spring into fun 2023 with Mercados

visits to canton Michigan always bring great love and fond memories of my youth in Pennsylvania. FAMILY times, the weather and here ,the beautiful sun sets

canton cup with Erik doing great defense and goaling

the family getting ready for victoria's graduation party! they will have a big outside party with  LOTS of prep before

victoria and date at prom

Valeria with all the prep

victorias last dance recital

austins birthday

showing off the one handed pull ups

enjoying all the fun

each of the family was suffering with ailments, broken bones, COLDS, earACHES 

our traditional family photo to show our love and unity. this is MY GREAT JOY

Panama Canal

Jim's dream of seeing the engineering of the Panama canal along with our being together with Terry and Doug and Loraine and Whitney.   We had some challenges with sickness and travel but all in all we love being together and having good entertainment and food and warm sun. I love meeting people from different cultures and this time we got a semi private dance class in Cartagenia, Colombia

getting dressed up is fun for me and Jim ,Here we are in the quiet place where we could meet up with Doug each day and even have high tea before dinner ( AS UF WE WERE EVER HUNGRY!)

we visited Cabo and Acapulco Mexico on the way down 

here Jim is watching engineering while we walk to the beach. We walked by the local fishermen bringing in their catch and stopped and watched an artist working on a large sand art work. We chatted with local students near the fort San Diego.

working on Vit,D

Local engineers  in Puerto Quetzal share with Jim most recent uses of energy near coal shipping

my favorite part of the whole cruise was going to the Panama temple, We were there on a Sunday and got to go to church and share our love of the Gospel and the blessings of learning from each other all around the world. The story behind this photo is, the person that took our photo said, "loosen up" and so I did! I  was so happy to be there.

!!  

famous tree from Africa 

famous old wall 

famous new artists

famous travelers

our semi private dance class learning the combia in Colombia. We spent about an hour learning and then they served empanadas. So much fun and being with the locals is what I love then best

v

we enjoyed time together, and continuing to learn more about this wonderful world. We are blessed to have the health and time to travel

n

the SUN

the days are getting longer and the sun is shining and lifting me out of the winter blues,  and I realize that it isnt the cold of winter that is hard but the lack of sun,

my Mountain in winter is still strong and firm and lifting my spirits as it does reminding me of our Savior  Jesus Christ, As we learn and serve in the temple we see and learn changes within the house of the Lord and LOVE our Savior even more.

oh how I love being together

oh how I love being married to Jim and seeing his inventions and service each day, He loves adventures like me, but not so much in the SUN!! He loves serving and worshipping the SON and has been a great example to me

Each day I search for the brightness of HOPE

Jake is a great example for me and I love seeing him grow.

Being together more and more is teaching me about putting others first, Even though, as a young mother I learned this, I now am being reminded again and again each day of serving others 

 

colonoscopy

 only posting this to help others and me in 3 years when I need to do this again.. it is the inside of my colon which takes the excess unusable parts of my digestion out, the hardest part was the worry and the day before prep. Popsicles saved me! hated the prep part and then after the surgery and yes it is surgery . Because they removed a large polyp I need to be non active for 5 days, no biking or hiking or lifting more than 5 lbs./ So since thanksgiving I have had my fall at Dereks and now this, With 2 months of being careful and not working out I have had to be creative on my workouts, The other thing is that 8o percent of those days it has snowed so we have had to shovel before we even leave for the  rec center. But my shoulder is finally better and I will start regular swimming and I am not limping from my fall!!! And most of all I am alive,, 75 and alive!!

the other saving grace has been working at the temple and being around the spiritual love that I feel there. Jim and I are working together to make our lives more whole and wholly!!!

Quick get away

Jim planned this celebration of fun and sun to celebrate our anniversary.  Timing was just right to escape the winter snow  , California was having their winter rains and storms but that didnt stop us from finding a pleasant adventure, We were supposed to go to Catalina island but a big storm stopped the safety of the ship so we headed further south to Mexico and Ensenada,

we did manage to fund some sun! and golf and play pool but not in the pool ( a little too cool for me )

and delish on all the food! 

my favorite part was getting to meet new friends and of course celebrating our time together. I love our adventures. Great fun together!