Ella's Baptism
October 14, 2006
Clifton Park, NY
- Hey, that's me on the computer!
- All dressed up
- Lara at home, in every possible way
- The star of the show is all dressed for church
- Ella takes the news in stride
- Oma and Grandma
- Opa over the shoulder
- Brothers united in New York
- (Uschi, forgive me, but I think these animated pictures of conversation are great! Just a personal note from the editor.)
- Making the point
- Resolution
- Ella suddenly objects
- But she calms down again, and remains as still as an angel for the whole service
- I don't want to sound like a broken record ... but it sures seems like Lara gets a lot of rides from Linda!
- I rest my case
- Lara explores the church in all its aspects
- Kids get this far-away contemplative look ... or maybe she's just tired
- A pewful of Muellers
- The baptism party: Godmother (Linda), Mother with child, Father, Godfather (Markus)
- Eileen rescues the situation (I had been lamely following Lara as she explored the cavern of the sprawling church complex)
- The priest who officiated
- Blessing the waters
- The moment comes closer
- Ella Maria is baptized
- The kids really enjoyed exploring the ranks of chairs, lined up like tunnels to crawl through
- The christening with holy oil
- There is a sense of tension released
- Father lights baptismal candles from the flame they keep burning for Easter celebrations
- Ella's candle
- Ella watches the flame
- Ella, light of our lives
- The audience in the pews watches intently
- A private moment
- Markus watches quietly
- Linda turns around to show sleepy Ella to the set of grandparents
- Consultation
- Who's teasing who?
- Lara is comfortable investigating Oma's necklace
- Markus points out some clearly obvious point
- A churchly (?) glow illumines Christian and Rainer
- What can I say, this is one of my favorites: the three brothers with three completely different aspects
- Meanwhile, Lara is still busy deconstructing Oma
- Time to check out the empty back rows
- Camouflaged in pink
- Even the older kids join in
- Family gathering: left to right, Marianne, Charlie, Charlotte, Linda, Lara, Kathi, Markus, Ella, Christian, Rainer, Ursula, Gerhard, Mike
- Charlotte chats up the clergy
- A gentle kindly man
- Swing low, sweet chariot, comin' for to carry me home ...
- Ella: better than going to any gym!
- It's been a long day, let's go home!
- Markus isn't buying
- It was cool in the mid-morning sun, but turned sweet and warm during the day for the party
- Men in suits
Marianne Mueller, mrm@sonic.net
Last modified: Tue Oct 31 06:20:13 PST 2006