hola

our villa
face mask

pisac, cows coming home
i feel like i've been gone forever...it's only been a week, but what a fantastic week...last sunday (early monday morning) russ and i landed in lima peru, then early at 5 am, we flew to cusco, drove for about 1 1/2 hours to our fantastic hotel which were villas that were out in the country...about 1/2 hour later the girls pulled up! yippee! it was so fun to see them...i can't believe the growth in them...this whole week kerry has been interpreting, guiding...it's been so much fun to watch them...so we went to lunch at the family that they were staying with...sort of quiet as we don't speak much espanol, and they don't speaka da english....then we took a bus to pisac...it was a crowded, crazy bus ride...pisac has a fun market to go see...then back to the villas where our maid cooked our dinner...that's a great life....it was really a long fun day...

family
tuesday we went back to cusco for the inte rime festival...an incan festival...fun to watch...we waited and waited for it to start, then went to lunch at a fun australian restaurant...

in cusco

wednesday we went to machu picchu to celebrate russie's birthday...we were supposed to leave on the 8 am train...only our driver didn't tell us we had to be a half hour early...he got us there right before the train was leaving, so we had to wait for the 10:30 train....finally got there...we went right up to m.p....it was amazing...way different than i thought it would be...what a fantastic, beautiful sight...what amazing people...our hoel was pretty cool...it was in the town of aguas caliente...a beautiful hotel...but, we had the CREEPIEST huge spider in the toilet area and then another in the toilet...about 2 inches long...and an inch wide...russ killed them...

m.p.

m.p.

scary spider

thursday took the train back to cusco...and spent the day there...it was really nice...sort of chilled that day...

friday...which was kelly's 30th...we took a really long, slow train ride...from 8 am until 5:30 pm...we went from cusco to puno...now this train never went more than about 50 miles per hour...it was really slow...but, we saw some pretty scenery, had dancers on the train in the native dress...it was ok...

at 14,172 ftbut, then we got to lake titicaca...which was the greatest...what a beautiful place...we went to our hotel which was out on the lake...very remote...the hotel just opened 3 weeks ago...pretty fun place...saturdy we had a great day of tours of tiqilla island, where we saw the island people...how they live, how they wash their clothes on the rocks...they have solar panels to get electricity...it's a pretty hard life...they showed us how they weave, make their hats etc...top of island

sacred spot

little doll

russ in a head dress

washing clothes

then, later in the afternoon we went to the uros islands which are made of reeds...our guide grew up on them and we went to his families island and met his family...talk about amazing...they live on these reed islands that float if they aren't anchored...it's really cool to see...

dress ups

floating reed islandsuros island

today we had to get up at 4 am to drive to the airport for our 8 am flight to lima...after 9we had a tour of lima...it's a big city...not really my favorite...but good to see...

lima
so, after this long, long travel log...what have i loved in peru?

the scenery is amazing...what a place...i andes are really neat...i really love to see the people in their native dress...it is amazing..machu picchu was fantastic...wow! and lake titicaca was just unreal...so high...12,000 feet...my breathing was rough! blue blue skies...once again...it's fantastic to be abel to travel and see another culture...fantastico....i need to speak better spanish!

whew!

it's over! and i think it turned out great...yesterday was a great day...we had a speaker about humaitarian service...then we did our big service project...it was so great..we had so much stuff for the kids to sort, package, they made alot of blankets...everyone was working...it really turned out well..fun to watch all the kids so busy...the next part of the project is to actually get it sent to malawi! then, we had a great testimony meeting...they are really strong kids...so, i'm off to my next adventure! PERU!

update...

second day of youth conference....i'm exhausted...we just worked all day...and it was hot!!! had work shops...went to the park for barbecue and had a massive water fight that went on and on..the kids had a great time...did i mention it was hot? while the kids went to the dodger game..we stayed and set up for the serivce project...later on about 10 pm...went to the ward for the dance...kids had alot of fun....they learned hip hop...very fun...looks like they are still having fun..if a bit tired...to say the least...

that time of year

it's youth conference! always a fun experience...well, this year instead of chaperoning...i'm in the stake, so i'm 'working' it...not sure if this is as much fun...actually, i'm quite sure it's not....registering everyone was great...heard lots of complaints...hopefully everyone ended up happy...we went to a gymnastics gym tonight...looked like everyone had fun...and on and on...i think the only benefit of being in the stake is that i get to come home and go to bed...well, i better go to sleep now, because we have speakers tomorrow, the park with water games...the dodger game and a dance afterwards..........then, saturday we have our service project which is really exciting...we have been gathering items from all the wards and are sending things to orphanages in malawi...then the testimony meeting...so...onward we go!

little boys

how do little boys like this:

tommy




turn into big boys like this?



russ
willie...the rockclimbing teacher
russ, clayton, ryan and willie
we had a fun time in denver...tommy has grown alot in six short weeks...russ, ryan and clayton gunn came to denver also...it was fun...the boys went rock climbing on sat...had a great time..kelly and i and the babies went to the mall..they played alot of ping pong....we had a great time...on sunday we went to their ward and had the baby blessing...it was very nice, the baby was really great..he's such a good little boy...kate was a doll...she loves to sing and does such a good job at it...it was a fun weekend.
..kel and baby tommy

my little monkey

so, i was busy today...making these:

i'm going to denver because tommy is going to be given a name and a blessing on sunday...so, i wanted to make my baby some little blankets that were from jojo...so i'm off!

attitude is everything

a little story i heard today:
A lady woke up and had 3 hairs on her head and said "oh good, i'll braid my hair today" and she did and had a great day.
The next day the lady woke up and had 2 hairs on her head and said " oh good, i think i'll part my hair down the middle" and she did and had a great day.
The next day the lady woke up and had one hair on her head and said " i guess i'll wear a ponytail today" and she did and had a great day.
The next day she woke up and was bald and said " i guess i don't have to fix my hair today" so she went on her way and had a great day....
Attitude is everything...how's yours?
(from our mission pres. wife)

thought for the day

if you're not someone's good example,
you might be someone's horrible warning!

Which do YOU want to be?

sweet

isn't this sweet? Kate and baby tommy's feet...

i'm blessed

tonight we had the adult meeting for stake conference which was really good..the main theme was family unity and prayer...one of the speakers...can't remember which one...said that Pres. Hinckley said that if we do one thing...have family prayer..as another speaker mentioned..even if it means praying separately with each child...

just teach your children how important praying is and that we can always pray and know that Heavenly Father is listening...then, i was just reading my niece's blog and what a wonderful testimony of listening to the Holy Ghost...we are so blessed to have these blessings in our lives...

i'm so lucky to have the testimony that i have...i don't know how i would have brought my kids up (they turned out so great because of the church and people that helped me), survived tom's dying, being a single mother, and being alone...without it...

i don't usually tell my thoughts on this kind of stuff on my blog, but, i just was really touched tonight by different things that were said...listen to that still small voice...as the song says...it will guide you....and have family prayer!

wishes and sunshine

wishing you lots of sunshine in your hearts...and hoping that ALL your dreams come true!


these pictures remind of of the songs.....

When You Wish Upon A Star

When you wish upon a star

Makes no difference who you are

Anything your heart desires

Will come to you

If your heart is in your dream

No request is too extreme

When you wish upon a star

As dreamers do

Fate is kind

She brings to those who love

The sweet fulfillment of

Their secret longing

Like a bolt out of the blue

Fate steps in and sees you through

When you wish upon a star

Your dreams come true


and of course this is one of my favs..
especially when willie nelson sings it...

You Are My Sunshine

My only sunshine.

You make me happy

When skies are grey.

You'll never know, dear,

How much I love you.

Please don't take my sunshine away

The other nite, dear,

As I lay sleeping I dreamed I held you in my arms.

When I awoke, dear, I was mistaken

And I hung my head and cried.

You are my sunshine, My only sunshine.

You make me happy

When skies are grey.

You'll never know, dear,

How much I love you.

Please don't take my sunshine away.

wishing and hoping and dreaming....of summertime

as you might notice, i have a new look...it's my summertime look...and i've got island fever...wish i was there right now...so hope you enjoy my island pictures...it's almost as good as being there? well, at least the weather is nice...the pool is nicer...and i've been enjoying it...so, if you can't go to an island...bring one to you....