To Be Bold

When my 8 year old niece, Emma, stayed with me this summer for a couple of weeks, you would think she was quite bold.  She would ask Merrick, Jenna's boyfriend, why he wore certain things (tank tops), why he had hair under his arms.  He would just smile and answer her questions.  

She'd ask him to watch a Barbie movie with her.  "Of course!" he would say and would head to the theater in our basement and watch the movie with Jenna, Emma, Brooklynn and Jaley.  Emma and Brooklynn would ask Merrick to read a Disney Princess book to them.  "Of course!" was his reply with a smile on his face.  They'd all sit on the couch together as Merrick would read to them.

Emma nonchalantly asked Merrick one day if he would go to church with her.  "Of course!" he told her.

Sure enough he went to church with Emma (and us).

I teased my sister, Cara, that Emma should ask Merrick if he would be baptized.  He'd probably smile and say, "Of course!"

A week or so ago I asked Merrick if he wanted to take the missionary discussions.  "Of course!" he answered.

Tonight was the third discussion.  It was a neat experience - all of the lessons have been quite amazing.  The elders (Elder King and Elder Gentry) asked Merrick if he wanted to be baptized.  "Of course!" was his reply.

The date is set for Aug 25.  We have a time table to work out since Jenna is moving to UT on Aug 19.

We are thrilled!  He is a super sweet young man.  He knows our standards and is learning our beliefs.  As a Mom, I appreciate how he respects Jenna and follows our standards.

Thanks Emma for being bold.  For showing me that it is OK to come right out and ask questions.  To invite.  He was just politely waiting for the invitation so he could reply "Of course!"