Listen to ShannonPerezs Playlist

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."