Ameliya's Baby Dedication

When we had the other two children our church's practice was to do a group baby dedication once a year to celebrate all the births together.  We've now gone back to individual baby dedications and we chose this past Sunday as Ameliya's dedication day.  A dedication is more for the parents than the baby - an opportunity to stop and make a commitment to raise our child(ren) up in the ways of the Lord, with the church body and our family as our support.

Quick pics before service started.  People were filing in so the children could hardly be bothered to look at the camera...

Mia was quite charming during the service, chatting it up with Pastor Billy and hamming at the congregation.  Xavier tucked himself against my leg, playing the role of shy child (right! ha!), and Natalee was simply biding her time until children's church started.

(side note:  I always feel silly standing in front of a large crowd grinning like a loon, even if I'm happy.  Take it from me: smile.  Otherwise you'll look like a colossal grouch in the pictures.)

Pastor Billy read Psalm 139: 13-14

¹³ For you created my inmost being;

    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.

as well as Mia's life verse that we chose for her...

²⁸ Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”  ²⁹ Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” {John 6:28-29}

 

and then the elders came alongside us, with Pastor Billy, and laid hands on us while praying over our family.

We are so very blessed to be a part of a great congregation who loves so well on people.

Dear Mia (and Natalee and Xavier):

We don't promise to be very perfect or even always right but we do promise to do our level best to lead you to Jesus and show you the joy of loving and serving Him.  As much as we love you, always remember that He loves you infinitely more.

Love,
Mommy and Daddy