Charlotte Grace, Child of God

Charlotte is finally an official member of the Church! We had plans to baptize her last summer but with Uncle David's illness and a big move it just didn't get done. Thankfully David and Sam's youth pastor anointed her with holy water from the Jordan River one day at the hospice hospital. We decided that definitely counted as a baptism!!! We then chose to wait until we were members at a church in Austin, so we could baptize her in our new church home. But we have had a hard time finding a place that was just right for our family. And now that we've waited so long, Aunt Lauren is close to delivering our newest cousins and won't be traveling for a long time! So we decided to have the baptism at Mom and Dad's church this past weekend. The ceremony was wonderful, the deacon gave a beautiful message and he had a lot of fun with the four babies baptized that day. Charlotte wanted to be on the move most of the time but was a good girl for her time on the altar. She looked like a little angel in her white dress, I was so proud to be her mama. Charlotte's grandparents were not able to make it which is very unlike her grandparents who come to all of the kids special days! Pops already had a work meeting in California before I planned the last minute baptism! And JaJa and Papaw were volunteers at the Super Bowl that day! But we had a very special visitor in their place, Aunt Ruthie all the way from Ohio! It was such a special treat and I am so thankful that she was able to celebrate with us. GiGi and Grandpa (Fred and Kathy) and Rose also came to celebrate Charlotte's big day. We are so thankful for Lauren and Justin, I could not think of better godparents to help guide Charlotte, pray for and support her all the days of her life. Nana hosted a wonderful lunch afterwards with pretty pink tulips and a beautiful cake for dessert. Thanks to Uncle Vinny for being such a great photographer and spending the weekend with us!!





Playing with Deacon











Glasses off.... "Oh!! That's my uncle!"

The biggest hit of the party, riding Cash Daddy



Hold On To Jesus by Erin O'Donnell

"You're a little piece of heaven
You're a golden ray of light.
and I wish I could protect you
from the worries of this life.
but if there's one thing i could tell you
it's no matter what you do
hold to Jesus, He's holding onto you.

The world will try to tell you
that might is more than right
and beauty's on the outside
and being good's a losing fight,
but remember what i've told you
'cause the world will make you choose
hold to Jesus, He's holding onto you.

Hold on to Jesus, and cling to his love
rest deep in his mercy, whenever things get rough
and don't lose site of his goodness
and don't ever doubt this truth,
that when you hold onto Jesus He's holdin onto you.

Hear me dear Jesus,
rock this little one to sleep
keep her close when she's scared, and
give her grace when she is weak.
I know she'll stumble, but i know she'll make it through
if you hold onto her just like you said you'd do
hold her Jesus so she'll hold on tight to you."


This song describes better than I could ever put into words my hopes for my dear Charlotte. I beg Jesus every night to hold on tight to her and to stay beside her for her whole life. I pray that I will learn to be a daily example of how to hold onto Jesus and not to the things of this world.