Greetings from El Salvador

Hi Blogging World!

For the last 6 days I have been out of the internet loop. I have not checked my email, blog, and (brace your selves) facebook! I didn´t plan to either. However it is monday night and that means it was time for me to write Tressa. I am not about to let being in a forgin country stop me from sending her a hello. But once I got on my email it was just second nature to type in facebook.com and by the time I realized what I was doing it was to late. So I figured I might as well blog too.

I am here in El Salvador and having quite the time! The poor man in the lobby of our hotel, I am sure, wants me to make this quick...so I will try. It has been over 4 years since last time I was here eating real papusas and shewing away stray chuchos. I thought I knew quite a bit about El Salvador, but on this trip I have seen a side to El Salvador that I have never seen before. I have been back less then a week but it feels like it´s been two. This trip has been extremely enriching but also mentally draining. Holy cow! My eyes have been opened to the corruption in the government and the injustice I did not know was happening when was here last running around with the orphans. (They don´t talk about politics much.) It´s hard to hear and take in. Especially about a country that I love so much. But I have been inspired by the resiliency of the human spirit and the wonderful things that can happen when people work together for a common good.

I am so grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ in my life. I am grateful for the safety and comfort it has given me. It gives me something to hold on to in times I have lost all other hope. It also seems to be something the people of this country have clung to as well. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the true church and I am so grateful for the prophets guidance and leadership.

Anyway, there will be pictures to come of course. I have had a fabulous time and wont come back the same person.

Videos for Grandma

In August I took two weeks to go to Colorado, Utah, and Idaho. It was busy trip! While there I visited friends, dropped Tressa off at the MTC, spoke at the Families supporting adoption conference, played with my nephew, Sold grandpa's toys (well....I tried), explored caves, discovered abandoned houses and mills in the forests of south eastern Idaho, discovered there were forests in south eastern Idaho, went to court with my old probation buddies, etc!! Then I came home and went straight to work and school. I feel like I haven't been able to catch my breath! There are so many people who I need to email, mail things too, and return messages for. If you are one of those people, I am SO sorry. I actually run down the list of what I need to send to whom every day, hopefully get one done, get stressed out, and do something else. Don't worry, it's coming! However, there was a request for me to post some of the pictures and videos I took of my MES. I took hundreds of pictures! Don't worry, I wont submit you to them. But here are just a few videos of the quality nephew time I got in.

This video cracks me up every time I watch it. It's one of those "you have to be there" type things but I am still posting it. Imagine me sitting at my sister's house on a Sunday afternoon. To me Sundays mean excitement. To me Sundays mean busy. To me Sundays never have a dull moment. To me Sundays mean the 6 boys family! At my sister's house Sundays are quiet. At my sister's house Sundays mean just Mark, Liz, and MES. I love them....but I was bored out of my mind. So this is how I got a little entertainment.

Then This next video was after my aunt and uncle had taken Tressa, Me, and Liz out to dinner. (They sure are good people). They had to make a quick stop before going home and the MES was a MESS! He was so tired and cranky we were doing anything we could to keep him from screaming. Finally we found something that worked! Peek-a-boo.

My First trip to Florida

Okay, where do I start? I have had many many thoughts I have wanted to share but no time to share it in. Do I talk about my AMAZING trip to Florida? Or should I focus on my latest thoughts about my wonderful life? Because it is after midnight and it is easier to post pictures, I will talk about my trip! It was fast but oh so needed! I flew into FL Saturday afternoon and Donald Picked me up. We spent our time in Miami, West Palm Beach, and Key West! We hosted a BBQ (just like the good old BYU-I days), I met his Florida friends, and enjoyed meeting and playing games with his family.  Oh and church! Who can forget church?! During the passing of the sacrament I enjoyed the Rastafarian music coming from the man's cell phone behind me. And then I enjoyed his conversation after he ANSWERED IT! LOL really it was comical! Then there was the man who instantly fell asleep and began snoring loudly after each prayer and the woman who after the water was passed through her row began to offer contaminated Altoids to everyone around her. (she wasn't quiet about it. LOL). This was the same woman who returned to sit in front of half the ward with her zipper broken and the back of her dress wide open baring it all! When told about her dress she said, "oh I know. My zipper broke just today". She had no qualms about it. Although the sacrament was eventful, I couldn't help but sit there and think how wonderful it was to have people from all backgrounds come together on Sunday to renew their baptismal covenants and worship the savior the best they know how. I bet heavenly father appreciated the meeting as much as I did. (Ok probably even more).

Here are my pictures from the trip. (They are all on facebook too. So for those of you who stalk me here and on facebook, sorry for the repeats!)

Biking in Key West was heaven and SO much fun!

Cute cafe in Key West!

Oh I wanted to see a Cuban so bad! (apparently they were all over)

After a long day of beaching, walking, biking, and touring it around Key West.

The beach was beautiful even with the seaweed carpet behind me.

80 degrees with a light breeze! Perfection!

I was only allowed to take one bag on the plane that would fit under the seat in front of me. I was pretty darn pleased with myself that I was able to fit so much in as well as travel so light! Go me!

Mimi after I flew in.