8 is Great!

The big year has finally arrived - Noah's baptism year! The last in the family to take this very important first step.

We were so blessed to have family from Utah and Ohio join us for this very special occasion. Cousins!!

Noah had been looking forward to this day for awhile. One morning I was styling his hair and as we chatted I asked him if Ava was still his best friend. He replied yes but that she was only going to be his best friend for another month. I asked him who was going to be his new best friend? He replied, "The Holy Ghost." What a sweetie!

While we took pictures before the baptism, Savannah, Xander, and the cousins drew family hearts of all the people who love Noah.

The whole gang!

Blood family wasn't the only to attend - we had so many of our wonderful Maryland family there to support Noah as well. I wish I could have taken pictures of all of them - Elinor and Sydney Wine, Tracy and Andrew Scott, Carol and Steve Richards, Laura and Jacob Ingram, the Wardles, the Washburns, Heather McEwan, Shelby Mai and her girls, Kara Maxwell and her crew, and the list goes on. Thank goodness I did snap a few shots of Noah with some of his buddies: 
his fabulous Primary teachers, Jay and Doris Schuster (Jay gave a touching opening prayer, referring to Noah as our special friend and brother...it made me cry);

Ben Wardle,

his special cousin, Kellan...

and of course, Ciara!

Those special ladies in his life: Libby, Darby, Brinley, and Addie.

Noah's primary teacher from the past two years, Jacob  Ingram, spoke on baptism, and Grandma Schaeffer gave a talk on the Holy Ghost.  When Heather McEwan, the Primary President, gave her remarks she said that she felt inspiration that Noah would be a tremendous missionary one day.  And it was so awesome to have David speak to Noah as both his father and his bishop. 
The men who were in his confirmation circle: Jacob Ingram, Brian Washburn, Grandpa Pierce, David, Uncle Ryan, and Grandpa Schaeffer.

It was a wonderful, wonderful day!