The Superior Rogers: Not So Little Anymore.....

Our first photo as a family! (Pay no attention to the pale, ghostly looking woman. I was very drugged up, and don't remember this moment, or many others, from her birth. HA!)

Well, it happened. My baby girl, and first born, turned 8 years old. Do you know what that means? It means I'm super old now. AH! More importantly, it means that she is given the choice of whether or not she would like to be baptized as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

I am a stickler on making sure that my kids choose to be baptized, not forcing them, and not making them feel like they have to because of their parents. I want them to know it was their choice to keep the commitments and covenants that they are making that day. I think it means more to them. It's their first grown up decision, besides what they will have in their lunch for school.

Sarah made her choice. She chose to be baptized, and she really couldn't be more excited! I was talking with her one night, and asked her why she wanted to be baptized, and she said, "because I think the church is true, and Jesus gave me a feeling that it was true." Ugh. Simple, beautiful answers. Unfortunately, she followed up that beautiful statement, with a gut wrenching question, and statement. She said, "Mom. Do you think Ellie will be there? I really wish she was alive so she could watch me be baptized. I wish I had my sister here." Talk about fighting back tears. I told her that I believe Ellie will be there, and will be irreverent, like every 2 year old is, and will be jumping around, and waving at her, and saying, "Sarah! Sarah!", and "That's my sister!"

Sarah wanted to send out baptism announcements, just like her friend Kendal did. I did the photo's for Kendal's baptism announcements, and Sarah wanted me to do them for her too. Sarah chose to go to the temple for her photos. So off we went.

It was actually a super rainy day, and Allan was out of town. There was a break in the rain and a bit of a break in the clouds, so we hurried and got ourselves ready and headed across town to the temple. Let me tell you, it is not easy doing an hour long session at the temple, with just me, 4 kids, at a place where they need to be quiet and reverent, and they just can't. It was one of the most difficult ones I have done! But, by far my favorite. And the one I am most proud of. Sarah chose the locations, and was very vocal about what she wanted, and was totally willing to follow direction from her mommy/photographer. HA! She did wonderfully. I wish I could say the same for the 3 boys and their chaos they were causing behind the scenes. But, with a lot of help and encouragement, from a photog friend of mine, the photos came out exactly as I wanted them to.

Tomorrow, at 9:00am, Sarah will be baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Her dad and I couldn't be more proud of our oldest daughter. She will be joined by a ton of family and friends, including her 3 brothers, and her heavenly sister. Sarah has had to deal with a lot of tragedy for such a short little life, but I think that all of that tragedy, like the death of her favorite uncle, and her long awaited baby sister, has increased her faith, and perspective of Heavenly Fathers plan for us. She has an amazing testimony already, and is sure of what she believes to be true. I admire her spunk, her confidence, and her ability to stay true to herself regardless of what she will face. She is an amazing blessing to our family, and we couldn't be more proud, and humbled, by the gift that our Father in Heaven has given us.

Here are a few photos of Miss Sarah through her short years: