Hawaii 2018

From April 21 to April 28 we went to Hawaii for a cluster meeting. April 21 was the longest day ever. We got up at 6:00 am to get to the airport in time to take the flight by 10:00 a.m. bound to Japan and then Hawaii. After we got in what it seemed forever, we got in to Hawaii at 8:00 a.m. the same day. Two hours early then when we left.

The next day was so special as we had a good interview with Bishop Davies. He also offered to give us a blessing. In his blessing he told me that Heavenly Father is aware of me and He is listening to my prayers. That He will answer them. It will take time but He will answer them and many other wonderful things. He gave me my blessing in Spanish. He gave Daniel his blessing in English. What a sweet Bishop. There is a connection we have with him because he has lived in Uruguay as a missionary and lived in Puerto Rico as well. Elder Nelson is in Hawaii as well so we ended this day with his amazing devotional.

Our cluster meeting in Hawaii was the best! We learned so much and got our batteries charged. We attended the beautiful temple next to the BYU Hawaii campus. Went to the Politician Center, the Pineapple farm and Pearl Harbor. The cluster meeting came to a close with our testimonies as always. We said good bye and went shopping on our way to the airport. What a blessed week! What more could we ask?

Con amor,
Vero

Looking back from when we came

It was exactly three years ago when we knew we were coming to the Philippines. Ah yes, the famous words of Hannibal on the A-Team. There is little in life that is better than when a plan comes together, especially when the plan itself turns out to be far larger and expansive then any plan you had pictured in your own mind.

  As I look back with the benefit of hindsight, I can see that moving to the Philippines could not have come together more perfectly than it did…only it came together far differently than the stick figure drawing I had in my head…seeing that has taught me to trust that what God has planned for us is far more of a Masterpiece than anything we could imagine for ourselves, so put your head down, go to work, and then trust Him to help make it happen! We are all so lucky – so blessed.  We are all blessed. 

 Every one of us.  As we move forward with our lives, putting in the hard work, and adhering to the values of integrity and going the extra mile, life will continue to be blessed in ways we have not even begun to imagine.  I am totally confident in that statement.  Give life your best effort.  Keep up your energy and your excitement and your enthusiasm every day.  You are going somewhere.  

All of us are going somewhere.  Somewhere incredible.  Somewhere bigger than even I know how to describe to you.  I just know its somewhere that exceeds anything you have pictured in your head…and that is a great reason to be stoked!  How cool is that!?  I mean really! Your life is making history that will forever change things in the future…just you watch and see.  I take that back…don’t just watch…join in and make it happen!!!

Con amor,

Vero

What is needed for a marriage to last?

One answer of what is needed for a marriage to last is found on 2 Corinthians 9:6 Whomever sows generously will reap generally or in other words: "You only get out of marriage what you put into it."

Let me explain with an example:  My son in law, Brooks Dame, thought of an idea for a unique new product. He had started a small company in his garage manufacturing eyewear so he carefully organized his plans to expand his star-up business.

He met with consultants, accountants, and attorneys, calculating revenues and expenses.  He worked hard to sell the concept to banks and investors to raise capital. He even went on the TV show: "Shark Tank."

In time the company grew so he needed to lease new space, purchased what was needed needed and hired employees so finally he was ready to begin. He worked so hard pouring his heart and soul into the business, determined to make it succeed and sure enough, it thrives.

But does he now merely sit back, relax,, and enjoy the fruit of his labor? No! He gets people he can trust to help him expand his business and works harder than ever, while conjuring up new ideas improving efficiency, bettering customer relations, and bolstering profits.

If a marriage is to last a lifetime, it requires the same level of devotion and energy. Both partners must give 100 percent. Each must be available to the other when needed, fully present, ready to listen, to talk, to act. Both spouses must pour their heart and soul into this enterprise, making whatever sacrifice necessary to ensure success.

What an investment, but the payoff is rich, healthy, loving relationship that lasts. And everyone involved reaps countless rewards. Does this sound good? Devote time and energy to your marriage.

Con amor,
Vero

Holding hands never gets old

Holding hands-- It start with a tiny fist wrapped around a mother's finger. It continues with a young hand held gently in one much larger. It endures through puppy love, adolescent relationships, and courtship. And if we are wise, it extends into marriage, through middle age, beyond the golden years, to the very end of life.

Holding hands never gets old It's one of the most intimate expression of love between humans.

Don't ever let this beautiful act slip away from you. It's so much more than a gesture of affection, so much greater than a mere symbol of connection. It's an incredibly meaningful communication, a deep connection in and of itself. It requires no words; in fact, no words can convey such a profound message.

Why would two people in love ever stop holding hands? Perhaps it seems silly, somehow undignified, when we are older and have been married a long time. We may begin to think such thins were meant only for young lovers and newlyweds. That's far from the truth! Besides is many other purposes, holding hands helps satisfy the basic human need for physical touch, a need we never outgrow.

Hold your spouses hand throughout your life together; don't ever let it go until the day when you've fulfilled every marriage vow and finally release it form your grasp, placing it lovingly, trustingly into the hand of the Lord.

"I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand . You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory." Psalm 73: 23-24

Con amor,
Vero

What does a lasting marriage require?

A good, lasting marriage requires effort-- but it takes fun too! King Solomon said, "I commend the enjoyment of life." (Ecclesiastes  8:15)  so have a good time with your spouse. Enjoy each others company. It does not take a lot of money to have fun if you think of creative ways to be lighthearted and playful together.

When we went to Uruguay I was a couple flying a kite. When was the last time you flew a kite? Grab a couple of inexpensive ones and head for the beach, where there always seems to be a steady breeze. Kick of your shoes and walk together along the shoreline until you find a good spot, then let the wind take your kites as high as they can go, while you and your spouse sit on the sand, relax and watch them soar. Before you know it, the sun will be setting over the water, putting on a free light show to add to the fun.

As you reel in our kites, admiring the colors on the horizon, take a moment to reflect on the One who provides you with so many blessings. After all, who made the sand and the beach? who created the air and the wind? Who made the water, the sky, the glorious sunset? Most of all, Who fashioned and breathed to life the wonderful person with whom you delight to share it all?

Go ahead -- have some fun!

God...Five us richly all things to enjoy.  (1 Timothy 6:17)

Con amor,
Vero

worry worm

Sharing an article I saw on how much we worry. 

"I had a good laugh when I saw this post because it reminded me of my mother. 

“I have been through some terrible things in my life, some of which actually happened.” – Mark Twain 

What a fabulous quote by Mark Twain! And SO TRUE! Worrying is a crazy thing if you think about it. It has no redeeming value as the act of worrying does absolutely nothing to impact the outcomes. All it does is causes you stress and make your life miserable. So why do we do it??… 

I grew up with a mother who is a constant worrier. Amazing mother, but constant worrier. The woman worries about absolutely everything, and I truly mean everything. She has read every urban legend ever published anywhere on the internet and she worries about every single one of them. And then she forwards them on to me and all of my siblings as a warning of “what might happen if we are not careful.” She has emailed us to warn us of toxic spores that might occupy our pillow when we sleep at night to slowly kill us. She has emailed us the warnings of everything from underwire bras causing cancer to laptops that when placed too close to a males private parts will destroy their ability to father a child. I kid you not. The woman worries about absolutely everything. Her life is filled with worry. 

As I became a young adult myself I found that I too began worrying about everything, allowing myself to stress about the “what could happen” or “what might happen”. I spent years worrying about things which did absolutely nothing other than to make me an anxious person and it caused anxiety for the people in my life. Then one day when I was spending time with my mom it hit me…oh my goodness…I am becoming a worrier just like her. And I realized I had to change it.

 I am a person who believes in being very proactive about changing the things in our life that we are unhappy with and so I read book after book on worrying and positive thinking and I even spent time talking to a counselor on how to overcome worry through cognitive therapy where you are taught to control your thoughts in order to help change your emotions. One of the little exercises I learned in regards to controlling worry was the art of postponing your worry. That probably sounds a little silly but there really is merit to trying it and it genuinely helps you to overcome your own worries. Here is an article that explains a little bit about that process: 

“Learning to postpone worrying: 

1. Create a “worry period.” Choose a set time and place for worrying. It should be the same every day (e.g. In the living room from 6:00 to 6:20 p.m.) and early enough that it won’t make you anxious right before bedtime. During your worry period, you’re allowed to worry about whatever’s on your mind. The rest of the day, however, is a worry-free zone.  

2. Postpone your worry. If an anxious thought or worry comes into your head during the day, make a brief note of it on paper and postpone it to your worry period. Remind yourself that you’ll have time to think about it later, so there’s no need to worry about it right now. Save it for later and continue to go about your day.  

3. Go over your “worry list” during the worry period. Reflect on the worries you wrote down during the day. If the thoughts are still bothering you, allow yourself to worry about them, but only for the amount of time you’ve specified for your worry period. If the worries don’t seem important any more, cut your worry period short and enjoy the rest of your day. 

Postponing worrying is effective because it breaks the habit of dwelling on worries in the present moment. Yet there’s no struggle to suppress the thought or judge it. You simply save it for later. As you develop the ability to postpone your anxious thoughts, you’ll start to realize that you have more control over your worrying than you think. 

“ In addition to trying those things I also read book after to book to help me. I absolutely love inspirational books! I found a fabulous book that I absolutely loved that also taught me about the value of letting go and doing your best and trusting that things would be as they should be. It was written by an Indian Author named Deepak Chopra. The book is called The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success and it is a seriously fabulous book and I would highly recommend it to everyone as a great read. It changed my life. 

All of these things I did really helped me to change my own thinking patterns and to let go of the worry because there was no value that would result from being worried. All of these things helped me to realize that God was in charge and I had to just learn to let go and trust that life would turn out as it should so there was truly no need to be worried.

 Yes bad things might happen, but they will happen whether you worry or not. And nine times out of ten the things you worried about will never ever come to pass and you will have spent all of your energy worrying for absolutely nothing! What a waste of a beautiful life.

 So today’s challenge is DON’T WORRY about things. Have faith and trust that things are as they should be and they are all in place to help make your life absolutely amazing!! "~Amy Anderson

Con amor,

Vero

Three words: "I Love You"

"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver." Proverbs 25: 11

Every spouse has a deep need to feel, cherished, valued, and treasured to name a few. Daily reminders of love and affection will fill your hearts and lift your spirits, nurturing your relationship and causing it to thrive like a lush, well- tended, sunlit garden. And just as a beautiful flower garden harbors many colorful varieties of annuals and perennials, there are countless ways to express love.

A special favor, a helping hand with the chores. A card, a bouquet of flowers, a tasty treat. A touch or what we call "masajito" a hug, an impromptu slow dance. A listening ear, a real conversation. A shared memory, hearty laughter, a walk in the moonlight. A wink, a smile, a compliment. And don't forget to speak those three words each day, "I love you!"

Words are powerful. They can build you up individually and strengthen you as a couple. They can encourage you and remind you of your lifelong commitment to each other., of the reasons why you chose to journey through this life together.

"I love you." Poets and songwriters of every age have searched for compelling words to communicate the depth of such emotion, but none has found a better way than this simple, heartfelt phrase. It never wears out and it never gets out of style. Take a moment to hold hands, gaze into each other's eyes, and whisper it today: "Te quiero" or simply ask: Do you still love me?

Con amor,
Vero

Have a partnership with the Lord

A scripture and a message: "I look top to the mountains -- does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made the heavens and the earth!" Psalms 121: 1-2

The Lord wants to ensure a couple is not alone in their marriage-- He wants to be an integral art of your union. He is always present always available, always ready to help the pair through any difficulty if they will follow his commandments.

Inevitably, trouble comes. Often a disagreement will break out, tempers will flare, and soon an impenetrable wall has risen between you. Communication has broken down, leading to isolation, frustration and despair.

At times like these it's a blessing to know you have access to a God who is all wise, all powerful, and always willing to listen. When you can't talk to your spouse, talk to the Lord. Ask Him to help resolved the situation.

God has unlimited perspective; He can see over the wall. He perceives with utter clarity and can lay bare the root of the problem. Sometimes it is a simple misunderstanding. Sometimes God will provide one of you with insight into the other's deeply felt but unexpressed needs. In any case, The Lord will reveal to each of you your share of the blame and prompt you to humbly see forgiveness, leading to reconciliation and unity. Then you cam rejoice, saying, "He tore down the wall" (Ephesians  2:14)

Make the Lord be a partner in your marriage today, He will make your marriage strong for all your tomorrows.

Con amor,
Vero

Do you have any regrets?

From time to time I share posts from people who have given a lot of thought into what they are writing on their blogs. There is so much wisdom out there that it’s a shame there are not enough hours in a day to read them all but here is one I think need to be re-posted.

 “I was able to hear an amazing talk the other day that every person in this world would benefit from reading. The talk was fairly long, so I have copied and pasted some of the sections of the talk below to share it with you. It’s not the entire talk below, but I pulled out a meaningful subset for you that contains some of the most amazing advice I have ever heard – even the excerpt below is still a little bit long, but I can absolutely promise you that it is 100% worth taking the time to read today –it will change your life!

 “When we are young, it seems that we will live forever. We think there is a limitless supply of sunrises waiting just beyond the horizon, and the future looks to us like an unbroken road stretching endlessly before us.

However, the older we get, the more we tend to look back and marvel at how short that road really is. We wonder how the years could have passed so quickly. And we begin to think about the choices we made and the things we have done. In the process, we remember many sweet moments that give warmth to our souls and joy to our hearts. But we also remember the regrets—the things we wish we could go back and change.

A nurse who cares for the terminally ill says that she has often asked a simple question of her patients as they prepared to depart this life.

“Do you have any regrets?” she would ask.

Perhaps the most universal regret dying patients expressed was that they wished they had spent more time with the people they love.

 Isn’t it true that we often get so busy? And, sad to say, we even wear our busyness as a badge of honor, as though being busy, by itself, was an accomplishment or sign of a superior life.

 Is it?

In our day it is easy to merely pretend to spend time with others. With the click of a mouse, we can “connect” with thousands of “friends” without ever having to face a single one of them. Technology can be a wonderful thing, and it is very useful when we cannot be near our loved ones. My wife and I live far away from precious family members; we know how that is. However, I believe that we are not headed in the right direction, individually and as a society, when we connect with family or friends mostly by reposting humorous pictures, forwarding trivial things, or linking our loved ones to sites on the Internet. I suppose there is a place for this kind of activity, but how much time are we willing to spend on it? If we fail to give our best personal self and undivided time to those who are truly important to us, one day we will regret it.

Let us resolve to cherish those we love by spending meaningful time with them, doing things together, and cultivating treasured memories.

Another regret people expressed was thatthey failed to become the person they felt they could and should have been.When they looked back on their lives, they realized that they never lived up to their potential, that too many songs remained unsung.

Another regret of those who knew they were dying may be somewhat surprising. They wished they had let themselves be happier.

So often we get caught up in the illusion that there is something just beyond our reach that would bring us happiness: a better family situation, a better financial situation, or the end of a challenging trial.

 The older we get, the more we look back and realize that external circumstances don’t really matter or determine our happiness.

We do matter. We determine our happiness.

You and I are ultimately in charge of our own happiness.

My wife, Harriet, and I love riding our bicycles. It is wonderful to get out and enjoy the beauties of nature. We have certain routes we like to bike, but we don’t pay too much attention to how far we go or how fast we travel in comparison with other riders.

However, occasionally I think we should be a bit more competitive. I even think we could get a better time or ride at a higher speed if only we pushed ourselves a little more. And then sometimes I even make the big mistake of mentioning this idea to my wonderful wife.Her typical reaction to my suggestions of this nature is always very kind, very clear, and very direct. She smiles and says, “Dieter, it’s not a race; it’s a journey. Enjoy the moment.”

How right she is!

 Sometimes in life we become so focused on the finish line that we fail to find joy in the journey. I don’t go cycling with my wife because I’m excited about finishing. I go because the experience of being with her is sweet and enjoyable.

 Doesn’t it seem foolish to spoil sweet and joyful experiences because we are constantly anticipating the moment when they will end?

Do we listen to beautiful music waiting for the final note to fade before we allow ourselves to truly enjoy it? No. We listen and connect to the variations of melody, rhythm, and harmony throughout the composition.

 We shouldn’t wait to be happy until we reach some future point, only to discover that happiness was already available—all the time! Life is not meant to be appreciated only in retrospect.

No matter our circumstances, no matter our challenges or trials, there is something in each day to embrace and cherish. There is something in each day that can bring gratitudeand joy if only we will see and appreciate it.

Perhaps we should be looking less with our eyes and more with our hearts. I love the quote: “One sees clearly only with the heart. Anything essential is invisible to the eyes.”

So isn’t it better to see with our eyes and hearts even the small things we can be thankful for, rather than magnifying the negative in our current condition?

Let us resolve to be happy, regardless of our circumstances.

One day we will take that unavoidable step and cross from this mortal sphere into the next estate. One day we will look back at our lives and wonder if we could have been better, made better decisions, or used our time more wisely.

To avoid some of the deepest regrets of life, it would be wise to make some resolutions today. Therefore, let us:

•Resolve to spend more time with those we love.

•Resolve to strive more earnestly to become the person God wants us to be.•Resolve to find happiness, regardless of our circumstances.”                                                                                                                                -Dieter F. Uchtdorf

I love listening to this talk over and over again so I can remember it!  I love the three resolutions it listed and I am going to try really hard to live by those myself.  I love inspiring talks like this because they always influence my life for the better.  What a great way to start off a new day!   Have an amazing day today everyone!  And make the three resolutions!  If you do it will not only change your lives, it will also change the lives of the people you love!“

I also love listening to talks over and over again. 

That is what I do each morning as I walk on my treadmill.  I hope you can also take away the wisdom shared. 

Con amor,

Vero

Let it Go

I have been reading the book Let It Go by Chris Williams and what I took from his book is the following. All of us have been hurt before.  All of us have experienced being let down and disappointed.  We have all had someone we love betray us, some of us in major ways and some of us in smaller ways, but we have all been through the experience of being hurt by someone we care about.

On the flip side of that I am quite confident that all of us have also played the hurting and disappointing and betraying role at some point in our lives. I have yet to meet a perfect human being during my life, so I have no problem stating that we have all made mistakes.

So how do we handle it when someone hurts us?  Are we the person who holds onto that hurt and becomes bitter and resentful?  Or are we the person who can forgive and move on?  While you are considering the answer to that question let me have you step back and think about a few things:

Have you ever seen someone who holds on to a hurt and refuses to let it go?  It is one of the saddest things to observe because you can literally witness a person move slowly down a dark hole of anger and bitterness as more time goes on where they couldn’t just let it go.  They are angry and hurt and all they can focus on is themselves and how wronged they have been.  All they want is for the other person to pay for hurting them, or for the other person to be hurt just as badly, as if that will somehow help to rectify the wrong done to them.

You have to stop and ask yourself, who is really hurt worse here?  The person who committed the wrong act?  Or the person who can’t forgive them and let it go?

 It is so easy for people to get caught up in the “that person wronged me and they haven’t fixed it so I don’t have to forgive them” or the “they haven’t said sorry to me so I don’t have to get over it” syndrome.   But when we get caught up in that mentality we are forgetting the most important thing of all, which is that we need to forgive people for OUR OWN SAKE!  Not for the other person’s sake.  It is us that needs the ability to forgive and let go so that we don’t get trapped into that downward spiral of bitterness and anger that we will carry around every day of our lives until we come to the point that we are able to forgive and let go.  

 When we are in that state of holding on to our anger we end up hurting every other healthy relationship around us because we are distracted and angry that pushes others away.  It also causes us to miss out on all the good that happens around us because we are too busy concentrating in our own self-pity.

“Refusing to forgive is like taking poison and hoping the other person will die.”  -unknown

Here are the facts:  People are going to disappoint you.  People are going to make mistakes.  People are going hurt you.  People are going to do dumb things.  Why?  Because they are human and we all make mistakes.  Hopefully we don’t make horrible mistakes that are hard to fix, but inevitably we are all going to make mistakes and there will be times when all of us will be asking someone else for forgiveness, hoping they will be kind enough to grant it to us.

I have been through experiences in my own life where I have been hurt deeply.  By friends, by family, by coworkers, by a loved one.  I have been through times in my life where I was the person to hold on to those hurts and have them fester inside, and I have been through times where I have made the choice to forgive those hurts and move forward with truly letting them go.  There should be no surprise to hear that the lesson I learned was that I am a happier and stronger person when I have the ability to forgive and let go.  Not only am I stronger and happier but I am also at peace and the ability to be at peace is a genuine blessing in life. 

 I learned that letting go is for my benefit, not for the benefit of the other person.   I also realized that forgiving didn’t mean I had to stay around the person that wronged me.  You can forgive someone and be wise enough to steer clear of them in the future.  That applies often times to situations where someone has been abused.  They still need to forgive their abuser for what they have done to them so that they themselves can move forward in their own life, but they certainly don’t have to allow that abuser to be part of their life going forward.  You can forgive someone without allowing them to be a part of your life.  They are two different things. 

 Forgiveness is about letting go of your anger or hurt caused by another person.  It’s about deciding that you are not going to try and judge the other person because you don’t know everything that has gone on in their life to cause them to act the way they have acted and you don’t understand what their motivation or intention was because you are not inside of their head.  It’s about realizing that it’s really up to God to judge that person, not you, and all you can control is how you will handle yourself.  You have to truly let go of trying to do God’s job of judging them and worry more about how God will judge you for how you have behaved, because that is the part that you can control.

 Forgiving and letting go is one of the best ways to bring happiness and peace into your life.  It builds character to learn how to truly let go.  It will teach you compassion and empathy for others which will also give you more peace.  Is it hard to do? Sometimes.  But is it worth it to do?  Always. 

“Remember, heaven is filled with those who have this in common: They are forgiven. And they forgive.” – Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Today my challenge is to consider anything I am holding onto in my life that I need to forgive and let go, and then choose to do that!   Then enjoy the peace that comes into my life because I will have earned it! 

Con amor,

Vero

It could always be worse

 Okay so you are probably wondering what kind of depressing title is that?  but before you think that let me tell you the backstory of it so you can understand that this phrase has become a powerful reminder in my life that has helped me to put things in my life into perspective each day, and how I think it could do the same for all of you…

 As many of you know I have an amazing mother who had open heart bypass surgery two years ago. Momma Gloria is one of the most positive people I have ever met. She is always in a good mood. She is always happy. She always has a kind word to share with anyone at any time. I rarely, if ever, hear her complain. From the time she went in to be operated to the minute she got to go home, her chart always had a happy face telling the nurses she was doing just fine even when she was probably tolerating a lot of pain. Without going into too many details I will tell you that my mom has been through many trials in her life. 

I was about 16 years old when my mom got pregnant again and she went to full term with a darling baby girl that she delivered stillborn. Going to the funeral for her little girl, my little sister, Maria Cristina, was one of the most heartbreaking things to experience.

She once again kept her positive attitude and stayed cheerful and pushed forward. Many would have given up far before she did, but not my mom. She stayed positive and they tried again and this time they were blessed with a healthy baby girl, Gloria Maricela. 

I honestly have wondered how did she do it? How does she stay positive no matter what trials come into her life? How does she stay so cheerful? And then one day I finally figured it out: My mom and I were home when we got word that my daughter had gotten into an accident, bad enough that totaled the car. I was complaining about it and my mom simply smiled and said “It could always be worse.” She didn’t say it in a mean way or a way to put me down for my being discouraged about it. She said it in her cute little happy tone that interjects joy into the world around her. She was simply reminding me that while what had happened was unfortunate, things could certainly be worse. Yes, the car was destroyed but she came out fine. 

 All at once it hit me. Here is a mom who knows the pain of burying her beautiful little girl – yes, she was painfully aware that it could always be worse, and suddenly I was humbled beyond belief and I felt silly for having been so caught up in my whining about something that in the big scheme of things wasn’t really a big deal at all. 

My mom has had to remind me many times during her visits with me that “It could always be worse” and each time the kind little reminder snaps me back into the reality that life should be kept in perspective. 

Complaints should be kept in perspective. Our appreciation for all that is good in our world should be viewed with that perspective. Because the truth is that it really can always be worse, even when it may seem at its darkest points…it could still get much worse. And so we cannot take anything for granted. We need to be grateful for everything in our life that is a blessing and all of us have many. 

How lucky I am to have someone like my mom in my life to remind me of the beauty in the world around us and the blessings that we have to be grateful for. We all need friends like mamma Gloria in our lives. Remember that “It could always be worse” so let’s be grateful for all that is good in our lives. 

Con amor,

Vero

Spring break is over

From March 17th to April 9th I was away with family and what a wonderful Spring break that was! The trip back to Manila felt so long. I have done it many times but this time I was so anxious to see Daniel after almost one month away. but I am so glad I went to so many places and saw my mom, Bianca, Cristi and the children and grandchildren in Utah. I even saw my Aunt Silvia and tio Jeff because I asked to stay with them during two weekends.

When I first got in, I stayed with Vale and went to Church with her. It was amazing to be surrounded by so much youth. The main purpose of this trip was to spend time with Mandy and we both had a good talk. I went to Church with her and saw some good old friends.  I got a chance to visit my mom in Orlando and heard her give a talk at a Relief Society activity. I was able to attend Conference and be there when the President Nelson was sustained as our new Prophet. I also went to see Cristi and cute family in Idaho during Easter. She does something cute each day of the week during this special time. I came back for the weekends and went somewhere else during the week. My last week, I went to New York to be with Bianca. What a wonderful Easter vacation for me but how I wished Daniel had been there too.

I realized how blessed I am  that for the past almost nine years while we lived abroad, I have been able to travel. It's what I am mostly grateful for.

Con amor,
Vero