The day dawned bright and beautiful; a perfect day for a baptism down at Dove Hollow, I said.  Daddy agreed.  I snatched your vintage gown down from the hanger in the living room and gathered up your brothers and sisters.

We went as we were.

You were excited to be going somewhere and you cheerfully dashed out the door with the rest of us to get into the truck.  You climbed on laps, lovingly patted faces and snapped your little fingers to the music playing on your brother’s phone.   As we bounced down the logging road Daddy and I told of how Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River by his cousin John over 2ooo years ago. Can you imagine that, Jessie Pearl, how glorious it would have been to see the heavens open and to see the Holy Spirit come down like a dove?  To hear the voice from heaven saying “You are my son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased”!

We asked your big brothers and sisters to always tell you about our Savior and what He has done for you. For us.

You squealed when we rounded the corner to Dove Hollow. You love this place.  We gathered in a circle on the sand and Daddy prayed.  I dipped your great-great grandmother’s bowl and scooped up the clear mountain water and daddy baptized you here.  This little plot of sandy earth, this home for a flock of doves, this retreat of ours will alway hold this memory of you, my little indigo-eyed girl, surrounded by people that love you and our mighty God and Creator that loves you even more.