All in a Family - Sunday, August 8, 2010

I am amazed that even though I get to bed after midnight, last night being 12:30 due to documenting a P-day of activities, I jump right up when the alarm goes off at 6:00. On a weekday at the office when I keep moving, I don't notice a short night. But, on Sundays when I sit for three hours not understanding the lessons or Sacrament meeting talks, it catches up with me and today I had a hard time staying awake in all three meetings. I hate it when that happens.

It was a beautiful day and we were on schedule for weather like yesterday -- coolish, but warm in the sun and pleasant. At the last minute, however, I never trust the temperature in the church, so I put on my thermals. Rich did the same. He left before me to run off some things in the office and I met him over in the church standing by the wall heater in the hallway. He was teaching Priesthood meeting today, the lesson entitled El pueblo del convenio del Señor or We are a Covenant People. Our Relief Society Lesson was the same, naturally.

After Relief Society, the president grabbed me and asked if I would have my picture taken with the presidency. Of course! I'd be honored. Good thing I had the camera in my purse. That usually never happens. Two shots were taken with Hermanas Fuenzalida, Aguirre, Kroff, Aguirre, and Florentin. In both pictures, Sister Fuenzalida was looking away from the camera with an outstretched arm. Not quite sure what she was looking at or reaching for. I selected the best pose.

The scarf around my neck was worn today for another reason than being cold. Argentines are BIG on scarf wearing. There is an abundance of them sold in stores, Artisan Fairs, and street corners. I have never seen anything like it. Some are light weight and decorative to add a flare of style to the outfit, but most are for warmth, and outside on cold days they are pulled up over the mouth and nose. One Sunday a few weeks ago, I admired the scarf that Hermana Ana Caycho was wearing. She was a member of our Temple Preparation class. When Sacrament meeting was over, she came up to me and put the scarf around my neck giving it to me and told me to think of her everytime I wore it. How thoughtful and sweet.

Although I am not a scarf wearer as I prefer things not hugging my neck, I decided to select something to wear today that would accommodate her scarf to let her know of my appreciation for the gift and kind gesture. She beamed when she saw I was wearing it and told me I look just beautiful.

As the morning went on, I became chilled to the bone. The heat was not on in the cultural hall where we attended the Gospel Principles class, and the chapel was cold today too. All week there have been workers relocating the door to the outside by the sacrament table. They chisled out the brick and mortar making a new opening to fit the door. Then they rebuilt and bricked in the space where the door used to be located. Having done this there was a big hole in the ceiling which was not yet covered. We were sure all the heat from the chapel was going directed up into the rafters. I was so cold, even with thermals and a nice scarf around my neck (which did feel good) that I had to retrieve my coat from the office to wear during Sacrament meeting. I wish I would have had a blanket over my legs. However, that still did not keep me from nodding off.

Elisa Gauna spoke in Sacrament Meeting today and this is her last Sunday with us in the branch. She is moving to an apartment where she and Nicolas will live when they marry in December in the temple in Uruguay. Elisa was in the Temple Prep class on Sundays and Nicolas received the same lesson on Wednesday evenings when Elder Kroff would meet with them one on one. They are a cute couple and we wish them well. Too bad we won't be here for their wedding.

In talking with Elisa and Nicolas, Sofia was standing by joining in the conversation. She is a cute gal and is the Sacrament meeting pianist using chords and the simplified version of the hymns. She does well. She made the comment that she was happy Elisa was moving because she would now get to move into her bedroom. What???? You two are sisters?? We had NO idea. THEN . .

we learned that all of these ladies are in the same family. Sofia, Maria, Daniela and Elisa all belong to Sister Cuevas. She is the choir director, and leads the music in Relief Society and I knew she was the mother of the two younger children, but had no idea whatsoever that she was the mother to Elisa and Sofia. Her last name is no longer Guana as she is remarried. We don't know what happened to the father of the girls. Maybe I should have asked if there were any brothers. I was so totally surprised and they thought it was comical. But how would we know? Sometimes the older girls don't sit with the family and the names are different, and I never knew Sofia's last name anyway. It is hard to put people together. What a revelation today!

We loved our Sunday dinner of a pork chop, potatoes, asparagus, and tossed salad. It is one of our favorites. Next came a two hour nap and while I worked on this entry, Rich made some chocolate pudding. It is only 7:45 and the evenings still young.