JULIUS GETS BAPTIZED

Julius, Jeff and Tammy's oldest son, turned eight and his baptism was scheduled so we could also be there. This was one of the finest baptisms and there was a good spirit there.

Julius was born in Alabama. I remember that their first child came after some time and Tammy, bored with no kids at home, got a law degree while Jeff finished medical school and an Internship in Birmingham. She was carrying Julius when she graduated. I remember Julius when they lived at the farm in Michigan. He was always the best little guy.

The baptismal service was at the Stake House. Rob an Eva and their kids came along with friends; the full time missionaries were there as well. Rob gave a little talk, a 'spotlight', about Julius. All the kids including Rob's got up and sang, "I am a Child of God".

I gave a talk on baptism and mentioned that Julius was the sixth generation of the family to join the church. I mentioned how my grand grandparents Anna Hirschi and Leopold Wirthlin were the first to join and get baptized in 1862 in Switzerland. They went to a Sacrament meeting one Sunday and asked for baptism after the meeting. They were taken and baptized in Lake Geneva in their Sunday clothes and confirmed the next week in church. They left Switzerland to avoid persecution and came to America making their way across the plains as pioneers.

Jeff then baptized Julius.

As they were changing, Tammy led a song, "Lead Kindly Light" and told of her mission in Japan when she and her companion got off the main road on their bikes and ended in a rice paddy sinking in the muck. She hummed the words of this song as they got out of their predicament.

The full time missionaries did a nice job talking about the origins of the church, what we call a first discussion. Mom gave a talk on the Gift of the Holy Ghost and also gave Julius a little flashlight. Jeff confirmed Julius. The bishop gave a nice talk and it was one of the sweetest baptisms. When they sang, "Called to Serve', I sang in quietly in German which is the way I know this anthem song of missionary work. We took Julius with the adults as the guest of honor to eat out.

This little "treat" tradition has grown a bit. As our children were baptized, the treat of the year was to take everyone to MacDonalds and the honored child would get his own milk shake.

We are proud of Julius and good work Jeff and Tammy.

Alles Gute, Oma und Opa