In the original plan, I was to fly back to Kokomo for four days for Scott's graduation. That date got changed, so the flight back was to participate in the 500 Festival Mini-Marathon in Indy. But after jet lag and a tender calf muscle, Linda and I decided to back out of the race and just enjoy me being home. I couldn't believe how green Indiana was! And purple, and violet, and white, and yellow, and red--spring was busting out all over. This may be hard to believe, but it was like stepping back into Eden :-).
While home I got to see Nathan's second T-ball game. In the "pre-game warm-ups" you see Nathan and Ali Rawls discussing game strategy.
And here you see Ali, Nathan, and another teammate with their fearless head coach, Kevin Rawls.
It is clear by Nathan's smile that he has a good time with his baseball buddies. Shortly after the game on Saturday I caught a flight back to Colorado Springs, the Christian Deaf Church, and my continuing sign language studies.
Sunday's service in the deaf church was a really special one. Tim, Frankie and James reenacted the story of the woman and the lost coin. You can see the joy they had upon finding the coin. The skit and the worship songs led up to a momentous event in the church. 
In all the years of the deaf church's existence, they had never been blessed with a deaf man who would step up to the work of deacon. But yesterday they installed their first deaf man as a deacon in the church.
Jim Taylor has been faithful to the deaf church for a long time, and he has offered consistent service to the Lord. The service to ordain him as a deacon in the church was humbling and awe-inspiring.
First, Tim issued a charge to Jim concerning the privileges and responsibilities he would assume as a deacon in the church.
To each charge Tim gave him, Jim signed his acceptance of the work.
Then Tim gave a charge to the church concerning the role it is to play in encouraging and supporting Jim in his work as a deacon.
Tim and the two elders of the deaf church laid hands on Jim to set him apart for the work. Both elder's offered a prayer of dedication while my sister-in-law, Tami, signed in the background so that the deaf people in the church would understand what was being said in the prayers.
You may notice that Jim is always looking to his right. In the picture below you can see his wife, Gayle, who is hearing and who signs the songs in worship, interpreting for her husband so that he could understand everything that was being said.
After the prayers, the leaders of the church warmly welcomed Jim as their very first deacon. It was amazing to witness this special day in the life of the deaf church.
After the ordination, the service continued with Tim doing his usual great job of preaching, this time on the woman and the lost coin. Of course, you would think that a morning like this would be mentally and physically draining for Tim, but instead of grabbing an afternoon nap, it was three hours of sign language lessons for me before supper :-)!!! When I come back to Kokomo on June 16, I will not be fluent in sign language -- not in seven weeks. BUT, I will know more by then than I ever dreamed possible!!!! In the mean time, you are all in my heart and in my prayers. 