Dedication/ Gotcha Day

The dedication service went well. To save writing it all over, this is what I emailed our pastor about the day when he asked how I thought it went:

Thought it was perfect! I knew we were in for it when Tim came over to our seat and Eli and I stood up and started making our way up front as you were praying. He wouldn't walk. WE dragged him up the steps on to the stage. I knew beforehand that he would either be a perfectly behaved little guy, looking like he realized the significance of the day, (like he did when we served communion with him when we first came home last year) or he'd be all little boy, hamming it up drawing lots of attention. I figured he wouldn't walk any middle line- so, I pretty much figured, as we were going up the steps that the congregation was in for some laughs and us some chagrin. Your microphone conking out in the middle of the dedication- I didn't even notice it!! :0)

After all that's happened, when it's all been said and done- it doesn't really matter what it looked like on the outside. Wild crazy boy, tame sedate child- no difference. The inside, where we were honoring our commitment to God, was seen by the One that really matters. And everyone else will remember it for a while, too.... :0) At least we maintained our entertainment factor as the Swingle family- guess we are a performance family, maybe we'll be like the VanTrappe family..... I was shocked to get a standing ovation, though- and so very humbled and blessed to know all these people are still hanging with us and celebrating the amazingness we call our family.(note: I know the ovation was not really for us- it was for what God has done in our lives!! Thank you, God!!)

Had he been perfect, I would probably have (later........ as I really thought about it....) wondered if he really was settling in with us. (Would have loved it at the time, I'm sure.... :0)) but he just proved how much he's bonded and how comfortable he is with us, our family and our church. Children don't act up like that if they are not comfortable in those situations. Having him on stage all the time with us doesn't help any either- takes out the stage fright factor that keeps most kids still and shyly quiet as they stand in front of a crowd. I guess maybe we should have given him a mic....... hehe He could have stood there and sang for everyone while we had the "adult talk".....


The service went well- I may see if I can post some video later- and we had a lovely "surprise" party afterward, celebrating not only Elisha's Gotcha Day and Dedication, but also both Grandmother's birthdays!! My mom's birthday is Tues, and Tim's mom's birthday is next week. It was so nice to be able to celebrate with them and make a deal out of their special day, too!!

Some of the highlights of the service- Pastor Brian started out the dedication by acknowledging the specialness of the day we chose- and I love the scripture he then read- as I was standing within 10 feet of the place that they had prayed for us just a little over a year earlier before we left to get Elisha---

One year ago today, they became a family. In celebration of that long awaited day, now a year past, they have decided to dedicate Elisha formally, in front of family and friends to the Awesome God that gave him into their care.

As Hannah said in 1 Samuel 1:26-28 (The Message)

"Excuse me, sir. Would you believe that I'm the very woman who was standing before you at this very spot, praying to God? I prayed for this child, and God gave me what I asked for. And now I have dedicated him to God. He's dedicated to God for life."

Then and there, they worshiped God.

Then he had us pledge the following- always a good reminder for parents everywhere:

· Do you thankfully receive this child as God’s gift to you and your family?
· Do you as parents covenant to be committed to each other, knowing that when you grow together as husband and wife, you provide a more loving and secure environment needed for your child to grow and mature? Will you commit to strengthen your marriage?

· Do you covenant to be parents of personal faith; to recognize that your child is more likely to accept Christ as his personal Lord and Savior if you do; more likely to respect people when he sees you respecting people; more likely to pray, read the Scriptures, and attend a local church if he observes that in you? Will you covenant to be parents of personal faith?

· Do you covenant to be parents of patience; to recognize that your desire to shape this little life, with all their inherent strengths and weaknesses, is a task that requires time? Will you be parents of patience?

· Do you covenant to be parents of praise; will you look for ways to affirm the positive qualities he possesses, while building confidence to deal with shortcomings he will discover in life? Will you commit to be parents of praise?

We ended by the church family (which included our own family and friends) vowing that they would hold us accountable and also provide support to help us be the best parents we can be.

Dear Father- thank you for the past year. So many marvelous things have happened. We've grown and stretched in so many ways we never even knew were possible. Our family grew and changed in form and we became parents. Your blessings are so many and so amazing!!