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Talk for Reyna's Baptism

I'm preparing a talk on the Gift of the Holy Ghost for Reyna's baptism today. I just read the most interesting talk by LeGrand Richards. This is the line that enticed me to read the talk:
To me, the gift of the Holy Ghost is as important to man as sunshine and water are to the plants. You take them away, and the plants would die. You take the Holy Ghost out of this Church, and this Church would not be any different than any other church. And it is manifest in so many ways in the lives and the devotion of the members of the Church.
He tells how the general authorities have left profitable businesses and professions to serve the Lord because of the Holy Ghost.

Some other possible ideas for my talk:

My brothers drove me crazy growing up. I felt that one was too controlling and bossy and another was so gross that he ate with his mouth open! They would spend hours in the bathroom and then make ME late to school or church. I would voice my opinion, and my parents would get mad at ME, can you imagine? Why me, when they were the awful offenders? I found a scripture that may explain why my parents were so adamant that I keep my opinions to myself:

Mosiah 4:14-15
14 And ye will not suffer your children that they go hungry, or naked; neither will ye suffer that they transgress the laws of God, and fight and quarrel one with another, and serve the devil, who is the master of sin, or who is the evil spirit which hath been spoken of by our fathers, he being an enemy to all righteousness.

15 But ye will teach them to walk in the ways of truth and soberness; ye will teach them to love one another, and to serve one another.

I believe that we can feel the spirit in our lives more abundantly as we follow God's commandments and serve and love one another. The Holy Ghost is a comforter, a teacher, a protector and He will guide us if we keep the commandments.

While on our trip to Mexico, Emilia designed her wedding dress - this is the one she wants me to make for her. She specifically asked for puffy sleeves. Isn't it amazing how our daughters want exactly the opposite of what we want? I'm sure I drove my mother crazy specifying that I never wanted any lace on any dress ever. No puffy sleeves. No decoration of any kind. So I guess Emilia makes the perfect granddaughter, huh?

Adrian has graduated to a high chair. He has tried several different solid foods - I think his favorite is banana so far. He is cutting a tooth on top.

Levi loved playing with the pumpkins. He is so loving - he says, "Mommy?" and when I answer, "Yes?" He says, "Te quiero." (I love you.)

Stayin' Alive

Watch Emilia and Levi dance for Justin's birthday.

Español

Yesterday, the neighborhood kids came over while we were outside for a few minutes. I said something in Spanish, and one of them asked Emilia if she speaks Spanish. She said, "Yes."
"So say something," the girl replied. Emilia, being shy, refused in silence. I said, "Emilia, nada mas dile 'no te quiero decir nada' o 'tu no sabes español.' " ("Emilia, just tell them, 'I don't want to say anything,' or 'You don't know Spanish.'") She laughed, and decided that was a good reply.

At work, Julio said some people will ask him for some good curse words in Spanish. He tells them things like "chispas" or "zanahorias" (sparks and carrots). They think they've learned a great curse word, and no one is the wiser.

Mexican Tooth Fiary

Emilia lost her top tooth last night. Why do we say that? Lost? My mom pulled her tooth.
She looks so funny without it, and she sounds a little funny, too. The tooth fairy was a little bit tired last night, I think. She left her a 5-peso piece and a quarter. I think she meant to leave two quarters, but didn't take time to look at what she pulled out of her fairy coin purse in the dark. Emilia was excited anyway. I asked her, "How did the tooth fairy know you are Mexican?" She said, "Maybe because I eat lots of tacos and tostadas."

Bandera

Levi loves to frustrate his sister. Today on the way home from my parents' house, he said, "Que es eso?" (What is that?) to Emilia.

She said, "Es una bandera." (It's a flag.)
Levi, apparently hearing only the first syllable of the last word, said, "pan?" (bread?)
Emilia got a little frustrated at Levi's apparent hearing loss, so she said it louder and accented the syllables. "BAN - DERA."
I could just imagine the wheels turning in Levi's head. He wants to have fun making her frustrated, but he doesn't want to get in trouble. So just one last time he asked, "Pan?"
Emilia practically yelled, "BAN! DER! A!"
Levi responded in a sing-song voice that let me know he knew all along, "O-oh, banDEra."

Yesterday I took the test that will qualify me (or not) to become an IBCLC - Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant. I was humbled by the amount of information we are expected to know, and proud of myself for knowing so much more than I did five years ago when I started this journey. Some of the questions were so basic that no one should be able to pass if they didn't get them right. Others were so difficult I think no IBCLC could possibly have so much memorized! There were 75 multiple choice and 100 multiple choice with accompanying pictures. I think I got about 70% of the answers correct. Unfortunately, I won't find out until the end of October. Look for that post on the 29th! It will either be full of elation or tears... Between now and then, though, I hope there is more elation than tears.

Julio, Dad and the kids are on their way to Monterrey, Mexico, today. They left Puebla this morning, so I am happy to hear that they are getting closer and closer to home. I can't wait to see them!

Last Full Day in Mexico

Yesterday, Dad, Julio, Emilia, and Levi left me in Puebla and went to San Marcos for the Sanchez Family Reunion 2010. There are fourteen Sanchez brothers and sisters, and they all had plenty of children, so I believe there around 200 participants expected. Unfortunately, Julio will have to explain over and over why I am not there!

On Monday I am going to take the exam offered only once a year to become an internationally certified lactation consultant. The test will be given all around the world, including in Mexico, but since the closest one here would require flying to Guadalajara, I am flying out of Mexico City tomorrow and heading home. I will take the test in Lexington, Kentucky. I have been studying the whole vacation (I think it is much easier to study away from home). I have learned so much - things I never knew before - the Innocenti Delcaration, the Bellagio Consensus, how many ounces of milk a baby needs according to weight . . . well, maybe I haven´t quite memorized that yet, but I´ll have it by Monday.

Today I am with Julio´s Dad and his wife. We are going to take a bus to Mexico City, and I will get to visit Mexico´s Temple Square. The Mayan-inspired temple has a visitor´s center next door. I am looking forward to visiting this last tourist stop on my way back to Louisville!

Monday 19 July 2010

These pictures are of the government building in Monterrey, Mexico. We were there on Monday last week, and the kids got a kick out of the picture-taking opportunity inside. They have a museum inside, but it is closed on Mondays! It is free every other day, so go if you can! We spent the week in Monterrey with Julio's mission president, Carlos Merino, and his wife Adriana. On Wednesday we went back to the Megaplaza and rode the boats on the Paseo de Santa Lucia.
Monterrey is a beautiful city, and we had a great time!

Now we are in Puebla, Mexico, home of the best food in the world. Our goal each time we come is to sample all of our favorite foods as often as we can before we go home. Today we are heading downtown to the artisan district, called El Parian, where we will see the famous Talavera Pottery and around the corner sample some of the best memelas in the world. Here are some other attractions in Puebla