Friday, September 27, 2013

Anniversary Pictures

From September 27, 2013...we decided to celebrate by buying Diane some new glasses as she no longer needs to gauge her posture by the horizontal line in her bifocals...




She did not choose these...this was part of her eye exam, but I could not resist taking a photo of her like this!



She picked these. (No, she does not have a shiner under her left eye, it is the label of the lens maker!)






We posted a few pictures on Instagram for family and friends to see and remember...







And then the Office Elders came over with a surprise...they sang Happy Anniversary to Diane while wearing shirts with her picture at Iguazu Falls and the words, ¡We Can Do Hard Things! on the top and Hermana Heyman on the bottom. One sleeve has September 27, 2012 on it and the other has September 27, 2013 on it. On the back it says, La Gran Mision Argentina Resistencia. They presented her with one and a card which they each signed with a little message.



The President...of her fan club!

A Year To Remember

One year ago today Diane suffered a stroke in the jungle outside Puerto Iguazu, Misiones, Argentina. Today, if you did not know, you would not know. She still has some side effects, but nothing that you could tell unless she told you. And, she does not tell. The story of what happened, how she was impacted and how she has recovered is hers. I will let her describe it in her own way and at the time of her choosing.

But, like Dr. Watson trying to convey with marvel and awe what he experienced at the side of Sherlock Holmes, let me share a few observations of my own.

Diane is a woman of extraordinary faith. Faith in God, faith in goodness, faith in the principle that obedience and hard work produce positive results and faith that there is meaning and purpose in life's experiences.

Diane is an optimist grounded in reality. Diane sees the good that exists and can result from circumstances and people. She can envision success down the road. And yet at the same time she accurately assesses challenges and obstacles that are looming. Because she has a clear and positive view of the future she knows how to prepare to move forward. And, with that vision she overcomes trials with a positive attitude that is the product of her faith.

Diane loves. God, family, people, flowers, food, learning and serving. Bringing joy to others through cooking is one of her most enjoyable activities...or perhaps better described as her obsession.

Diane has been blessed with an abundance of talents. Outer and inner beauty, intelligence, laughter, wisdom, perseverance, piano playing, singing (one of the prettiest singing voices I have heard), poise, discernment and sacrifice.

Diane is humble. Perhaps the most remarkable observation I have made over the years is how Diane perceives herself. She is smart and confident and sometimes persistent (stubborn, really) but she does not believe that she is any more or any less a child of God than anyone else she meets, in any walk of life. Although she is a modern day miracle she does not see herself in any different light than she did before her stroke and recovery.

Diane is my wife. In every sense of the word, I consider myself to be the most fortunate man in the world. I am very grateful that we have had this past year together.

Monday, September 16, 2013

The Hermanas' Conference

When we arrived in Argentina in July 2011, we had 25 Hermanas in 4 1/2 provinces of Argentina. Today, after the mission division, we have 46 Hermanas and 19 on their way here next week...and 39 still yet to come!!! So, we thought it was time to get them all together. We did a lot of planning and preparing. President and Sister Fernandez from the Resistencia Stake helped us out. Sister Fernandez was an "Hermana" a few years back in Buenos Aires.




You can tell there was a woman's touch to this conference...table cloths and flowers (arranged by Sister Fernandez).
















When we entered I went around and shook hands while Diane gave all the Hermanas a hug and kisses on the cheek. It is the custom.




Sister Fernandez and I getting our presentations ready...




President Fernandez thanked the Hermanas for choosing to be missionaries and serving in the Argentina Resistencia Mission.




I spoke about our purpose as missionaries and shared some stories from the scriptures and then emphasized the need to have el Espiritu Santo to guide and direct them.












Then it got hectic and I do not have pictures but we had an incredible salad that Diane and Graciela put together for each of the Hermanas...50 of them...made at our home and transported by the Office Elders to the Stake Center where we were meeting. There were awards given to Hermanas...replicas of the Argentine flag for things like being together the longest, having trained the most Hermanas and so on. Next was a mission video of just Hermanas in action. We were running back and forth so much we did not get pictures of all of that. After lunch Sister Fernandez gave a great presentation on proper relationships with members, investigators, companions and Elders. It was really good instruction. Diane then spoke about her gratitude for all of the Hermanas and the experiences of the mission. She then taught the Hermanas how to make Origami Flower Cards to express gratitude to others.
















You get the idea. After that I took some questions and then we surprised the Hermanas with one of Diane's awesome desserts...








Cream puffs filled with Frutos del Bosque ice cream. (Thanks to Diane's sister Deb for the cream puff recipe). The dessert was a big hit with the Hermanas. Then we told the Hermanas that we would be going into the next hall to have a group picture taken. After getting all of the Hermanas in one place at one time...








I told them we had one more surprise for them...




















I handed each one a rose...even one for Diane and Sister Fernandez. It was a fun moment to see each one light up when they received their rose.
















And then it was time to take the pictures and say goodbye. It was a good first and historic Hermanas' Conference.

Sunday, September 8, 2013

It's Diane Time!

Diane really isn't a big fan of me posting a lot of pictures of her...



But I am a big fan of Diane, and it is MY blog, so here we go...a few photos of my favorite missionary...



She baked 2 apple pies for Elder Burnett's birthday and even joined in the singing...



Spreading some cheer in Bella Vista...



Enjoying her own birthday cake baked by the Fernandez family...



Babynapping...



This is the same scene that happens everywhere we go...everyone crowds around Diane and I am left with the dogs...



Members want to have their picture taken with Hermana Heyman...and her husband...



Diane in Spanish translates to "incredible desserts"!...



She is an inspiring teacher...






She is especially talented in helping others develop their own talents...



Pied Piper at the Piano...



Let's not forget that she has personally turned around the economy of the Province of Chaco...



Did I mention Pied Piper at the Piano?...



She is a modern day miracle...



And the BEST companion a mission president could hope for!