Madison’s Baptism

Oh, man.  It is always interesting when we hit a new milestone or type of event.  After blogging for almost the past 20 years (over 1300 blog posts), you think you have talked about all the things – vacations, births, deaths, vacations, silly moments, everyday moments, etc.  But this is one I have not.  Madison’s faith journey began before she was formed (Psalm 139:16).  We worked to continue to build on what God had started and would continue by being her earthly representation of Christ.  She was dedicated to the body of Christ at Salem with Grandpa Ediger officiating and again in our (then) church at Westerville.  Her faith grew as we whispered to her from the Jesus Storybook Bible and created a rhythm for life with nightly prayers and songs of praise.  Weekly, her Sunday school teachers fostered growth and knowledge through the lessons and crafts.  Junior high and high school youth group have continued to build the foundation.  Extended family offered examples of love in conflict, stories of praise, transition to commitment through baptism and testimony, and steady rocks of prayer at meals, intentional sharing around the table and gatherings, and the reminder of Christ’s story within the hub-bub of Christmas and Easter. 

And yet… with all that, it was still her choice.  I think that is what makes this the miracle it is every time it happens.  We, as parents, make so many choices for our kids – where they live, where they go to school, what foods are in the house, if they have a pet, sometimes friendships are formed in early childhood playdates, if they go to church, etc.  But this choice – whether they will follow Jesus and commit to a life of walking in His footsteps… that is their decision.  And I am so glad to know that Madison choose this for herself.  That her desire is to know and love Jesus as her personal Lord and Savior. 

At Salem, the youth interested in baptism attend a catechism class to understand God’s plan for salvation, the (brief) history of Anabaptism, and church membership.  They are paired with a mentor (one from a list of people they have thought of) from within the church body to meet with and serve with during this process.  In the end, they can decide how to proceed with their faith journey.  If they choose baptism, they prepare a short testimony and are immersed (or sprinkled with) in water.

Madison’s mentor was Beth Gerber, who coincidentally was also my baptism mentor.  She stood with her as she gave her testimony.  Then, spoke words of affirmation and encouragement.

    

They youth then served communion to the congregation and received communion for the first time.  (This was all a little backwards since typically they are baptized first, but this was kinda a mixed up service because of the changes made to the outdoor weekend worship service… not really important, but sometimes I forget things.)

   

Baptism was inside with a borrowed baptismal pool, officiated by Pastor Kevin Himes.  Tessa Daniels, our ministry intern for the summer, also was a part of it. 

       

Madison walked through catechism and was baptized alongside Mason, Grace, and Thea (already baptized, but was in catechism). 

And her “church” (and life) friends were there to celebrate with her.

I honestly didn’t think I would be struck by it in such an emotional way.  But I underestimated myself.  This was touching and beautiful and deeply honoring to what God desires for our lives.  I cried. Jeremy cried.  Madison cried.

Then…we talked to Christi Michaels….  She wanted to tell us that it was the most amazing thing because while Madison was giving her testimony there was a bald eagle circling overhead.  Jeremy thought he had heard its call, but didn’t look to locate it.  Christi said it circled until Madison was done, and Beth stepped up to share, and then it left.  The significance to us is that the eagle was Maynard’s God thing – some of his favorite verses in the Bible were Isaiah 40:30-31, “Even the youth grow tired and weary , and young men stumble and fall, but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, and they will walk and not be faint.” We truly believe this was God reminding us that Maynard and Gloria were there with us celebrating Madison’s step in her faith journey. 

Then, we all were bawling. It was awesome!

Grandma and Grandpa came over later to give her a gift of a journaling Bible and a gift card to enjoy those moments of reading with a fancy drink at Midnight Readers.

  We love you, Madison, and will continue praying for you. 

Easter 2023

The past two years, we have attended the Maundy Thursday service.  I realized that I think I need this as part of my Easter cycle.  Palm Sunday is a lot of rejoicing.  Easter is a lot of celebration.  And if you don’t go, you miss the sadness and the sacrifice.  And I don’t want to miss that because then I miss the significance and the choice that led to my salvation.  The service was short dialogues between various people throughout the nights leading up to the crucifixion.  At the end of the night, you leave in silence and meditate on the story.  This night, God greeted us with a reminder of who He is by painting the most beautiful sky.  And I just stood and stared.  Standing in the parking lot, gazing across the field, awash in His glory

Three days later, we gathered to celebrate Easter.  The day was beautiful.  The Easter breakfast allowed time for us to reconnect with others in the church body.  The service supplied rejoicing and worship. 

Then, the Edigers gathered at my parents house for Easter dinner (lunch) – ham balls, cheesy potatoes, salad, homemade rolls, and green beans.  The seating was switched up for the first time ever.  Sophie, Lilli, and Chloe were upgraded to the adult table, the boys moved to the living room, and the three younger girls in the kitchen.  The conversation was entertaining as we shared stories – some that we have heard before but could hear every time and some new ones. 

We took our family pictures.  The sun, while perfect for playing and egg hunting, was not perfect for picture taking, so we all look a little squinty-eyed and washed out… but good, right?

                           

There was an epic scavenger hunt egg hunt designed by Jen.  While the eggs were being placed in position, the kids were up in Grandma and Grandpa’s room writing a fun memory of each of them.  They actually took this very seriously and it was fun to hear what they came up with.  But when the partners for the hunt were chosen, it was all on the line.  Kids were squeezing past each other in hallways, zooming up and down stairs, racing around the house, taking shoes off, putting shoes on, and finally finishing for a pick from the box of big candy.  It was fun to watch and hard to catch on camera.  They had a blast.

                                                

From there, we went to the Brickers.  There were not many Brickers left by the time we got there – just David, Marianne, Erin, and Gloria.  But there was a bit of food to round us off for the night.  And there was Muffy, their tiniest puppy; the girls love her.  I brought a Jell-O dessert I wanted to try because it looked fancy. It was tasty and pretty. I may make it again. 

Gloria had invited the girls over a few days prior to help her decorate a lamb cake, a traditional Easter cake that I think Great-Grandma Bricker made sometimes.  It is quite a production – bake a cake, cool it, frost it, coat it in coconut, and add the jellybean eyes and decorations.  It looked great!

  

Muffy is a favorite diversion at the Brickers.  The girls and Erin took Muffy for a walk.  The adults talked.  When they got back, they tested Muffy’s little outfit on before we left.  Such a tiny ball of fur!

    

And we left in time to get home and in bed since we had school the next day.

A Sprinkling of Summer

This has a little of everything that just pops up – planned and unplanned.  Usually, if it’s not planned, it doesn't seem to happen here. (Kinda because I am not always as flexible and go-with-the-flow as I could be)  But we have had fun.

S’mores at our firepit

    

A little more time at Stirrup Courage for Ellie.  She is most excited that she has been able to ride – no hands first, and now with reins.  And she has trotted.  Such great skills she is learning. 

    

Camp Luz for Madison.  She is in a cabin with two of her good friends (and probably some other she knows or will get to know), Jaida and Gretta.  A few pictures from camp that they took.  She is in the pool one, but you have to look hard.  I am sure she is in the campfire one, but I just wanted to remember that our pastor, Kevin, led them in worship this week.

  

A visit to the Humane Society for Ellie – partly for a 4-H requirement, mostly for fun.

    

A Switchfoot concert at Jacob’s Pavilion in Cleveland.  This was a last minute one.  Ellie’s first concert.  I think she enjoyed it.  Jade Jackson opened for them; Switchfoot opened for Collective Soul.  We did not stay for them. 

    

A little Pepper fun