Sammy is 8!

My dear, sweet Samwise Gamgee turned 8 last week!

We, of course, started with the breakfast of birthday children: donuts in bed!

My kids don't get a "real" birthday party until they turn 10 (ya know, the kind that you actually plan for), but we did meet a bunch of homeschooling friends at our church building for some sock dodge ball and lunch. As is always the case, Elise made his cake--actually, two different cakes, she is that awesome. The kids played and we moms talked and planned. Gotta love good friends!

This is kind of a lame picture, and it only shows the older girls of the 26 kids there...

And then, the most exciting part about turning 8! Better than a party, better than a Scout uniform, better than new scriptures!

On Tuesday night, when I was tucking Sammy in, he told me, "I've been looking forward to being baptized my whole life!" He paused in thought, "Well, not my whole life...only as long as I have known about it."

We held his baptism early Wednesday morning since Stephen's parents didn't get into town until Tuesday evening, our bishop was flying out of town around noon and I was leaving later in the afternoon. We got permission to Skype with my parents since they couldn't be in town, and that was pretty special!

Many of our same friends from Sammy's party made the trek to the church for his baptism, and around 16 of them sang in a special musical number. He listened to the speakers in rapt attention as Grandma Jones told how Jesus had to walk about 60 miles (or to ballet three times!) to go to John the Baptist to be baptized, and Stephen told the story of Elijah on the mountain and how the Spirit of the Lord was not in the tempest or earthquake or fire, but in a still small voice.

Sammy wanted to bear his testimony, and nothing could prepare me for his sincere tears and thankful heart as he bore a brief, sincere testimony. He turned to me at the end of the baptism and told me, "I'm so glad I could make these promises with Heavenly Father. I'm so glad I can always have the Spirit." This boy is ready to keep his covenants!

After the baptism and confirmation (which Grandpa Jones performed--Sammy thought since Stephen got to do the baptism that Grandpa should get to do the confirmation) we had a light brunch, and then the kids all went off to play and we moms did more talking. Then home and off to the airport for me!