BRENT GOT BAPTISED!!!

Well as you know this has been one heck of an awesome week for us Johnson's. To start...Friday afternoon Brent and I were just going about our business cleaning and organizing. Brent then got a phone call and all I heard was "Awesome, We'll be there!!!" When Brent hung up I said "where are we going and for what?" Brent then couldn't control his smile and told me that we had to go to the airport. He still wouldn't tell me who we were picking up. He tried to surprise me by getting me to the airport before I knew it, but Brent didn't know how to get there. So he had to tell me. But I didn't know it was Dad until I saw him. I had a pretty good idea it was him, but it was still a great surprise.

The night before I told Brent that it was tradition to go to your favorite restaurant for you baptism. So after we picked up Dad we went straight to the sea food place that Brent loves so much. It's a GIGANTIC buffet of every kind of sea food you can think of. I usually don't get the buffet but I just had to have some crab. So we all stuffed ourselves in crab and fish. It was super yummy!!!! We were there for a few hours talking and enjoying the food. It was such a fun time. I love hanging out with Dad. He is so wise and loving.

After dinner we came home and watched some sports. Dad was really into it too. At least he pretended to be. It made Brent feel good. I had some homework that was due, so I couldn't really do any manly bonding with them.

The next day was AWESOME!!!! We woke up early (well early for us!!) and took dad to the military museum! It was so neat to watch dad and Brent figure out all the cool military in's and out's. This particular museum is right on the ship dock and has an actual battle ship that we could tour. It was the USS Wisconsin that has been discommissioned, but still in full armour. We got to walk all around the deck and learn about how the MASSIVE ancors work. We also stood next to the GIGANTIC missles and firarms. We took pictures and I'll have them up on airset later tonight! Dad was in super heaven telling us about his military service and how it related to the stuff we were learning.

I wish we could have let dad stay longer, but we had one last appointment with the missionaries that we had to rush home to. It was so neat introducing Dad to the missionary that changed Brent's mind. They taught us about satan and his "game plan" and how to avoid it. After the lesson they all went to the church (I stayed home again to work on my talk..more on that later) to start filling up the font and to fit dad for some whites.

By the time they got back, Brent was overly excited!!! He was mad that we had to wait until 6PM. He kept saying the whole time..."I wish we could just go NOW!!" When he is excited about something, he gets pretty impatient. Anyhow it finally got to be time to start getting ready. I about fainted when I saw Brent walk out of the room in all white. The tears started right then. I couldn't stop hugging him and never really got to fixing my hair.

When we got to the church the ward mission leader directed us to everything and how it will all go down. The font was full and ready to go. Slowly everyone started coming. Many of them just couldn't get over seeing Brent in white. By the time we got through the opening prayer I was in tears. Brent was wearing such a big smile, it just confirmed to me even more how much he wanted to do this. The first talk was given by our next door neighbor and good friend of Brent's. He did such an awesome job. He talked about Christ's baptism and how important it is that Brent is following His example. He then did the neatest thing, he talked about how the gospel relates to football. Mike is a big football fan too and did a GREAT job at comparing life to football. We hear a lot of people try to compare them, but I think Mike did a great job. It was very spiritual. He spoke of "touchdowns" in life and he said that his baptism was a touchdown and in October he'll have another touchdown when he holds his baby girl. But the biggest touchdown will be when he takes his baby girl and his bride to the temple. I of course lost it...I couldn't stop the tears.

Anyhow. After the talk they excused Brent, Dad and I to go to the font. I got a front row seat right next to the witnesses. Brent almost fell going down the stairs but luckly caught himself. Dad and him practiced before hand but Brent forgot everything of course because he was so nervous. He went down wrong in the water and left his hand out of the water. He was so worried about Dad dropping him that he didn't bend his legs. Dad almost lost his own balance. But the second time, Brent told himself to let go and just relax. Well that did it, he remembered how to go under and made it all the way down. It was funny because when they told Brent that he didn't make it the first time he took another deep breath ready to go down. He didn't realize that Dad had to say the prayer again.

After the baptism we listened to the missionaries talk about the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith. I really don't remember this part, because I was so caught up in the spirit of the day. I was just thiking of Brent and his journey and thanking God of our little miracle. In fact I was so carried away with the whole thing that when I saw Brent and Dad come back in the room, I ran across the room and hugged him to death. I'm so proud of him and so happy that he made this decision.

Elder Shock (the elder that helped Brent for the past 6 months) gave the talk about the Holy Ghost. Poor guy was also so excited for Brent that he got a little flustred. But did a great job comparing the spirit to a flash of light or a beam of light, which ever we make of it. The bishop then welcomed Brent into the ward and even spoke to me and thanked me for being such a great example in Brent's life. He also warned us that this was the begining and that we have a goal of making it to the temple. He promised that he would support our decisions and would help us make it to the temple and to getting Brent the priesthood.

We then sang a song and said the prayer. It was over as fast as it began. But that is how Brent wanted it. He didn't want a big deal and he didn't want it to last a long time. I was surprised that not that many people showed up. I figured that if one person knew then they'd all show up. But we had about 20 people there total. It was beautiful and very reverent. I have NO DOUBT the spirit was there and the Lord was pleased with Brent.

After the baptism we invited a few friends over for cookies and (of course) cheese. Brent saved the good Wisconsin cheese for this occasion. It was yummy. Our friends couldn't stay long but it was sure fun to celebrate with them and to bring their spirit into our home. The missionaries had a special tradition with all their "baptisms" and continued it with Brent. They all bought the same exact ty and then signed the back of them in a silver permant marker. So now Brent has their signatures on his ty and they have his. That was neat. Elder Shock is from Utah and said that if we get sealed in a Utah temple then he would be there. I can't wait!!

Oh I forgot to say something.....After they closed the curtin to the baptismal font my baby girl couldn't stop kicking me. I really think little Madison knew what was going on. She usually kicks at certain times of the day and I've been able to see her "schedule" and that moment was not a normal time for her to be kicking. Is it possible that Madison knew what her daddy did? I think so.

We spent the rest of the night hanging out with Dad and conversing about how awesome the evening was and preparing my talk.

This morning we went to church early (OK early for us at least). The bishop asked me the week before to talk in church about Brent's conversion story and how fellowshipping helped convert him. When they announced that they had a confirmation for Brent Johnson I could see the whole ward get all wide eyed! I was on the stand so I saw everyone gasped. The confirmation was better than I thought. Brent's blessing mostly talked of his upcoming callings and how he will be able to fulfil all his callings including his responsibility of being a father. His blessing also confirmed that Brent was doing the right thing and that the Lord had many blessings in store for him. It was a short but beautiful blessing. Dad kept his composure which I can't say the same for me.

I then got to talk and spoke of just how much being a friend helped Brent convert. I thanked the ward for inviting Brent to play basketball, tennis and turkey football because I know that's how he got his first good impression of the church. I said that they must have known that the key to his heart is through sports. I told a few other stories of other people I knew or read about and how important friendship was for them. I bore my testimony to Brent and told him that the countdown is on. We have 364 days!! I spoke for about 25 minutes but I must have done good because there wasn't a dry eye in the room.

Strangly enough the Bishop asked Dad to also bear his testimony after I spoke. He spoke of how Brent promised him to look into the church and how thankful Dad was that he kept his promise. He testified of keeping promises is as important as keeping covenants. It was a neat comparison. I think I went through 3 kleenex. After sacrament meeting we had THE ENTIRE WARD come and hug us. I felt like we were in a wedding line. Brent jokes that all the "old ladies" wouldn't let go of him. It was so neat to finally have the secret out!!!

After chuch we (Brent, Dad and I) all made a delicious lunch and we had our first "family" meal prayer as a mormon family. I almost started crying again, but I actualy controled it. The rest of the evening was Yatzee and other board games. Right now Brent and Dad are watching the very first scrimmage game of the season. The first sign that football is almost here!! They love it. Including dad.

Anyhow this is super long. But I wanted to get the whole story. I really appreicate all the cards, calls and love from each of you. This has been a GREAT weekend!!!