Day 6 and 7

Day 6 actually started Friday night when we caught a bus at 11:00pm and arrived in Quito at 8:00am Saturday morning. We then took another 2.5 hour bus ride to the town of Otavalo where the people live a more indigenous lifestyle. They have a HUGE market where you can find all sorts of handmade things!

David and Paul bought these hats!

The four of us!

After the market we headed about 20 min away to a town called San Antonio/ Ibarra. This is the area where David and Paul served together so it was so great that Paul and Paula were able to come with us.

This is Maria Teresa! She used to sit in the park and slap David's behind every time he would walk through there. She's still there and seemed to recognize David. I have a picture of her that David took while he was on his mission that has hung on my fridge for 5 years because it always brings a smile to my face. I will have to scan it and post it sometime.

Pillar and her family. She now has her papers in to go on a mission.

Sister Herrera and her husband. She is a strong member and her husband does incredible woodwork.

On Sunday we went to church and we were excited to see Oswaldo there because David and Paul had wanted to see him and were not sure how to track him down.

After church we went back to Quito and David, Paul, and Paula spent the rest the day visiting with some members that had moved there. I, on the other hand, stayed in bed at the hotel after getting sick from some food bug. NOT FUN!

Alicia, Pillars sister (who also has her mission papers in.)

Sylvia, (who David baptised) and her sisters.


It was so fun because every where we went, when people saw David and recognized him, they were so happy to see him. True joy would spread over their faces (that's the best way to describe it) and he had some long embraces. The people of Ecuador are so humble and kind and it was an amazing experience.

Surprise... Day 8 and 9

Monday we were supposed to be heading home but because of Hurricane Ike our flight was cancelled.
So we took another tram ride to the top of the mountain with Paul and Paula except I just sat inside the lobby... I was trying to feel good! They took a horse ride to a little church at the top of the mountain.


After that, I was done, so went back to the hotel and wasted an extra day in a foreign county... but what can you do?

We said goodbye to Paul and Paula and the next day we managed to catch a flight home. It was the longest flight of my life being sick but knowing that my kiddos were waiting for me at the other end kept me going.

So here is the breakdown of our trip:
Airfare and taxes: 105.00
Hotels: 45.00
Transportation: 250.00
Food: 100.00
Gifts and Souvenirs: 100.00
TOTAL COST= 600.00

Memories= PRICELESS

Tia!!?!?!??

Poor little Aidan has the flu (thanks mom!). It's so cute though because when he is sick the only thing he ever wants to eat is a "tia" (translation: tortillas.)

I am knocking on wood that the rest of us don't get it since David and I are heading to Ecuador in a few days for a quick visit back to where he served his mission.

My Latest Projects...

I made these memo boards: one for Brinn's room and one to go in the office about my scrapbook table. So easy and so fun!

Before I Forget...

Today Aidan told me he was a boy.

I asked him what mommy was... a girl
I asked his what Holli was... a girl
I asked him what Grandma was... She's a kid!

The best compliment a Grandma can get!

Blessed!

The other day I was blog surfing and came across this blog. I was drawn into this tragic story of a young couple who were in a small plane crash a few weeks ago. Both are badly burned and of course the clincher to this story is that they have four young children.

I found myself wanting to know about the life of this woman whom I have never met and spent the next while looking at her blog (so cute!). I am now hooked on following the recovery of this couple and check here for updates from her sister. (NOTE: They are also accepting donations to help cover medical expenses.) The sadness of this story weighed on me all day and I found myself reflecting. No one knows what tomorrow has in-store for them but for the most part we all get up and go about our day expecting it to be much like the next. It's so easy to forget about all the simple blessings we have!

Then I started thinking about this blog. I have been spying on Charlie Cooper for months, watching this little guy's progress. I shed tears as I watched him struggle and overcome hurdles that no one was sure he would overcome. I was also touched as his parents so eloquently expressed their love for Charlie and their understanding of his purpose to not only their lives, but to all those who hear his story. I know I hug my kids a little tighter every night when I read about all the struggles this little guy has had.

And I can't talk about being blessed without mentioning this blog. My cousin's baby Drew was born at 1 pound 4 ounces and today at nine months old is topping the scales at a whopping 15 pounds, and has no major complications foreseeable in his future. Drew is a walking blessing... or at least he will be in give or take nine months.

And then I can't reflect on blessings without reflecting on my own blessings. I know I take so many things for granted. After David's experience with cancer, when he was considered in remission I thought "I will never take my health or the health of my family and friends for granted again." Now almost 6 years later I often forget to be grateful for the blessing of our good health...(minus the flu Aidan has right now which will be found in another post.) I am grateful for my kiddos, that I know I have food to feed them every night, that we have beds to sleep in... the list goes on.


So while checking in with these blogs might break my heart, at the end of the day these stories inspire me to be a better mom and wife and make me more thankful for all my blessings.

My Twin!

I had just finished my posts for the night and I was closing up shop in the house. I walked into the office and the comp was doing a slide show of all our pictures and the picture of me in the pumpkin costume popped up. It was so weird because it was almost like looking at my little Brinny girl... people always tell me she looks like me but I never saw it until I saw this pic. We even have the same little grin :)

My New Favorite People...

Don't you know if you want to be on my favorite people list, all you have to do is one simple thing

Come and visit me :) See, simple right?

David's sister Tami came with her two kids, Mekhi and little baby Tayvin. It was our first time meeting Tayvin and what a cutie! And of course Aidan was in heaven having Mekhi here.

Cute cousins Tayvin and Brinn

Aidan and Mekhi... buddies!

And Aidan and Mekhi with uncle Austi who saved the day and did some babysitting for us. Thanks Austin!


Thanks for coming Tami... we love you guys and miss you already!