The Debut of "The Baird Family and Friends"

By divine intervention our family was asked to be an act at Homecomers, 

our city's yearly celebration.

The lady who was in charge of "gospel night" heard us sing "Come Thou Fount" 

at Bessie's funeral in June.

(We went to church with Bessie.  She died of cancer.)

At first we said "no" because we only knew one song and were supposed to take up 30 or more minutes, and the girls were going to be at Trek and Efy and we were supposed to leave on a canoe trip the day of Homecomers. . . 

. . . but then both Jeremy and I felt we were being given an opportunity to begin to change the, often negative, perspective on Mormons that is prevalent in this southeast corner of Missouri.

Being pretty much unfamiliar with gospel music, we researched, picked, and learned a whole program in a week with the 5 youngest.  

When Jaycie and Benny got home from Efy, we had to practice every night at 10 p.m. because Jeremy worked every day until the performance.

All the above pics are at the sound check a couple of hours before showtime.

We were all pretty nervous, but more and more of our friends kept showing up to support us. . .

neighbors, new friends, friends from Jeremy's work, and members of our Stake.  

It was very comforting to look out there at all those friendly faces.

It was humid and sweltering as we waited backstage.

We waited and waited.

It was torture to think we were next and then a raffle or something else would go on.

But, finally, the moment came.

"Come Thou Fount" was our opener - Jeremy played the guitar and Jaycie soloed on the violin.

Then came "Amazing Grace", "Down in the River", and an old English hymn you may recognize "If you could hie to Kolob."  That was my favorite.  It was rockin' with Caden on the drum.  Jeremy created an awesome arrangement.

We dedicated "There is a reason" to Bessie and Jack and bore testimony of our Savior who heals all our hurts.  (Wendy didn't know what she gave us permission to do when she said it was an open mic and she knew we had a strong faith and we had permission to "testify" all we wanted.)

We invited Bro. Tucker (Bessie's husband), the Snipes, and the Sister missionaries up to help us sing "How Great Thou Art" and then we ended with "When we all get to heaven."

Jeremy made this whole thing possible.  He accompanied all the songs on his guitar.  

Looks like all the practicing he's been doing the past few years paid off.

Afterwards, we hung out with friends. . . 

(Savannah and Sarah)

rode some rides. . .

(KD and I are demonstrating that girls let their emotions show much more than guys - see above pic of Hyrum and Timo.)

and, of course, had some funnel cake.

It was a night to remember.

(Sis. Lundskog even felt ok about not being able to go the Cardinals game.)