Querido Familia y Amigos:
The name of this blog is "How Can I Keep From Singing?" With that in mind, we'll start this week's post with one of my very favourite songs.
The name of this blog is "How Can I Keep From Singing?" With that in mind, we'll start this week's post with one of my very favourite songs.
Last Sunday night we spent dinner with the Estrada family. These are people we met in 2000 on a Choice expedition. Crista is on the far right with her husband Klaus. She was 12 at the time of our expedition, and has a gift for remembering names and faces. She recognised Dad in the temple. You've received Dad's message about the evening. It was inspiring to watch him talk the whole time in Spanish.
Marvin, Yasmin (Luis' wife), Luis (son), Anisa (daughter), AnnaBella (Marvin's wife), me, Dad, Klaus, Crista.
Dad and I went to see Elder Gardner at the hospital. Dad and Elder Allred have been there several times in their walks. This was my first time and I was shocked. He's doing better, meaning although he's still in ICU, he's sitting up and can sometimes respond to a question. He looks awful. On the good side, he's alive after a stroke, a nasty fall on a hard tile floor and massive head surgery. On the less optimistic side, he has a long road ahead to regain himself. Moral: don't fall and hit your head!
During the same time at the hospital, I visited with the doctor who's been treating me. It's been a month since I started his medications and things are better in many ways.
From my photo archives, on the left is a picture of the Love family. They are in our local barrio (ward) and I wrote about them last fall. Brother Love talked Sunday in English about fasting. He had a translator at his side, so the Spanish portion of the audience understood as well. On the right is Sister Burk, Becca's mother, photo taken when we visited the area map in January.
Dad and I went to see Elder Gardner at the hospital. Dad and Elder Allred have been there several times in their walks. This was my first time and I was shocked. He's doing better, meaning although he's still in ICU, he's sitting up and can sometimes respond to a question. He looks awful. On the good side, he's alive after a stroke, a nasty fall on a hard tile floor and massive head surgery. On the less optimistic side, he has a long road ahead to regain himself. Moral: don't fall and hit your head!
During the same time at the hospital, I visited with the doctor who's been treating me. It's been a month since I started his medications and things are better in many ways.
From my photo archives, on the left is a picture of the Love family. They are in our local barrio (ward) and I wrote about them last fall. Brother Love talked Sunday in English about fasting. He had a translator at his side, so the Spanish portion of the audience understood as well. On the right is Sister Burk, Becca's mother, photo taken when we visited the area map in January.
New story: Adventures of an Organ Mouse This story starts in heaven, with an obnoxious organist, St. Peter and a disgruntled mouse. I seem to be writing about characters with "attitudes" lately. (The third book of the goblin series - also in progress - has a terrifying crow show up to demand that Stride's newly hatched dragons be handed over to him for training. Humble Aram gets a backbone when it comes to his foster son Stride and says "No way!") |
Odd to say, but I haven't had a haircut since the first part of November. I had this idea that I would grow my hair out long again, for the first time since I was in 8th grade. Then warm sticky weather hit and that was the end of my patience. I'm shorn, and I really like the salon I went to. The beauticians give wonderful head-rubs along with cuts.
Delightful calling: I'm now playing for the Primary, which is a blast! First, it's in English! WAHOO!!!
Second, Sister Barney's daughter-in-law asked me and she's very fun and complicated to keep up with.
Third, the president is a wild lady with crazy hair. Turned out she's the wife of an embassy employee and has three delightful and beautiful daughters. This is far more fun than puzzling out the dozen or so words I actually follow in Spanish Relief Society.
Delightful calling: I'm now playing for the Primary, which is a blast! First, it's in English! WAHOO!!!
Second, Sister Barney's daughter-in-law asked me and she's very fun and complicated to keep up with.
Third, the president is a wild lady with crazy hair. Turned out she's the wife of an embassy employee and has three delightful and beautiful daughters. This is far more fun than puzzling out the dozen or so words I actually follow in Spanish Relief Society.
Art update: Steve had an opening last Saturday night. He had put Jed on a plane for Vancouver earlier in the day. I'm jealous on both counts! The photos on the shirts are of Steve's great aunt and her friend. Steve's family credits the aunt with teaching his mother she didn't have to continue to farm. Now she does maple syrup. Doesn't that sound like a grand adventure? Family update: Shades of the past: Cole is now doing home-school. Do you older ones remember when Shawn (Cole's father) did home-school between second and third grades? Hats off to Becca! I'm glad she's a seasoned teacher. I found trying to do home-school with the other little ones around quite a challenge. That's the latest. See you next week for tales from Dad's FHE yesterday: Guatemala temple missionaries' favourite books. Becca's father, el presidente, will surprise you. Love to all, Hermana Brubaker Missionary Mom |