Visit With The Reynolds

While our young missionaries don’t have the option to travel home for special occasions, we ‘senior missionaries’ do!  Our mission leaders flew to California for a son’s wedding.  Hermana VanAlfen went to Utah when their only daughter had her first baby.  The Nye’s returned to Idaho for their daughter’s wedding.  It was my turn in October when I flew to Washington DC to be there when Mary and Mark’s youngest was sealed to them in the DC Temple.  

Trevor Jake Reynolds

Jake was my Daddy’s name.  

The day at the temple was the reason for the visit.

Families can be together forever!

George’s sister Karen, me,  Mark’s mom Jan, the cute family, Mark’s sister Amanda and Mary’s cousin Mindi.  Mary and Mindi had been friends for several years before they discovered that they were 2nd cousins.. 

Happy Grandma!  Next time I hope someone reminds me that my glasses get dark in the sun.  Looks like I am hiding from the paparazzi!

In addition to the temple, we enjoyed the park.

Cool shadow photo

The National Zoo

Fun on the carousel!

And plenty of play time at home!

Jackson is pretty good at sharing his toys with little brother.

As long as he is in charge!

The truck that Trevor is sitting on was mine when I was a little girl.  

And I had plenty of opportunities to eat all the American fast food I had been missing.  Wendy’s,  Chick-Fil-A, and Cafe Rio!

When I flew to DC my suitcase was almost empty but not so on the way back.

Lots of Amazon orders and shopping for food we can’t get in Peru, like brown sugar, canned pumpkin, taco sauce, dry mustard, Dijon mustard, zip lock bags……

I flew back to Peru with a 50 pound bag and a carry-on that I could barely lift.  I bought enough new clothes to keep me happy for the next year.  Since the weather doesn’t change much in Piura, you don’t have seasonal clothes changes and I was tired of my clothes already.  Now I just need to ration them out over the next 10 months.

I am happy I got to be there for shoppping and fast food but 

I am thrilled that I got to be there to enjoy such a special time with this darling child.

8 is Going to Be Great!

Isabella will be eight in October and will be baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Monica wanted to get some photos by the temple while the flowers were still blooming and the weather was nice.

With Aunt Karen

Mom, Dad, Grandma and Grandpa 

She's a Daddy's girl!

Eternal love!

Grandma and Grandpa. 

The whole group, including Monica's dear friends, Claudia and Paul.  Claudia is from Argentina and her husband, Paul, served his mission in Barcelona.  They are a great support system for Monica.

I do love to see the temple, especially with the people I love.

 

This and That

Even though we have lived in Eagle for years, this was our first time at the Eagle Fun Days - Water Parade! We all enjoyed it but no one more than Isabella.  Our 'water girl' loved every minute, even when being sprayed with water from the fire truck.  You can tell by my expression that the cold water was a shock!  Definitely will plan to go to this one next year and we'll be better prepared with our own super soakers and water!

Isabella continues to be a total delight.  Last Sunday we had a treasure hunt with clues that eventually led her to the 'treasure box' I bought years ago in Dubai.  It is filled with Mardi Gras coins and necklaces thanks to my dear friend, Janet Brown.  Definitely treasures to this little girl!

 Ice cream continues to be an important part of our Sunday night dinner, no matter what else in on the menu.

And after almost 17 months George and I went back to the temple.  So wonderful to be in that place of peace, learning and revelation!

Looking at this non-selfie stick photo I can definitely see the advantage of using one!  Without it I am all NOSE!!!!

 

45 Years

 Today is our 45th Wedding Anniversary!

On October 29, 1975, two kids walked into the Salt Lake Temple and when we walked out we were 
 MARRIED!

Our parents had driven from Arkansas and Chicago to share that day with us. And of course George's siblings, John, Karen and Tammy were there too!

Years later, just after George's Mom had passed away, Tammy told us that she saw her dad in a pensive mood and when questioned he remarked that he was thinking of their 'years of doing things together'.

That is exactly what I've been doing for the last few days as I've contemplated 45 years of 'doing things together'.

One of my favorite Kenny Rogers songs is called, 'Through the Years'.  I love the lyrics and they express my feeling as I reflect back on the years.

I can't remember when you weren't there

When I didn't care for anyone but you.

I swear, we've been through everything there is

Can't imagine anything we've missed

Can't imagine anything the two of us can't do

Through the years

You've never let me down

You turned my life around

The sweetest days I've found, I've found with you.

Through the years 

I've never been afraid 

I've loved the life we've made

And I'm so glad I've stayed right here with you

Through the years

I can't remember what I used to do

Who I trusted, whom I listened to before

I swear, you've taught me everything I know

Can't imagine needing someone so

But through the years, it seems to me I need you more and more

Through the years

Through all the good and bad

I knew how much we had

I've always been so glad to be with you

Through the years

It's better everyday

You've kissed my tears away

As long as it's ok, I'll stay with you

Through the years

When everything went wrong

Together we were strong

I know that I belonged

Right here with you

Through the years

I never had a doubt

We'd always work things out

I've learned what life about

By loving you

Through the years.

 

Temple Building People

Mormons or members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are a temple building people. Right now there are 144 operating temples worldwide with 14 under construction and 12 more announced but not yet started.

These beautiful and sacred buildings are not used for Sunday services. Rather faithful church members attend the temple during the week to participate in ordinances designed to unite their families forever and help them return to God.  We are blessed with a temple right here just a few miles from our home.

While traveling in Myanmar we went to an area called Bagan.  During the 9th - 13th centuries the capital of the kingdom was here and because of that over 10,000 Buddhist temples, pagodas and monasteries were constructed.  About 2200 have survived to this day.

The styles and materials vary from temple to temple.

Some are enormous!

Others relatively small.

A few are illuminated in the evenings but most are not.

All are quite beautiful and a testimony of the faith of these ancient 'temple building' peoples.

Wedding in Salt Lake

We thoroughly enjoyed our short little trip to Salt Lake.  The main reason we went was to be there for the wedding of Judea Abellán Pardo, one of the sweet little girls I loved in our Primary in Barcelona.  She is now a beautiful returned missionary and was married in the Salt Lake Temple.  Incidentally that is where she served her mission - Temple Square.   Two years ago we attended the wedding of her sister Canaán also in the Salt Lake Temple.  At that time Judea was on her mission but her mission president gave her permission to attend the ceremony.  This time another sister Nain is serving her mission in the Provo South Mission and she also got to attend her sister's wedding.  The youngest sister Nazaret is serving her mission right now in California.  Have you gotten the idea that this is a remarkable family?  Six girls, all but one have served missions, all who are married have married in the temple!  Two sons, one passed away a few years ago and the other soon to be married in the temple!  I give much credit to their parents Isabel and Antonio.

 

Daughter Nain, mother Isabel, me, father Antonio, and daughter Canaán

 I asked Antonio the secret to raising such a fine family and he said, "Libertad"which means freedom.  He didn't mean that he let his children have total freedom but that his children had their free agency and they choose wisely.  Joseph Smith said, "I teach them correct principles and they govern themselves."  Antonio and Isabell can take credit for being wonderful examples and teaching correct principles.

Now with Canaán's husband Kevin in the group....

 

And here is the beautiful bride Judea and her handsome husband Victor! 

So happy to have shared this day with these people we love so much.  As I was leaving Isabel hugged me and said, "Te amo un montaña".  I love you a mountain!  Igualmente!  Me too....I love this family a mountain!

Exciting, happy news!!!!

Johnny and Monica are starting their own eternal family on May 30th in the Buenos Aires Temple!  They have been in love for a long time.  Such an exciting time for them and for us!  George and I will make a quick trip so that we can be there for this happy occasion.  Actually we wouldn't miss it!