The Wynia Family: A Special Baptism

On Thursday last week we loaded our kids in the car and headed for Sacramento California. I was born in Sacramento and lived there for the first nine years of my life. I have lots of family that live there including two siblings, and lots of cousins. When we first moved away to Sheridan Wyoming when I was young we would visit Cali once or twice a year to see my aunts, uncles, and lots of cousins. I have fond memories of making the trek out there. We would always take the back seat out of the van and lay down all of the luggage and blankets and Amy and I would claim the back to sleep and play in. I am sure that we sat on the seats sometimes, but I mostly remember playing and sleeping in the back. It was usually only my mom and the four or five youngest kids making that oh so long journey. Right after High School I flew down there for the first time and I couldn't believe how fast it was, I never wanted to drive there again. Well Last Thursday I made that trip once again. Only this time with my own four little ones and no comfy back bed like we used to have. It was long and hard, especially for little Aubrey. By the time we got there I felt like I had tortured the poor thing. But we had one amazing reason to go so it was all worth it.

My older brother who lives in Cali was baptizing his wife. I get all weepy just thinking about it. I have pretty much been an emotional wreck since Lizzy, (his wife) started taking the discussions. My older brother quit attending church when he was a teenager. He is a full 10 years older than me so by the time I was eight he was already out of the house. I saw what his falling away had done to my mother from the eyes of a child. I remember her crying as she wrote him letters (no e-mail back then) and sharing her testimony with him. I remember her talking about him in the talks that she gave in Sacrament meeting. I know that it was hard for her and something that I hope that I don't have to go through as a parent, it definitely made an impact on me. So when Darren began taking the necessary steps to be able to baptize his wife my heart was full. It has been over twenty years since he was active in the church and last Saturday he entered the waters of baptism and baptized his wife into the church. Repentance is the most amazing thing. Without it we are all lost, our savior loves us and died for us so that we can repent and return to live with him.

Here are the six of us, all grown up! I love my siblings so much. They are all amazing people with big hearts. No one is perfect and occasional we hit that, "you've gone too far" moment but we love each other and that is what matters. And now you can see where I get my height, look at those brothers of mine! Sorry Nicole, you missed out on that trait :)

My older siblings, Darren and Nicole. I just love this picture, I think this is the best picture from the entire vacation. I love seeing them laughing together.

So there is more to the story, if you are ready for it. Growing up my mom and her sister were really close, they are best friends. When we lived in California we always lived close to her, as in walking distance close. She had five children and we had six in our family. These cousins are the cousins that we did everything with, vacations, Sunday dinners, everything. The oldest son, Dustin, and Darren are the same age. They have always been close, like brothers actually. They live within walking distance, their wives are close, and their children are close too. Dustin also quit coming to church when he was a teenager. Although he has taken his children to church pretty regularly in recent years he didn't participate. His wife has taken the discussions previously and attends church with him occasionally. Well she also decided to get baptized. Dustin also took the steps necessary to baptize his wife and son who recently turned eight. It was the most amazing baptism I have ever been to. My sister Amy spoke on baptism and my mom spoke on the Holy Ghost. I cried just about the entire time. I know that there is no way that I could be a parent in the world today without the gospel in my life. It helps me strive to be the best mother, wife, sister, daughter, and friend that I can be! Some of you might be completely lost right now with everything that I have said, if you want to find out a little more then you can visit www.mormon.org or call or e-mail me. So yes we had a great reason to make that long journey out to Cali but we made it and it was worth it.