Anna Katherine - Dedicated to the Lord

After 9 long months of pregnancy and many hours of labor, I hold a sweet and precious creation fresh from God's arms. The hospital room quiets down as the doctors and nurses finish their duties and discreetly leave to give us uninterrupted time with our newborn babe. It is these next few moments I crave and treasure with each child that is brought into our family. And it is then that my amazing husband, a faithful servant of the Lord, bows his head in prayer. As he puts one arm around me and another around the baby, he prays a blessing over our newest child and he dedicates this creature to the Lord. He prays for him or her to be a mighty warrior in God's Kingdom. He prays that he or she will bring God much glory in their time on earth. And he prays for wisdom for the two of us raise this child to love and serve God with all of their heart. It is a sweet moment etched in my brain 5 times now.


We then follow this moment up several months later with a public dedication of our baby to the Lord. It is a time when family and friends join us. When our beloved pastor prays for our baby. It is not baptism. That will come when this child makes their own decision to follow the Lord and publicly professes that decision. No, this is a time where we all promise to do as God commands in Deuteronomy 6. "Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."


Grandma Marti and Grandpa Jim joined us for the dedication after a yummy pancake breakfast at our house prepared by Chef Rich. Our dear friend, Pastor Jim, from the Family Life service at Seacoast prayed for little Anna Katherine.

Pastor Jim praying for Anna.

Mommy and Grandma Marti with Anna

Grandpa Jim with Anna