So to kill the suspense of everyone that has so patiently waiting to hear what the surprise was this weekend let me tell you all what it was.
IVY'S PREGNANT! Okay, not really, but since most of you were thinking that I thought that I would throw it in.
The real surprise was something that Christi, Lorin's wife, did for all of us. Christi called the Palmer parental units on Monday and told us all that she was flying Nathan in from Pennsylvania to be at Lorin's baptism. Lorin had no idea that Nathan was going to be there, but had been hoping that Nate could somehow be there. My family is not known for pulling off surprises very well, but somehow we all kept our mouths shut. Ivy and I volunteered to pick Nate up from the airport and so he called us Saturday afternoon and told us that he had another surprise for the rest of the family. Nate told us that he would be bringing his 18-month old son, Washington, to see us too. Sunday morning Ivy and I headed to the airport to pick Nate up and take him to Lorin's house. Lorin got a little suspicious when my family showed up at 10:30 in the morning to go to church with him at 1:00. If you know the Palmer family you know that we are never on time when we have to travel to places. Shortly after they arrived at Lorin's place we left the airport and drove to Lorin's house with Nate. Ivy and I walked into the house holding Washington and Nathan walked in right behind us. It took Lorin a while, but once he realized who the third person to walk in with us was he ran to Nate to give him a hug. It was such an amazing moment. It was just another wonderful example of our wonderful family can really be. Eventhough we fought a lot as kids we still love each other very much. You've got to love family.
Now onto the main event of the weekend. Lorin's baptism was amazing. He chose Todd to baptize him and my father to confirm him. Needless to say there were a great many tears shed last night. Tears of joy and relief. As a missionary I saw the Atonement change peoples' lives all the time, but seeing your brother go through the pain and struggling that sin brings is harder than anything I had ever experienced. However, the joy and ecstasy that I felt seeing him enter the waters of baptism to start a new chapter in his life was down right amazing. I know that the Atonement is real, I have felt it in my life many times, but it took on a new, more personal meaning for me last night. Once again my family is complete and will be that way for all of time and eternity. I now understand the story of the Prodigal Son more than I ever imagined would be possible. It is difficult to describe the joy that was felt in that room last night, but it proved to me that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is true and that the Atonement is real. Lorin is now clean from any of his past mistakes. We all learned a great deal from this trial; I don't think that anyone would wish to repeat it, but none of us would give up the lessons learned from it.
Anyway, sorry to disappoint anyone that was hoping that we would be having a baby, but this was still a very neat surprise for all of us. Thanks everyone for helping Lorin come back to the Gospel and be baptized again.
