Twins Baptism

In just a few days, the twins turn four months old! We don't see them that often so everytime we see them they look so much bigger! This past weekend was their Catholic baptism. They looked so cute in their little white dresses and hats, and didn't really even cry.
To celebrate the event, Maria and Tavo (twins' parents)threw one heck of a party. It was at Los Alamos Vineyard (one of the vineyards Tavo runs) with AWESOME catered food, mariachis, and of course two of Silvia's (my mother in law) famous cakes. I didn't take pictures at the church, but here are a few faves from the party.

Don't you just want to squeeze their cheeks?! Kathryn is on the left, and Jaclyn on the right.





They are great eaters!


I can't tell you how many times our family members commented on Jose and I needing to have kids, and how good we looked holding the babies. It made Jose and I start talking future children, then planning our kids parties (the only thing that is settled is having a bounce house for Jose), and then it got me thinking about baptism vs. dedication. I was still thinking about it Monday morning and started discussing it with a co-worker who is a former Catholic now Christian. She commented that a Catholic baptism is just a formal Christian baby dedication. I disagree.
From my understanding, a Baptism is considered to be a child's acceptance into the faith. Based on the faith of the parents, the child is "saved", and will forever be Catholic. In the Christian faith, no one can make a decision to follow Christ on behalf of another. And that is what a baby dedication is all about. The parents stand up before their church and family and commit to raising their children in the Lord, promising to teach them the truth of the Word, and do everything they can to model a Christian life, so their child will one day choose for themself to follow God. A dedication is also the parents making a statement that they can't raise this child on their own, and are depending on God to help them.
Coincidentally, on Sunday we learned about Hannah at church. Hannah is one of my favorite Bible characters (and one of Jose and my favorite girl names). She demonstrated complete dependence on the Lord to give her the child she longed for and promised to give him back to the Lord. 1 Samuel 1:11 "And she made a vow, saying, "O LORD Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life." The Lord answered Hannah and gave her a son, and true to her word she took him to be raised in the temple. Now I'm not about to give my child to a church to raise, but I do want to be able to say like she did, " I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD." I think that kind of faith will be such an example to a child that they will make their own decision to trust in the Lord.
I wonder why Christians don't celebrate dedications like Catholics celebrate baptisms. I think Jose and I will change that. So in a couple of years when we dedicate baby Hannah, you're all invited to a huge party afterwards, complete with a bounce house for Jose!