The other day, my niece called and asked me to ride uptown with her.

We use to do this every Saturday morning, but with our lifestyles changing, we sort of got out of the habit of doing it.

She said, remember when we use to do this all the time; I replied yes.

Then, out of the blue, she told me, &uot;Lynn, I think I’m gonna get saved." I asked her was she sure, and she said yes. She said she had talked it over with her oldest son, and he approved.

Then she asked me one day last week would I come to her baptismal and I told her that I didn’t know. But on Saturday evening, I decided that I would.

So on Sunday, August 28, 2005, I had the opportunity to visit Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in Ahoskie. My niece, Carnissa &uot;Cricket&uot; was the one being baptized there. She decided to give her life to the Lord. I was glad of this because in a lot of ways, she also feels like my daughter.

So the family, my daughter, my granddaughter, my sister (Cricket’s mom), two nieces, Cricket’s two sons, and two friends of her son, attended the baptismal. When the Rev. Moody laid her back in the water, her son, who is six, wanted Rev. Moody to do it again. We laughed.

When I left home this morning, my mind was on so many things, but when I left Calvary my mind seemed to be at ease. I want to let you know I felt welcomed. I heard cousin Ralph Vann say there are some Vann’s here this morning; there’s one there, and one there.

August reminds me of so many things in my life; my mom and brother’s birthday, and nephew’s birthday as well. August also brings the memory of my wedding anniversary, which was Friday (August 26).

But this year brings back some other memories as it’s the first year that I will spend it alone, for my husband passed on September 1, 2004.

As I sat and listened to the sermon on Sunday morning while having all things on my mind over the weekend, it really felt good to be sitting in the congregation and listening to the Rev. Jerryl Moody preach. He did a wonderful sermon and I also want to say the choir did a beautiful job. At one point I was sitting with tears in my eyes. I want to say thank you Calvary Baptist for you lifted me up.

I can say that I will probably return again, if it’s ok.

I also want to say thank you, Cricket; for if not for you, I would have been home, thinking of all the sorrowful things on my mind.

Thank you Brenda for what you did as well. If you are ever down, stop by Calvary Baptist and let the Rev. J. Moody and the church choir lift your spirits.