Dear Brayden,
This past Sunday was a very special day, one of the most special you will have in your life. You were baptized on December 4, 2011 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Shawnee, Kansas by Pastor Lee Hovel. You became a child of God and joined the family of believers. You were marked with a cross and splashed with the waters of holy baptism. You don't know what that means yet but mommy and daddy vowed before the congregation to teach you all about it as you grow. It will be one of the most amazing and also daunting things that we do as your parents.
You were such a good little boy. Your grandparents and uncles from Salina and mommy's Uncle Richard and Aunt Barbara from Kansas City came to celebrate with you. You wore a white trouser outfit made by Grandma Laubhan. Daddy wanted it to look masculine and not be a gown so we tried as best we could given the baptismal oufit choices! Your white socks even had crosses on them. Our friends Sara and Travis stood with us as your baptismal sponsors. In what is becoming typical Brayden fashion, you squirmed and gawked around while Sara held you but you didn't make much noise. You smiled lots at Sara too. Pastor and mommy and daddy poured water on your head. You liked it as it reminded you of bathtime but it also startled you as the water was very cold. Pastor said you were preaching your first sermon as your baptism served as a reminder to others of their baptisms. He also reminded us that although your family and friends have been showering you with physical gifts to celebrate your birth, that day's gift of receiving the Holy Spirit is by far the best gift you could receive.
The church was decorated for Christmas and we even got to sing Christmas songs. That Sunday marked the 10th anniversary of Trinity's worship outreach into Shawnee. So many little kids just like you came up for the children's sermon. We pray that you will find lots of friends to start learning about Jesus with as you grow at Trinity. After the service everyone had brunch at our house, complete with cross shaped cookies.
At bedtime, we got to send quiet time with just the three of us. We selected Bible verses for you in celebration of your baptism and read letters that we each wrote to you. Mommy cried so daddy had to read her letter too. Then we read you a book based on Psalm 139 about how you were wonderfully and fearfully made. It said that the heavens smiled on the night you were born because there has never been nor will there ever be another little boy just like you. Again mommy cried so daddy had to read the book. We kissed you goodnight and prayed that you would always know not only our love but most especially God's love.
Monday you were very tired.
Love,
Mommy & Daddy
