Daniel with the Grandkids!

Daniel is such a cute grandpa! He loves kids!! Well, he should, he had eight! In Utah he was working super hard still managing things in the DR and starting his new job in the Philippines but somehow we always found time to be with Valentina, Andres and family, Many and Spencer and at this time also Analia, Spencer and Chris. Owen is even in this picture because Rachael is in town. The only brand new baby missing here is Tiago and the oldest grandkids not in this picture are: Charlotte, Graeme, Nixon and Beckett. Six plus five = 11 grandchildren and four on the way!! By the end of January of 2016 we would together share 15 grandchildren!!

Denver

People often asked why on earth do you want to drive nine hours to Denver just to come back in two days? The answer is found in that picture. It's the grandkids! We want them to know that we exist. So we went to Denver for the 24th of July Holiday in Utah and that way Valentina could come with us. It all worked out very well.

At this time we found out my mom had a heart attack and I had plans to go back to El Salvador for the weekend but she asked me to come visit her when she went back to Florida. This made it possible for me to go to Denver. Lucky for us, Ale, Lexi and Tiago were also visiting Denver. Lexi has a sister who lives there as well.

Idaho for the weekend

As soon as we got to Utah we were headed to see Critsi and Bianca and family in Idaho. This was a short trip. Just for the weekend but well worth it.

We had time to relax, and even attend a soccer game  of a team from Mexico and one from Spain. We also met Nicole and her husband. Nicole is probably now like my daughter as she had offered to carry one of Bianca's babies. This is what a sister in the gospel and a true friend is about. She couldn't be more perfect to do this and we are all thankful for her and her husband on offering to do this selfless act of charity. The next day we went Church and left to go back to Utah.

Houston visit

The purpose of this visit was to meet Owen. We had seen him on Skype and Facetime but nothing is like touching someone for real. He is that cute! Oh my and is he so big!! He weights more than some two year olds. He is so good too! The next day, Hernan took time off from work and went to NASA Houston Space Center. What a treat that was! Daniel's favorite phrase whenever he lands at an airport is " The Eagle has landed" and now I know where he got it from.

Tiago time

Now together again in Miami for a quick visit and perhaps the last one in many years. We had been so spoiled to have gone to Miami while we lived in the DR way too many times to even count but this was the last time we would be able to do that.

Daniel loved stopping in Miami as he needed to travel to the other Caribbean islands.  It was a quick flight from Santo Domingo for us so we got to see my mom Mari and Lexi and Ale and now this adorable bundle of joy. Our baby Tiago. The newest member to our family! He is so good, and so adorable!

Back in El Salvador

I had just been there but I felt the need to come back. There were so many things that were pending. ..Number one, my only document that is valid in El Salvador my DUI has the name wrong because of my birth certificate which has been altered.  I needed to make it known that it had to match the rest of my documents. My birthdate is wrong too.

Number two: I needed to talk to the lawyer trying to resolve the issue with the apartment I am trying to sell. I needed to know exactly what happened? It's so weird that this apartment is not even in my name and why is it showing two leans on this property. I also felt I needed to meet the woman who is renting it until all this issues are ironed out.

Three: A meeting was going to take place with Meme, my half brother, and this was the only chance I would have to know exactly what he wants from us.

Four: I needed to find a piece of land in Los Planes I need to sell

Five: I felt compeled to help Liz in some way with the move.

Six: Talk to the people at TCS since there has been a problem with the checks being returned. Etc, etc, etc...

Beside all the endless list of things to do I also needed to find out how my mother was doing because I had a feeling she wasn't well. I noticed that whenever we walked even just a few steps she would be so tired. We went to Maricela's apartment and she couldn't climb any stairs. We went to Silvia Reyes party and also had a hard time climbing the stairs there. She told me, she had gone to see the doctor and he said it was acid reflux but I told her, she needed to see another heart specialist anyway so she made the appointment with another doctor.

There are a few things I couldn't possibly do so I might have to hire someone to help me but once again, I said good bye to El Salvador by attending a 37 year reunion of the class of 1978 in El Club Deportivo. I did my cameo and left when my mom and sisters came to pick me up. They had been attending a different party. I had some stomach issues and didn't want to eat anything anyway. I had to get ready for the next morning to fly to Miami and still needed to pack. I went home and was super tired but somehow I got all packed!

My last Sunday in the DR

This photo was posted on my Facebook page from the children in the Primary. I had worked with the Faith in God program there and loved those kids. I learned so much teaching them. On Sunday July 5th we were supposed to leave for good but Guillermo Antivilo, the new DTA, went on vacation and Daniel had to stay an extra week. This when I felt very strongly I need to go back to see my mom in El Salvador, I didn't know why but I felt very strong I needed to do that.

So we went to fast and testimony meeting, bore our testimonies and went home to get my suitcases and headed to the airport for a week. Daniel was to stay working one more week in the office and he would take care of the movers and all the final packing. I would meet him again the following Sunday.