Dip, Dunk, Submerge, Splash, Sprinkle, Spray...

I got baptized!!  I got baptized!!  FINALLY, I got BAPTIZED!!

Kim and I backstage before the big event  :)

Practice

Best technique ever, right?  ;)

This past Sunday I finally did it.  I have been feeling the pull to do this for a couple of years now.  At one point I decided I wanted to do it before I had the babies...but fear and other "kacy-isms" have stopped me until now.  I grew up Catholic, as did my family and Mikey's family.  I enjoyed being a part of that church, but I struggled with a lot of guilt, and I didn't feel that I was connecting during mass.  It was all I ever knew, and I always just figured I wasn't doing something right because I basically zoned out during mass and thought about where we would go to eat when it was over.  If I am being completely honest, I never wanted to go to mass...but I went so I wouldn't have to feel guilty about not going.  When Mikey and I got connected at Southside, and "church" became our small group meetings once a week, and Sundays became a day to serve and hear very relevant messages based around scripture, we both started to grow in our relationship with Christ.  We felt the spirit come alive in us in a new and exciting way, and I don't ever want to go back to "going through the motions."

I finally realized (with the help of my small group, wise council and a whole lot of the holy spirit) that nothing should stop me from obeying the call of my Heavenly Father.  The night after I decided it was time to take a step and get baptized...no more excuses...I was reading in Corinthians and came across this verse (2 Corinthians 3:17)
Now, the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is FREEDOM. 

I may have read that before, but never like I did that night.  That verse is pretty much the theme for my baptism and my faith journey going forward.  I am so excited to see what God will do through me.  It really was an incredible experience.  I am still "me" and I was definitely shy and nervous and all those things that come along with it, but I knew the Holy Spirit would get me through it.

I am extremely thankful that I was able to do the whole thing with my friend, Kim.  She is in our new small group, and it has been fun getting to know her over the last few months, and doing this together was very special for me.  It will definitely make a cool experience be even more memorable.

Here is the video, if you are so inclined:


January 29, 2012 - 9:30 Service from Southside Church on Vimeo.

Also, you can click HERE to watch a cool video from Andy Stanley about baptism.  It really spoke to me, so I wanted to share.