Beauty of Language in the Church

My husband and I are looking to improve our ability to communicate by learning American Sign Language (ASL). To begin our academic search, I went to our Bishop. I came back with wonderful results. He told me that there is a local ward with a group who is deaf and/or hard of hearing. Well, I took me two weeks, but I finally attended this ward today.

I have been extremely blessed to travel to some interesting places and while I was at these places, I would attend the local ward or branch of the Church. These opportunities have given me a testimony of the universality of the Gospel. Even when I attended in places where I did not know the language, the spirit was was so strong and so true. I could feel the Holy Ghost testifying to me that I didn't have to understand every word to know that what was spoken was true. Today was like that. This small group of people were so sweet and so gentle and the Spirit was so strong that I was tearing up about every five minutes as the Spirit touched my heart. I was not left completely in the dark in understanding what was being said. Two of the sisters in the ward functioned as translators and verbalized the things that were signed.

My favorite part of the meetings was the singing. I loved watching the way everyone expressed the words in their own way. Something else that was different was that we would sing all verses of any given song. One of the song we sang was "How Firm a Foundation". I just fell in love with the sixth verse:
 “E'en down to old age, all my people shall prove
My sov'reign eternal, unchangeable love;
And then, when grey hairs shall their temples adorn,
Like lambs they shall still in my bosom be borne."

I had the opportunity between meetings and after church to speak with several of the members. Just about everyone expressed a desire to help us learn ASL, which made me just so happy! I also received my first ASL lesson today. This was on how you construct a sentence. I was given a wonderful analogy to understand this. When using ASL you are really drawing a picture with your hands. Now say you see a monkey in a tree. When speaking we would say, "There's a monkey in the tree." In ASL however, just like in a painting, you start with the tree. You would then show the monkey and express that he's in the tree. This is such a great way for me to understand the sentence structure and I will never forget it.

~If you would like to learn more about the ASL services available in the Church you can visit asl.lds.org. Here you can find church manuals, hymns, children's songs, and Church messages available in ASL.

Here is a music video in ASL with a wonderful message:

Easter

Easter was two weekends ago. I think it was the best Easter I have celebrated in a while. Never under estimate the power of seeing people you love. I have not spent time with my side of the family since Christmas 2011 save a few times this year when I have seen my brother now that he is going to college in a nearby town.

I tend to be one of those people who "suffer in silence." Evidence of this is how long it took me to publicly speak about my change at work. Well something else that I have been having a hard time with is having no family close to me. Now this is not entirely true as one of Robert's cousins, her husband, and now by brother leave a few towns over all attending the same college. Some of Robert's siblings also live about four hours away in another state. Everyone else lives day's drive or more away. With all of the changes that I have had in my life, I have found it hard to not have people to sit and talk to. A phone call can be a wonderful thing. Letters and postcards help me feel special, but nothing beats sitting down and hugging the people you love and seeing all the changes that have gone in their lives.

One amazing change they I was privileged to see was in my mom. She has lost over forty pounds and is so beautiful! My mom has always been beautiful, but it is truly inspirational to see the way she has chosen to improve their life and health. She helped to have the courage to do the same. She did this by showing me the website SparkPeople. This is similar to the online Weight Watchers materials save that this one is free. Part of the sign-up process was to choose goals for myself to help accomplish my weightloss plans. The goals I made were: Eat a healthy breakfast,  Exercise for 10 minutes each day,  Tell one person about your goals. Well, I'm telling all of you to accomplish my final goal.


Seeing my family was just so wonderful! I wish I lived closer to people so that I could spend more time with loved ones. Those of you who live close to family, don't take it for granted. A phone call is nothing compared to a physical hug. No matter how old you are, you just can't do better than that. Tell you what. This next week, take the time to hug all of the family that you can, you won't regret it!

Friendship

I know that it will sound pathetic, but since we moved last year I feel like I don't have a lot of friends. I know that we are less than an hour away from where we lived before, but I just feel so far away. We have to keep a very close eye on our gas tank because of our budget and I just don't feel like I can really make the trip and impose on them if it ends up being a bad time at the last minute. There have been times when I went to visit and things got cut short for one reason or another. I also feel like I'm out of the way for them to come visit me, so it ends up that we hardly ever visit.

I love the ward that we live in, but I have never been very good at making friends. Generally, I either click with someone right away or not and that's the end of it. The problem is, I never seem to give myself the chance to find out. I always get to the Relief Society room before too many people are there and so try to sit somewhere open and put as much of an inviting vibe as I can, but still the seats around me end up being empty. One Sunday I made a flying crane for a woman's little girl with the child loved and the woman played with her and occationally the little girl would bring the crane to me and I would make the wings flap a few times before she wanted it back. I hoped the mother and I might be able to talk a little after the lesson, but she just gathered her things, her daughter and left. I talk with R.S. first concelor quite often, and enjoy our conversations, but we have never been able to talk outside of Church which I really want.

So World, now that you have heard my lonely thoughts, help me to find in myself ability to reach out to others and make friends.

Falling and Being Caught

I have had a lot of changes in my life and I have not been very good at sharing that with others. Good things happen to us, but there is opposition in all things and lately I had felt that and I just was not ready to share my experiences. I'm still having a hard time with it, but I cannot deny that it is time to share.

This past December, just before Christmas, I experienced extremely intense pain when sitting down. It was so horrible that any movement what so ever caused me to begin to cry. I then discovered that I was bleeding in the area where the pain was concentrated. I went to the doctor and discovered that I had a pilonidal cyst. I was told that once the infection was brought down, I would have to have surgery. I was able to continue with the plans that my husband and I had for Christmas and New Year's with a few adjustments to how I took care of myself.

After school started up again, it was found that my infection was still there and I was put on medication with the surgery postponed. In the first full week of February I had my surgery. I was told to take one to two weeks to recover depending on how I was healing. It was found that I needed the second week.

On Tuesday or Wednesday of the second week, my principal called to say that the superintendent and she wanted to meet with me to discuss some concerns. The meeting was set for Friday and I contacted a union representative to join me. Without going into too much detail of the meeting, I was informed that the superintendent and principal felt that I was not working to their expectations and it would be best for me and my students for me to be removed from my classroom and allow someone else to teach. I was given three options and, after talking with my union rep, selected that option with turned out to work in the best interest of all. I didn't want to leave. I feel that I was not given the proper support by my superiors and the environment became toxic for me which is why it was best that I choose to leave. I am still working for the district as a sort of clerical worker by cataloging the documents of the music department.

The job I was given is a very lonely one. I sit by myself in a building with infrequent human interaction. I have spent that time listening to audiobooks as I work.

I had a lot of difficulty coming to terms with all of these changes. Sadness overwhelmed me, but in my darkest hour, Heavenly Father reminded me of my responsibilities. He helped me to change my heart. I returned to doing those things that I should. As I began reading my scriptures and regularly attending the Temple, I found that I am not as alone as I felt. My thoughts stopped continually drifting to the school I worked at and I found my joy again.

All of this is still hard for me to talk about, but I know that the next step of my healing is to talk about it. Thank you for listening. It means more than you know.

Reflection of My Wedding Day

Three weeks ago today was a precious day I will always hold in my heart. On 31 July 2010, I married Robert Allen Seymour in the Oakland Temple, a House of the Lord, for time and all eternity.

So much of the day felt like a whirlwind, but I will never forget the feelings shared with friends and family. There were laughs and tears, smiles and hugs, let’s not forget all of the joy and happiness that came with the event.

The first bit of laughter of the day came with entering the Temple. We’re not quite sure what happened, but for some reason my recommend was not working. After about ten minutes of calls and Temple workers telling me that everything will be okay, the first councilor of my stake presidency was able to validate my recommend.

Upon exiting the Temple, we were surrounded by so many well-wishers. So many pictures were taken! I do have a few to share. I will share more when I receive those taken by our fantastic photographer.

Robert and I as we exit the Temple

Standing outside the Temple with Mom

Robert and I posed with all of our nieces and nephew

After our sealing ceremony and taking so many wonderful pictures that I look forward to seeing, we had a wonderful luncheon hosted by Robert’s parents. The food was just delicious!

The final event of the evening was our reception. We had a receiving line for the first hour and half where we greeted and visited with loved ones, many of which we had not seen for quite some time. I also loved meeting new people from both sides.

Following the line, there was a surprise special presentation run by my dad. A couple years ago I expressed the desire for Dad to sing at my wedding, but whenever I mentioned it, he said that there was no way he would ever able to be make it through a song, that it would be just too emotional for him.

It turns out that he found his own little way around that. The week before the wedding, my dad, with the help of a family friend, recorded himself singing “Over the Rainbow” and we danced together as it played.

Robert and I then danced together to the song “Candle on the Water” from the movie “Pete’s Dragon”. It was so wonderful to dance a first dance with my husband. I loved watching him as we slowly turned around the dance floor.

Our dance was followed by cutting the cake. We took a lot of pictures with the cake before cutting it. It was such a beautiful cake! Mom baked it and then a great family friend, Tatton Blackner decorated it. We had an abalone shell as part of the cake topper. I just loved it!

We then did the traditional throwing of the bouquet and garter. It was so much fun! I pretended to throw my real bouquet a couple of times for pictures. It was great to see everyone preparing to catch it! We then got the throw away bouquet and I tossed it. Who caught it? My Aunt Lori! She later told me that she has caught the bouquet at just about every reception she has been to. A little later she did give the bouquet to my new cousin Shelby who was also a bride’s maid.

The garter throwing was another fun adventure. After Robert removed it, it took two flings, the first being too short, before someone was able to catch it. The catcher: Tatton Blackner!

After all this, it was time to relax and visit with all who came. One of my favorite little visitors was Melissa McLean. Visiting from Southern California with her parents, she was a barrel of laughs the night before the wedding and a sweet smile throughout the day of our wedding. Her favorite thing was to hold my bouquet. I just loved spending time with her. I wish we could spend time together more often.

This is a day that I will never forget. The joy, love and gratitude in my heart for all of my friends and family with all of their support no matter the distance have been absolutely wonderful! I look forward to the years to come. Robert and I have moved to Rexburg to begin our lives together. The apartment is still not quite put together, but I can feel love in every corner of it.

Robert's Spring Break

Robert is on the Winter - Spring track at BYU-Idaho. Between the semesters this year he came and stayed with my family and me.

We were able to do several things. One thing in particular was that from Friday to Sunday we visited is sister and brother-in-law in Napa.

Friday morning we drove to Oakland and participated in baptisms for the dead. Afterwards we drove to Napa where we had dinner with Robert's old boss and then a quiet evening of visiting with his family.

On Saturday, we went to a park together. It was so much fun! I took several pictures and videos while we were there. ^^

This looked like a fun swing.

They're climbing the castle!

It's an interesting bird feeder don't you think?

They didn't have sand here. Instead it was bark,

but that doesn't stop anyone from playing with it. ^^

They had a small climbing wall here.

Too bad that this is as high as a person can climb. ^^

We also took some videos while at the park. I posted them to my YouTube account if you want to see them. ^^ http://www.youtube.com/user/LiessaSchwarz#p/u

On Sunday, we had some fun playing around before the drive back home. I took a video of some of the fun. ^^ This is also on YouTube, but as it's my favorite, I wanted to post it here too. If you listen carefully, towards the end of the video, Lincoln snorts with his laughter. So cute! Enjoy!

Graduation Weekend

This weekend I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Earth Science Education. It was a whirlwind of a weekend! So much happened so fast and every moment of it was a wonderful treasure I will always hold in my heart!

There were things that had to be done before I even came up to Rexburg this weekend. Robert helped me by going to the grad fest to pick up my cap and gown along with a few other things that they had to offer there.

I also had to call the ticket office twice in order to have tickets set aside for the graduation banquet and then again for the Commencement. During the setting aside of Commencement tickets I found out that they were giving out three for it rather then two as I had originally thought it would so I had need to get one more ticket since I had four people there and I did not want anyone to sit by themselves.

Dad, Mom, my Nana, and I drove to Idaho Falls, Idaho on Thursday leaving at 3 AM and arriving just around 5:30 PM. After dinner, Robert came to the hotel to work on something seeing as electricity went out in Rexburg but not in Idaho Falls. ^^

Friday was quite the undertaking as well. Mom and Dad dropped Nana and I off at the Kimball building and then they went to the Rexburg Temple. At the Kimball, Nana and I picked up the tickets for the banquet and Commencement. Almost hit a snag with the banquet ones... They couldn't find them at first because they were put under my dad's name and our last name was misspelled on the envelope. Once that got straightened out, Nana went the Romney and I was able to visit some of the people in the Geology Department. It was so wonderful to talk with Dr. Moore, Brother Ben, Sister Mitchell, and Sister Nielson! I really missed working with them in the department and talking with them as often as I had when I was up in Rexburg. After the visit and the sweet conversations, Nana and I went to the Hart building where I had to stand in line to get one more Commencement ticket. I'm really glad that I was able to find somewhere for Nana to sit while I stood in line. It was quite the wait, but most definitely worth it! I was towards the front of the line and was able to easily get the one ticket I needed. ^^ It was then off to lunch and then we met back up with mom and dad and we headed back to the hotel to change for the Graduation Banquet Dinner. Robert met us at MC where the banquet was being held at. Dinner was so delicious! Chicken fried steak, rice pilaf, salad, a wonderful fruit tart for desert, and an after dinner mint of a chocolate mint truffle. The President of the college, Kim B. Clark, spoke to us at the end of the dinner speaking to us of the importance of acknowledging the help that others have given to you in life and to never take that help for granted. It was very touching. After this, Nana presented me with me graduation present from her, a class ring that we picked out together at a jewelry store. It has an oval tourmaline, with to small diamonds on either side set into a white gold band and is engraved with, "09 BS <3 Nana." It is really very beautiful and I will post a picture of it with the other pictures taken during the weekend once I get them from my dad.

Saturday had an early start and a late finish that was worth every single moment. I was at the Hart to line up for Commencement at 8 AM. We began walking in around 8:45 to be seated in the large gym were the ceremony was taking place. The path we walked was lined up with teachers from all over campus. In the line I saw my first Book of Mormon teacher, Brother Kumferman, my first Bishop on campus, Bishop Hammond, one of the members of a stake presidency, whose name I'm afraid I don't remember at this time, and two teachers of the geology department, Brother Lovell, and Brother Ben. It was such a wonderful feeling to see all these people who have supported the students on campus over the years and their final vote of confidence in us as we took our final steps in this part of our education. After we took our places standing in front of our chairs, those teachers, along with Elder Richard G. Scott came and took their places either on the stage, or in the seats behind us. It was difficult for me to hold back tears during the ceremony, especially when they had us, the graduates, stand and show our appreciation with applause to our family and loved ones in the audience. As I faced Mom, Dad, Nana, and Robert I could barely clap for all the tears running down my cheeks obscuring my view of them along with everyone else. Afterwards we heard from President Clark and then from Elder Scott. All I can truly say of what the spoke that day was that the pearls they shared with us I will keep with me always and often look back on them when I seek guidance in the future. Convocation felt very much the like Commencement to me in that I was crying for so much of it. I stood with my fellow graduates of the department as we walked in together and I also saw friends from other departments that were in the same college as me. While waiting to walk into the Taylor Chapel, where my Convocation was held, I found out from the others that Elder Scott was attending our Convocation, speaking to us, and was the one who would be giving us our diploma covers. It brought butterflies to my stomach! I had never been this close to an Apostle of the Lord. His sweet spirit and the words that he shared with us are things I will never forget. Pearls of wisdom to be remembered and looked back to for years to come. I felt so honored when I shook his hand and then President Clark’s who accompanied Elder Scott to our Convocation. After wards, my family, Robert, and I took pictures with me holding my diploma cover. As we finished up, Elder Scott and President Clark left the stage by where we were. There was the most adorable little boy who shook President Clark’s hand, but seemed to be too scared to shake Elder Scott’s. Elder Scott said that after shaking President Clark’s hand, who would want to shake hands with a scary, old man like him? That made us all laugh! He has such a sweet and touch spirit. I had the wonderful privilege of introducing him to Nana, and they had a short, but very sweet talk. It is something I will never forget. I know that I have said that a lot in this note, but it is true every time it is written. This weekend was a wondrous blessing that I am so grateful to have received! After the ceremonies, the five of us went to the movies and saw The Princess and the Frog. A touching movie that I highly recommend to all! We then went to the Olive Garden for dinner and back to the hotel where Robert and I spent some time together, just the two of us before he returned to Rexburg and I had to go to bed to get ready for the return trip home.

Today was spent driving. Surprise, surprise. ^^

It really was a great weekend. Something I will treasure all the days of my life! I want to thank you all for your love and support that I have received from you all my life. Every single one of you have helped me to get to where I am now, and I will always be grateful to you for that. I love you all. Thank you!