June 9th, 2011

Mason turned 2 months old yesterday!  To start off the new month, he slept 8 1/2 hours last night, nursed and has been down for another 4 and still going (I'm about to wake him up).  I've been blessed with an amazingly good sleeper!  When I think back over the past year, blessed is really the only word that comes to mind.  I had an awesome, healthy pregnancy, followed by an easy, smooth delivery and now I'm blessed with an amazing son.  And trust me when I tell you, I thank Jesus everyday for these blessings.

Not long ago, I was getting out of the shower and I looked down at Mason who was sleeping soundly in his bouncer outside of the shower door, and tears started to pour down my face.  I just starred at him in awe.  He's perfect to me.  The love for your child is indescribable.  It's such an intense and emotional feeling that gets stronger with each day.  At that moment I made the most important decision of my life.  It was something I had been praying about and I knew the Lord was answering my prayers and helping me make the decision.  I decided to be baptized again.

On April 8th, 2011, the day Mason was born, a couple of hours before we were to leave for the hospital, Carter received one of the worst phone calls of his life.  His best friend, Chad died in a car accident that morning.  Carter was devastated and broke down.  I think it's the only time I've seen him fall to his knees in prayer.   I remember Carter saying to me, "I'm not sure if Chad was baptized.  I know he was a believer but not sure if he was ever baptized."  His comment really struck a cord with me and brought me to tears.  I reassured Carter that you can not put God in a box and only He can make the decision of who is saved.  Look at the thief on the cross next to Jesus.  He was saved and wasn't baptized. 

It made me think about my own baptism.  I was baptized in the Catholic Church as an infant and confirmed when I was a teenager.  At the time of my confirmation, it would be fair to say I was a large pain in the butt for my parents.  I was rebellious and did not want to go through with the confirmation.  I remember playing devil's advocate in the classes and really annoying the teacher.  Reluctantly, I was confirmed because my parents made me.  Now having Mason, I can completely understand why they made me do it.  They knew it was crucial for my salvation and they wanted to be with me in the Kingdom of Heaven.  However, the CHOICE was not mine and it's something I have thought about over and over.

The past several weeks during service and Sunday school the topic has been about baptism.  I couldn't help but think, maybe the Lord is sending me the message, "You've been praying about it, here's your sign."  I'll be honest to say that I kind of brushed it off for a while thinking it wasn't necessary to be baptized again because the Lord knows my heart and I'll be saved.  But then I would think, what if He is sending me the message and I'm choosing to ignore it? 

Then I read the book, "Heaven is For Real."  Now let me say this, I don't think I have EVER read a book for fun and finished it as an adult.  Sure I read tons of books in high school and college but never just to read for myself.  So for me to choose to read for fun, I joke that it's an act of God.  However, I truly feel all these things that have been happening in my life are God's way of saying, "I'm telling you what to do, why won't you just listen already."  I finished the book in two days (would have in one but reading with a newborn is a little difficult).  If you haven't read it, it's a must read.  It's based on a true story written by the father of three year old, Colton who visited heaven during a major surgery.  After his trip to heaven, Colton tells his parents numerous things about heaven and Jesus that a three year old would not know.  There is a chapter entitled "Two Sisters" where Colton tells his mommy that he has two sisters.  His mother, confused says no you just have one, are you confused with your cousin?  Then Colton proceeds to tell her that he met his other sister in heaven and that she is waiting for him.  His mother had had a miscarriage before getting pregnant with Colton.  She was two months along and they had not known the sex of the baby.  This was something they never shared with Colton.  Colton then told his mother that his sister is waiting for them in heaven and that his parents will need to name her once they get to heaven.  As I'm reading this chapter, I completely lost it and tears poured down my face.  I lost a baby prior to getting pregnant with Mason and I never imagined meeting my unborn child in heaven.  After reading this I just kept thinking, I HAVE to be in heaven with my children. 

After all these signs, and honestly many more, I have decided to be baptized again on Sunday June 19th after the 9am service.  Paul Forshey