Katelyn's Final Week in Sadieville...Part 2

Friday, August 20th, was the beginning of a very full weekend for our family.

I made the apple butter, did that second attempt at the apple jelly, put those tomatoes in the dehydrator, and pulled things together for the arrival of my kids and grandmonsters.

Katelyn and Claude did they final repair job on the brick base around the satelite dish. They also took care of the final pieces of Katelyn's finances. Katelyn also did her laundry and packing.

Then the three of us headed for our final placing of the directional signs for Sadieville's August MusicFest. We headed to City Hall to help with selling food.

We did take cameras to get a picture of Katelyn with Cindy, her employer for the summer. Cindy is our City Clerk and has really kept Katelyn busy through this summer. Katelyn cleaned out all the file cabinets in the basement, she even weeded and stripped and painted things.

Andie, Hayden and Bailey arrived to an empty house. They unloaded their things and then came over to the MusicFest. Claude bought them their hotdog dinners. After eating a good dinner, he opened up the caboose for all the kids that were there to play in.

Now a caboose that is open and you can run and play and climb and explore in is like some gigantic playhouse to kids. They just love this Sadieville treasure. Here are a few pictures of the kids playing and pausing every now and then to dance to the music at the Warring Pavilion next door.

The mini-Marx's were now ready to head back to Eagle Bend and find their beds for the evening. Andie was ready to find her double-stuffed Oreo's and milk snack and have a bit of quiet time.

Katelyn, Claude and I would stay to sing a bit and help with food sales some more before we retired to Eagle Bend for the evening after picking up the directional signs.

We awaited the arrival of Nissa and Jacob much later in the evening. They got in closer to midnight. Then we all found our pillows for a bit of rest.

Saturday morning we all arose early. Katelyn was to be baptized at 9am at the Church. Cinnamon rolls, orange rolls, cereal and bagels were quick breakfast fare as everyone tried to be ready on time. The first carload would leave at 8:15am (Katelyn, Claude, Nissa & Sandi). The Marx van would leave and arrive at start time for the baptism (Andie, Hayden, Bailey & Jake).

We made a nice program and kept it very simple for Katelyn's baptism. She asked Elder Allen to say the opening prayer and Elder Bloxham to say the closing prayer. Eddie Bolton conducted the meeting. I played the piano and gave a talk on the Holy Ghost. Papa gave a talk on baptism. Nissa played some of Katelyn's favorite Janice Kapp Perry music while Katelyn changed clothes. Jake led the music. We sang "I Need Thee Every Hour" for the opening hymn and "I Am A Child of God" for a closing hymn. Claude performed the baptism and the confirmation. We had three other ladies attend - Bernie Bolton, Alicent Manwaring and Jennie Jenkins. Katelyn wore the dress I made for her mother to wear in the temple. It was a most tender and sweet baptism.

We do not take pictures of the actual ceremony so as not to disrupt the spirit of the meeting. But we did take some pictures previous to the baptism itself.  Here they are:

Nissa & Katelyn singing before meeting

Katelyn ready for Baptism

Katelyn & Claude

Nissa, Katelyn & Claude

Sandi, Nissa, Katelyn & Claude

Nissa, Katelyn & Papa

4 Generations - Sandi, Nissa, Katelyn & Claude

Elder Bloxham, Elder Allen, Katelyn & Claude

My one pictoral regret...yes, I have one...we took these pictures before the Marx's & Jake arrived (I believe) and I do not have any of our family group at this baptism. Without fail, I always download photos of family and wish I had taken one shot that I didn't. My apologies to Andie, Hayden, Bailey & Jake. They are in family visit pictures but not in these and I truly regret that.

The baptism went well. It was even enjoyed by Hayden and Bailey. They knelt by the glass in front of the font to watch what was happening. I was concerned they might not understand 'Pa' (Claude) immersing Katelyn in the water. Silly moi!!!  When it was finished and I took a very wet Katelyn back to change into dry clothes and Nissa hurried to the piano to play some quiet music while Claude and Katelyn changed, Bailey stood pounding on the glass..."More, do it again!!"

It was a pure joy to have Katelyn accept the gospel and be baptized. Katelyn has a faith-driven heart. She enjoys things sacred and always has. She grately enjoyed her missionary discussions. She always wanted to go to her Sunday School class. She is just a beautiful (inside and out) daughter of our Heavenly Father. This baptism was the highlight of the summer for us.

After the baptism, Andie, Nissa, Hayden, Bailey and I headed to the nursing home to pay Mimi a quick visit. What joy little ones bring to a nursing home. They are just full of energy and fun and a fresh view of life. It truly brightens everyone's day in a nursing home. Even if you don't know the residents in the nursing home and you have little children, stop in a nursing home and spread some of their joy with those residents. It will brighten your heart. I promise.

We entered the nursing home and found our Mimi sitting in her wheelchair at her lunch table. Hayden and Bailey went to the front of her chair and as soon as she realized she had little people in front of her, she smiled so big and you could just feel her warm up. Here are a few pictures from our visit.

Hayden holding court with Nissa, Mimi & Andie

Bailey made friends with Vina.

Nissa, Mimi & Andie

Bailey & Hayden

While we visited, Claude, Jake & Katelyn made a run for the Kentucky Fried Chicken store for lunch to take back to Sadieville. We left the nursing and joined them in Sadieville for a nice lunch.