The Hour of Your Mission Has Arrived - Almost!

 We received our mission call in November and knew we would be leaving in early March . That seemed like a LONG time away but now it is here.  We fly to Utah tomorrow, spend the weekend with George's sister Tammy and go to the Missionary Training Center on Monday!

On Sunday we spoke in church.  All last year I taught Primary, which is like children's Sunday School.  I love these kids so much.  I asked if they could sing my favorite song and they did.  I am glad they sang after my talk and not before.  Their sweet voices singing about The Tree Of Life definitely made me tear up.

Our dear friends Rinda and Brent drove up from Salt Lake City to be with us. 

Last night we were 'set apart' by our Stake President.  He gave us a special blessing invoking God's richest blessing on us.  So many of my fears were alleviated and much comfort as well as admonitions given.  I will forever remember how I felt when hands were laid on my head.  The spirit was strong. I definitely felt blessed!

Next we put a pin in the map to show where we were going. 

Took us awhile to figure out exactly where Piura, Peru was!

But we did!

Today we said goodbye to first Matt

And then to John

Isabella and Monica didn't want to come over to say goodbye.  I think that they thought it would be too hard.  

Tomorrow it will be telephone goodbyes to Mary and Scott.

This IS going to be hard!

So thankful for Zoom and FaceTime and WhatsApp.

Our loved ones won't seem so far away thanks to technology.

Grandma and Isabella Get Creative

 Before we leave for our mission I wanted to take Isabella on a fun outing.  First lunch at Chick-fil-A , which was was her choice!

Then painting pottery at 'A Way With Clay' in Meridian.  You pick out a piece, paint and decorate it and they fire it for you.  The hardest part is waiting a week to pick up the finished piece.

Isabella decided on a cute bear 

And worked very hard on her painting.

It took a lot of patience to let it dry between coats.  

Luckily they gave us some fans to help with the process

Next Isabella added details.

I stuck with a simple geometric vase in one color.

Isabella wasn't too impressed but I like it.

When we were done with our pottery, Isabella asked, 'What are we doing now?"  I thought we were going home but when she asked for a treat I did what any Grandma would do.....we went to Crumbl!

Isabella was a bit impatient waiting to see her creation but she was very happy with what she had created.  I love it too.

I will miss spending time with this cutie....

I am leaving when she is in 3rd grade. I'll be gone for her whole 4th grade year and will be back just about the time she starts 5th grade.

I fully expect her to be taller than I am by then.

I couldn't 't possibly love her any more than I do!

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A Caribbean Safari????

 We love animals!  Our safaris in Africa have been some of our best experiences while traveling.  Who would have thought that the highlights of a Caribbean Cruise would also be seeing wildlife!

Alligators right by our walking path in the Everglades!

Manatees circling our ship as we were pulling away from the dock

A fish feeding frenzy in the Bahamas!

Sloths in Roatan, Honduras.

The guide assured us that they were every bit as lazy as we had been led to believe.

But could anything be any cuter? 

The workers lift them up by their arms and sort of hang them on you.

Also McCaws

And spider monkeys

They are the opposite of the sloths - perpetual motion machines who look in pockets and will take glasses and anything not attached firmly.

The guide put food on our heads which the monkeys loved!

These animals were all rescued from illegal sales and have found sanctuary in this wonderfully run place.

Schools of fish off the coast of Roatan

Colorful starfish in 'Star Fish Alley'.

Dolphins welcoming our snorkel group to Belize

A cooperative Moray Eel

Pelicans

A family favorite thanks to Grandpa Lewis's Pelican poem!

The fishermen were cleaning fish and the pelicans were looking for any scraps that might be thrown their way.

Standing in shallow water with stingrays and nurse sharks!

The sharks have rough sandpaper like skin

The rays feel like squishy mushrooms.

Seeing a Seahorse in the ocean

They hide among the roots near the shore because according to our guide, everything likes to eat them.

Feeding Tarpons

They are aggressive, stealth hunters.

And yes holding that little fish out there was a bit scary!

Of course iguanas in Mexico.

And finally in Key West, Hemingway's cats - well actually the descendants of his polydactyl cats or cats with extra toes.

They live at the house where he lived during his time in Key West.

And have free rein of the house and gardens.

The cruise was one memory making day after another.