Taylor's Dedication

We dedicated Taylor to the Lord yesterday. I thought it was really special that we were able to do that on Mother's Day! It's really a big commitment that we made to do our best to raise Taylor in the nurture and admonition of the Lord with His help and by His grace.

At our church we're asked five questions by our Pastor and we respond by saying, "I do." Then he goes down the line and dedicates each baby to God. We were fortunate enough that my dad was allowed to participate and we're so delighted that he dedicated his grandson to the Lord.

Here are the questions that we were asked:

1. Do you recognize these children as the gifts of God and give heartfelt thanks for God’s blessing?
2. Do you now dedicate your children to the Lord who gave them to you all, surrendering all worldly claims upon their lives in the hope that they will belong wholly to God?
3. Do you pledge as parents that, with God’s fatherly help, you will bring up your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord, making every reasonable effort, with patience and love, to build the word of God, the character of Christ and the joy of the Lord into their lives?
4. Do you promise to provide, through God’s blessing, for the physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual needs of your children, looking to your own Heavenly Father for the wisdom, love and strength to serve them and not use them?
5. Do you promise, God helping you, to make it your regular prayer that by God’s grace your children will come to trust in Jesus Christ alone for the forgiveness of their sins and for the fulfillment of all his promises to them, even eternal life; and in this faith follow Jesus as Lord and obey his teachings?

And then my dad laid his hand on Taylor's head and said these words:

Taylor Andrew Becker , together with your parents who love you dearly and this people who care about the outcome of your faith, I dedicate you to God, surrendering together with them all worldly claim upon your life in the hope that you will belong wholly to the Lord, forever.

It was just awesome. Here are a few picture highlights.

Some of the families dedicating their children yesterday: Kristin and Tim with Shiloh and Jericho, Lorelie and Neil with Will, Steph and Mitch with Tirzah, and me and Andy with Lily and Taylor, and there's my daddio on the end

Taylor was very interested in the microphone!

My kids with their beloved uncle and aunt

Mandi and Bryan, bless their hearts, made the six hour trip for the dedication and drove back right after lunch!

Our SOLD sign!!! This is our last big family get together at this house, so I thought it was appropriate to take a family pic by the sign.

My auntie Shari with T

Cousins - T, Max, Lily and Zach

T and Grandpa Sam

Andy's parents Ed and Kathy

Great grandma Irene

Grandma Vicki

I have a picture of her reading to Lily on the day of her dedication so when I saw her reading to Taylor I had to grab my camera!

We had our families over for lunch afterward and it was such a wonderful day! It's so neat that it just happened to be Mother's Day and that we were all together.