Spaz

We had Becca baptized today at the church where I grew up and where John and I got married.

We had to meet with the minister earlier this week to have an hour long lecture on baptism and its roots and the role it plays in the Methodist church. He kept calling Rebecca "Rachel" while we were there. He was kind of spastic and flung himself wildly around his office while talking to us. He was a lot like a Texas high school football coach. He talked about riding around in pickups talking about God. Then, he told us about another couple that brought him some exotic beer for baptizing their baby. My brain immediately started pinging, "were we supposed to get him a present? Oh no. I didn't get him any present. Does he like Bud Light?"

Another baby was also baptized at the same time today. She was a preemie when she was born, so the minister called her a "miracle baby!" He said she was so special. I'm SURE she is, but I was irritated that he wasn't calling MY baby special. (Yes. Apparently I have turned into one of THOSE mothers. Think Grizzly Bear).

I KNOW you didn't call my baby the wrong name!

He turned to us and said, "This baby is also a miracle. But not because of the baby, because of the dad." I was thinking WHAT? What is he TALKING about? We didn't have fertility problems. Others were thinking he was saying he is a miracle because he survived a recent deployment. But, no. That is not what he was saying. He went on to explain that my dad kept a shotgun at the ready when I was dating, but John never had to worry about that because he has much more fire power because he flies an A-10 Warthog. The congregation laughed and thought that was funny. I snickered under my breath because my high school boyfriend's parents were there and he DID have my dad point a shotgun at him (only to check the aim, according to my dad). Anyway, I was a little baffled by the direction this baptism was going. Then, he presented a bible to "Nicole" as he handed it to us.

Some folks were wondering if we would have to actually start calling her Nicole if he baptized her with that name! Amy, the Godmother, whispered under her breath to me, "He better not MAKE me correct him!" Then, he asked us a bunch of questions, but we weren't sure if the answer was "I do" or "We do" or "We will" or "I will", so we were all just kind of mumbling under our breath. He picked up Becca and said, "What name do you give this child?"

John answered, "Rebecca Emerson" and the minister said, "Rebecca what?" Man. This guy has no idea who we are! He did manage to baptize her with the correct name!

We had a party afterwards at my parents house and all of Becca's grandparents, aunts and uncles were there, along with many other cherished friends. It was a great day!

P.S. I'm having major technical difficulties! I took a ton of photos today from the baptism, but somehow they aren't showing up on my memory card once I plug it into the card reader. However, when I put the card back in the camera I can see them. So, until then, I will leave you with a picture of Becca with her Nana and Grandpa! This is what Becca looks like when she's been awake and totally overstimulated for 7 hours at a loud restaurant with blaring live music. Then, she screams the whole way home in the car.