Andrew's Day in White

This past Sunday was a special day for our family.  We dressed Andrew in white and his dad gave him a Name and a Blessing.

I've watched my brothers bless each of their children over the years and I was really excited for our turn.  It was special to watch Briant "bring him unto the elders before the church", and give his new little son a blessing that is recognized by God.  How blessed we are to have the priesthood.

A couple weeks ago, I was asked why we were going to dress him in white clothes.  I responded that white is a symbol of purity, virtue, cleanliness, and integrity.  It is a reminder of qualities required and that we intend to develope to enter into God's presence.  We wear white when we are baptized and when we are sealed in the temple.  And while it is not necessary to dress your baby in white for their blessing, we chose to because it is a memorable ordinance.
In our church we do not baptize infants because we learn in the Book of Mormon (Moroni 8) that children are not capable of committing sin.  They are perfect in Christ and therefore saved through Him.  Andrew is perfect right now.  He came to us straight from our Heavenly Father's presences.  So essentially, dressing Andrew in white is not a reminder for him but a reminder for us of how we should act.
We believe that we can be a family forever.  We are not just handed that blessing, because we have to work for it.  Through our agency we have to prove that we are willing to follow God and do as He has asked.  Seeing Andrew in white this past Sunday helped me remember all that.  We make choices and work hard so that we can be with Andrew forever, and all of us together return to live with God again someday.

It was a wonderful blessing and the Spirit was felt so strongly.  We know our little Andrew was sent to us straight from our Heavenly Father.  He is a blessing to us and we love him so much.  He has a sweet little personality and we are excited to see him grow.  In Mosiah 3:19 we learn that we must become like a child to put off the natural man and submit to the will of our Father.  We know that we will learn a lot from him.


After church, my family (and Briant's) came over for a small luncheon.  It was wonderful to have us all there!  We had to take an up-to-date family picture for Mom's wall.

We also took one with just Mom and Dad with their original 6 kids... my how we have changed!!

I love my family.  The one in which I came from but also the one that live with now.  Families really are the most important thing on this earth.  They are the very center of our Heavenly Father's plan.  I know that through our faithfulness, we can be together forever!!