Welcoming Meg

Ever since Meg was born I have said that if I could I would climb to the top of Mt. Olympus (the one here in Utah), and hold her out "Lion King" style to show her off. This weekend we did the next best thing, and had her christening. We invited all of our friends and family, and, of course, got Meg a completely ridiculously cute dress to wear.

She had some ridiculously cute shoes too... which she tried to kick off every two minutes.

It was really overwhelming how many people came out to help us officially welcome our girl. Ryan and I had stood outside welcoming people as they came in, so we didn't see the church fill up. When we walked in and saw almost all the pews were filled I was so overcome with gratitude and love I was rendered speechless -- and I think we all know how rarely that happens.

The feeling in the church was just one of such intense joy. People who knew what we had gone through to get to this point, and even those who didn't, came together to celebrate this wondrous thing that has happened. This beautiful little girl who has come into our lives. Tara and Kent even flew out from California to serve as her Godparents.

I don't think they realize this means they have to pay for college.

Meg took the ceremony in stride. She loved seeing all of the different faces, and all of the kids who had come to watch. The light shining through the stained glass really caught her eye. And when it was time for the actual baptism she only squawked for a second.
And then she was comforted by her Dad...

The christening was held in the same chapel where we were married, and, just like with that service, at the end we walked up the aisle greeting our guests. When I walked up the aisle at our wedding I didn't see any faces, just a blur. This time though, I saw every face, and I heard every voice, including our friend Katie's daughter Ashlyn asking "why did they wash baby Meg's hair?" I soaked it all in, so one day I can tell Meg all about it, and let her know that, from the moment she was born, she was welcomed and loved not only by us, and by her birth mother, but by a whole community.

We are so blessed.