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| It was National Family Week in the Philippines! |
Congratulations Taylor and Anne, Blaine, Roger, Carter, and
our co-grandparents, Rozanne and
Roger!! A baby daughter, sister, cousin, granddaughter!!
Anne gave birth to Clara Tillie on Sept 20, 2012 in her patented fashion--quick
and easy (I know, the word easy should never be used to describe a delivery, but I'm talking in relative terms).
If only her pregnancy could
have been as uncomplicated.
We got to
Skype with them within a few hours of her birth, and Rozanne sent a picture
immediately, so we got to feel as if we were there--well, actually, a far cry from being there,
but . . . you know. And we have Skyped since and can see that though Anne will have her
hands full with Carter (busy busy boy) and Clara, they all seem to be settling in to yet
another little Cropper.
That’s an even
dozen grand kids for us in case anyone is counting.
For more information about Clara Tillie and pictures go to: mrscropper.blogspot.com
As the numbers grow and the list of birthdays expands, it
would be easy and maybe forgivable to think of this as just another grand
kid. But we don’t. Every life is a miracle. Trite statement? Yes, but true nonetheless. How can something that
has occurred 6 or 7 billion times seem so unique, so mysterious, so
personal? I don’t know how that is, but
I am grateful that we can revel in another miracle given to our very own family.
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| Elder with part of the band. Not too close sisters. |
To acknowledge Clara’s birth, the entire Tanjay District
held a celebration. Actually, the whole
of the Philippines celebrated all week—National Family Week—and the District
decided to participate by having a parade and an all day open house. There were lots of dignitaries invited. I’m not sure any showed up, but the Branch
members showed up in great numbers, and Amlan in particular was extremely well
represented which made Pres. B. very proud and I think personally grateful.
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| The gathering pre-parade |
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| Our little branch leads the way |
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| On the national highway 400 strong!! |
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| Colina Family poster |
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| The sister we baptized in action |
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| Bais Branch poster |
Of course I had to cry about the whole parade. There were no floats, and only one vehicle,
but there were banners, and family t-shirts, and most people dressed in white (the
designated costume) and a marching band, complete with majorette and ‘’minors”
with batons a-twirl from Tanjay Central High School and another from I don’t
know where, in glorious Mardi Gras colors and lots of people marching and a cop
to direct traffic. It was full on
awesome!! Imagine, the District decides
on a parade, and traffic is blocked, people come out to watch, and the band
plays on.
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| What is a parade without majorettes |
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| ...and a band |
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| Who knows families better than LDS |
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| Even balloons and missionaries |
After the parade, everyone gathered back at the District
center for an open house where there were displays set up in every room and
videos going and activities for the kids, and tours and a program and awards. We learned about 72 hour kits and disaster
preparedness, and saw demos on how to make virgin coconut oil by hand, and how
to make soap from Kalamansi juice. There
was a family picture-taking booth built in the parking lot, with guess who taking
pictures (actually he passed it off for much of the day, but his camera was in
duty all day).
Elder Cropper and I were the concluding speakers at the end
of the day and amazingly there were still people there!! Most, 400 plus, stayed all day! The district provided snacks mid-morning and
mid-afternoon, and each branch fed their own people lunch, so that right there
makes for a great activity.
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| The parade stretched with members to about a 1/2 kilometer long |
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| Ya gotta love the youth |
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| and more..... |
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| It didn't rain on our parade but it sure rained at lunch time |
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| and rained......and rained |
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| Making virgin coconut oil |
WHAT A GREAT EVENT!! WHAT A GREAT DAY!!!
Welcome to this world Clara, where there are whole countries
and small Districts, and individuals who still know and celebrate the value of
strong families—a place where God gives his children the guidance of Prophets
and Proclamations and, most important, parents.
Clara, yours are the best. And we
all celebrate, YOU.
