ramblings

[ 10 years since the Salt Lake Deaf Ward split ]

Friday we went to the 10 year anniversary dinner to celebrate the creation of two deaf wards in the Salt Lake Valley. It was held at the 1st Ward building, which was built in the late 70s with some special design elements for the deaf. The most notable is that the chapel floor slopes down toward the stand so that people sitting in the back can see the speaker. The sacrament table is located on the left side of the chapel and is oriented at a right angle to the podium. The bishopric seats are likewise oriented at right angles to the podium, only on the right side of the chapel. Bishop Chris Flygare (recently released as bishop of the 1st ward) put together a slide show outlining the history of the Salt Lake Deaf Wards--from humble beginnings as a Sunday School class in the 1920s all the way to the split into 2 wards on Sept. 13, 1998. It was quite fascinating. One of the most interesting facts was that Sister Camilla Kimball (wife of President Spencer W. Kimball) had a deaf sister who was living with her and Pres. Kimball. Pres. Kimball knew enough sign to carry out a basic conversation with his sister-in-law's deaf home teachers. I'm a little fuzzy on the details here but I remember something about how the home teachers talked with Pres. Kimball about the design for the new church building. That was quite interesting to learn!

[ football ]

Just before school started we upgraded our cable package to the standard cable package that includes the mtn.--the channel that broadcasts BYU sports. Steven was quite excited to get that! We decided not to buy tickets to BYU games because (1) none of the home games were THAT exciting (with the exception of UCLA--but more on that later) (2) Baby Swain is coming in the middle of the season. Why spend the money on tickets when I wouldn't feel like going before and wouldn't be able to after? (3) at the time ticket orders were being taken, gas was ridiculously expensive and (4) we decided we didn't want to spend the money on tickets when we could get cable for much less and there are so many other things we could use the money for.

We have enjoyed watching the games on TV. We were quite surprised at the poor showing UCLA had. Final score 59-0 for BYU! Then yesterday, BYU shut out Wyoming again, 44-0. They're off this Saturday and then on Friday the 3rd will play USU. I was glad USU finally won a game and hope to see a few more wins. I watch USU games when I can find them on TV.

Steven has also enjoyed being able to watch other games on ESPN and other cable channels. He is as busy as ever at work and it's a nice way for him to just relax and mentally decompress.

[ sibling excitement ]

Christie and Jordan are talking almost nonstop about the impending arrival of our baby. Christie more than Jordan--she is constantly asking me questions about what will happen when the baby is born, when he/she comes home, etc. She told me today she doesn't care if it's a boy or a girl--she just wants a baby! Jordan is still holding out hope for a brother. We'll find out in less than 20 days!

We've also been having quite a few conversations about what it was like when I was pregnant with Christie and Jordan and when they were babies. For example, when expecting Christie, I had a thing for oranges. I think I ate 3 or 4 every day for as long as I could buy them! With Jordan it was apples. Especially green Granny Smith apples. With this baby, it's grapes. Red or green--doesn't matter. I can eat grapes anytime!

We've also talked about what they were like as babies and things we did with them. One thing that I just think is the cutest is that Steven would sit on the couch with his back against the arm and his knees up and prop the baby up on his lap. I need to find and scan a picture--it is just so cute!!

[ i am not fat--i am pregnant! ]

I'm still finding out that even with 2.5 weeks left till Baby is born, there are still people in the ward who don't know I'm pregnant. I can't figure that out. Yes, it's true that I'm in Primary so I'm not socializing with the Relief Society sisters much, but I have led the sacrament meeting music several times in the last 2 months and I don't see how anyone could possibly miss that I'm pregnant!

Our Primary sacrament meeting program will be held on Oct. 12th. I teach the Deaf Valiant class. There are only two children in the class and they are brother and sister. Because they're Deaf, they're not all that excited about signing the songs for the program. Today I told them that the program would be on 10/12 but I would not be there because my baby would be born on 10/10. So, they needed to be good and sign for the program. Tres (the boy) looked at me and said, "You're pregnant?". I was thinking, "you've been with me for 2 hours each week for the past year and you didn't notice?" That just made me laugh.