Theme Thursday: Happiness or Joy

Linking up, once again with Cari with my weekly cheater post. I don't know about you but nothing brings more happiness or joy to this mama's heart than a baby's baptism. My sweet little Alayna is my last baby and with that comes so many "lasts" but one particular day stood out to me as bittersweet and that was the day of her baptism. Having your baby baptized into the church, for me anyway, is as emotional and profound as the day they come into the world because that is the first step into the church as well as eternal life. Being a convert, it means the world to me to see my children begin their faith journeys in the church they will (hopefully) be a part of for the rest of their earthly lives. These photos were not taken by me. They were taken by a wonderful photographer and close family friend. And she did an amazing job of capturing Alayna's happiness and joy! So today, I am totally cheating by sharing pictures I didn't even take myself but they bring me happiness and joy every time I look back at that day, and to be fair many of these joyous smiles were hard won by her aunt, her daddy, and myself, as well as our friendly neighborhood photographer. So cheating it may be but I give you: Happiness AND Joy!