Yesterday Ellie was baptized. She turned eight on January 27, 2020, and she made the decision to be baptized.
I want to tell you a little bit about Ellie. I have never met a child that is quite like Ellie. She is full of life and fire and joy and light. She knows no fear and is infectious in her passion for life and for goodness and for FUN!!! Above all things, she seeks the joy and fun in life. She is also wickedly clever and funny, she’s a delight to be around and makes everyone feel so good. Because she is happy, she wants everyone else to be happy.
I first met sweet Elizabeth in 2018, and on the day I met her she was not feeling well. We decided that a movie would be a fun thing for a sick little girl, so I brought one of my favorites to share with her - The Neverending Story. When I got to the house, I picked her right up. It had been a very long time since I was able to pick up a girl, and she snuggled right into my arms. Her poor sick body was warm, but I was more impressed by the warmth of her heart, which I could feel as I held her close. She said, “Is it OK if I call you “daddy”?” It melted my heart and I was immediately won over.
That was just the beginning of our lives together, but it feels like she’s been my little girl forever. I don’t mean that in the traditional sense of the way that phrase has been used in the media - I mean it quite literally. She’s my girl, and it’s always been that way.
She and I also don’t always see eye to eye on everything. She is very independent and strong willed, which I at turns absolutely adore and find frustrating and upsetting. But it’s impossible to stay mad at her, because she doesn’t let anything keep her down for long. She has a way of winning me over with her charm and sweetness. I’ve never known anything like it.
She’s also very close to the Spirit of the Lord. She has incredible faith and a fierce love for the Gospel. She knows what is right and she has the strength and determination to live accordingly. I admire her a lot for that, and she’s shown me how faith really looks. There’s a reason why Christ said we should have the faith of a child...
I was honored when she asked me to confirm her a member of the Church. Her grandpa Jack baptized her, which is something they’d arranged many years ago. It was a blessing to lay my hands on her precious sweet head (so recently full of Bunch’ems) and pronounce a blessing on her. I don’t remember what I said, but I did feel an overwhelming love for her from our Heavenly Father. She is clearly a precious child, one who is powerful and strong. I am grateful to be her father.
When she and I were still getting to know each other, we went to eat at Freebirds with Ammon and Abigail. I lifted her up so she could see over the counter at what they had to offer. I didn’t know this but Ammon was watching how I interacted with her. He couldn’t help but smile, and he told Diana that being a father was clearly what I was best at in this world. I was so touched - because it’s true. I have only ever wanted to be a father, and Ellie is precious to me because she gives me that chance once again. I love being her daddy.
I want to tell you a little bit about Ellie. I have never met a child that is quite like Ellie. She is full of life and fire and joy and light. She knows no fear and is infectious in her passion for life and for goodness and for FUN!!! Above all things, she seeks the joy and fun in life. She is also wickedly clever and funny, she’s a delight to be around and makes everyone feel so good. Because she is happy, she wants everyone else to be happy.
I first met sweet Elizabeth in 2018, and on the day I met her she was not feeling well. We decided that a movie would be a fun thing for a sick little girl, so I brought one of my favorites to share with her - The Neverending Story. When I got to the house, I picked her right up. It had been a very long time since I was able to pick up a girl, and she snuggled right into my arms. Her poor sick body was warm, but I was more impressed by the warmth of her heart, which I could feel as I held her close. She said, “Is it OK if I call you “daddy”?” It melted my heart and I was immediately won over.
That was just the beginning of our lives together, but it feels like she’s been my little girl forever. I don’t mean that in the traditional sense of the way that phrase has been used in the media - I mean it quite literally. She’s my girl, and it’s always been that way.
She and I also don’t always see eye to eye on everything. She is very independent and strong willed, which I at turns absolutely adore and find frustrating and upsetting. But it’s impossible to stay mad at her, because she doesn’t let anything keep her down for long. She has a way of winning me over with her charm and sweetness. I’ve never known anything like it.
She’s also very close to the Spirit of the Lord. She has incredible faith and a fierce love for the Gospel. She knows what is right and she has the strength and determination to live accordingly. I admire her a lot for that, and she’s shown me how faith really looks. There’s a reason why Christ said we should have the faith of a child...
I was honored when she asked me to confirm her a member of the Church. Her grandpa Jack baptized her, which is something they’d arranged many years ago. It was a blessing to lay my hands on her precious sweet head (so recently full of Bunch’ems) and pronounce a blessing on her. I don’t remember what I said, but I did feel an overwhelming love for her from our Heavenly Father. She is clearly a precious child, one who is powerful and strong. I am grateful to be her father.
When she and I were still getting to know each other, we went to eat at Freebirds with Ammon and Abigail. I lifted her up so she could see over the counter at what they had to offer. I didn’t know this but Ammon was watching how I interacted with her. He couldn’t help but smile, and he told Diana that being a father was clearly what I was best at in this world. I was so touched - because it’s true. I have only ever wanted to be a father, and Ellie is precious to me because she gives me that chance once again. I love being her daddy.
Comments