Dinner with Heather and Billy Kendrick!

Today Rick and I drove to Las Vegas and then flew to Maryland (with a layover on the way). We went out to dinner with some of our college friends, Billy and Heather Kendrick, who live in Virginia. It was an hour drive for them (90 minutes due to traffic) to come pick us up, so we ate at a restaurant close to our hotel. It was so fun to see them after so many years!! Heather is Deaf and she is the one who first started teaching Rick sign language clear back in 1991. Rick was in Hands Up at USU with Heather in 1990. He had several experiences (including some pretty amazing spiritual promptings) that led him towards learning sign language. So he confided in Heather and asked for her help. He joined the Deaf Branch and started hanging out with the Deaf group. As he was learning, they teased him a little saying that he signed "RSL" (Rick's Sign Language) instead of "ASL" (American Sign Language). Later on Heather and Billy (an amazing interpreter) got married It is amazing that Rick went from those humble beginnings to becoming Professionally Certified as an Interpreter for the Deaf and the coordinator over the ASL program for Seminaries and Institutes for the entire nation! It was fun to share stories with Billy and Heather and reminisce. We are sure grateful for those two!