ELLY CLARA'S BAPTISM

Our accordion group played for a special service at Trinity, Estevan today.  Just before we left home, a text came with pictures from Elly Clara's baptism this morning.  Instead of sending them to family and friends I decided to do a special blog. Here they are:

Big sister Nora in her new bunad

Elly Clara with Nora, Kristy, Todd, Pastor and godparents

Pastor with the Johnson family

Proud Papa with baby Elly Clara
(Clara Bergum Johnson was Howard's mother)

Baby having a nap after her busy morning

Four year old Nora with the special cakes

Cakes are a favoured dessert in Norway

Elly Clara wearing the baptismal gown made by
her great grandma Hulda Erickson for Laurel's baptism in 1968.
Todd and Nora both wore it too, as did other family members.

Loving big sister

Such a sweetheart.  Grandma misses you and
Nora very much.  See you in December!

The Johnson Family

I haven't even had a chance to talk to Kristy and Todd today as we had a busy day in Estevan.  After the service, which included a baptism, there was coffee served.  As we were having our coffee with friends, Phyllis Hurren and her daughter Sandy, Dustin Halvorson surprised us by coming over to our table to introduce his wife Aly and baby daughter, Hartley.  Their baby was also born in July so is just a few weeks older than Elly Clara.  I just had to hold her and could pretend it was my granddaughter whom we got to meet on our trip to Norway in August.  We are looking forward to seeing them in December!  (There wasn't a picture of just the Johnson Family so I took the liberty of cropping a picture!)

I contacted Dustin tonight to tell him that his visit at coffee time was the highlight of my day!  He sent me more pictures and gave me permission to add them to my blog so here they are.  Dustin and Aly were at Trinity for the baptism of Nash Brad Bloor, son of Alesha and Brad Bloor. (Alesha and Dustin are cousins)

A proud new Dad and Mom with baby daughter,
Dustin, Aly and Hartley

Such a suitable shirt for baby Hartley!

What a precious smile!

Blessed to be able to hold baby Hartley

It is fitting to have these two babies share a blog today as they are actually third cousins!  Howard Johnson was baby Elly Clara's grandpa.  His cousin Hartley Halvorson is baby Hartley's grandpa.  The babies share common great great grandparents - Ben and Gina Johnson, who started this Johnson farm in 1907.  (I never cared for history lessons in school, but I do like family history, as you might have gathered from my blog!)