A Blessed Day!

It's been a wonderful week as we just returned home from our one-week cruise yesterday. But more of that to come in a later post after unpacking and laundry is done!

Today was a very special day for our family. Kristina was baptized in my parent's Catholic Church "Emmanuel" down here in Delray Beach, FL, by Deacon Santana. When we were in Russia, we asked if Kristina was baptized and were told "we'll have to find out." Shortly after our court decision was announced on April 29, 2009, the representative from Orphanage #6 presented us with a baptismal certificate and said that the "nuns" had Kristina baptized when she was in the hospital on January 18, 2007 -- a week after she was born. (Kristina was 9 weeks premature and in the hospital for two months before moving on to her first of two orphanages she would call home.)

Kristina checking out the altar flowers prior to the Baptism

The baptismal certificate is in Russian so we can't read it. Deacon Santana had someone who reads Russian take a look at it and it's unclear as to who the Celebrant was as well as "Godparents". So, as Deacon Santana stated, today's baptism is called a "Conditional Baptism" as we can only be baptized once in a lifetime. If the first one took -- so be it. If not, Kristina is covered and today she was officially baptized in the Catholic faith. God will be the determinator...but for sure, our angel is baptized now!

Initial blessing as our Angel sits quietly...for the moment!

Deacon Santana celebrated Kristina's Baptism...and Kristina can only think how much she loves her thumb!

Kristina's Godparents are my brother, Jim, and his wife, Erin. They have two boys, our nephews Jimmy and Andrew, and are now so proud to have a "Goddaughter". It was a very special service and we were fortunate to have Grammy and Poppy there, as well as Aunt Sadie and Uncle Bob, Auntie Mora from France, cousins Jimmy and Andrew (our novice photographers who did a great job!), and friends, Rose and Pat. Nana and Grandpa Deary were still in California so they couldn't be here but they did send a special baptismal candle that was used during the ceremony.

Kristina and her Godmama, Auntie Erin, and Godpapa, Uncle Jim

Afterwards, Kristina and I knelt at the feet of the Blessed Mother statue to say a quick prayer (no lengthy prayers with a 2 y.o.'s energy level!) and I did what I have always dreamt of doing....I took her right hand and guided her to make the sign of the cross at the end of our prayer. I almost cried. Prayers are answered...they sometimes take longer than expected and may not be fulfilled exactly as anticipated, but they are answered!