Next Stop: Argentina

We flew to Argentina and arrived early Saturday morning. We were so happy to meet with the Flinders - the parents of Karsen, our beloved daughter in law . They are serving a mission in a city a few hours from Buenos Aires. We had lunch (bife the chorizo)

After lunch, we walked the "Florida" - a nice shopping street. Oscar and Ann had fun sitting with the pirates!


We then went to our respective hotels to rest for a little while so we could be ready for our "triple date" night. Another couple - The Calevosos - joined us and we went to watch a Tango Show. They had the history of tango interpreted by a live band and a group of dancer. It was very interesting. We enjoyed the show, but we the company of our friends was even more enjoyable!

Sunday morning we found a church building close to the hotel and attended all meetings. It was wonderful to hear the familiar message of the gospel. All the teachers were well prepared. We heard beautiful talks by missionaries. Everybody welcomed us and made us feel at home with them. I am always so grateful and amazed to realized that no matter what part of the world we are, the message of the restored gospel is the same.

We were trying not to buy anything to keep the Sabbath, so we just enjoyed a few 'çomplimentary' bites from the lobby. Sadly, I ended up with food poisoning, and my next two days in Argentina were spent in a hotel room, so sick that I thought I wasn't going to leave the country alive! But I survived! :)

Trip to the South - Next Stop: Sao Paolo, Brazil

We arrived in Sao Paolo at noon. We of course didn't realize it was that late in the day, because we were sleeping! Sao Paolo is three hours ahead of Lima. We stayed in a hotel with an European "feeling". I went out to the "United Nations" plaza right accross from the Hotel. There were small stores and lots of people there. After Oscar had his meetings, his business partner took us to the "tallest building in Latin America" it is called "Plaza Italia". We went to the very top of the building. The view was breathtaking! I had not imagined how big the city really is. Fourteen million people live there! Once again I realized: the higher you go, the better you see! This is only one side of the view, but as I turned around, I had the same view all around me!

After business meetings, etc. Oscar was able to go to the Sao Paolo Temple with me. We called the temple and we were told the Temple was about ten minutes from our Hotel. We left the Hotel over an hour before the session just to have enough time, but it took us one hour and fifteen minutes to get there! Traffic was bad, and it didn't help that our taxi driver took the busiest route. We were dissapointed that we could not do anything at the temple, because they were having a meeting with all the workers that were not at the 6:00 oçlock session that we missed!

There was a stake center next to the Temple, and they were getting ready for a youth dance. We went and talk to the leaders, and they invited us to stay, but we politely declined! But it was so fun to see their decoration, announcements, etc. They were all very familiar to us! I am always amazed of how the church, church programs, etc. are the same anywhere we go! We left the building and started walking and what did we see? A Walmart! Can you believe it? Only I can find Walmarts wherever we go! Haha!

Our flight next morning was early, so we left with extra time. But this time we were able to actually take an earlier flight to Buenos Aires, Argentina!

Trip to the South - First Stop - Lima, Peru

I was lucky to be able to go to South America with Oscar! He is working and I am his traveling companion. We flew from Miami Airport to Lima Peru. We arrived very late in the night. I was nervous to just get in a taxi to take us to the hotel. But Oscar has been doing this same thing long enough to know what is the safest way to do things. I am grateful for all the protection Oscar has received during the 25 years he has been traveling for business almost every other week. We stayed in a hotel by the ocean. Across the street from the hotel was a very modern shopping center, built right by the sea. It was really nice.













Before we left home I did some research about the temples in the countries we would visit. I got the addresses, telephone numbers, and all the other information I thought I could need.













I took a taxi to the Lima Peru Temple while Oscar was having some business meetings. The temple is really small. The session I participated was full - 25 people total!!

We invited my friends, Rosy and Andres Ramos, to have dinner with us in the plaza accross from the hotel. I was friends with them in Guatemala, before any of us was married. It was so fun to reconnect with them. Andrés works as Director of Temporal Affairs for the church, so he is responsible for the physical condition of chapels and temples, right now in some three or four countries in South America. I was so excited to see them and for Oscar to meet them, I forgot to take a picture with them!! :( But here is a picture of Oscar and I at top level of the shopping center.

After dinner we said good bye to our friends and quickly went to the airport, only to find out our flight to Sao Paolo, Brazil was delayed four hours!!

Another Trip to Utah!

Since Tito and his family aren't coming home to Florida for Christmas, we went to Utah just for the weekend to visit with them. It was so nice, but not enough! I wish I could spend so much more time with each of my children, just one of one! But I am grateful I get to see them.
We bought superman capes for all three little boys. It is fun to see them running with them!A picture with Abuelito
A picture with Abuelita Of course we visited with our other children and their families also! We love them all!

I Am Grateful For...

One of the greatest blessings I have is my husband. I feel we make a very good couple/team. For example, he is so good at helping me when I ask for help. He might resist(or should I say "he always resists"!) my ideas at the beginning, but then he jumps right in to help.
I love my man!

Danny's Birthday

It's hard to believe that my youngest child is no longer a teenager! Danny is turning 20 years old today! He is on his mission in California right now. We miss him so much! But there is no other place we would rather he be.

Happy Birthday Danny! You have been such a great blessing and joy to us! We love you!

Thanksgiving week

We have so many blessings, and it so good to remember them and take time to be thankful for them!

We were so happy to have Manny home for a week! He flew in Saturday night - Nov. 20th. and stayed with us until today, Sunday, Nov.28th. Even though he still had school homework, we were able to relax, watch movies and just enjoyed time together. His visit was the highlight of our week.


On Thanksgiving day we had eleven guest over for dinner: Sandy and Thamar Ortiz, Walter, Carmen and Jennifer Lagiglia, Carmen and Alfred Arzuaga, Maria, Valeria and Paola Ramirez, and Mario Perez. We had good food and conversation and after dinner we moved to the living room and had a great time singing and visiting. I had my camera ready, but as usual, I FORGOT TO TAKE PICTURES!!:(


Friday after Thanksgiving we started getting the house all ready for Christmas. The anticipation of having some of our children and their families come home is great. Oscar took two days to build a swing set for the little ones, while I have been cooking, shopping, wrapping presents and setting up Christmas decorations. It is so much fun to be working while thinking "grandbabies".
The "new look" of our backyard.
A baby size Christmas tree in our family room.

I love this season of the year! I love a reminder to count my blessings and be thankful! I love to start all the preparations for the upcoming Christmas celebration!