New Beginngs!

"I like to look for rainbows whenever there is rain, and ponder on the beauty of the earth made clean again. I want my life to be as clean as earth right after rain. I want to be the best I can and live with God again!"

I love the words to this song! And when it rains in Arizona, this is the song I that comes to my mind! This last Saturday I had the opportunity to go to the baptism for Jocelyn and Becky (see below). That day it had been raining...PERFECT day for a baptism!!!

I got up that morning to go to school, remembering that I was going to the baptism that night, and was SO excited to see it raining!!! It just gave me a little testimony reassurance, the Lord knew what was happening that day for these two special girls! Maybe Im weird to look at it that way but it gave me the reassurance I needed.

I showed up to the church about 15 minutes before the baptism started and saw the girls standing on the other end of the room, all dressed in white, smiles from ear to ear! Chills went down my back as I walked over to hug them both! As I hugged each of them they whispered "thank you" to me. I felt a lump start to form in my throat. The spirit is so strong in those two girls! I don't feel like I did a lot to get them where they were but the fact that I came to support them meant the world to them.

The baptism started, talks were given and then it was time for the actual baptism. My friend Christy's dad was the one baptizing Jocelyn and I knew he was going to cry, which would make me cry. He started the prayer and almost made it. He choked on the end and then imerged her into the water. Chills ran down my arms and back and the lump in my throat returned, this time bigger. Next it was Becky's turn. She was baptized by her friend. He said the prayer and imerged her. Upon coming out of the water she leaned over and said "did i do it?" he smiled and nodded his head, the next thing out of her mouth was "YES!" Her excitment makes me happy! She wants, and now has, what I have had all my life! Why can't I be as excited??

While the girls were chaging the elders bore testimony that what was happening was right and that the Lord was aware and well pleased with the choices these special girls were making.

As the girls came out, with bigger smiles than before(if it were possible), the lump in my throat got even bigger! They sat down in front of me, tall and confident! A part of me was jealous, I want a new beginning, a fresh start at life...they got one!

My brother in law Vaughn was conducting the meeting and got up to congratulate the girls on their new beginning! He then asked them if they would like to say anything. Becky excitidly said she did so got up the thank everyone. Her mom is not a member and was not excited about this decision in the beginning. Becky didnt know if she would come to the baptism and had kind of come to terms with the fact that she wasnt. Ten minutes after it started her mom had quietly walked in and took a stand in the back of the room. Becky made sure to thank her mom and told her that she hoped this would be what it takes to strengthen their relationship and that one day her mom would have a change of heart and maybe join her on the road she was now on. Tears came to my eyes as I looked back at her mom and saw her crying. What a precious moment!

Next Jocelyn got up and said a few words. She thanked the Owens family for the examples they had been to her growing up and how excited she was for running into Christy again at the right time. Her parents both came, very unexpected, and she thanked them for supporting her in this decision. Instantly I was crying again. I have known Jocelyn since elementary school and always knew she was special, never really knew why but now I do. It just makes me hit myself for not doing anything about it sooner.

Seeing the change in these girls, and the excitement they now walk around with knowing that they are clean and new, makes me want to be better. It makes me want to stop thinking about how hard life is and start thinking about what I have. Without the Gospel life is 10 times harder! I know that the decision these girls made was the right one. Jocelyn has already asked me if she could go with me to YSA activities. Why do I take those for granted?? haha She is so excited to be able to let go of the past and start her new beginning! It makes me excited too!