parenting

Our friends, Mark and Barb asked that BJ and I be their new baby's godparents. As of right now, this unborn baby is a boy named Hunter...I dunno if I'll fully commit to that until he meet "him" in October or thereabouts. At any rate, we're both more than honored to assume this role for our friends. We love them dearly and I love Hunter so much already. However, being raised in the Church of Christ (or generally non-denominational for those of you not in the Bible belt) I thought I'd better check around to see exactly what our responsibilities come with this title. And yes, I get all my info from Wikipedia.

Traditionally, the godparents were counted informally responsible for ensuring that the child's religious education was carried out and for caring for the child should he/she be orphaned.

Yikes! I was prepared (or as much as one can be, wishfully thinking that Mark and Barb will live forever) for the orphan part. But we're responsible for Hunter's religious education? That's a lot of pressure. Not that we aren't willing...we've just got some studying to do, I guess.

Ah, but keep reading...

The modern view of a godparent tends to be an individual chosen by the parents to take a vested interest in the child's upbringing and personal development.

...this I can absolutely handle.

I (we, but mostly me) am blessed to have so many babies of friends that I love like my own. Granted, none of their parents have asked me to be their children's religious educator. I'm going to assume it's only because they have actual blood-related ties to equally appropriate "candidates" rather than the fact that they don't trust me with their kids' safety and/or salvation. Regardless of any official title, I love my Keaghan (not a baby anymore), Jaxen, Meredith, Henry, Edie, Ryan, Anna Lee, Delton, Clare, Jane, Sydney, Eli and Hunter, not to mention our (so not babies) niece and nephews. I love them so much, I'm gonna refill my birth control again!