Owen's Baptism

On February 5th 2011 at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, Owen was baptized!  This was such a huge day for Owen and for our whole family and we were blessed and honored to share it with so much of our family and friends.

The word baptism and the act of baptism means a lot of different things to many people of different faiths.  To some it means water on the head, and white clothes, to others it means the baby will go to heaven if something happens to him, others believe that baptism is bringing the baby into God's or the church's family.  To our family it means not only the forgiveness of original sin (a lot of people don't like to think of a baby as having that burden on them, but we all do as we are all born in the image of Adam Gen 5:3, meaning we are born with a soul that has been contaminated by original sin.  Baptism erases all traces of this sin, and gives the baptised a new life through Jesus.  God made a new covenant with man that he would write his laws on our hearts so we would always know right from wrong (Jer 31:31)  Because of this God's laws are on our minds all the time because the Holy Spirit lives within us (Ezek 36:27).  We are all born with a stone heart and through baptism, God removes that heart and replaces it with one of flesh with his law written on it.

With infant baptism, the parents, Godparents and community have a very important roll.  The roll of helping to guide and teach the child the faith of the Catholic Church.  We made a promise to God and to Owen that we would be responsible for teaching him and raising him within the laws of the Catholic Church, it is a huge responsibility that I am very excited to embark on.  As a Catholic this means you can't just baptize your child and then never see the inside of a church again, what a disservice to the child, and a breach of contract with God.  We as parents have an obligation to raise Owen in the light of God.  Godparents too, are incredibly integral in this process as well because they promise to help raise the child in the light of God, if I fail in my duties, a Godparent should step in, which is why for us it was the choice of Godparent was difficult and easy at the same time.

Eric and I met Kevin Cooney several years ago when Eric started working for National Bank of Arizona, he and Eric became fast friends, a friendship which has continued and grown through marriage and children.  Kevin is the type of faithful person that I strive to be, his commitment and love of his faith runs deep and is written all over his life and actions.  When we thought about who we could ask to be Godparent, Kevin's name came to both of our lips immediatley, I know through my soul that for Kevin the promise made during Owen's baptism would not just be lip service.  When I think of how I want Owen's relationship with God and the church to be, and what type of man I want him to grow into in addition to Eric, I think of Kevin.  Now, although she may not realize it yet, Kevin's wife Bri was also a very important factor because as Owen continues to grow and learn, the importance of strong beautiful marriages and relationships will become more and more important, just by being the wonderful person that she already is, she will set an example not only as a wife and mother, but as a role model for a strong intelligent and loving woman.  We are so grateful and honored that he accepted and look forward to our families growing together over many many years.

I've obviously known my sister all my life:-)  I can remember growing up and playing boarding school, Anne of Green Gables, barbies, team USA gymnastics and diving . . . . pretend of course, and I also remember us fighting like dogs in highschool and beyond.  We can still verbally brawl pretty good, but as adults it is out of love not the selfishness of adolescence.  As an adult, Remie has been there for me, Eric and Owen and Liam . . . and Mikey and Linus for that matter, she has stepped up more than we could have asked for, and did so without complaining, basically moving in while I was in the hospital and then taking on all of the grunt chores when I became overwhelmed (with only a little complaint) dishes, cleaning of all nature, and babysitting whenever she is available.  We are so grateful to have her in our life, even if we do tease her.  We asked her to be Owen's Christian Witness/Godmother because I want Owen to grow up seeing what a good example she sets as a Christian, a sister, a friend, and an aunt.

Eric, Kevin, Owen, Remie and me!

Dessert!

Owen and Ava

Owen and Emma

Again thank you to all of our family who traveled down to AZ, and all of our friends who took time out of their weekend to celebrate this occasion with us.  We love you all dearly.