Xander's Blessing

Honestly I didn't think this was going to happen.  At first we had a hard time getting the two bishops to chat, then we couldn't find a date/time that worked with most, then people got covid and we would be leaving Utah before we could have them retested....and so on.  Thankfully there was a massive snow storm in the east and our flight was canceled four time - which, great for us, we were able to make the blessing work last minute!  I was absolutely thrilled.  Bonus?  We got to have family there with us!  Papa, Grandma, Amy, Megan, Shelley and kids came to support us.  Xander was blessed by Christopher, Papa, and the Alpine bishopric member Bro. Zippy.  Christopher, as always, gave Xander a beautiful blessing where he spoke lots about his name and the symbolism of it.

Grandma does it again.  This incredible lady made Xander's blessing outfit in just a day or two.  I don't know how she does everything she does!  I'm convinced she never sleeps.  How special that his outfit was made by his Grandma!

Xander Bankz Baby Blessing

January 8, 2022

Our dear Father in Heaven, we lay our hands upon this baby today to give him a name and a blessing.  And the name that he will be known on the records of the church and throughout his life is Xander Bankz Erickson.

Xander, you come into this world with a great legacy on you already.  With a great example of grandparents, and great grandparents, parents, sibling, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Who love you and have shown you so much love and attention in your life.  And all of that is very much indicated by your name.  For your name means to be a protector of the people.  And your middle name is made from the first initials of all your siblings.  

We bless you that you will be very close to your siblings.  That not only will you be a protector to them, but that they will also be a protector of you in this life.  To bind our family together.  For you are the last child in this family.  The binding glue and the cap stone.  And you have completed us. 

And so we bless you that you will also have the pow3r to bring completion to the life of others as you influence and interact with them.  That you might be inspired by the Spirit to help those around you find peace and closure in their lives.  That they might look to you to feel the spirit to feel calmness and get guidance and that you might be inspired in those moments to give the proper counsel. 

And to throughout your life to bind people together so that they might be protected, for when people come together in a group and work together for a common purpose that is the greatest protection they can have.  We bless you that the happiness and contentment and the joy that you have existed throughout your early months might also be a defining personality trait throughout your life. That you might find happiness and joy in all situations that even in your darkest moments you might be able to see both sides.  And to find hope and happiness and then to also share that happiness.

We bless you to bring peace and happiness to your mother and to your father and also all your siblings and that you might draw such from them also.