Thomas's Birthday and Baptism

Thomas turned 8 years old one week ago today. As reported in our previous post, we took him and a few friends to Lagoon to celebrate. We also had a little party the morning of his birthday.

A birthday breakfast of cinnamon rolls

The main gift he received was a new bike. The old one is falling apart so the timing was fortuitous.

A new bike for Thomas

Thomas was grateful for the new bike. He is one of the most positive, friendly, cheerful, people I know. He sometimes gets frustrated about having to go to school, especially on Sunday night, but who doesn't (applying this statement to work)? That's probably a good indication that the work is challenging for him. One Sunday night, as he lay in my bed--he often falls asleep there when he's having a tough time falling asleep in his bed--he said he wanted to stay home for a whole week. I sympathized as best I could, but asked what he would do to pass the time. He proferred a few suggestions, chief among them being bike riding. And that's just riding on the sidewalk in front of our house, unlike some other boys whose parents seem to let them roam the neighborhood freely. We could have a biking fanatic on our hands.

As everyone who knows Thomas is aware, Thomas has for some time been willing and ready to take the next step in his spiritual journey back to his heavenly home. In others, he was a perfect baptismal candidate. His baptism took place on Saturday, Sept 22, at about 12:30pm. I was honored to perform the baptism and the confirmation. Five other boys and girls from neighboring wards in our stake were also baptized during the service.

Matthew was very happy for Thomas

Outside our chapel

Erika gave a talk at the service on the gift of the Holy Ghost. She used interesting objects (e.g., map, compass, scriptures, comforter, flashlight, coin in glass jar--representing the still small voice) that represent the various roles of the Holy Ghost, as explained in the scriptures. She brought the objects in a giant gift-wrapped box and she had each baptismal candidate reach in and choose an object to hold up and show the assembled congregation.

The gift of the Holy Ghost object lesson

After the service we gathered with friends and family at our house for a light lunch of sandwiches and soup. It was wonderful to have so many people to help celebrate the occasion.

Thomas and his buddies chow down

We piped some good dance music through the new speakers we had installed in the awning over our deck. Some of the children joined our boys in a little dance despite the light mist of rain.

Celebrating with Thomas

Ever since Erika bought Thomas his new cub scout shirt he wears it every chance he gets, sometimes even to bed. See above photo, for example. I have been impressed with the vim and gusto he has for scouting so far. The past few days he finished the bobcat requirements and put a big dent in the wolf requirements. With all the cool things Thomas is doing now that he's 8, Matthew is--predictably--a little jealous. We keep reminding him that Thomas had to wait just like he has to, but for him a couple years is an eternity.