Blessed

Each Tuesday I have the opportunity to go home and visit the fam. I get to see the progress my Dad has made, and be friends with my Mom. Sometimes the visits are hard, seeing how the new Dad differs from the old Dad. Other times, my visits are uplifting and I witness miracles.

Yesterday had a little of both. Papa had a big fall the other day, and because of his blood thinners, he is immensely bruised and sore. He is moving a lot slower than usual too, which gives our cat, Holly, the chance to finally catch his oxygen hose as he moves it across the floor. 

The happy part about yesterday is that Papa had  a speech evaluation. The whole speech therapy thing isn't just about Dad talking or forming sentences. Speech has to do with his cognitive abilities, his ability to swallow, and a whole bunch of other stuff. Yesterday's eval had to do with his cognitive abilities and guess what. He did amazing!!!! Most of us have witnessed Papa's short term memory loss, but yesterday, that didn't seem to be a problem. The therapist had Dad memorize words, signs, and numbers and then made him repeat back the order, backward, frontward, sideward...whatever! AND HE DID IT AMAZINGLY!!!!!! Papa was trying so hard to focus, and it really paid off. We are so proud of him. Then he came home completely tuckered out and took a nap. 

We aren't sure how much of Dad will come back, or how quickly, but we are grateful for the little milestones and miracles that we witness each day. We are so happy to have him here with us. It doesn't matter what the doctors declare "gone" or "permanent", Papa has proved them wrong before and we know that if God wants to make yet another miracle happen, He will.

Thank you for your constant prayers, we still need them. Don't forget to pray for my Mom too. She's a real trooper, but she too has a big load to carry.

Com amor,

The Baers

P.S. For those of you who read this blog and would like a wedding announcement from Cam and I, please go to the following link and enter in your address! Don't worry, only Cameron and I can see your info!

https://www.postable.com/aubreyandcameron

Baer's Fine Autos

Yeah Papa made all of those. If ya want to send him a model to make, make sure it is a snap together one, not the glue one! (he isn't allowed to use the glue until he can breathe without his oxygen help)

Guest Post: Sorella Baer

well my heart's just about full as can beezy. 

first of all, my KARLA'S GETTING BAPTIZED!!! yes folks, in 9 days time, (also Sorella Palumbo's bday) and I'm about stoked out of my mind. My beloved Karla has been an investigator since last september, and I started teaching her right as I arrived in Pavia. goodness, how she has allowed the Gospel of Jesus Christ to change and bless her. I love this woman and can't wait to see her in white!

We set two baptismal dates last night with this couple we've been teaching: Jennifer and Eduardo. We absolutely adore this couple, and fra un po, they'll be baptized!

The Lord blesses us as missionaries with beautifully spiritual experiences often. Sometimes, I forget just how miraculous is the power of the Almighty God, and I'm not as grateful for all of the miracles, siano grandi o siano piccoli, that happen. Something small like: about a month ago, Sor. Palumbo and I went to go visit a member of ours in the hospital. We just felt to share Alma 26:12 with her and then share some love. As we read that scripture together, she started to cry, as she told us that that very morning, she had read that scripture to herself, and it touched her so much, that she wrote her missionary son an entire letter about that scripture. Oh how the spirit touches our hearts.

or something bigger like: preparing the heart of woman to become baptized and enter into covenants with the Lord. 

or something like the biggest thing ever: when Jesus Christ, the Son of God, rose. and conquered both physical and spiritual death. Being a missionary for Easter gives me so many beautiful opportunities to bear testimony of the Risen Lord. 

Just as I know that Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. I know that He LIVES for us. O WHAT JOY THIS SENTENCE GIVES, I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVES. 

Folks, why aren't we celebrating more? why aren't we more urgent in sharing this message of joy and gladness with others? that because the Savior rose, each of us can rise again, also us. That there's more after this life, and that we can remain with our loved ones for EVER. This knowledge has sustained me, and lifted me as I've had to face this incredibly difficult trial of my dad's health. But I have the deep conviction, that my Elder Brother has already felt all of my feelings, and that all I need to do is lean on Him. 

I love it all. 

and you guys. happy easter:) die some eggs for me. then eat them for breakfast. because here in italy, you don't eat ANYTHING salted for breakfast. 

but more importantly, please please please please remember the Savior on this the most glorious and celebrated day!

con tutto del mio amore,

Sorella Baer

p.s. I love you.

p.p.s. ERRBODY LISTEN UP: read dang Preach My Gospel! all of ya, ya hear! not just for mission prep, and not just those rm's. every family should have a copy and should be reading! Vi prego! please do it, it will change your life! that book has changed mine! my copy is one of the most precious things I have here in the mission.

p.p.p.s. andddddddddddddd the reason why I'm writing on a thursday? well we switched p-days, because the Palumbsters and I are headed to see a ballet at ''La Scala-- teatro a Milano!'' we're gonna see Swan Lake, in one of the most beautiful opera houses in Italy! We're so excited!

p.p.p.p.s. my release date is the 21st of August. and I'm freaking out. More to come next week. 

Easter

As I have grown up I have a lot of memories associated with each holiday. Those memories I have of when I was an itty bitty Baer are quite magical. Santa visiting with his magic sparkle dust (it's a Baer thing) and the veggies we left for the reindeer gnawed on. Thanksgiving with the baby dill pickles and olive fingers. The Fourth of July with fireworks and sparklers. And then there is Easter. I remember going on Easter egg hunts with my siblings (we each had our own color), and getting baskets filled to the brim with chocolate. 

Yeah I lived a pretty privileged childhood, my parent's took the holidays seriously. As I have grown, however, it's not that the holidays became any less magical, but rather, more meaningful. As I have grown, I have had experiences that have helped me understand the spirit behind each of these holidays and form a personal connection with each. 

This past year, our family has been through a lot. (as you all very well know) Each of us went through these experiences together, but we each had different roles and different sorrows. Today I want to talk about what Easter means to me to NOW, and share a little bit of the deeper thoughts and feelings I have had over the past six months. 

I know I am not the only one, when I say,"I hope ya know, I'm having a rough time." Just cause Papa isn't still in the hospital doesn't mean that things are easy again. In fact, some parts are harder. Yeah Papa's body is back....but HE isn't so much. That's hard. The memories of everything are so very fresh in our minds. Sleep doesn't come easy, dreams aren't pleasant, emotions are always running high.

In the past couple of months I have thought that since all of the scary hospital stuff is over, and how so many happy things have happened, I should be healed, I should be good to go. But the truth is, none of us are. The things we have seen and felt, they will be here a while. The fresh, new emotions that go along with trying to cope with the new normals are heavy too. It's hard.

So that's why this Easter means so much to me right now. Easter is the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. That's what it stands for, a renewal. The promised blessings that come to us because the Savior rose is that we too will rise one day, without blemish, without mortal limits. For me personally, that's fantastic, but what matters most to me this Easter are the promises that my Dad WILL be whole again. Maybe not in this life, but I WILL get to enjoy that daddy/daughter relationship again with him. My Mom will get to be a wife again, she'll get her husband back. He'll be whole and perfect in all spheres, and that is all thanks to Jesus Christ. 

Some people might not believe in that, but I cannot, nor will not every deny the things I have felt and witnessed. I KNOW it is true, and I will share that with the world. I am grateful that God has given me so many experiences and opportunities to share with others. I want so much for others to have that comfort that I have. 

So yeah. There it is!  Thanks for stopping by to stay updated on Papa. Pray for him. Pray that his brain will heal so that he can come back to us. :)

We love you,

The Baers

PS, here is an Easter video you should watch!

http://easter.mormon.org/?cid=HPTU041514694