"Behold the love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God"
1 John 3:1
Fannie Bradley was Christened on Sunday, April 18 at our Church, North Avenue Presbyterian.
Our brown haired blue eyed beauty!
Center of Attention, always
Standing before the church
I just noticed while working on this post, that this is the flag of Spain beside us. That is only fitting since that is where our story begins.
When our head pastor, Dr. Scott Weimer held open his arms towards us, Fannie Bradley did the same. She is too much. It was so funny and the entire congregation laughed.
Our dear family friend Boyd Lyons was the officiating Elder.
It was so important to us to have Dr. Weimer perform the Christening. He started at North Avenue when I was graduating from high school and starting college. He even came to Athens to visit me. He married us 4 years ago and also buried my Grandfather last year. He was the only one we wanted.
Fannie Bradley is the 6th generation of the Orr Family to be a member of North Avenue.
And she was named after a founding member of the Church, Frances (Fannie) Bradley Orr.
Growing up I dreamed of the day that my baby would be walked up this aisle on their christening day. Dreams do come true.
The Congregational Response was "May the Lord, Mighty God, Bless and Keep You Forever" sung to the tune of Edelweiss.
May the Lord, mighty God, bless and keep you forever. Grant you peace, perfect peace, courage in every endeavor.
Lift up your eyes and see God's face, full of grace forever. May the Lord, mighty God, bless and keep you forever.
One Proud Momma
Fannie Bradley donated the altar flowers in memory of her great grandparents:
Mrs. Betty Jean Barrows
Mr. and Mrs. John Hinson
Mr. and Mrs. Luther King
Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Kite Sr.
Mr. Joseph Orr III
(Mommy requested that they were pink!)
FB with her parents and Godparents, Anne Pearce and Dave McArthur
Love that they wore pink!
The original plan was for FB to wear the christening gown that her mommy and grandfather Orr wore but since she was 11 months old when she was christened, her upper arms wouldn't fit into the dress but she did wear the slip that belonged to that gown. So she ended up wearing the gown that her Daddy (and Aunt Courtney) wore, which was made for him by his paternal Grandmother, Rhee. Since John was baptized at one month of age, the gown wasn't quite long enough for FB so we had a longer layer made to match/compliment it and it turned out so beautifully.
The original plan was for FB to wear the christening gown that her mommy and grandfather Orr wore but since she was 11 months old when she was christened, her upper arms wouldn't fit into the dress but she did wear the slip that belonged to that gown. So she ended up wearing the gown that her Daddy (and Aunt Courtney) wore, which was made for him by his paternal Grandmother, Rhee. Since John was baptized at one month of age, the gown wasn't quite long enough for FB so we had a longer layer made to match/compliment it and it turned out so beautifully.
Angie/Mammie was in charge of the flowers. WOW. Stunning barely describes them. The peonies are a personal favorite so my sweet mother-in-law made sure that the arrangement was full of them!
Multi Generations of Baby Cups
Katie, Kyle, Carrie and Kelley
John about to say the blessing
Daddy's Girl
Aunt Chisholm
Kaye, Anne, Katie, Chisholm, Mandi and Leslie
Grandmommie and Daddy John
Papa Joe, Corinne, Cooie and Kyle
About to cut the cake
Cross cake from Henri's with FB's monogram
Mammie giving Boobsie a bottle, little did we know FB had a fever (her first!) the whole day. She was such a trooper.
Mandi, Chisholm and Anne
We were so humbled by the many family and friends who joined us as we officially committed Fannie Bradley to the Church and to the Lord. It was a special day in the life of our little family. We are blessed beyond measure.
It was a perfect day, in every way.
**All of the GORGEOUS photographs are courtesy of Sweet Caroline Photography! **