The Quinceañera

 The Quinceanera.  Briggs has a friend named Yamileth Campos.  She turned 15 last December and decided to wait until the summer to have her Quinceanera.  She didn't know Covid would hit and shut down the Quinceanera.  Anyway, after a lot of waiting, planing and scheduling Yami finally had her Quinceanera.  

This was a really fun event because they not only celebrated the cultural traditions of the Quinceanera they also follow the religious traditions.  Yami had to take special classes so that she could have her Quinceanera in a church.  

Yami had a "court" which included some of her good friends.  She asked Briggs to be the chambelon, which technically is like the suiter that the father would pass his daughter on to (in the past traditions) but obviously Briggs wasn't there for the dating aspect.  Briggs accompanied Yami through out the day/evening. 

It was really interesting going to the church and watching how they do things.  The Pastor was suppose to do the ceremony in English and Spanish.  His English was horrible!  It was nearly impossible to understand him in English.  Luckily Adam and I were able to understand the Spanish.  Almost all the kids in the "court" are LDS.  Whenever the pastor would say something the kids would turn and look at Adam and I to see what they were suppose to do.  Adam and I were the only non latinos at the ceremony, beside the kids in the court.  

To me it felt like the teachings took the surface of the scripture in the Bible but they miss so much of the true depth and the gospel.  One example was when the Priest said, "Because you love God, He loves you."  

We obviously believe that Gods love is not conditional.

After the religious ceremony the kids took a limo to a near by park where they took pictures (technically the limo was late so we helped to get 2/3 of the kids loaded in our car and to the park.

Once the pictures ended they had a limo ride to get milk shakes and ride around in the limo until the party started.  

Yami had a Broadway Theme for her party.  Yami is an amazing singer and has won national awards so this is part of who she wants to be.  

Her parents surprised her with a Mariachi band and then there was a lot of singing.  

Yami dancing with her father.

Briggs and Yami

The court performed a beautiful Waltz to the song in Aladdin.  It was like a fairy every little girl dreams about. 

The court perform a "surprise" dance which was a combination of the Cha cha, jazz, swing, etc. It was a really fun medly of music and dancing.  (Basically all the kids in the court were on the Ballroom dance team so they were all good dancer.  Their ballroom teacher choreographed and taught them the dances)

Briggs was amazing the entire night.  He was such a good sport.  He treated Yami very well. He was the life of the party when the dance floor opened up to everyone.  I couldn't believe my shy baby was out getting the entire crowd on the dance floor and he was the life and energy to the party.  He accepted the culture and was open for the adventure.  

I also need to throw in that he conducted himself in a very positive and respectful way.  At one point a song turned on that has a very inappropriate dance that accompanies the song.  Briggs stepped off the floor came and sat down, had a drink and waited for the song to end.  After which he went back on the floor and continued the party.  

Briggs started that day at 7am mowing lawns.  He finished the lawns just in time to get ready for the Quinceanera and then he jumped around on the dance floor until 1:00 am.  

I wasn't so perky and I took off with Ila at 11:00.  Briggs was ready to go home with me at 11 but Yami asked if he would stay longer so he didn't think twice and he jumped back in.  Adam stayed the entire time with Briggs.  

This was truly a great adventure!