Child dedication

February 2nd our family participated in Baby Dedication at our home church.   Baby/Child dedication is not to be confused with some churches that do infant baptism, or christening.  Child dedication is pure and simple.  It is a public declaration in front of your family, friends and church family that you PROMISE to do your best to raise your children to know Christ, love Him and to serve others.

Chris was able to share a little about each of the girls and something special about each of them….we chose to talk about their birth songs (the songs that were playing when they were each borth – like a gift from God to remind of us the present we were receiving oursevles.)  Anna was born to “Great is thy Faithfulness” by Chris Rice and Hadleigh was born to “10,000 Reasons” by Matt Redman.

Pastor Steven then gives each of the children a gift of a cross necklace and prays over each of them and the family.

Hadleigh was a little more interested in chewing hers….Anna wore hers to school for the next week so she could tell her teachers about her special day.  (And we are so abundantly grateful because both of her teachers understand and love the same God that Anna does .

It’s important.  For us.  For the parents.  It’s a reminder that we were given these children and they are truly a gift.  Our gift back to them is to share with them the life and love that only comes through knowing Jesus Christ intimately.  That’s not an easy task at all – in fact, wow, I feel kinda heavy just thinking about it.  But knowing that our family and friends pray for us a parents and to know that God is always by our sides?  That makes me smile again.

We are so fortunate to have had our grandparents at the kids’ dedications.  Hudson’s took place in AZ at our church there and it was 2006 Super Bowl Sunday.  (Look at that adorable little munchkin!  Who is now 8.5 – what?!?!?!)

Without thinking about it, Anna and Hadleigh’s Child Dedication was 2014 Super Bowl Sunday!  My lovely Mom Smith reminded me of this fact….and she is the talented photographer as well.

1 Samuel 1:27-28 – May we always remember that they are ours for a short time, but His for eternity….

“I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD.”