Rome 2019

Come Unto Me Stainglass at the Visitor Center

This trip was bittersweet in so many ways.  So many emotions on various levels.  Back in November, I was standing outside a stadium in San Antonio waiting to be admitted inside to see and hear President Nelson speak.  I received an alert about a $300/ticket to Rome during the time of the Rome temple open house.  I half-jokingly sent a text to Thanh asking if we should go.  He texted back and said we should do it.  I’ve never been more excited in my life!!  We went ahead and bought the tickets, then arranged for a vacation-swap with our friends to watch the kids.

2015 at a glance

Family Picture, It’s about time!

About this same time last year, as we were about to say goodbye to 2014, we told each other that 2015 would go by very quickly and so it did. It has been a busy, challenging, and fun-filled year with study, work, travel, church responsibilities, and parenting responsibilities.

Road tripping the last frontier of Vietnam

Lookout point along Ma Pi Leng Pass

We planed, bused, and we biked our way to the most northern part of Vietnam to indulge ourselves in one of the most breath taking views of the land of ‘Nam. After over 500 km (320 miles) road tripping through the region, we returned home having our travel bug well fed with wonderful memories of the natural beauty, of the people, and of the untouched culture of the minorities, only to find out that the bug became  hungry for more.

At a rest stop as we winded our way to Xin Cai Village

A walk among giants

This was taken on our walk to visit a few Hanoi sites after our morning visits

Not in a literal sense, but in a figurative sense, I have walked among some of the spiritual giants of our times. These occasions took place when one of the apostles came to Vietnam to visit with government officials and dignitaries during which I was asked to interpret their exchanges. The most recent one was that of Elder Holland, meeting with one of Vietnamese highest ranking officials, Madame Tong Thi Phong, Vice chairwoman of the National Assembly. In these visits, I got to learn more about the life of an apostle and the more I know, the more I appreciate them and the mantle that they carry.

Learning from babes

We blinked, and a year has passed since Harvey was born.  To say it went by fast would be an understatement!  One year ago we couldn’t quite wrap our minds around having a baby as part of our lives, and now we can’t imagine life without our little Harvey.  Being parents has changed everything.  Our marriage is different.  Our priorities have changed.  Our lives are fuller (is that word?).  Our hearts have loved like never before.