Martje Amber Petersen's christening
What a lovely day, it didn't look like that when we got up this morning. The sky was black, lightning was cracking its whip and buckets of water were falling from heaven. That was at eight, at nine thirty when we drove to Risum I had the roof of my convertible open, the sun was shining and the car was heated up like in a sauna.
We arrived, the rest of the gathering arrived and the first tears fell: Martje saw me and did a knee fall; she forgot that she had her new, pretty and white tights on and now they were green. The tears dried up quickly, there was excitement in the air (well for the kids and the future godparents and if I think about it for me also, I'm still a kid at heart).
The service went well, it's Whitsunday and the Pastor, Tim Ströver, told the story of the beginning of the church on this day; of how the disciples came out of hiding and went into the world speaking to the people in every country be it Hebrew, Arabian, Roman, English, French, you name it they could speak that language. On the first day of the Christian Church they baptised three-thousand followers.
The story is good and interesting, if you're a grownup, for the kiddies it was too much so they mucked about, not much it was amazing how disciplined they were. Gretje let everything happen without a word or should I say moan.
After the service we all gathered at Kirsty and Jan-Erik's house for a meal and drinks and coffee with cakes and more drinks. If anyone went home hungry it would have been their own fault.
I'm still suffering four hours later, I ate too much cake.
 |
| Gretje it's your show today, it is time for you to join the community, we all say welcome, such a pretty and quiet girl <3 |
 |
| Gretje's Christening song |
 |
| The arrival Heike, Lynda and her friend Dirk |
 |
| The Godparents Martina and Horst A perfect choice, two that did not have the fortune of having children of their own |
 |
| Family Petersen arrives, Fentye and Martje dressed up like twins and look how clean Martje is, it lasted only one minute and she want down on her knees. White tights and green grass are a bad combination |
 |
| When she realised that she had mucked her knees it was time for the first tears of the day |
 |
| They didn't last long, and now it's off to the church |
 |
| The gate to the St Sebast zu Risum Church |
 |
| Pastor Tim Ströver waiting for the congregation. He is new in the village and took over from Pastor Spiesswinkel last year when he went into pension. |
 |
| Pastor Ströver, a young and talented pastor, his service differs enormously from his predecessor |
 |
| Gretje in her Taufkleid (christening dress) |
 |
| The church interior, the altar, it points to the south, I wonder if that has any meaning? |
 |
| The church interior, the pulpit. |
 |
| The church interior, the christening font |
 |
| The church interior, a picture next to the pult. Is this Saint Sebast? |
 |
| The church interior, the organ |
 |
| The church interior, the Lord's supper |
 |
| Gretje in a good mood, she was like that the whole time |
 |
| Gretje with her father Jan-Erik and Martje |
 |
| Martje is always giving her sister a kiss, sometimes it gets too much for Gretje and she rebels by whining |
 |
| Martje, the wild one with her Oma Petersen |
 |
| Fentje |
 |
| Fentje and Mama Doesn' Fentje look an angel? |
 |
| It doesn't hold on very long, in the past few months, since she started in Kindergarten she's found her tongue and loves to stick it out at me. Cheeky bugger :-) |
 |
| Gretje with her Godmother Martina and how proud she is, I love it! |
 |
| The christening is over, now come the family photos Lets start with Oma Irmtraut and Uroma Marianne (Tick Tack Oma) |
 |
| The Petersen family with Heike from the left Oma Irmtraut, Martje, Fentje, Tick Tack Oma, Godfather Horst, Oma Heike, Papa Jan-Erik, Godmother Martina, Gretje, Mother Kirsty and Opa Andreas |
 |
| The same but with me behind Kirsty |
 |
| The church service is over and we leave the church in dazzling sunshine. I quite like the Pastor, modern It's about time the church got younger in person and idea. |
 |
| The families Petersen and Martin together on one photo, all except yours truly |
 |
| Doesn't matter though now a picture of the proud grandfather |
 |
| and the proud grandmother |
 |
| I can't end my blog without a flower photo. Poppies |
