growing up!

Cameron and Anne have so many wonderful friends in Dallas who were also friends with Jeff and Amy. They told us to tell Jeff and Amy how much they missed them and were excited about their new baby. Here are two couples that I was able to get a picture of: Len and Shelley Tanner, Cameron and Anne, and Ryan and Kellie BarkerThe next morning, we all got ready and watched Sydney open up some belated 8-year old birthday gifts as well as some special gifts for her baptism day. She looked so beautiful in her special white dress!

Then it was off to the stake center. There were four boys being baptized, with Sydney being the only girl. Sydney's other grandparents had come from Utah for the baptism, and we all stayed at Cameron and Anne's home. It was great seeing Anne's parents.

Richard and Debbie Wilson with Sydney.
George and I with Sydney.

Jaxon and Sydney. He can't wait until he's eight for his baptism!

Cameron, Sydney, and Grandpa George

What a beautiful experience it is to see someone enter the waters of baptism. There was a short meeting afterwards and Cameron, Anne, and Sydney all bore their testimony. There wasn't a dry eye in the audience.

Cameron, Sydney, and Anne.

After the baptism, we didn't have time to change but went straight to Jaxon's soccer game on the other side of town. We barely got there in time, but again, George was in heaven watching his kids or grandkids participating in sports. That was so much a part of our lives as our own kids were growing up!
After going to a Mexican restaurant for lunch (Sydney got to pick), we went back home to change. Jaxon really knew how to get to his Grandpa's heart by putting on his Gator shirt and proudly showing his homework project he had created: The Swamp!Anne and her parents then left for Austin for a cousin's reception, and the kids, George, and I all went to have fun for the few hours left in the day. Sydney and Jaxon had saved up some money and wanted to go to Build-a-Bear, so with a little extra money from Grandpa George and Grandma Laura, that's just what we did. I laughed when they wanted to go there because my sister's little grandchildren had just done that same thing. They all know how much fun it is to build your very own bear--in this case--their very own dog! Mason was too young for one yet, but it won't be long before he will want to build one, too.

That evening, Sydney and I put together her baptism book, the kids watched a movie, and it was time for bed. What a great day we all had together! Anne and her parents got home about 1:00 A.M. after driving three hours to Austin and three hours back. This morning (Sunday), Cameron then took us to the airport, and after a short two hour flight, we were back home again. These memories of such special occasions will be with us forever. Thank you, Sydney, for making such a great choice to be baptized. You are such a special young lady, and we love you so much!