Baptism

Hello Bleeps...are you feeling lucky this week?  Look, you've had 2 posts already and here's number 3!  I'm trying to stock up because there might be a blackout period after Reese is born! 

I was raised Traditional Catholic.  We went to church every Sunday.  I was baptized, had my first communion and was confirmed.  However, when college rolled around I kind of backed away from the every Sunday ritual.  Mostly, because going on Saturday night and getting home after 2 am, didn't allow me to get up for church on Sunday, plus go to work too!  I've never backed away from God though.  I would still attend Mass with my parents on Christmas, etc.

J and I were not married in the Catholic church, and while he was brought up to believe in God, he wasn't really taught about God and the bible. So he wasn't baptized, etc. 

When we started to try to get pregnant, oh 6 years ago, I knew in my heart that our babes would need to be baptized.   But deep down I was a little worried.  I didn't want to force J to do anything he wasn't entirely comfortable with, but I also didn't want to sacrifice my dreams because he didn't have them too.

Well, we started the conversation probably in the middle of IVF, because I remember crying...not because of what he was saying, but because of all the crazy meds I was on.  I was investigating churches that were less traditional than the one I was raised in.  I found some that I liked, but I wasn't sure J would like them.  Then...we moved clear across town, so all the churches I liked were WAY out of the way.  And things got busy and my search stopped.

Finally, my Mom, knowing my wants happened upon a church that was 10 minutes from our new house and very relaxed.  For instance, the priest has a pony tail and a handlebar mustache.  I think he looks like an actor, but I can't place who.  So I attempted it one evening.  And I asked people that I knew.  Lo and behold, not only did some friends and acquaintances already attend there, but they had for years and years.  So I continued to go.

I finally got to speak to the head priest one evening quickly after church.  It'd been very hot in the church that evening, and I had to pull out the fan that MBM's sister gave me after I got preggo.  I shook the priest's hand after mass and he said (with a heavy Irish accent), "you're just a furnace, aren't ya?"  Mind you, this was about a month ago, so I was very pregnant.  I laughed and nodded.  Then I said, "who do I need to talk to about baptism?"  He laughed, patted my belly, and said, "we usually do that AFTER the baby is born lass!" then laughed again.  I laughed.  And finally he said, "just call the office.  We'll get it done."

Well, I was still nervous.  I mean, what would I do if they said we needed to be remarried in the Catholic church and all kinds of other hoops?  I would be devastated.  So I put it off and put it off.  Finally, I knew I had to do it.  So I called and left a message for the right person, so I was told.  She called back at a time when I couldn't talk and we agreed I'd call her back Thursday.

When I called back, she was an angel.  She asked my name, when I was due, J's name, etc.  I told her I had been raised Catholic but J had not been.  Her response floored me...."So?"  I told her we hadn't been married in the Catholic church.  Again, she said, "And that matters to the baby why?"  We talked about how they do it and if we had chosen Godparents yet.  It's tentatively set for June.  I got off the phone and literally had a huge sigh of relief.  This will be okay.  Reese will be baptized and all will be well with the world.

J and I talked about it that evening, and he was very happy to hear what I had heard too.  We discussed Godparents and came up with the names of who we think would do well.  I even asked one on Friday, and she was, well, how do you say, excited a lot?!  Anyway, my heart is now calm.  And this too shall work.  YAY!

Problem solved.  Whew!