Walking Tour

Last week I went with Winnie's class on a walking tour of Anchorage. I am always impressed whenever I am reminded of the rich history of the Great State of Alaska. I was so excited by this walking tour that I decided to take all my future guests on it. 

Here is my group in front of Mt. Susitna or Sleeping Lady.

In front of the Federal Building.

Fourth Avenue Theater

Lunch at Elderberry Park when the train passed

Tourists

All About Mom

Mother's Day Brunch

I was happy to attend a Mother's Day brunch with Winnie and the activity Day Girls a few weeks ago. We had a lovely little brunch with our daughters. We also played a newly wed style game with our girls and were presented with sweet cards and made really cute pins to wear on Mother's Day. 

I love being a mom!

Cinco de Mayo

We celebrated Cinco de Mayo with some good friends, tostadas, Pina Coladas, a pinata and moustaches!

Twelve

This lovely girl turned 12 on April 21st.

Twelve years ago this girl came into my life. She was 8 pounds 13 oz. She was scruntchy and beautiful. I remember lying on the bed just looking into her eyes across the room as the nurses weighed her and took her vitals. We just connected. Our eyes locked and I knew what it was that felt missing in my life. It was her. It was as though the motherhood that was dormant inside of my soul had suddenly sprung to life. I suddenly became what I was meant to be. It was one of the most powerful, beautiful, spiritual moments of my life. It was the most changing moment of my life.

I love this girl. 

She is everything I would want her to be.

She is kind.

She is talented.

She is smart.

She is thoughtful.

She is helpful. 

She is spiritual.

She is lovely.

She is good.

Thank you Heavenly Father for making me a mother--for making me this girl's mother.

Days 10 & 11~ Heading Home

Saturday morning was the end of Robert's meeting. After we took a few pictures and said good bye to his parents--who were heading out for their part of the vacation--we headed down to the pool to just relax for the rest of the day. We were ready to head home. We spent some time reminiscing and enjoying our last few long talks together. 

One of the things that we discussed was that we were sad that of first trip to Costa Rica was coming to an end. We have realized that the first time anywhere is usually the best---the most magical. Our first trip to Hawaii for our 10th anniversary was fantastic. We have since returned 3 more times and it has never been the same. This trip was magical. I loved it. I love spending time with my husband and I love seeing new places.  When I was in high school I used my own money to pay for a subscription to a travel magazine and I used to check out travel videos from the public library.I am so blessed because I have a husband who shares this same desire and has a good job. We would much rather use our money to travel then to buy expensive things.

Sunday we got up very early and started the long journey home. A six hour flight to Phoenix and then an eight hour layover. I am bummed because I didn't take a single picture. Mitch picked up up at the airport and we went to lunch at PEI WEI and hung out at his house. Then we headed over to see Robert's grand parents for a while.We then had a five and a half hour flight o Anchorage. Whew. 

I am so grateful for everyone who made this trip happen. Robert's mom for planning the meetings and encouraging us to go, my parents for watching our kids, our kids for letting us be gone. I have the best family.

Love my life!

Day 9~ Pooltime, temple trip and a great meal

One of the absolute highlights of my trip to Costa Rica was attending the temple. I knew it was going to be close by so I brought all my stuff with me. I looked the session times up on the internet and made plans to attend the 4:00 session. Robert started his business at 6:00 am, so I had the morning to myself. I slept in a bit, went to the gym, ate breakfast and then settled in by the pool to read for a few hours. 

At about 2:00 I was getting pretty nervous about my decision to attend the temple. I had several concerns. I was really worried that no one there would speak English and my Spanish is very limited. I was also a bit nervous about  driving myself as well. By 2:30 I had convinced myself not to go. I laid down on the hotel bed with butterflies in my stomach. I pulled out my scriptures to read my Book of Mormon. I have been faithfully reading along with the sisters in my ward in our 6 month Book of Mormon Challenge. I happened to be a few chapters ahead of the schedule, but I decided to go on. I was on 2 Nephi Chapter 12. 

I started reading and this is what I immediately read, "And it shall come to pass in the last days, when the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in His paths..." v. 2,3)

I was going...for sure. 

It was tremendous. 

I made it safely. I sat sat in the car in the parking lot practicing how to say, "I don't speak Spanish. Does anyone here speak English?" I walked in and said my phrase, "No abla espanol." and was greeted with "That's just fine because I speak English!" It turned out that there are two full time couple missionaries serving in the temple from Arizona!

The session was amazing. I met some lovely sisters from San Jose. It touched my heart to see these stalwart Saints fulfilling Isiah's prophecy that all nations will flow unto the temple. It felt awesome to be the foreigner attending and being helped and blessed by these great brothers an sisters in Costa Rica.

I LOVE THE TEMPLE!

Later that evening Robert and I along with Eldon and Beverly attended a great 8 course dinner. Fabulous. Delicious.

What a day.

Days 7 & 8~ Surfer Dude & Back to San Jose

This is the top of our little restraunt tree house. We spent a lot of time her reading and talking.

 Robert really wanted to take surf lessons. We set it up and we joined a group of 10 for a two hour lesson. I was a spectator only. Surfing is just not my thing. I enjoyed my job as photographer greatly. I have to hand it to Robert, He never stopped. Everyone else was so exhausted after 30 minutes that they would stop. The instructors had a hard time keeping every body in the water. Robert NEVER stopped. He was out there the entire time.

This is what I did for about 45 minutes in the blaring sun. Shells, glorious shells, are everywhere on the beaches. You are not supposed to take them so, I spelled out the kids names instead.

The next morning we woke up early and made the 4 hour trip back to San Jose. Along the way we stopped and got me a "Choco Bigger" and a Diet Pepsi. I ate at least 10 of the ice cream bars while we were in Costa Rica. It was so hot!

The San Jose Temple happened to be about 2 blocks from our hotel in San Jose. We made a stop there that evening. I made plans to go the next day to do a session. When we walked onto the grounds both Robert and I were overcome with the spirit of that holy place. What a tremendous blessing to the saints in Costa Rica.

Day 6~Beach combers and our lovely hotel

We did nothing spectacular this day. We just spent the day along the beaches, in the ocean and at our hotel.

This is a view of our room, number 6.

Our lovely little pool. The weather was about 95 everyday, so it was so nice to take a dip.

This is Playa Cochal, the next beach over from our beach. It had lighter sand and and turquoise water.

Playa Brasillito,our beach. 

Robert, a self portrait.

Sunset on Playa Brasillito.

Seriously, the most amazing Bruchetta of my life. I ordered it three nights in a row.

Our hotel restraunt was called the Papaya Restraunt. It is basically a large tree house. The food was the freshest, most delicious food I have ever eaten. Fresh seafood and delicious vegetables. One night they had a musician in there and Robert and I were the only ones dining. So amazing.