Saved

Bridget, Tessa and I were baptized March 9. Dwayne also reaffirmed his baptism and we both joined Hope United Methodist Church. We began attending our church Easter Day 2007. Anyone who knows me well knows that organized religion has never been my thing. Becoming a member of a church is a big deal for me, something I don't take lightly. I never thought I needed to be in church, but it has made such a difference in my efforts to live a Christian life.

I owe a debt to my daughters for this positive change in my life. Sometimes people comment to me that Dwayne and I "saved" them from life in an orphanage. The way I see it, it is these two little darlings who have saved me in so many ways. They saved me from a too-selfish life spent mostly pleasing myself. They saved me from my bitterness over not being able to give birth. They restored my faith, which took a beating when I was dealing with infertility. They showed me that even when I was cursing God and thinking He didn't love me because I couldn't have a baby, He had a better plan. I love my girls so much and I know they were meant to be our children. I honestly wouldn't have it any other way. God knew what He was doing and I learned that I need to let go and trust Him and not have to always know why things happen when they are happening -- it will all make sense someday, if not in this life, then in the next.

Plus, I would never have attended Hope Church for the first time had it not been for the fact that Bridget went to preschool there. I had such a bad attitude about churches that it took a church full of caring people, a minister who teaches as much as he preaches, and some rockin' inspirational music to win me over -- no other church would have been right for both Dwayne and me.

I am stepping off my soapbox now to share some photos. Doris took these for us, and she did a great job!

This is me being baptized as Tessa, Bridget and Dwayne look on:



Now it's Tessa's turn:




Here's Bridget:




Here, Pastor Frank makes the sign of the cross on Dwayne's forehead as he reaffirms his baptism vows:



God is good all the time!!