FLorida in January

As told by Jims brother Tim, this is a must do shot when  coming to Orlando, here we are at Disney Spring, a very fun out door mall, We celebrated Ritas birthday. She really saved the day by making a phone call on Jims phone at just the right time that our lyft driver was in her car wonderinf what to do with an extra cell phone!! so we got Jims cell phone back  and had a great tine sharing family fun and food

REALLY exciting for me was having our oldest grandson from Derek be our Disney trip guide AND see him run 48 miles in the 5k, 10k,, 1/2 and full marathon all around the park. One event each day, llwhich Derek ,Missy and Jake all completed, AND they got to see the park while doing it!!

here we are getting ready for the roller coaster ride, which both JIm and I felt more veritgo after, Jim even got a bag to get sick in after, But it did have Chris Prat and the cute raccon. We wont be doing that one ever again !!

Epcot.. England, LOVED

here is our fav ride, I took my walker for safety and to get in lines faster! and carry all our coats and food. It turned out to be a little cold in the mornings which made it great for the runners

Animal Kingdon! so now I dont have to go to Africa!

Missy and Layla

Izaak and his green buddie

enjoying the sun

now we dont need to go to Asia either

of course we loved Europe where Jim served his mission

AND FRANCE and the food. We had a great time

 

ENDING 2024

We are looking forward to a new year, a fresh start, a healthy additude in mind, body and spirit AND we pray for you our  family and friends also get off to a great new year.

this is our ANNUAL CHRISTmas card which took some qucik moving to finally get it off. The photo was a selfie at Val's and it was the one that Jim liked the best, The poem starting with Dashing through the year came to my mind while trying to get myself back to walking  and certainly not dashing. I entered the holiday season without alot of hope but as each day came more and more tiny little miracles happened. We got to see A Christmas  Carol when Layla nd Missy could not go as she was recoperating from her surgery. ANd then the hockey game worked out as everyone had a fun friend to share it with. We had delicous food at Larkins, and so much more yumm food that now we need to focus more no protein ans less about treats

Here we are celebrating with Jan and Jaron and 3 of our 4 great grands!! woohoo!

more yummy food and family

here is lour youngest great, Margot, Seths little girl

Karina and Dan and family CHristmas card

Shelley and Heber minus Elder Anderson

At the :Utah Hockey game

The OREM  temple

Celebrating with Nikki and Darlys family mius Elder Anderson and Emma who is off tho college

And ringing in the NEW YEAR with Dave and Carol.  We had  great holiday fun with our friends and family, We pray that we can contiue to heal in all our many needed ways 

 

Thanksgiving Gathering

we gather together to give thanks for the many blessings of the year. We got to travel and be healthy, most of the time. Valeries preschool closed for the week for precautions of illness spreading but we took advantage of the time to serve in other ways. 

Men at work

kids playing in first snow

clowning around

going to serve in downtown Detroit

enjoying adult yummy food

no fear, we had plenty of help

me and Kade

Eriks birthday party

Jims favorite thing,, serving

we all, mostly dresse warm, helping at the Light the World 

still sporting the walker , just for protection

joy of being together!!!I just love the spirit in the Mercado home .We love being there. Thanksgiving over and celebrating the birth of Jesus. I especially loved helping the new missionaries who have taken on the opportunity to learn French while on their mission , to work with Friends from French speaking areas who have come to America, (Haiti and Africians, sorry not from France) But, it was thrilling to find the french words and the spirit of missionary work yet again. 

 

Victoria BYU I DANCE

what a great way to spend my first get away in 4 months. !!! Driving for the first time using my right leg to the airport ,I picked up Val and we droe to Rexburg Idaho, about 3 1/2 hours but with all the stops for stretching, it took a little longer

one of my favorit dances was, of course, VIctorias fun number using s mash up of MJ songs, including the oon walk. We couldnt take photos so I was lucky to get this one that was taken earlier. We got to see the show twice and I loved getting to see each one, The choregraohy was varied and ighilighed many different styles but of course my favs were the one Victorita was in. She lights up the statge.

this one was one of her tapjazz numbers

the two V"S

us as the ELiza R Snow building

fB funning

my first hike in 4 months

the start. WHich for me her star shown the brighest when we went to get her temple clothes in preparation for going to the temple. WHat great joy ! I loved my two nights and three days with these two V's  very very vun

 

SEARCHING for HOPE

to get into bed and out of bed because I cant even find  the muscles to lift my leg

to try to get some sleep, I finally find a few  minutes on grandma Celias sofa which we have in our sun room. Here I was reading through old cards and "important" papers that I saved, trying to search for answers

many family N Friends have  brought flowers, food, and hope. but some have brought, "well, your whole live will be different now'  You must slow down" what will you do now?" What will I do now? I am searching and reaching out to try to solve the constipation,  the nausea, the pain from having 2 surgeries in 5 days  ( yes, Oct 10 and Oct 15 I had my hip which had displocated twice, totally redone, with a spinal block and anesthesia and tons of meds  moving around in my body) BUT the biggest problem right now is trying to sleep.

Flowers from Anderson kids sitting at my computer brighten up the room

Roses to shine the corner

pink beauties that shine hope, looking for the SUN (SON)

fun visits from family

pets know what is going on, they check out visitors to make sure they arent going to hurt me any more

walks  and talks are part of the healing

and of course, when energy is up, a walk near the 

closest temple to us, Jim and I look forward to serving in there when it is complete

SO these are just some of my paths as I search for hope in healing. I pray for all of you who have come and helped in all your ways , Your love is precious to me. We will win this. WE WILL FIND HOPE