HAPPY WHO-LIDAYS!!!!

i started off my Christmas week in the best way possible...

in dr. seuss' WHOVILLE!

with my lovely Neysha Face!!!!

Universal Studios.

i vote this best picture of the trip:

i'm getting ahead of myself...

let me back track a bit.

our weekend started off a little wrong..

4 hours behind schedule.

pulled over for a speeding ticket.

once we crossed the FL line i realized i left my wallet at home.

no cash. no debit card. no license. nada.

Dave was my sugar daddy all weekend. :)

Saturday: the wedding...

pouring rain up until 1pm.

luckily the water quit falling just in time for pictures...

and the overcast weather proved to be perfect lighting!

* l o v e *

Disney has been reconfirmed as the Happiest Place on Earth.

i have no pictures of the best of our adventures in Disney

because my batteries died.

i will tell you it included

entering the Twighlight Zone through

the Tower of Terror,

Getting the high score on the Toy Story ride...

SO FUN!

Dancing in the lit up streets of NYC to Christmas music.

Seeing one STELLAR light show that got everyone in the Christmas spirit!

Jammin with Steve Tyler on the Rockin Roller Coaster.

all for...$0

thankyou Shelley

:)

my sunday was excellent.

a slumber party with neysha in our hotel (which was like an apartment..quite large!)

church in the morning

where we saw HANDS DOWN the best Christmas program ever.

talent.

saw The Tourist.

not as good as expected.

but entertaining.

Universal = LINES!

but, again...lines that didn't cost me a penny!!!

thankyou neysha

:)

plus, we discoverd that if we rode as "single riders"

we got to skip the long roller coaster lines.

done!

this was us excited that we only waited 15 minutes for THE HULK!

of course the highlight of our stay at universal was kept

until last...

entering Hogsmede @ Harry Potter World.

believe me when i tell you there's a 3 hour wait

just to ENTER this part of the park.

it's THAT ridiculously packed.

i was in a fairytale.

the castle is the best part.

they even have talking paintings which look real.

i'm no Harry Potter freak, but this place makes me wish it really existed!

we sipped on pumkpin juice

and butter beer.

flew through the skies playing Quiditch.

battled it out on the double dragons roller coasters.

i like the red one best.

shelley even bought Harry's wand.

Neysha works at the Three Broomsticks

she got me complimentary Butter Beer

i like it best frozen.

wil likes it best as a mustache...

the day was well spent.

the whole weekend actually.

we left the park around 9.

pooped.

freezing.

sore.

and ready for bed.

but with an 8 hour drive ahead of us

because i had work at 8 am.

it was worth it though.

NOW..

tomorrow the family fun begins.

Cinnamon and fam arrive

Tamaron and Cory fly in

Dacy and Ry and kids the next day.

HOLiDAYS i LOVE YOU!

december 2010

it's december.

time, where have you gone?

i haven't updated this is quite some time.

really i don't think many people even read it, so it's not that big of a deal.

Dacy came down this last month...me, her, and mom enjoyed a ladies' outing...

great speakers.
great weekend.
i felt inspired.

thanksgiving came and went.

nothing too noticeable.

mom was in mexico with the abuelos.

dad and i went to the cheesman's.

maybe i'm a t-day scrooge, but thanksgiving is just another meal to me.

it's nice to be with family, but i guess since no one lives close and family is all spread around,

it doesn't happen like it used to.

i'm excited for CHRISTMAS!

family WILL be in town for that.

in fact.

everyone!

cinnamon.

dacy.

tamaron.

paul.

ryan.

cory.

skylee.

brighton.

briya.

quinlan.

max.

zia.

mom.

dad.

me.

:)

that's what makes a holiday to me.

and especially after a family deprived Christmas the last two years.

i cannot wait

.

12.12.2010

it's getting cold in the south.

today is this winter's first snowfall!

just flurries.

does that even count?

i say yes.

i'm going to ORLANDO soon!

next weekend in fact.

why?

amanda and braden are getting married...

as their photographer, i must follow them to the wedding in Orlando, FL.

the big day: 12.18.2010

so, not only do i get to enjoy their special day with them.

i get to go here:

and see her...

neysha lee lespin.

my puerto rican bf who currently lives in Orlando.

can't wait.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAND...

i get to go here

for

F R E E

...

i love having connections



and...also...i can't go that far and NOT visit Hogwarts...

universal studios.

 Harry Potter World

here i come!

needless to say...this coming weekend has me waiting very anxiously.

other news:

with december comes friends.

and i'm happy to say that the holidays have brought some dear ones back to me.

nate.

mellow mushroom.

brocolli pizza.

good company.

good memories.

after over 2 years...more to come!

i made him a recycled magazine bowl.

he's an earth child.

glad to have him home.

sorry...no updated fotos...we've changed a bit over the years.

soon.

we enjoyed a lovely day around Atlanta and at the Fernbank Museum this week.

the Colorado River and Grand Canyon on IMAX.

it was lovely.

oh...

my car.

it died.

the engine blew it's main gasket.

BAD TIME.

i, as well as every car around me, was engulfed in a white cloud.

unfortunately the car wasn't worth paying $3500 to rebuild the motor.

so i'm saving up to be able to purchase a car by the time kevin's here and i head out west.

speaking of.

i miss that boy.

his application to BYU is done.

all he lacks is taking an english test this week.

i wish he'd get here sooner.

that way we can pick a date and start planning the wedding already.

why did i have to fall in love with someone who lives in Colombia?!

the Lord is definitely teaching us both patience.

and faith.

we're still not sure who will be his sponsor for BYU.

dad says i need to have more faith.

i know it will all work out...

just not quite sure how yet.

faith.

yes.

anyway,

i miss him.

***HAPPY HOLIDAYS!***

oh...and i won at Bunco night this month!

haha..go me.

10.22.2010

exactly 2 years ago TODAY...

something happened that changed my life.

c o m p l e t e l y.

and for the better.

i would relive it in a heartbeat.

october 22, 2008

some of you might recognize those doors and the signs above them.

or more recognizable...

mom and dad dropped me off.

we did the long road trip out to provo from atlanta 4 days before.

it gave me time to collect all my school stuff i'd left in "storage" at friends' homes

and say my goodbyes to all the ones i left at byu.

i was already set apart...so it was a little different.

my last "meal" that day before entering the mtc...

J-DAWGS

a provo delicacy.

if you've never had one...

i'm sorry.

best doggies ever!

connie and jared both worked there...

i ate PLENTY. 

it was my last wish...

mom, me, erika, connie

Puerto Rico San Juan East Mission.

October 22, 2008 - May 13, 2010

literally the BEST time of my life.

"My mission meant everything to me and I want it to mean that to you."

-Jeffrey R Holland-

i would have to 100% agree.

what helped me decide:
"Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God, ye are called to the work."
-Doctrine and Covenants 4:3

10.20.2010 Colombia Report Part II

One night Sebastian (like a brother to Kevin) drove us up to a mountain to see Pereira at night.

unfortunately my camera didn't quite capture the beauty of it.

 this is the group that went with us that night.
Jhony, Leslie, me, kev, Kelly, and Sebastian.

i absolutely LOVED when we went one day for a tour via MOTORCYCLE!

that's the mode of transportation for most in Pereira.

that or bus.

it reminded me of my summers in Mexico at my grandparents

we used to play on the four wheelers and motorcycles around town and in the apple/peach orchards.

6 of us went.

3 motos...2 on each.

SO FUN!

on our way home we got poured on...freezing cold.

still...i loved ever second of it.

i attempted taking a video...

if you get motion sick, don't watch it. haha. sorry.

not really in the city, but just some parts of town.

As far as food.

i did eat and eat and eat.

i gained 5 pounds, not too bad, could be worse right?

Kevin's mom kept me well fed 

and in between, kevin and his cousins had me trying things from stands on the streets.

i felt like i was back on the mish sometimes...

we would visit family and friends of his and EVERY house offered food

often even a whole meal.

i was stuffed.

 ...some of my favorites. even though i loved it all.

there is still more to say and share about my trip...i'll save that for a later day though.

We No Speak Americano

Ok...so after all the planning and waiting and anticipation...i went and came back and it's 

O V E R!

ALREADY!!!!

colombiailoveyou.

now for the report:

getting there i was so anxious i couldn't function. 

3 hours of sleep the night before and 4 long flights ahead of me, yet i couldn't sleep a wink all day on the plane.

Atlanta to South Carolina to Miami to Cartagena, Colombia and FINALLY

to Pereira.

ONLY, with my luck, by the time we got to Pereira, it had been raining so hard they closed the airport and flew us to Bogota where we waited on the weather to improve.

I made friends with the adorable family next to me who let me borrow their cell to call Kevin and explain why I wasn't at his airport. They told me all about all the things to do in Pereira, asked about me and Kevin and how we met and it was great because of course the mish came up and I took the opportunity to talk about the church. 

They're catholics...but not active.

They'd seen the stake center in Pereira, so I invited them to General Conference the coming weekend! 

Anyway...before we parted, the husband gave me a really neat woven wood bracelet with the colombian flag colors. 

I love making new friends :)

ANYWAY...I made it to Kevin by 10pm instead of 6pm. 

Long day.

But worth it.

 i feel like i've known Kevin for years.
everything was just perfect.
there are some things your heart just knows.
and yes...
it's L O V E

 weather was...usually overcast. 
it drizzles a lot.
but sunny times in the afternoon too.
evenings and nights cool...though there they think it's freezing. hardly.
i walked the famous VILLADUCTO bridge...
modeled after the one in san fran, ca.

 In Colombia every street  is full of life...always music...

I'm pretty positive I heard this song everyday while I was in Colombia.

Many great memories are linked to it now.

So I thought I'd share...

If you haven't heard it already...aqui esta...

One night Kevin, his cousin Leslie, and I went to go visit Leslie's boyfriend at his work...
he's a DJ at a club. Club Karma.
Only the club was too full and wouldn't let us in, so we walked to the corner and Leslie treated me to the yummiest thing EVER.
 "Arepa Rellena"
Literally meaning "Filled Arepa"
An arepa is kind of like a really thick corn tortilla. 
In this case they sliced it open and it worked like a pita bread pocket.
It was stuffed with melted cheese, chicken, pork, cabbage on top, a slice of crispy bacon...and a mini hard boiled egg on top.
They have sauces that you can put on top too.
iLOVEDit.
Kevin said it's kind of like their hamburger. Only to me...ten times better.
a small vid of it...

Here is Leslie (basically Kevin's sister, they've grown up in the same house since birth) and her boyfriend Harold.

They've been together 4 years. 

I just love them!

and miss them already.

We did make it into the club while he was DJing on another night.

I tried to take a video of him.

It was way dark though.

 

this is Lady Tatiana Contreras Lopez.

Kevin's lil sister.

she's 20.

DON'T call her Lady, she hates it.

It's Tatiana. Or Tati.

she's tall and skinny and studying to be a teacher.

lots of boys like her, 

but she doesn't like any of them because she's grown up with them like brothers.

she laughs at a lot of things, which makes me laugh.

she's also had long long hair like this her whole life.

she's funny...when we all got Raspoa (shaved ice with flavors and sweetened condensed milk and other toppings)...

she just asked for shaved ice with a ton of lime juice all over it.

that is Tati.

love her!

the rest of us that day:

Juan Pablo, Tati, me, Kevin, Les, Harold

here is me and kevin and his mom.

Victoria.

she is incredible.

she turned 50 this year.

she was a convert to the church in her 20's.

been 100% active ever since.

thanks to her, all 3 of her kids have grown up strong members.

and her two sons served missions.

her children are her life.

(kevin-23, ivan-21, tatiana-20)

so many hugs and kisses everyday even though her kids are older...

i love the love in their family!

i admire her because she's such a strong woman having raised a family as a single mom.

kevin's dad left them when he was 4, i believe, and is now somewhere in Chile.

no one knows.

Even though she suffers from a heart condition which slows her down, 

she never stops.

She treated me as her daughter while i was there.

all she has, she gives for others.

and she's HILARIOUS.

she strikes up a conversation with anyone anywhere 

and can always bring a smile to their face.

ha...some of the things she says!

she also always brings the church into the conversation somehow.

a very admirable woman.

Often kevin would have to leave for classes at the U or for other errands...

Me and his mom would have time together and had many lovely conversations.

she truly is a wonderful and admirable woman.

with the fam...
tati, mami, kevin, me, ivan...
(granted the fam is bigger, they live with their grandma, aunt, 
and three cousins which are considered siblings too)
Ivan also served a mish in Puerto Rico.
Him and Kevin left and came home the same days.
Only Ivan served in the West mission and Kevin was in the East mish.
he's 21.
he is THE nicest guy I've ever met.
and so selfless.
and ALWAYS with a BIG smile.
except here...haha...seems he's not so photogenic.

neither is kevin though :)

fotos don't do them justice.

Ivan works visiting medical patients and also studies at the U.

he helped take care of my bronchitis while i was there

and always washed my dishes.

He would also always practice his english with me.

He has a super cute girlfriend Natalia...I hope they get married.

oh love.

***i have more...but for some reason i can't access my videos right now, so sit tight and wait for Colombia Report Part II :) COMING SOON***

other news:

I got a call yesterday from "Vicky with the National Fraud Recovery Department".

She proceeded to ask me if i had authorized a $400 check

which i hadn't.

So she said she'd cancel it.

then she tried telling me she needed to "update" their system 

and wanted my new bank account number. 

HA!

After 3 strikes of people emptying my bank account with

fraudulent checks

and changing my account completely...

they think they are going to get me again by asking for it over the phone??

these dirty little rats!

 After our interesting conversation i tried calling her back...

go figure...it's not a working number.

what kind of world do we live in!
Dear "National Fraud Recovery Department":
YOU SUCK! 
and you will never again steal my money. 

9.18.2010

I'm going to COLMBIA!!!!!

apologies...i'm just so ecstatic.

you have no idea.

i know what you're thinking...colombia? uh, druglord captial of the world and i'm going to get myself shot.

first, not too long ago, London was considered the "cocaine capital of the world" and how many people travel THERE? plenty. now it's afghanistan that's the most highly infested with drug activity.

but sadly, in this world we live in, really what country doesn't have those problems in their streets?

and now...the "murder capital of the world" is Mexico.

very comforting knowing my grandparents still live down there and refuse to leave. it has my mom losing sleep.

anyway, point being, Colombia has actually become a very safe place for travel. given you don't go out alone or at night in sketchy parts of town...but that's obvious for even here in the ATL!

i'm not nervous at all. i feel really good about it. ok, i AM nervous, but just about what kevin's family is going to think of me...i don't want to come across as a "spoiled american". yah know?

anyway...i've been saving up my paychecks and FINALLY purchased my flight...

SEPTEMBER 30th!!!

so soon!

:)

this is me getting pumped...

i like to google info about the place and town kevin lives in...where i will be staying for 10 days.

He lives in Pereira, Colombia...which is HERE:

it's in a more mountainous region of the country which is apparently beautiful. a little chilly. and rains often. he says they don't have seasons there...it's about the same year round. one week can be sunny and the next cold. i find it interesting that it gets cold considering it's part of the equitorial region of the world. altitude i guess.

thanks to google...some fotos of the place...i'm excited to go and take my OWN.

my dad asks me what i'm going to be doing while i'm down there.

well...it will be general conference when i first get there. so i'll see my 4th in spanish.

kevin's family tell me i'm going to eat and eat and eat and i'll probably come home FAT there's so much they want me to try. i'm ok with that.

not the fat part. the food part :)

and kevin tells me i'm going to dance and dance and dance.

salsa, merengue, bachata

loveit!

seeing as kevin is a "futbol" fanatic, he says we'll go to a soccer game while i'm there.

and that i'll get to see his whole city.

it's going to be well worth my saved up pennies.

i love getting to know new cultures...meeting new people...seeing/trying new things...

and all the while being with the person who makes my heart go pitter-patter. :)

so there you have it.

12 days and counting.

...