Keeping the faith

This year has been challenging. Normal spring and summer events have been canceled or delayed, making this nothing like the year we had planned.

Newton Fest and Alumni weekend activities have been something I have looked forward to since moving to town.

I am looking forward to taking my son to this as he gets older; however, his first festival year didn’t happen.

He will have to wait until next season at least to see his first professional baseball game.

It’s a family tradition started with my grandparents, and I have wanted to share this with my children before even having my son. Watching it on television just isn’t the same thing.

The Fourth of July Parade and the Iowa State Fair were both things I wanted to take my young son to this summer and that was out. I was so ready to push his stroller in the Newton parade and wave at all the people. Then, for the state fair to see all the different animals and experience all the different sights.

But I know and believe these things will return and we will get our chance to make these things a tradition with my son. He has been the biggest source of hope a mother can ask for.

One thing that was delayed, but we were able to complete, was Lincoln’s baptism. My husband, Tim, and I are members of Our Savior Lutheran Church. We haven’t had a chance to introduce him to members of the church because of the pandemic. It would be great for him and the congregation.

I have been in touch with Pastor Provost on several different occasions. In a world without COVID-19, we would have arranged his baptism sometime in March when he was 2 months old. Instead, churches were closed making baptism plans difficult to manage.

As churches began to open in June, we were still fairly cautious about where we took Lincoln. We wanted to be sure family who were in the higher risk categories could still see him baptized.

Plus, we had asked my sister Trish and her husband Justin to be Lincoln’s Godparents or sponsors as our church calls them. But Justin had surgery in June. We wanted to be sure he was fully recovered and feeling like he could come to the service.

Thankfully, the church was still putting services online so I was able to still hear the message of God.

Regrettably after months of waiting for the “perfect time,” the derecho hit town, adding another unexpected hurdle to the year.

I finally decided we had enough waiting, so I called Pastor Provost and set up Lincoln’s baptism for the last weekend of August.

We didn’t know how Lincoln would do during the service. He is a very active 7 month old who prefers to be on the floor crawling around.

I am happy to report he was awesome. He didn’t cry or squirm during the ceremony and didn’t even fuss when the pastor put the water on his head. Tim and I were so proud of him.

It was wonderful to welcome Lincoln into the house of God. Tim’s family and mine were able to attend the ceremony. It was so nice to include almost everyone at the church. We had a nice barbecue lunch at our house to celebrate the day.

Lincoln loved seeing all the family, especially the Pratt side. We don’t get to see them as much because their jobs keep them busy almost every day of the week.

Watching Lincoln be cleansed of his sins and welcomed into the true faith of God was one moment I will never forget. I can’t wait for him to learn more on his spiritual journey through life.

Contact Pam Pratt at pampratt@newtondailynews.com