What do you hear in the temple?

I wonder what it would be like to not be able to hear - anything. At all. I'm deaf sometimes, but I still have my hearing.
Yesterday our branch went to the Houston temple. The youth were there to do baptisms and our RS had a scheduled trip. 32 of our members were present in the temple yesterday and I counted work done for 54 plus family names either in the baptistry or initiatory and perhaps more in endowments and sealings.
I was blessed to help participate in the bapistry as 2 of my unendowed sisters and the youth did baptisms. One of those sisters is in her 70's and deaf. She was disappointed to not get to do many more baptisms. It was her first time to the temple ever. I had to explain the time constraints and limit of how many each person was able to do. She's been a member for much of her adult life, but was inactive for many years. Perhaps because of her disability she misunderstood. She thought she could only do baptisms for the dead one time. Imagine her surprise when I told her that wasn't true. She could go as many times as she wants - as long as the bapistry is open of course. She didn't know this.
Then came the second obstacle - surely something to do with her disability as well. We didn't have her records. She couldn't get her recommend. Last Sunday they came at the end of church. Just hers. Not her husband's, not her son's, not her sister-in-laws. Just hers. How thrilled she was that she would be able to go on our trip after all. She was beaming all the way there.
The spirit was quite amazing as she silently waited to be dunked again, and again. What faith. To not hear what is being pronounced, but knowing that it's important. I tried to interpret for her, but the prayer was going too fast for me. I managed to get her an amen so she knew the dunk was coming, but that's all I could really do. I wonder what she heard. Surely in her world something of significance was going on.
Her story is wonderful. She was first baptized when she was married to her first husband because he was a member. I don't think she really knew the gospel. She went inactive sometime before or after her divorce. She remarried and her sister -in- law taught her the gospel. She began a search for the "true" church. At last she found it. She asked to be baptized. She was a bit disappointed to discover she was already a member and couldn't be baptized again. She needed only to repent. Now she knows it's true. She said, "I will never leave the church. I know it's true. I felt the Holy Ghost in me."
What a privilege it has been to get to know this sister and learn how to communicate with her and her family. They have taught me a lot. As I've been diligent in practicing, my skills have improved and been magnified beyond my own abilities. What a blessing to have them in our branch. I have a vision. I envision our entire branch rallying around to learn ASL to fellowship this family and bring them into our branch family. What a great opportunity. I hope to see a few more faces at our home Tuesday night at 7pm to learn some ASL.

Hay que noche tan preciosa

We celebrated Jhonny's birthday here at home after much deliberations on what to do Sunday after our branch campout. I meant to make a cake and take it to the campout with us so all could sing, but I was a bit overwhelmed helping Jhonny apply for jobs and taking a break from that to pack that I forgot until we got home Saturday evening - exhausted. That's when I remembered - Ahhh! Jhonny's birthday tomorrow! I was going to make a lasagna ahead and a cake and sing at the campout and nothing had happened. I got up from my exhausted state and got started on that lasagna. I asked if Jhonny wanted to go to Houston or stay home. He said he didn't care. I made hasty arrangements to leave after church the next day. But the exhaustion of the weekend set in and packing didn't happen by the time I got home late on Sunday from meetings. In a sigh of defeat, we decided to stay home. I called Jhonny's buddy and invited his family to come over for dinner. Even though it was last minute, they obliged. What trooper friends! We really enjoyed their company even though they couldn't stay long because no sooner had we sat down to eat that they got called in to work. The best was having a true Venezuelan help sing the traditional LONG birthday song - hay que noche tan preciosa. Feliz Cumpleaños honey!

Last week of school

We've enjoyed having Kaitlyn over a few hours three times a week. Yesterday was her last day for the school year. Her parents are teachers, so they are done. I think Katelyn has been Lily's life saver. I don't know what she would have done at home all year without Kaitlyn to keep her company and decorate the playroom daily. She guaranteed that we used our toys, jumped on the trampoline, ate our snacks, played in the sandbox, and ultimately taught Lily how to share her toys and play with friends. Thanks for staying with us, Kaitlyn!

Take a picture of me, Mom!

We have a scrolling screen saver of all the photos saved on the computer. Instead of watching Dora as usual, Lily was paying more attention to the pictures on the screen. Suddenly she says, "Mom, take a picture of me for the computer!" I asked her why and she said, "Because Jessica has more pictures than me." I asked her how she would take a picture for the computer and she struck this pose.

Yesterday on the way to Story time Lily asks, "Mom how do we go this way every day?" She continued to repeat the question though I had no idea what her question meant or how to answer it. Finally I said, "Lily do you just talk because you like the sound of your own voice?" She replied, "Yes, I do." Pause. "LAAaaaaaa!"

For those who don't know my little wonder, she likes to give a running commentary on everything she thinks, sees, does, and feels throughout the day. I.E. "Mom, I see a bird. I see a tree. I had to say goodbye to my tree. I'm hungary. That was delicious. I love going to the campfire. This is the best campfire, EVER in my whole life! I found a story. We're walking to the library. I got in the car. This is where I sit in the car. There's my school! It's so beautiful! That school has beautiful toys. There's Emily's house. I want to play with Emily, Mom. When can we play with Emily. I dreamed about you, Mom."

Family Fun Days

Chocolate Lovers Unite!

Daddy Bus

'Nana Yahoo!

Jess and the Crowe's Nest

A few weeks ago, I joined Jessica and her 1st grade classmates for a tour of Crowe's Nest Farm. We were proudly the first in the group to explore Faerie Wood.

Lily Lady

Lil Lady in shades with her "Meagkan" (blanket)

C'mon I'm three.

I just fed the cat!

Birthday Review - 2 thumbs up!