Thank You

Thank you to everyone who came out yesterday to Owen's baptism.

I'm not quite sure where to begin with the whole thing. We have the best family. We have wonderful parents who drove in with food and open arms, wonderful brothers and sisters who brought their squirmy babies and their musical instruments, wonderful grandparents who dropped everything to come at the last minute, and wonderful friends who we've known and loved for so long that they're practically family at this point anyway.

Owen came back last night howling, ready to fall asleep in his own quiet room.

James will probably stay home from church today. As much fun as it was to see him with Alexa, I'd hate to give him the impression that it's okay for his antics to be mentioned by two lay-readers and the pastor on anything other than a very special occasion. That's a funny place to be as a parent. On the one hand, he and Alexa were being completely adorable. On the other hand, they were distracting everyone who could see them, and he's really getting old enough to have some idea of how to behave in church.

J collapsed, got into her pajamas, and was on the couch when I came home. She, like me, was eager to see if anyone had any photos, but repeatedly denied offers to listen to the video of her singing the lullaby to Owen. I don't know how she made it through without bawling. Then again, I don't know how Owen made it through that service without bawling.

I ran out to my car at 7:15, switched ties, and drove downtown to RPO. I think that the concert went well. There were a lot of tacet sheets and I was fighting to stay awake. But I carried around a glow all last evening. It's humbling and gladdening and disconcerting all at the same time to have so many people who mean so much to you gathered for your family.

When Pastor Wally asked what we had named our child and I said "Owen Nicholas Smith" aloud last night, our youngest became even a little more real, a little more part of our family, and a little bit more of our new reality. And then (pace if you disagree, but these things seem to matter least when you're in the middle of them) he became a part of the Christian family. And I am SO glad that you were all there to see it.