stella's baby dedication

last night stella, along with other babies, was dedicated at bethlehem baptist church. brett's parents were in town from ohio this weekend, so we were so happy that they could be present for her dedication. along with all my siblings and their spouses and my parents, my aunts jin and sara, great-grandparents (mom's parents) and cousin andrew were there as well.

the parents and their children being dedicated waited in the choir room downstairs, and after pastor bud burk gave the welcome to the church service, we parents walked in together and stood in front of the church. the pastor first addressed the parents and asked us five questions, to which we all responded, "i do." here are the questions:

1. do you recognize these children as the gifts of God and give heartfelt thanks for God's blessing?
2. do you now dedicate your children to the Lord who gave them to you all, surrendering all worldy claims upon their lives in the hope that they will belong wholly to Jesus?
3. do you pledge as parents that, with God's fatherly help, you will bring up your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord, making every reasonable effort, with patience and love, to build the word of God, the character of Christ, and the joy of the Lord into their lives?
4. do you promise to provide, through God's blessing, for the physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual needs of your children, looking to your own Heavenly Father for the wisdom, love, and strength to serve them and not use them?
5. do you promise, God helping you, to make it your regular prayer that by God's grace your children will come to trust in Jesus Christ alone for the forgiveness of their sins and for the fulfillment of all his promises to them, even eternal life; and in this faith follow Jesus as Lord and obey his teachings?

listening as the pastor asked the above 5 questions to us parents:

stella joy, together with your parents who love you dearly and this people who care about the outcome of your faith, i dedicate you to God, surrendering together with them all worldly claim upon your life in the hope that you will belong wholly to Jesus Christ, forever.

pastor tom steller prayed for the parents and children

family pictures with both sets of grandparents (johnson and lorence) and also stella's great-grandparents hedstrom (my mom's parents)

so tired!

precious stella, it is your father's and my prayer that you believe and know Jesus at an early age; that you would love him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. we love you so much.