The Great RV Trip Part III: The Baptism

Well, I think it's pretty obvious from Spencer's Baptism announcement what this leg of the RV trip will entail: His baptism of course.  

This was the true highlight of the whole trip, despite all of the other fun and spiritual sight-seeing we were able to do.  The day kicked off just as Madison's baptism day did, with Spencer reading the last chapter of the Book of Mormon to his Grandpa McArthur.  With Spencer's reading struggles, finishing the Book of Mormon before he got baptized was much harder for him than it was for Madison.  By a month out, he and mommy were having to read for over an hour a day to try and keep up with our timeline.  There were times that our reading sessions ended with both of us in tears, and many, many prayers for help and patience.  In the end, however, he made everyone so proud by finally meeting his goal!  And it was an accomplishment that will bless him for the rest of his life!!

After finishing up his scripture reading, Spencer and Nick put on their whites, and we all trucked down the trail to the Susquehanna River bank to find the perfect spot for the big event.  There had been reports of flash flooding the night before, not to mention a potential hurricane warning for the coastal areas directly east of us, but in answer to prayer, everything at the site where Joseph and Oliver were baptized was calm as could be.  Calm, and gratefully, quite warm.  We set up our camp chairs and the meeting began.  I conducted, Spencer's grandmothers gave the prayers, his grandfathers gave the talks, his sisters performed a special musical number, and his father had the honor of performing the baptismal ordinance.  It was exactly the way I had imagined it, and Spencer was beaming as he came up from the water.  He likewise beamed after his father finished confirming him.  Over the past year he has spent so much time thinking and preparing for this day.  He has studied and prayed and taken his baptismal covenant so seriously.  He even pulled me aside one day after scripture reading to ask if his "garments were spotted."  It was so sweet, and the valiance of his little spirit just shines through in his eyes.  We are all so proud of him and his choice to be baptised!  Way to go Spence!!