This past weekend my husband and I traveled to Oklahoma City to visit our youngest son, his wife, and the three grandkids. That in itself is always a fun, never boring, exhausting entertaining time. However, this weekend was extra “special” in a couple of different ways.
First of all, our youngest son, Mike, has been in the Navy since 2002. He flies for the Navy on the E6-B Mercury aircraft out of Tinker Air Force Base as a flight engineer. He and his wife made the decision to re-enlist for 6 more years (wives are important in making these decisions because military life is not easy for the spouses and families left at home when on deployments). When enlisted personnel re -enlist in the military, they are actually given an honorable discharge first, then immediately sworn in again, followed by the signing of documents. This particular re-enlistment my son asked his two uncles (on my husband’s side of the family), who are both Viet Nam veterans, to swear him in. They both felt very honored and said immediately that they would be there. It was a short, informal ceremony, but it was very touching because of the uncles’ participation. My husband’s mother and sister were also present for the ceremony. Here are just a few of the pictures taken at the ceremony.

Then Mike’s wife, Jennifer, was recognized for the support she gives and the sacrifices she makes that allows Mike to do the job he does. I thought this was really nice!
The other event that made this weekend extra special was the baptizing of two of our grandchildren. Kylee, age 7, and Jackson, age 6, were baptized Sunday afternoon at their church (Jade is 11 and was baptized last year). They go to a huge church, so there were about 30 people (mostly children) that were baptized. This church sets up a large, above -ground, blow-up swimming pool in their very big foyer area and has the baptisms there. They baptize three at a time, so Kylee and Jackson were baptized at the same time. This was a very unusual different baptism service for my husband and I because of what we are used to at our own church, but contemporary churches do things differently and that’s a good thing. This church gives each person baptized a gift (a bible) before the baptizing and then “celebrate” afterwards with cake and ice cream. I won’t bore you with too many pictures, but I must share a few.

Families were asked to gather around and pray together before the baptisms. Here Mike is praying with his three kids.

Jackson, of course, was the last one out. He was busy kicking and swimming around while he waited to climb out!

Let the Baptism Celebration begin! Cake and ice cream for everyone. (Behind Kylee and Jackson: Jade and Grandma Brenda)
Thanks for letting me share my wonderful weekend with you!
Apr 19, 2013 @ 02:25:38
What a wonderful weekend. I know for certain that both uncles were honored and proud, and I know an aunt who was extremely impressed with the airplane tour. No matter how the baptismal ceremony is done, it is the decision to repent and accept Jesus as a personal savior that matters. So happy for everyone!
Apr 19, 2013 @ 02:35:01
It was such a fun weekend. I am SO glad you came with Delano and Carl. Mike (as well as Jack and I) was so glad to see Grandma Huffman, too.