Alleluia, Alleluia!

What a wonderful day and wonderful week!  Aaron is doing so well.  He's enjoyed a lot of floor time lately, and that makes it so much easier to get in close and play.  The other night, Michael came in and wanted to take care of him.  They both ended up falling asleep on the floor.  Mini-slumber party anyone?

A couple days ago, Grampa Brown was playing with him on the floor.  Grampa would get Aaron's attention, and then tap his own hand against his own leg.  Aaron would watch and then copy!  This is huge!  To have conscious copying of gross motor skills is a big step.  We've thought on several occasions that he might be copying facial features, and even sometimes head shaking, but we've never been sure.  This was so fun to watch.

Mary moved out this week.  We all really miss her.  I tried to get some pictures of she and Aaron before she left, but he'd stayed up too late partying the night before -- 4 a.m.!  So waking up was just not on his agenda.  Mary has been so wonderful to play with and help with Aaron.  He can't really express it, but I know he misses her, too.

Then there was today.  It was a fantastic day.  Today was Stake Conference.  For those who are not Mormon, every six months we have a larger gathering of about 6-8 local units.  The local units are called wards and the larger group is a stake.  We receive counsel from our leaders, and sometimes, we have special visitors from the general authorities over the church.  Every once in a while, one of the apostles will visit.  Our church is led by a prophet and twelve apostles, just like the ancient church when Christ was here.  Today, Elder Richard G. Scott, one of the twelve apostles came.  It was so wonderful to hear him speak and feel his love.  Afterwards, he came over to where the family had been sitting and greeted Aaron and the other boys.  (Deborah had gone with a friend to a farewell, and Mary had to leave as soon as the meeting was over, so they didn't get to meet him.)  I am so grateful he took the time to come see Aaron.



In addition to this wonderful experience, I was privileged to sing in the choir.  I love singing and have really missed it over the last two years.  Because we didn't decide that we could make it work before last week, I only had one week of practice and today's warm-up.  I enjoyed the music, but didn't have time to really get comfortable with it.  So much of it was feeling forced.  But then, on the last chorus of the closing song, it all changed.  The hymn was "On This Day of Joy and Gladness."  As we sang,

Alleluia, Alleluia,

Bright and clear our voices ring,

Singing songs of exultation

To our Maker, Lord, and King!

I could feel it, really feel it!  Alleluia means Praise ye the Lord and I did.  I did with my whole heart and soul.  It was the most marvelous feeling to be part of a chorus singing those praises to God.  

I am so blessed, so very blessed.  Alleluia, indeed.