Acts Chapter 8

36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?”
37 Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.”
And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”^[c]
38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.

What an amazing weekend we had! This past Sunday, Aug 13, our entire family was baptized in water, as Believers! This was TRULY an amazing experience that I can't even really put into words!  I'm so thankful to God for moving in the ways that He has within our family to bring this event to fruition. 

After church on Sunday our church had a nice picnic where people could bring picnic baskets and blankets and just have a picnic around the pond on the Church grounds.  After the picnic there was to be a baptism in the pond.  I was so excited when my dh had asked "So, who is going to be baptized with me at the picnic?"  I had wanting to get baptized as a believer for some time now, but wanted to wait for my husband to be ready so we could do it together.  The kids also said they were ready and wanted to be baptized as well.  YAY!! What a wonderful blessing! 

Not knowing fully WHAT to expect (as I had only seen little video clips of baptisms at our church) I was getting anxious and excited during the picnic.  Before the baptisms began, we had some prayer, worship songs and then one of our pastors explained the Biblical basis for baptism. He explained that when you are standing in the water, you are representing your old self (sinful)  When you go under the water, you are identifying with Christ's death and burial and when you come out, you are identifying with Christ's Resurrection.  You are dying to self and making a public statement that you are a follower of Christ. 

It turned out that my husband and I were the first two to be baptized.  They had an open mic beforehand so anyone who wanted to share a testimony could.  It was incredible to see and hear people of so many different background and walks of life share their stories of what Christ has done and is doing in their lives!

My son, Ethan, chose his Sunday School small group leader to participate in his baptism.  Here we all are getting ready to be baptized.  (my son's teacher is in the green) It was so neat to have someone who has impacted my son's faith be able to participate in his baptism!  Something we'll never forget! 

Here our pastor (in the gray) is announcing that we are going to baptized as a couple and then we are going to help in baptizing our kids (the boys would go together and then the girls)

Before being submersed, we are asked questions about if we believed Jesus was the Son of God, did we believe that He died for our sins, and so forth.  Then he said "Based on your profession of faith, I baptize you in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit" and we went under. 

Next, the boys were up!

Next, I went in with the girls to participate in their baptism!

And finally a group huddle! CELEBRATION!!!!

It was TRULY an incredible experience, and I'm so happy to have been baptized as a family!  We were all baptized as babies, but not as Believers.  I'm praising the Lord for this special opportunity and BLESSING!!!