I Like to Look for Rainbows

 A is 8 years old! (Insert all the crying.) I seriously can't believe she is so big! She asked for a Super Wings themed birthday this year. Aunt K5 and Nana helped me put it together for her and it turned out so cute! She was absolutely thrilled!

Everyone in the family either came, or sent her kind messages that just made her day! She was so, so excited that AG and her family got to come! She loved showing them the house, her school work, all her toys, etc. She had such a wonderful time, and loves all the wonderful gifts she was given.

A also got baptized! She has been waiting and waiting for this day since she was 4 or 5 years old. We've been extremely nervous about this for two reasons. One, with her dyspraxia and epilepsy she hasn't been to swimming lessons and doesn't know how to hold her breath under water. Or really hold her breath at all. With her SPD she's never actually put her head under water. It terrifies her. Two, she ahs extreme social anxiety. She can't stand any attention (we had to open birthday presents with just one person at a time), and won't really talk in front of people let alone go down the steps of a font and let people watch her be baptized.

Covid restrictions were actually a huge blessing for us. Most of the family were able to view via zoom, and she only had us, Grandma and Grandpa H, her birth family, and Uncle A1 and his son H who she asked to be a witness. It was also a huge blessing that the church changed the witness requirements to anyone who is a baptized member of the church. That way I could be a witness, and then she could choose another child which is less intimidating.

We saw HUGE miracles that day. She was the only child in our ward being baptized that day so we could take all the time we needed. We arrived early to walk her through it a few times. Then when it was time Allan took her in with him. She immediately froze up (which we'd anticipated) so Allan took her aside and told her that if she could just hug him then she wouldn't have to let go, or look at anybody. She said ok, and he carried her down the steps, said the prayer, and then he went down in the water with her. All the way under. He is such a wonderful dad. She held her breath! For literally the first time ever! She also kept her mouth closed and didn't choke on any water! I can't tell you what a HUGE miracle this is! When they came up out of the water she looked at Allan with huge eyes. She was so proud! Later one of her cousins asked her how it felt and she said softly, with reverence in her voice "so, so, good."

Then she sat in the chair BY HERSELF for her confirmation! This was the first time that she hasn't sat on my lap for something like this. She covered her eyes for the whole thing, but she did it on her own. We were completely floored, and so proud!

After her baptism we headed back to our house where some family had watched via zoom, and had a luncheon and devotional. Cousin G and Cousin M gave talks on baptism and the Holy Ghost. They did such a great job! Their talks were perfect for A, and she paid attention to every word. We're so grateful for our family who support and love our children, and participate so much in their lives.

Now about her dress. Traditionally she would have worn a new white dress after she was baptized. I had her try on my baptism dress that was made by my Gram, but she didn't like it. So, we did some online shopping. We looked for probably 30 min and she just wasn't finding anything she liked. So, I told her to close her eyes and think what would be her perfect baptism dress. Almost immediately she shouted "Pink unicorns!" We found the perfect dress, pink velvet with a poofy skirt that has gold unicorns on it. However, it wouldn't arrive in time. So we looked a little more and found this pink unicorn dress. It's adorable and she looks and feels beautiful in it! She had some friends over the other day and showed them her dress, they all squealed over it together for a few minutes, haha!